Oct. 18 The Dirk Quinn Band
Nov. 9 Rebecca porter & the Rhinestone roses
Nov. 22 Into the fog
dec. 13 Almost Christmas w/ Larry Keel
HOSPITAL CARE
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Hospital
830 Rockford Street Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030
(336) 719-7000
Emergency Room, Outpatient Imaging and Laboratory
SPECIALTYCARE
Cardiac &PulmonaryRehabilitation (336)783-8448
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Cardiology (336)786-6146
708S.SouthStreet, MountAiry
Gastroenterology (336)786-6277
1016S.SouthStreet,MountAiry
GeneralSurgery (336)789-9176
1016S.SouthStreet,MountAiry
Mammography 336-783-8400
830RockfordStreet,MountAiry
Obstetrics/Gyn (336)786-4522
510S.SouthStreet, MountAiry
Occupational Health (336) 719-7138
119 Welch Rd, Ste C, Mount Airy
Orthopaedics (336) 719-0011
314 S. South Street, Ste 100, Mount Airy
Northern Rehabilitation (336) 719-7129
314 S. South Street, Mount Airy
Urology (336) 786-5144
1016 S. South Street, Mount Airy
Northern Wound Care (336) 786-2033
314 S. South Street, Mount Airy
For advertising information:
Patrick County Chamber
410 Patrick Ave., Suite A Stuart, VA 24171
276-694-6012
For additional copies of the magazine, contact:
Patrick County Tourism
126 N. Main St. Stuart, VA 24171
276-693-2005
Chamber Director: Rebecca Adcock
Chamber Assistant: Sharon Williams
Tourism Director: James Houchins
Tourism Assistant: Grace Cooper
Creative Director: David Stanley
Photographer: Kim Rakes
Design: SilverLining Design
Contributors: Mason Adams, Janika Carey, Sue Kolljeski, Sarah Sheppard, Amber Southern, Erica Stacey
Note: Please know that changes occur with attractions and businesses before Tourism or the Chamber knows about it. We make every attempt to present accurate information, but contact businesses or attractions directly before making plans to visit.
A Love of History: Patrick County’s Storytellers
Patrick County authors weave stories in many genres
A Library That Comes to Us
Bookmobile still rolling after 70 years of making literacy accessible to all
Magical Nights at DeHart Park
Christmas magic helps bring extra funds to the park
A Festival to Say “Happy fall, y’all”
Woolwine brings in Fall fun with music, food, and community
Stacked High on Tradition
Snag a spot at the table for Pancake Days in October
Cooking up Support for Patrick County Residents
Brunswick Stew fuels Girl Scout Troops, scholarships, and more
Thomas the Cat: The Mayor of Mainstreet
Local cat leaves paw prints on the heart of Stuart
Art and Love of Community
Spotters guide to public art across Patrick County
Patrick County’s Career and Technical Education Pipeline
Equipping students with trade skills for a lifetime
Updates from Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce
Hello everyone, we hope you enjoy reading our award-winning magazine. We are thrilled to announce that the Patrick County Magazine has once again received the award for “Best Magazine” at the Friends of Southwest Virginia’s Tourism Awards. Our team has worked diligently to bring you stories from every corner of our beautiful county. As you read the articles and flip through the pages, we hope you can feel our team’s passion and commitment to creating this magazine. The Fall 2024 edition features articles about local authors, the arts, and our friend Thomas the Cat. So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and immerse yourself in the adventure that awaits. Whether you’re visiting or a lifelong resident, we hope you find something new to love about Patrick County. We are excited to welcome you to the Fall 2024 edition.
James Houchins
Tourism and Marketing Director for Patrick County
It’s finally fall Y’all! Fall is my favorite time of the year; the temperatures are cooler, the array of leaf colors and fall harvests and events. Spring and summer were busy as the Chamber was involved in training from the Appalachian Regional Commission and The Conservation Fund. We also hosted Coffee Talk events at our local coffee shops around the county to outreach and engage with the community.
Patrick County Tourism and the Chamber won the “Best Print Magazine” again from Friends of Southwest Virginia for the Fall 2023 Magazine. I am always amazed at how we pull this magazine together and have such great articles. This issue is no exception. There is a reason the tagline for the Chamber is “Community is our Business.” Our local organizations are the heart and soul of each community they serve and contribute to the overall wealth of the county. Their monthly fundraisers of community meals are a big part of what makes Patrick County such a great place to live or visit. I invite everyone to go and enjoy a meal with our community partners, you won’t be disappointed with fellowship and definitely won’t leave hungry. As the weather turns cooler, it’s always fun to curl up with a good book, and I am excited to share the article about the many wonderful authors that live in Patrick County. Books make great Christmas gifts by the way and can be purchased from our local store. This edition is once again packed full of great articles. But also take time to visit and support the businesses and organizations that advertise with us. Without them, this magazine would not be possible.
This fall, I invite our residents to get out and explore what is in our own backyards, attend a community meal, or dive into a good local author’s book. To visitors, if you haven’t been to visit us or it’s been awhile, come on back. Just come hungry.
Rebecca Adcock Chamber of Commerce Director
Increase
Deep Roots
By Nelson Stanley
I am a seventh generation Stanley from this area and very proud of my roots. My family came to Virginia in the mid to late 1700s. My homeplace on the mountain is still recognized as a Virginia Century Farm after being continually farmed for the last 100 consecutive years by the descendents of the original owner. The land grant for our farm was given to my great-greatgreat-great grandfather Zacharia Stanley, Sr., and I am proud that our farm is still in my family.
My Dad, Lee Stanley, was a farmer, mechanic, electrician, and plumber. Growing up, I always thought he could fix anything, and he sure made a lot of things work. I attended school at Meadows of Dan and graduated from there in 1967. While in high school, I had one of my favorite jobs, working at Circle M Zoo. I gained lots of experience with animals I had never seen before. One of my favorite memories from working there is Roger Conner and I taking a tiger to Danville on a flatbed truck to promote the Esso advertising campaign of “put a tiger in your tank” at a newly opened Esso station. After graduation, I worked a year at Radford Arsenal, then enrolled at Danville Community College, and later Patrick Henry Community College.
In 1969, Elsie and I got married and lived in Stuart above the Western Auto Store and then the George Building on Main Street. Uncle Sam came calling for me in 1970. I was working for Centel (Central Telephone Company of Virginia) at the time and decided to join the Air Force because they promised me I could stay in communications. I ended up not being placed in that detail, but it worked out fine because I became a plumber and pipe fitter, and it has served me well all these years since.
After military service, we moved to Martinsville where I worked for Bryant’s Plumbing & Heating and also went to
school at night to get my licenses. I have both master plumbers and master gas fitters licenses in Virginia and North Carolina.
When we moved to Patrick Springs in 1976, we started Blue Ridge Plumbing Contractors, and it is still going strong to this day. After 48 years, it’s almost time to pass the reins and let my grandson, Conner, take over the business when he completes his classes and hours of apprenticeship.
It’s been an interesting and adventurous trip, from plumber to vineyard to winery. We started Stanburn Vineyard in 1999 after a year or so of classes and seminars. The Stanburn name came from combining our two family names, Stanley and Burnette. That went along well for several years and then we made the decision to open a winery in 2010. Another learning curve with more classes and seminars. It has been such an interesting 25 years.
We wanted to slow down a little and get more time with our family and friends, so the family decided to close the winery and vineyard at the end of the year. We will stay involved in the community because we love this area and its people. We consider ourselves lucky to have lived in Patrick County all of these years.
I have enjoyed all of my careers, and if not for such strong family ties we would not have made it through. Thank you to our children, David and Dawn, and our entire family for all the support through good times and bad. I don’t know what comes next, but it will be interesting to see what the future brings.
“Find Yourself Here” is a guest column from someone who is either from the county or has moved to the county, and why they love it here. If you are interested in writing a column in a subsequent issue or know someone we should highlight, please contact us at director@patrickchamber.com.
Fayerdale Hall Conference Center | Fairy Stone State Park
Available year-round for special events and corporate meetings.
CULTURE | EDUCATION | HISTORY
VIRGINIA STATE PARKS
CHALLENGE COURSE | CLASSES | FESTIVALS | CAMPS
WORKSHOPS | SPECIAL EVENTS
County & Attractions Map
Patrick County Visitors Center 126 N. Main Street, Stuart, VA 276-693-2005 www.visitpatrickcounty.org
Blue Ridge Visitors Center - MP 177.7 2577 J.E.B. Stuart Highway Meadows of Dan, VA 276-694-6012 www.patrickchamber.com
PATRICK
410 Patrick Ave., Suite A, Stuart, VA 276-694-6012 www.patrickchamber.com
1091 Ararat Highway
TRAILS
T1 Dan River Park Trail
T2 Fairy Stone State Park
T3 Hidden Roads Trail
T4 I.C. DeHart Trails
T5 Laurel Hill Trails
T6 Mayo River Rail Trail
T7 Mountain Top Park Trail
T8 Reynolds Homestead
T9 Rock Castle Gorge
T10 Trails of Rotary
T11 Round Meadow Creek Trail
From ribbon cuttings to lunch-and-learns, we are here for your business. Whether you are a new business looking to network or an established business needing to learn about new tools, we offer many opportunities to make connections and grow. Join the chamber and let’s build together. 410 Patrick Ave. • Suite A • Stuart, VA
patrickchamber.com
WHAT IS THE FAB LAB?
The Fab Lab is a technical prototyping platform for innovation and invention, providing stimulus for local entrepreneurship The Fab Lab is for the community, students, and businesses
Whether you are prototyping new product ideas, improving existing ones or crafting for fun, the Fab Lab offers the tools and resources you need to dream, design, and create!
L to R: in back Jesse Young, Shane Vestal, Jack Holden, Dan Shikenjanski, Daniel Huff, Daryl Atkins, Tommy Nichols, Gary Worrell, 2nd row L to R: Ralph Keen, Don Rierson, Mary Dellenback Hill, Waymond Dawson, Diane Davis Dawson, Bernie Edwards, Jake Brewer, Ed Dalton, Alan Cray, 3rd row L to R: Ollie Puckett, Judy Middleton, Dot Shikenjanski, Truman Puckett, Lucas Vestal. Front row L to R: Les Edgell, Roy Midkiff
Contact: marhill196648@yahoo.com or call 276-692-6561 and like us on Facebook! www.virginia.org/listing/lovework-at-willis-gap-community-center/28206/ Willis Gap Community Center • 144 The Hollow Road, Ararat, VA 24053 Open Jam every Friday Night and Golden Oldies Open Jam on the Last Tuesday of the Month
We are located at 144 The Hollow Road, Ararat, Dan River District, Patrick County, VA 24053. A few miles from The Blue Ridge Parkway (Mabry’s Mill), a few miles from Meadows of Dan (Primland Auberge), and a few miles from Mount Airy, NC 27030 (Mayberry), the hometown of Andy Griffith.
Every Friday Night, we host an Open Jam which has been going on since the 1990s. It began at the home of the founder Otto Hiatt and grew so large he moved it to the Community Center. The doors open at 6 pm for food, Oldtime, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Country Music, with dancing from 6:30 pm until 9 pm. All age groups are invited.
On the last Tuesday of each month, we host the Golden Oldies Open Jam playing music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Doors open at 6 pm for food, Music, and Dancing from 6:30 pm until 9 pm.
Food, Fellowship, Family Fun, and Southern Hospitality at its best. There is a 50/50 drawing around 8:15 pm. All proceeds go to The Willis Gap Community Center. We are thankful for the popularity of the JAMS and all the guests, singers/musicians, and the members who give their time to make these JAMS successful.
It’s happening in Patrick County
FEBRUARY
DECEMBER
MARCH
NOVEMBER
LOVE OF HISTORY: Patrick County’s Storytellers
By Janika Carey
“I always start with Nancy’s chocolates,” says Beth Almond Ford as we’re chatting in the yarn room of Poppy’s gift shop in Meadows of Dan, where she works alongside her friend, shop owner, and Quince podcast co-host, Leslie Shelor.
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Wiping cat hairs off the table between us, Ford recounts hundreds of creative writing workshops she’s taught over the years — some of them in this very room.
Her method: a topic, 20 minutes, and mystery chocolate for inspiration. “Boy, we get some good stories,” Ford marvels. “A lot of people remember their grandpas.”
She’s held workshops in people’s homes and at the Reynolds Homestead in Critz, where she was a guide for 19 years. At least 100 Patrick County folks, she reckons, have been inspired by her “sweet” approach since she moved here in 2001.
Growing up with a storytelling father, a journaling mother, and four older siblings who read all the time, Ford’s love of words came naturally. Together, the five kids wrote a book in 2015 about their childhood titled Stories of a West Virginia Family.
We offer state inspections, a wide variety of vehicle/truck repairs including brakes, starters, batteries, front end alignments, and we sell all types of tires. Call us for all of your vehicular needs.
In 2020, Ford’s poem “When I Despair” was published in Christine Valters Paintner’s book Earth, Our Original Monastery Her weekly Reynolds Homestead Facebook series, “Tid Bits of History,” was collected into a booklet for docents, and she writes daily mini-essays on her personal Facebook page.
276-694-7417
1329 Scenic Dr. Stuart, VA
Beth Almond Ford
Though Ford dreams of writing a road trip book, she says teaching is “the biggest thing” she’s done as a writer. Her favorite thing about the workshops is getting to know people. It’s also her favorite thing about Patrick County.
She knows just about everyone and mingles at dinner parties, church, or board meetings for the Patrick County History Museum. Among her many jobs: a 15-year weekend gig selling chocolates at Nancy’s Candy factory outlet.
The owner, Nancy Galli, a good friend of Ford’s, needed help during peak season in October, when the tiny mountain community in the Blue Ridge Mountains is flooded by tourists.
In the late ’90s, Ford was one of them. Driving home to West Virginia from Florida, she stopped in Meadows of Dan for antique postcards — the kind she now sells at Poppy’s. That day, she writes in the Spring 2024 Patrick County Magazine, changed her life.
“It all comes together no matter what you do,” says Ford, who has a history and religious studies degree, an LPN, has worked as an Alzheimer’s nurse, and managed a bookstore.
There are many people like her, she notes, who fall in love with the area and decide to stay. They find their place in a community rich with history, a love of the outdoors, and generations of artists, artisans, and storytellers.
One such local storyteller is Martin Clark, a retired circuit court judge and Patrick County’s most prominent author. Clark writes best-selling legal thrillers set in the area and inspired by cases he encountered during his career.
His family name adorns a couple of buildings in Stuart. They’re dedicated to his parents — the town’s high school baseball field house to his father; the animal shelter to his mother.
Those are the gifts people know about. Clark’s foundation, named for his father, has funded lots of other causes, but he doesn’t talk about them.
He received the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice Award in 2009, 2016, and 2020.
But it’s not about the awards for Clark — he’s all about giving back to a place that has given him “profound happiness.”
A third-generation Patrick County local, Clark cherishes how comfortable he feels in the area and the many longstanding relationships he’s formed with so many of his neighbors.
A humble guy, Clark lives tucked away on a farm with his wife, Deana, who’s a realtor, and a number of dogs, cats, chickens, and donkeys.
He vividly recalls 20 years of slammed doors and rejection letters before he ever sold his first book.
“I read the rejection letters at my book events now,” he said during a recent phone interview. “I want people to know how hard it is [because it can be inspiring, and] “there’s usually at least one writer in the audience.”
Clark was so desperate to print his first book that he was ready to give it away. When he finally found a publisher, he promised to donate all the proceeds to Stuart Presbyteran Church, figuring he might end up netting “$5,000 or so.”
After a favorable story in The New York Times, Clark owed the church six figures. He’s continued to pay royalties for 24 years, and the gift sparked the idea for the Martin F. Clark Sr. Foundation.
Among numerous anonymous gifts to various causes, Clark has sponsored two college scholarships for Patrick County students named in honor of his former teacher, Ann Belcher. His philanthropy earned him the Patrick County Outstanding Community Service Award in 2016.
Some of his characters are actual Patrick County people, especially if they’re someone local readers would recognize, like the sheriff. But his depictions are always favorable.
“If you’re in my book, it means I like you,” Clark said.
Entertainment Weekly has called him “hands down, our finest legal-thriller writer,” and The New York Times dubbed him “the thinking man’s John Grisham.”
His books have been selected as a New York Times Notable Book, a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a New York Times Best Thriller of the Year, a Washington Post Book World Best Book of the Year, a Bookmarks Magazine Best Book of the Year, a Boston Globe Best Book of the Year, a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and a finalist for the Stephen Crane First Fiction Award.
“It’s a good place to live,” he said. Clark is currently working on his seventh novel. A “slow writer,” he usually finishes one page a day. Knowing this will be his last book, he wants to “craft it well,” he said, so there’s no concrete deadline — and that’s just fine.
He’s plenty busy managing the business end of things, which involves multiple agents, Facebook posts, answering reader comments and messages — “all of them, even the unhappy ones” — and a movie deal for one of his latest novels.
The Substitution Order, Clark’s fifth novel published in 2019, is movie-optioned by Double Nickel Entertainment. He’s also been promoting his 2023 release, “The Plinko Bounce,” which fellow Appalachian author Beth Macy (“Dopesick”) called a “propulsive tour de force” that had her “riveted from beginning to end.” The New York Times raved, “Terrific.”
Though flattered, of course, Clark is most thrilled with the positive reception he’s received at home — especially from his late dad, who always put more stock in the local paper than national publications.
“Dad suffered for two decades at my wanting to be a writer,” Clark said. It wasn’t until there was a story about him in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Enterprise that he fully acknowledged his son’s success as an author.
Since Cark’s retirement from the bench in 2019, he’s finally had time to enjoy extended book tours and travel. The University of Virginia law school graduate was appointed at the young age of 32; he was 59 when he stepped down.
All along, his real passion was writing — sparked by a freshman English class at Davidson College in 1977. His professor and mentor, Dr. Anthony Abbott, was “well-known in the South, and he was unique in that he could both write and teach others how to do it,” Clark recalled.
After publishing his first novel, The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living in 2000, Clark’s writing career took off. But he always considered his day job the priority.
“It was important because it affected people’s lives,” he said. It’s also why he stayed in the job until Patrick County was guaranteed a resident judge upon his retirement.
Martin Clark
Clark doesn’t miss the courtroom now — even if he enjoyed it back then. “The robe is in the back of my closet.”
Unlike Clark, Beverly Belcher Woody is a newbie to the author business — although she’s received quite a bit of media attention lately.
In July, the sixth grade U.S. History teacher at Martinsville Middle School published her debut, Patrick Pioneers Part One, which covers the 1700s until today.
Perry has spoken nationwide at events and on TV on Andy Griffith and J.E.B. Stuart; he’s written roadside Historical Markers; and has taught Civil War history to 11th graders at his alma mater, Patrick County High School.
The book grew out of a weekly history column Woody has been publishing in The Enterprise. A former textile worker and paralegal, Woody spent the past three years collecting stories about the people of Patrick County.
She relied on local census and death records, as well as interviews with family members and digitized newspapers from the Library of Virginia.
“I often wished that my grandparents had written their stories and memories down for future generations,” she said.
Woody conducted her first interview when she was 10 because she “loved listening to the older folks in my family tell stories about how things were when they grew up.”
This book is for her grandchildren, she added, even if most of the stories aren’t about her family. “This book is really a microcosm of all of the people of Patrick County.”
Woody serves as regent of the Patrick Henry National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was named “Teacher of the Year” in 2023 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Her debut is among the more than 50 titles released by Tom Perry’s company, Laurel Hill Publishing.
“Most authors come to me, but in this case, I wanted to publish this book as I believe it’s one of the best books ever written on Patrick County history,” Perry said.
Proceeds from Woody’s book will support the Perry Family Scholarship and youth educational programming at the Patrick County Historical Society and Museum and the Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Museum.
Perry himself has written 10 books on Patrick County, including The Free State of Patrick: Patrick County, Virginia, in the Civil War (“my best book”), The Dear Old Hills of Patrick: J.E.B. Stuart and Patrick County, Virginia (“my favorite book”), and Beyond Mayberry: A Memoir of Andy Griffith and Mount Airy, North Carolina (“my best-selling book”).
In 2009, he raised over $25,000 for the Bassett Historical Center. As editor of the Henry County Virginia Heritage Book, he raised another $30,000 and was responsible for more than $200,000 of the $800,000 donated to expand the regional history library.
In 2004, the Ararat native founded The Free State of Patrick Internet History Group, and his monthly email newsletter, “Notes From The Free State of Patrick,” covers regional history.
Another of the county’s influential history authors is the late Dr. Houston Bryan Roberson, a Stuart native and 1976 graduate of Patrick County High School.
Roberson earned a B.A. in history at Mars Hill University, a master’s at Wake Forest University, and a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Before his death in 2016, Roberson was a professor of history and the first tenured African American faculty member at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. He authored several books, including his debut, Fighting the Good Fight, the story of Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church.
His research included religion, race, and culture in the 20th century American South and the civil rights movement.
Upon his death, the University of the South established the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race,
Beverly Belcher Woody
Dr. Houston Roberson
Tom Perry
and Reconciliation to honor his inspiring legacies: his devotion to rigorous teaching, his pursuit of scholarship, his dedication to social justice, and his personal example of high moral character. An annual scholarship in his memory is presented to a graduating high school senior at Patrick County High School.
For insight into Patrick County’s earliest days, try The Dick & Willie — A History of the Danville & Western Railway by local history buff Larry Hopkins. In 2017, The Martinsville Bulletin marked the 75th anniversary of the last train to Stuart with an article by Hopkins based on the book, which came out the same year. But the research goes back decades.
“I probably had never heard of the Danville & Western Railway Company until around 1974,” recalled Hopkins, a Stuart resident who, like Roberson, attended Mars Hill University.
A story in The Enterprise sparked his curiosity, and a photo of the Stuart Depot from around 1900 — but very little context — made him want to dig deeper. That was in the early ’90s. Hopkins finally published the book in 2017.
The publisher’s death last year left Hopkins with the printing rights, and the Patrick County Historical Society and Museum has reprinted 100 copies.
Local history fuels fantasy in the novels of Bonnie Turner, who lives near Fairy Stone Park. Turner draws inspiration from the area’s “rich history of mystical creatures, so her imagination can go wild there,” according to her author biography.
Since publishing her first fantasy book, The Eyes of Freya, in 1996, Turner has written nine more. She’s currently working on the 11th in the series.
Each volume reflects the author’s passion for “strong female characters and justice for the weak.”
For a look back at Patrick County’s more recent history, grab a copy of Ron Spencer’s Half Penny: You can make it if that’s all you’ve got (2023).
Part memoir and part family history, Spencer recounts his struggles — and wins — growing up in the county as an African American during segregation in the ’50s and ’60s.
Raised by a single parent in a home with seven siblings, Spencer faced prejudice, racism, and poverty. He lost his father and later his stepfather, overcame alcohol addiction, and struggled with attention deficit disorder. Nevertheless, Spencer persevered.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy just as he was completing high school, but his true passion lay elsewhere. Spencer wanted to help others and relieve their suffering.
Today, he’s a registered nurse who’s worked in veterans’ hospitals and taught nursing classes. He’s also served on statewide health advisory boards under four different Virginia governors.
“I recognized that there was room in nursing for minority men because of terrific role models such as Mr. George Houchins, Mr. Tommie Reynolds, and Mr. Norman Clark,” Spencer said.
All three were mentors he worked with directly at R.J. Reynolds Memorial Hospital as a nursing assistant from May 1973 to June 1975, when he graduated from Patrick County High School.
“These men, along with Ms. Wanda Ayres, RN, and my no-nonsense supervisor, Mrs. Ann Hale, RN, helped me to develop into a respectful young man and avoid teenage troubles,” Spencer said.
“They clearly understood the facility’s mission and always kept patient outcomes front of mind. That job and their influence saved my life. They gave me a purpose.”
Writing this book was a way to thank his mentors, family, and friends — as well as profess his faith.
Larry Hopkins
Bonnie Turner
Ron Spencer
“I believed that through something small, such as myself, God would do something big,” Spencer said. “I was ready to be a catalyst for change.
Real life also inspired Robert “Bobby” Bailey’s 2022 debut novel, Love and Murder on the Nolichucky. The plot: Sam and Charlene are young lovers who bond over their shared Cherokee spirituality, but one eventually turns into the suspected murderer of the other.
Like Sam, Bailey survived a rocky youth in East Tennessee that included a series of misfortunes and prison. But that was then.
Today, life looks different. A former elementary school principal, race car driver, and race track announcer, Bailey now lives in Claudville on a farm with his wife, Anita, and their horses,
Chip and Annie. He spends his retirement writing — most recently Shaman’s Drum on the Nolichucky, a sequel to his first novel.
It’s all thanks to his wife, who once encouraged him to publish the scraps of paper he kept in a Tupperware container. They made up his first book, the 2014 poetry collection Random Thoughts From the Gunk Room under the pen name R. Bailey.
In its dedication, he thanked his family and friends — including fellow West Virginian, Ford, who invited him to speak to her book club last summer.
“It was interesting to discuss the book characters as ‘real folks’ and fascinating to hear about your process,” Ford wrote in her Amazon review. “The end of the book was a real twist and surprise. Looking forward to your upcoming novel!”
Back at Poppy’s, someone is playing the banjo and Willy, the store cat, hops up on the table. We can hear thunder rolling in through the open porch door.
Ford chuckles, musing at the friendships she’s woven with people like Bailey, Clark, and Shelor — all “fascinating” in their own ways. Together, they make the Patrick County community a sparkly fabric of life and art.
Robert “Bobby” Bailey
Senior Transportation Services
We offer transportation services Monday - Friday from 9AM to 2 PM for Patrick County seniors to:
Congregate lunches
Medical appointments
Grocery shopping
*Times are subject to change according to appointments.
More than 50 seniors take advantage of these services every week, allowing them the freedom to be:
More
To learn more about our transportation services in Patrick County,
the Patrick County Senior Services office:
A Library That Comes to Us
By Sarah Sheppard
A Brief History of Mobile Libraries
Mobile libraries, or “bookmobiles,” have been used since the 1800’s to provide quality literature and other services to underserved schools, individuals, and communities. In their beginnings, mobile libraries were typically wagons pulled by hand, animal, or even bicycle. After the rise of the automobile, bookmobiles increased their capacity to serve their communities with larger storage space and faster travel. Following the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded the “Pack Horse Library Project,” which placed horse-drawn mobile libraries in several of the steep and rugged mountain communities of Appalachia. In England during World War II, a “war-time library on wheels” was established in one area with heavy air raids, which allowed citizens access to books while they sheltered in place. In Colombia, you can find the Biblioburro, a donkey-carried mobile library. In Kenya, communities were served by the Camel Mobile Library Service. In Norway, a “floating library” utilizes a boat to reach its patrons. These are a few of the many unique and innovative mobile libraries that have come from the brilliant minds of the world’s librarians. Today, thanks to more reliable vehicles, improved roads, and online collections, more people than ever have access to books and other crucial resources in this modern age of information.
History of The Patrick County Library
In the 1920s, the bottom floor of the Patrick County Courthouse was cleaned out to make a reading room for the young men of the community. Later on, the Stuart Book Club started a book rental service out of this room. This was the first glimmer of a public library in Patrick County.
Then, in 1941, the Patrick County Library was formed from an anonymous donation with Lady Louise Clark as the first librarian. It was later revealed that this generous donation was one of ten given to communities across southern Virginia by Mr. David Bruce, who, at the time, served in the Virginia General Assembly. Bruce later went on to become the U.S. Ambassador to several nations. Most notably, he was the Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the People’s Republic of China when diplomatic relations were first established in 1973. These libraries later became known as “Ambassador David Bruce Libraries” along with another series of libraries he established in the U.K. with the goal of promoting American culture and cultural exchange.
Gas was rationed during World War I, and fundraising efforts for the library were limited to the streets of Stuart. This made the Patrick County Library appear to solely serve the Town of Stuart. The establishment of the bookmobile helped bring Patrick County together when it began connecting the remote communities along its route.
Bookmobile Beginnings & Early Years
Around this time, several one- and two-room schools were spread out across the county. These schools had little to no dedicated libraries of their own. Thanks to a forward-thinking school superintendent, the county began seeking funding for a mobile library to aid the schools. The state was willing to give the county an appropriation for the purchase of a bookmobile and a collection of books.
The first-generation Patrick County Bookmobile set off on its first route in the community in 1947. Due to a lack of funding, Ms. Clark would close the library in the morning in order to complete the bookmobile routes. She did not drive the bookmobile herself, however. The first bookmobile was driven by Mr. Carl Conner, who was hired at $4 per day. Mr. Conner would drive the cumbersome bus to and fro around the county, and Ms. Clark would check out the books. After they were done with their routes, Mr. Conner would drive back to the library, and Ms. Clark would resume operation of the brick-and-mortar location around 3:30 p.m. each day.
Franklin-Patrick County Library
Around 1954, the Patrick County Library merged with neighboring Franklin County to form the Franklin-Patrick Library, named alphabetically. Patrick was considered the “home library” because Franklin County did not have a dedicated librarian at the time. The Patrick County Bookmobile was heavily utilized during this time, spending half the month aiding its home county and the other half traveling to Franklin County. The libraries remained joined for twenty years until the Franklin County Library decided to split off in 1974. A year later, in 1975, the Blue Ridge Regional Library System was formed between Patrick County and the City of Martinsville, along with the Collinsville Library in Henry County.
Bookmobile Fund
A new bookmobile began service in 1998. Six years later, its patrons. began noting the age of the vehicle and asking about plans for a replacement. One patron in particular, Glen Bryant, would regularly discuss this topic at his bookmobile stop. He and Garry Clifton, the Bookmobile driver at the time, brainstormed ways to raise money for a replacement up until Bryant’s sudden passing in 2005. When Bryant’s friends began asking his wife, Rhonda, what cause they might donate money to in Glen’s name, she knew exactly what to say. She told everyone that Glen loved the bookmobile. And so, in August of that year, with $140 collected in memory of Glen Bryant, the Bookmobile Fund was started. Over eleven years, and with the help of the Friends of the Library, the Bookmobile Fund grew to $26,000. By 2016, a new bookmobile was sorely needed. Fundraising efforts were ramped up with the creation of a dedicated fundraising group and a webpage for online donations. The new fundraising campaign was rolled out on Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, in 2016. With these increased efforts, the fundraising group impressively managed to raise the large sum needed in just a little over a
1920s
First men’s “reading room” and book rental service in Patrick County
Patrick County Library officially opens
First bookmobile begins operations
Franklin-Patrick Library forms
Franklin-Patrick Library disbands
Blue Ridge Regional Library forms
First Librarian Lady Louise Clark retires
Helen Cowley replaces Bill Staples as driver
Patrick County Library moves into their current building
Garry Clifton replaces Helen Cowley as driver
New Bookmobile begins service
Bookmobile Fund Started
Cecil Holand replaces Garry Clifton as driver
Tammy Cope replaces Cecil Holland as driver
Bookmobile fundraising ramps up
Current Bookmobile purchased
Gayle Wagoner replaces Tammy Cope as driver
year’s time. The new bookmobile was ordered in March 2018 and arrived, ready for service, in March 2019.
Garry Clifton, Branch Manager for the Patrick County Library, released this eloquent statement when the new bookmobile was finally purchased in March, 2018:
As a former bookmobile librarian, for 20 years, I would like to remind everyone that we are here not just to celebrate the purchase of a new vehicle but to affirm our commitment to the continuation of a much needed service in Patrick County; a service that has spanned 70 years and served countless people in our community.
A service that provided books to a little boy on an isolated farm, igniting his curiosity to explore the wonders of the world and in the process lead him on a journey to become governor of Virginia.
A service that half a century later helped a little girl find the books and information she needed to create her own comic books and a webpage as a platform for her art. Her storytelling skills developed into an award winning web-comic and she now travels internationally as a much sought out speaker on web animation.
Both of these individuals credit our bookmobile service with providing the key that unlocked the world for them.
Think of all of the other lives, numbering in the thousands, that have been positively impacted by the Patrick County Bookmobile over the last 70 years.
And now think about all of the lives that will be served during the life of this new Bookmobile.
That is what we are celebrating today.
Today’s Bookmobile
The current bookmobile is driven by Bookmobile Coordinator Gayle Wagoner. It can hold 3,000 items and acts as a “library on wheels,” offering many of the things you would find in the
brick-and-mortar library such as DVDs, audiobooks, magazines, and even easily accessible Wi-Fi.
The bookmobile estimates serving over 1,000 patrons per month and travels roughly 8,000 miles per year. It makes stops at many central locations within individual communities such as the Patrick-Henry Volunteer Fire Department in Patrick Springs and Skyline National Bank in Meadows of Dan. Fuel costs and vehicle maintenance are the biggest challenges to the bookmobile, especially amid ongoing budget concerns.
Gayle Wagoner sees a fairly large diversity of patrons on the bookmobile. “Many of my patrons can’t get to the library or get the internet. The majority are retired seniors. Some are no longer able to drive more than a few miles from home. Others, like members of the Amish community, find it easier to get transportation to the bookmobile than to the library,” Wagoner says.
Students also benefit greatly from bookmobile services. All six public elementary schools plus Trinity Christian School are on the bookmobile’s schedule during the school year. Some homeschool families also rely on its services.
Gayle Wagoner says, “I started driving the bookmobile in November 2021. I have since witnessed first-hand the importance of this service to the community. In addition to free access to materials and services, the bookmobile stops serve as communal gathering spots where neighbors and friends meet to catch up on the recent events of each other’s lives. The Patrick County Bookmobile is not just about books, it’s also about community!”
For over 70 years, Patrick County has been blessed with the bookmobile and the wonderful staff that coordinate it. Our community has been deeply impacted by its reliable services and ability to bring together not only neighbors but the county as a whole. What will the next 70 years of bookmobile service look like?
To find out when the bookmobile will be near you, grab a copy of the schedule from the Patrick County Library or view it on their website, brrl.lib.va.us/locations.php#bookmobile.
School kids in 1949
First bookmobile in 1947
Magical Nights at DeHart Park
By Erica Stacey
‘Twas two weeks before Christmas, and all through Patrick County’s DeHart Park, holiday lights twinkled brightly, sparkling through the night dark. Families and friends, some old and some young, lined up in cars to join in the fun.
A few years ago, Amy Corns, a member of the board of directors of the Stuart Park and Recreation Association, visited the South Carolina coast during the holiday season. While there, she unwrapped a new idea to support DeHart Park.
“The holiday season is a magical time,” said Corns. “While we were traveling, we stopped to enjoy a community light display. It was so much fun, and I got to thinking that this was something we could do at home. We are always looking for new ways to engage with our community and to raise money to benefit the park. DeHart Park was the perfect place to host the event, and businesses could sponsor displays. What I didn’t know was how we could safely electrify the space, but I did know that it would be worth the time to find out.”
On her return to Patrick County, Corns immediately partnered with the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, and then got to work. In December 2021, Stuart’s DeHart Park lit up with its first ever Festival of Lights. That year, twenty-five groups agreed to support the festival by sponsoring a light display.
That inaugural event was a resounding success, and participation has grown every year since. Last year, around 60 groups,
ranging from businesses and churches to local organizations, families, and friends, created their own unique light displays to support the event.
For just $10 per car, per night, visitors may drive through the park to view the displays. They even have the chance to vote on their favorites. Patrick County Tourism sponsors holiday music, broadcast over WHEO. Festival-goers can tune in to enjoy Christmas tunes as they drive through the park. There is no limit on the number of times a car can pass through, and according to Corns, organizers also work hard to schedule special experiences to add to the holiday joy.
“Every year, we’ve tried to add a little something new to the event,” said Corns. We feature different caroling groups that include choirs from area churches, the high school band, and high school choral groups. Each of the elementary schools in the county enters a display, and the best submission wins a pool party for their students.”
In addition to the lights and the music, participants can sip a cup of hot chocolate or purchase goodies from food trucks or bake sales. Varying entertainment and activities are available on different nights.
“Last year, the Fabrication Lab at Patrick & Henry Community College invited participants to enjoy a personalized ornament and used their equipment to create orders of various orna-
ments for interested shoppers,” say Corns. “It was a great way to show off the facilities and opportunities of our local college.”
Each year, the park also hosts a special visitor, direct from the North Pole. “Santa is really busy the last weeks before Christmas,” admitted Corns. “We are grateful that he can find some time to join our celebration.”
Surrounded by beautiful mountain views, DeHart Park in Stuart offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball courts, Little League ballfields, picnic shelters, and a shady playground near a shallow creek. A half-mile circular paved trail highlights the park’s offerings and allows visitors to absorb the gorgeous scenery and enjoy the cool breeze from the nearby creek.
Proceeds from the entry fees to the Festival of Lights help support special projects at the park. In previous years, funds raised have helped with the costs to update some well-loved playground equipment and to purchase slides for the pool. This year, funds will again be directed to continue support toward the upgrade of park restroom facilities to meet ADA standards. The festival is just one of several fundraisers to benefit the park, and it raises around $10,000 each year.
“If you are looking for a big, commercial event, you won’t find that here,” said Corns. “The displays are homemade and reflect the creativity and warmth of our little community. The week before the event, when everyone is setting up their displays, people share tools and help each other in many other ways. One year, there were some lights that needed placement up high, and someone showed up in a truck with a lift. This festival is the essence of small-town life. It’s a warm Christmas hug in the form of a light show.”
According to Corns, many drivers also try to pay it forward, covering the entry fees for the car behind them, and once it starts, it becomes a trend. “Last year, we had a pay it forward that went back for about 50 cars.”
This year, the Festival of Lights will be on display from Dec. 13 through Dec. 23. Gates are open 6 p.m. to 8 p..m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. DeHart Park is located at 212 Wood Brothers Drive, Stuart, Virginia.
A festival to say, “Happy fall, y’all”
By Erica Stacey
Step aside pumpkins, the Woolwine Fire Department is making room for another taste of fall.
Since the mid-1980s, the Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department has hosted a festival in the fall to help fund its operations.
“October Fest is really not the official name,” said Fire Chief Benny Shuff. “It’s just sort of a nickname, I guess. It’s actually our Fall Festival.”
But since the event takes place in October, and it’s a festival, the name just kind of happened, and it stuck. Official or not, October Fest brings the community together in support of men and women who volunteer to fight fires, respond to emergencies, and help keep people in Woolwine and Patrick County safe.
“It is our main fund-raising activity,” said Fire Chief Benny Shuff. “The monies raised during the festival help pay for the day-to-day operations of the department.”
Opening on April 20, 1973, the Woolwine Fire Department has served the community for more than 51 years and has hosted the Fall Festival for about 36 of those years. According to Shuff, community support is responsible for the department’s longevity.
“We have a yearly budget of about $100,000 dollars, and about 90 percent of our funding comes from donations, gifts, and fundraisers. We hope to make about $15,000 at the festival this fall,” Shuff said.
The Woolwine Fire Department Fall Festival is held on the second Saturday of October each year. In 2024, it will take place
Oct. 12. The festival opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. During the event, attendees will enjoy a day of music, fellowship, and food.
Organizers have secured three bands who will take the stage over the course of the day, and guests will be able to select from a variety of food choices. Some suggest trying a sample of everything.
Food options will include bake sale treats, hotdogs, chicken plates with the trimmings, and apple pies. A variety of vendors will also be available.
But the star of the day will be the Woolwine Fire Department’s famous apple butter.
“We will peel 200 bushels of apples on Wednesday, and make 12 kettles of apple butter,” Shuff said. That’s about 375 gallons.
The apple butter is packaged and sold by the quart or by the pint. Stock up! Apple butter is a great holiday gift.
Join the members of the Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department as it celebrates the 51st year of the Fall Festival. The event is held at the fire department rain or shine. Some folding chairs are available on-site, or you can bring your own. Entry to the event is free, but guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair. The Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department is located at 9912 Woolwine Highway.
“Maintaining the fire department is a lot of work, but our community is great about helping with the event,” said Shuff. “And the apple butter doesn’t hurt anything either.”
Stacked High on Tradition
By Erica Stacey
Flapjacks, crepes, slapjacks, griddle cakes, hotcakes, blintzes. Every culture seems to have its own version of the popular cuisine.
In Meadows of Dan, these culinary delights are known simply as pancakes. Every year, they beckon throngs of people to Patrick County, Virginia to feast during the Meadows of Dan Ruritan’s Annual Pancake Days.
Held the 3rd and 4th Sundays in October, from 7:00 a.m.to 7:00p.m., Pancake Days features all you can eat buttermilk pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, sausage,
by Amber Southern
sausage gravy, and a choice of beverage.
Meadows of Dan is beautiful yearround, but in the fall, as the leaves change, getting there is nothing short of spectacular. That may be one reason that more than 4,000 patrons travel from within and outside Patrick County and the Commonwealth to join the fun at Pancake Days every fall. For many, the experience is a beloved family tradition, with equal parts food, fellowship, and fall. Their advice to folks joining for the first time: arrive early, plan for long lines, and come hungry.
All seem to agree that these are the best pancakes anywhere. No lie.
The pancake tradition stretches back to the late 1960s and a small Saturday night dinner for three local organizations—the Ruritans, the Meadows of Dan fire department, and the Women’s Home Demonstration Club. Eventually those dinners morphed into the annual fundraising event. But the event isn’t just about pancakes or fundraising.
A story written by Angie Gregory Dribben to promote Pancake Days in 2023, summed it up well, “It’s about com-
Photos
ing together—volunteers and attendees, community members and visitors. Guests may travel from as far as Maryland, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Northern Virginia. Some couples and families join in every year. It becomes a tradition to drive up the mountain, marvel at the amber and crimson leaves, and eat pancakes.”
Dribben interviewed Betty Banks, a member of the Meadows of Dan Women’s Club, formerly the Women’s Home Demonstration Club, and part of the founding team for Pancake Days. Early on, Banks bussed tables, then—for about 20 years—she flipped pancakes, and now, she serves gravy.
What keeps Banks coming back to volunteer? “It’s seeing the people—they are just so happy to see you and happy to be there and happy to get their pancakes,” she said.
Debra Shelor, Ruritan treasurer and event organizer, echoes Banks’ sentiment. “Pancake Days is a joyous occasion - a homecoming or reunion-type atmosphere,” Shelor said. “Local volunteers are happy to see you and serve you!”
Emily Handy, Ruritan member and chair of Pancake Days, started working the event when she was 7 years old. But even before she was old enough to work
onsite, she traveled with her aunt, Brenda Quesenberry, then the chair, for weeks before, getting groceries and all of the behind-the-scenes items together. Now, Handy’s young daughter volunteers at Pancake Days doing the same on-site job her mother once helped with—wiping down coolers.
“If it wasn’t for each person helping, Pancake Days wouldn’t be possible,” Handy said.
Pancake Days’ recipe for success requires 1100 pounds of sausage, 1150 pounds of flour, 130 dozen eggs, 24 cases of syrup, a community of more than 150 volunteers working 17-hour days over two consecutive weekends, and perhaps most importantly, the heirloom recipes of Clara Harrell and Claudia Wood. Meadows of Dan pancakes have never been made from a mix.
And just as the pancakes themselves are hearty fuel for the body, every dollar that is generated benefits projects and organizations within Patrick County. Proceeds from the event are split evenly between the Meadows of Dan Ruritans and Meadows of Dan Fire and Rescue after paying for expenses including infrastructure upgrades.
The funds benefit the Meadows of Dan Community Center, Meadows of
Dan Elementary School, area food banks and pantries, the Mountain Top Recreation Park, the Hunters for the Hungry, and fund two scholarships as well as supporting numerous other projects. Meadows of Dan Fire and Rescue directs their portion of the proceeds to funds for training and equipment to keep their services current and responsive to the community.
Make plans now to bring the entire family to this not-to-be-missed event, which is held at the Meadows of Dan Community Building, 2858 Jeb Stuart Highway, Meadows of Dan, Virginia.
Prices at the door are $12 for adults, and $6 for children ages 12 and under. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
Can’t stay to eat? Place a to-go order, and don’t forget to pick up some Neese’s freshly ground sausage to cook at home. You can also preserve the memories by purchasing a commemorative T-shirt.
Tax-deductible donations can be made online for those who cannot attend. Visit RuritanMOD.square.site for more information or to donate today.
And while you’re here, don’t forget to take in some of the local shops and sites. We’ll hold a spot at the table for you.
Apple Dumpling Festival
Choosing Kendal at Lexington leaves more time for what’s important. More time for painting in the art studio or taking it en plein air to the gardens. More time for singing classes, dance clubs, and recorder groups. More time at art museums, theaters, and in the woodworking studio. Create a future that means more. Kendal at Lexington.
or
Cooking up Support for Patrick County Residents
By Erica Stacey
Brunswick City, Georgia, and Brunswick County, Virginia, both claim to be the original home of Brunswick Stew. A stewpot monument in the Georgia community suggests that the concoction found its origins there in 1898, while in Virginia, tradition has it that a state legislator’s chef invented the recipe in 1828, when, during a hunting expedition, he lazily combined all the meal ingredients in a pot over a slow fire cooking the mixture, which the tired hunters hungrily devoured on their return.
But while the true origin of the savory, satisfying dish may forever remain in question, hours away from the competing locales, in Patrick County, Virginia, the Patrick County High School Alumni Association has secured its position as a premiere stew master in the region along with the Moorefield Store Fire Department.
Each fall, they bring together volunteers from across the community to prep, cook, sell, and serve delicious helpings of PCHS Brunswick Stew.
According to Rickie Fulcher, event organizer, they started making and selling stew in 1986 to raise money for Cindy Stovall’s Girl Scout Troop, and later for troops led by Della Fulcher, Polly Geer, and Tabatha Stanley. For the past 38 years, Fulcher has made stew once and sometimes twice annually. “We
missed two years due to COVID, but other than that, we’ve been cooking and selling stew all along,” Fulcher said. “At first, it was solely a Girl Scout fundraiser. Later it was shared between Girl Scouts and PCHS Alumni Association. Now it is solely a PCHS Alumni Association event.”
Recipes for Brunswick Stew vary from region to region and from family to family. Originally, the recipe was borrowed, but over time, Fulcher and other volunteers have adjusted the ingredients, developing an original recipe just for the PCHS Alumni Association.
“We only use beef and chicken and a variety of vegetables,” he said.
But, according to Fulcher, the ingredients are just one part of the stew. The cooking process makes all the difference.
“You need to make sure that the pot is allowed to cook down slowly to thicken, if not you will just end up with soup,” Fulcher said. “True Brunswick Stew is defined by being able to eat it with a fork—not that you would, because you want to savor every drop. We take care to make sure our stew is truly stew. We will sacrifice volume and take the time to assure a quality product.”
But how do you know when you’ve hit the sweet spot and found just the right blending of flavors and texture? “Well, it’s
not stew until you can stand the stirrer up in the middle of the pot,” said Fulcher. “And we must be doing something right because we sell out every year.”
In fact, due to the high demand, the PCHS Alumni Association accepts pre-orders.
For the initial fundraiser, the stew was cooked over a wood fire, but since then, the group has relied on propane to cook and heat the stew. Around 10 to 15 volunteers work the fundraiser each year.
Over the past three decades, Fulcher estimates that the volunteers have cooked more than 6,000 gallons of stew. Originally, proceeds from the sales of that stew helped fund international travel for Girl Scout troops to destinations including England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, and Spain, as well as visits to the Juliette Lowe birthplace in Savannah, Georgia, a Caribbean cruise, and travel to Niagara Falls and Nevada. Today, proceeds support scholarships for PCHS graduates, averaging $1500 to $2000 per school year.
And while the goal has always been simple: to raise funds to support Patrick County residents, the volunteers have also made a lot of memories.
“One particular year, the wind and cold was so bad that we rolled cinder blocks up in our wall tarps and the wind rolled the tarps back out,” Fulcher said. “We’ve had a lot of great fellowship and have developed lasting friendships as we’ve shared time around the cookpot—swapping stories, thoughts, hopes, and dreams.”
Mark your calendar for the 2024 Patrick County High School Alumni Association Brunswick Stew sale: November 1-2, 2024. You’ll be glad you did.
The view from Fred Clifton Park
FARMERS’ MARKET
Thomas the Cat: The Mayor of Main street
By Sarah Sheppard
Thomas Stuart, former stray, now locally famous office cat, has been living his best life in and around the office of Christopher A. Corbett, Attorney at Law on Main Street in Stuart, VA for four years now. Thomas has gained quite the reputation as “The Mayor of Main Street” for his frequent check-ins at all the businesses along the street. Most people know his name, and most businesses welcome him at their door. His friendly, agreeable personality combined with his street smarts made him quite the character to many in town.
It was only a matter of time before his local notoriety grew into something bigger. He caught the eye of regional children’s author and animal rights activist Cindy W. Hollingsworth, who published his story in a 2020 book titled Thomas Stuart: Town Cat. Since then, children and adults alike can now recognize him on his daily walks up and down Stuart’s Main Street. Copies of the book are for sale locally at Mattie B’s, where you can read all about his Main Street beginnings.
Three years later, where are Thomas and his family now?
Since the debut of his book, Thomas Stuart still resides on Main Street. He spends his afternoons offering his assistance at Divine Designs, giving customers massages while they are getting their hair done or sitting under the dryer, hanging out with
his dog friend there, and napping in the windowsill. He spends the night safe and sound at the salon, then heads to the attorney’s office in the morning for his favorite treats, Gravy-licious. He then continues his important work of sprawling out on legal paperwork, hanging out in his cat hammock, and playing with his toys. These days, Thomas has a new officemate, baby Evelyn. He enjoys the new places to lounge such as the car seat and playpen. Though he is a bit jealous, he’s decided that Evelyn’s squishy blankets are good enough for him too.
Thomas’s three children have all gone down different paths in life. Tiger (now named “Cinnamon”) is happily re-homed to a family in Claudville. Stripes, (now named “Oswald”) has given in to his parents’ wild roots and joined the wild cats of Oakhurst, where every day is sure to be an adventure. Sadly, Spots (now known as “Gizmo”) crossed the rainbow bridge due to speeding traffic on Main Street. She was found and properly buried by fellow animal lover Kenneth Rorrer.
Tiny, Thomas’s “wife,” now resides with Corbett Attorney employee Erica Cipko Wade and her family who live just across town from the office. Tiny spends her days bringing in “presents” of moles and birds, watching after baby Evelyn, and mothering Erica’s other cats now that her own nest is empty.
Though Thomas has a lot of important work to do as Mayor of Main Street, he is now a local celebrity, which comes with its own set of duties. “We get calls and notes about Tom here at the office almost monthly, so I’d say his celebrity status is only growing. We’ve had a few judges and attorneys call here. I guess they Google us first, see our cat connection, and ask about him and tell us what a neat aspect it is. [His Facebook posts get] more likes, shares, and comments than most events in Patrick County (other than Patrick County becoming the State Champs at baseball!). He wears his signature bowtie collar and so folks recognize him on the street and are quick to talk with our office or Teresa at Divine Designs about him,” says Erica.
The town’s local government seems to embrace Thomas and his Main Street presence. He made an appearance on 2023’s Stuart Wine Festival wine glass. Visitors to the Town of Stuart booth at the annual Patrick County Agricultural Fair in 2023 were treated to a sneak peek of a statue of Tom that is currently in the works. There are even talks of a future project to incorporate cat-crossing paw prints on Main Street one day soon.
Though with all his fame and easy days, the Mayor of Main Street is still occasionally forced to get his paws dirty fighting other cats around town. “He thinks he’s the king of the street–and he’s not wrong–but he’s getting too old to fight,” says Erica. We reached out to Thomas about these incidents. He wants to remind the community of the importance of getting your pets spayed or neutered to avoid such dangerous confrontations.
Be a kid in our candy store
When asked about his most recent injuries, he simply said, “you should see the other guy.”
In November of 2023, Thomas went missing. Social media was abuzz with concerned citizens sharing posts about the missing cat, giving updates, and speculating where he might be and if he would ever come back. Some thought he was being a typical tom cat, roaming and expanding his territory. Others thought Thomas might be stuck somewhere up a tree or down in a drain. Others dared to suggest foul play. A reward was posted for his return which reached $1,000 at it’s height. “Lost Cat” was the headline in The Enterprise, the local newspaper. The local community was beginning to think he might not ever come back. However, one morning, Thomas was spotted on Main Street by a member of the community and was quickly brought to Bryce Simmons, manager for the Town of Stuart. Mr. Simmons brought Thomas back to the law office where he was evaluated and given time to recover from some scrapes and dehydration after his long journey. We will never know exactly what went on during his adventure, but one can imagine Thomas was taking care of some official town business that got out of hand. Sometimes even the mayor has to take out the trash.
Where will Thomas’ days lead him next? One thing is for sure: he has left his paw print on the heart of this little town in the Blue Ridge. So if you see Thomas out on the street, be sure to offer him a little pat or maybe a Gravy-licious treat. It’s hard work being the Mayor of Main Street.
Enjoy the peaceful relaxation only nature will bring. You are encouraged to enjoy swimming, fishing, horseshoes, playgrounds, and the game room during your stay. Feature events for our campers include movie nights, paint parties, and our popular Halloween weekends. Please call to reserve your site!
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Art and Love of Community
By Sarah Sheppard
“Lady Appalachia: Of The Pines” at Pickle & Ash
By Jon Murrill
In the Spring of 2024, the Patrick Springs farm-to-table restaurant Pickle & Ash got a new face! Regional artist Jon Murrill came to Pickle & Ash to paint his second mural in a series he calls “Lady Appalachia,” which celebrates the region’s close connection with nature. The mural depicts a strikingly detailed woman’s face peering over a tree branch. She has a fern behind one ear and a pinecone tucked behind the other. Behind her, wooded blue mountains are silhouetted in front of a sunset-colored sky. Thanks to facade grant funds from the Patrick County Economic Development Authority, the restaurant was able to secure Murrill’s talents. “This series is something I am so proud to tie into our area, representing our spirit for the outdoors and the connection a portrait can create,” Murrill said on his Instagram account. You can follow him at @jonmdraws to stay up to date on the next installment in his “Lady Appalachia’’ series. There, you can also see the original “Lady Appalachia” in his hometown of Vinton, VA.
Bull Mountain Arts Murals at Pickle & Ash
Experiencing Pickle & Ash is like visiting an art museum, but with an amazing sit down meal. Not only are the kitchen staff culinary artists, but the entire building, inside and out, is covered with local art. Other than the massive “Lady of Appalachia” mural on the building’s side, the second most noticeable area of art is on the back dining patio, which houses a collection of six ever-changing
“Receiving
“A
murals commissioned by a partnership between Pickle & Ash and the local arts organization Bull Mountain Arts that seeks to encourage and amplify local art in the community and surrounding region. Each year, six local and regional artists are selected to contribute to the collection. Each artist is given the same prompt, but, of course, their creative minds take it in six different directions. The murals are auctioned off at Bull Mountain Art’s annual Garden Fete, and a new set of freshly painted murals with a different prompt arrive shortly after for display. To see this year’s collection with the prompt, “Stories of Appalachia: Folklore, Heritage, Legends, Superstitions, Tradition, and Culture,” head to Pickle & Ash and eat a delicious farm-to-table meal on the back patio while enjoying the view of the six murals.
“Receiving the Mail on the Farm” New Deal Post Office Mural
By John E. Costigan
The historic “Receiving the Mail on the Farm” was painted by John E. Costigan and installed in the Stuart, Virginia Post Office in 1942. This mural is the third of three very similar post office murals completed by Costigan and commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts of the U.S. Department of the Treasury as part of the New Deal public works. The other two were installed in Rensselaer, Indiana in 1939 (with the mural having the same title) and in Girard, Ohio in 1938. The Girard mural, titled “Workers of the Soil” was destroyed in 1962. All three post office murals depict a similar scene of a farming family pausing their work to read the mail they have received. The subject of many of
Costigan’s works have been centered on landscapes and family, two things that are in great abundance in Stuart and Patrick County, making this community a fitting location for the mural. On your next trip to the post office in Stuart, take a look at the very back wall to see a small piece of history.
“A Simpler Place in Time” in Meadows of Dan
By Pepper Martin
Travelers of the Blue Ridge Parkway will delight to find the charming “A Simpler Place In Time” mural painted on the wall near Concord Corner Store in Meadows of Dan. This colorful cartographic mural of the surrounding Meadows of Dan community was completed by local artist Pepper Martin. It features many local landmarks such as Nancy’s Candy, Mabry Mill, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and more. The mural was named after Meadows of Dan’s community motto, “A simpler place in time,” which suits the area’s idyllic, slow-paced style of living.
Patrick County Postcard Mural in Stuart
At the Patrick County Visitors Center, travelers and locals alike are greeted by a large vintage-style postcard printed on the side of the building, welcoming all to Patrick County. Designed by SilverLining Design and commissioned by the tourism department of Patrick County, this vinyl mural makes the perfect background for traveling selfies and group photos. It is also the backdrop of many events on mainstreet such as music performances and annual festivals. The original design was printed onto actual postcards which are available inside the Patrick County Visitors Center.
the Mail on the Farm”
Simpler Place in Time”
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Storytime Castle at the Patrick County Branch Library
By Grace Helms
Inside the Patrick County Branch Library is a magical scene inspired by the children’s tales that surround it. An expansive “Story Time Castle” is painted on the wall of the children’s area, complete with stone walls, towers, and flags. The door that leads to the activity rooms is incorporated into the mural as the castle door. Local artist and public school art teacher Grace Helms spoke with the branch manager of the Patrick County Library, Garry Clifton, about the need for the castle in the children’s section. Helms later painted the mural for the library during her winter break of 2017-2018. Tuesday morning, the library hosts a preschool-aged storytime program, located “inside the castle,” and every year the library has a children’s “Storytime Castle Party” to celebrate the mural.
Patrick County Barn Quilt Trail Mural on Mainstreet
By Grace Helms
Located on the wall of the lower end of Main Street in Stuart is another mural painted by Grace Helms: the Patrick County Barn Quilt Trail Mural. This mural features the geometric mountain logo of the Patrick County Barn Quilt Trail, painted in the typical style of barn quilts. It invites viewers to take a leisurely drive around the beautiful scenic roads of Patrick County to see the unique collection of barn quilts around every corner. Their motto, “Stitching local communities together one barn quilt at a time,” reflects their efforts to bring the different
geographically isolated areas of the county together under a mutual celebration of art and community. For more information on the Patrick County Barn Quilt Trail, visit the Patrick County Visitors Center.
Bull Mountain Arts
Do you enjoy murals or any other forms of art? Do you wish to get to know other artists and art enthusiasts in your community? Are you an artist yourself and want to network and collaborate with other creatives? Consider joining Bull Mountain Arts, Patrick County’s “vibrant community of local artists!” They hold monthly members meetings, organize community events and workshops, host galleries, and much more. Find them on Facebook for more information.
Patrick County Postcard
“Storytime Castle”
Patrick County’s career and technical education pipeline
By Mason Adams
From its location in Stuart, Mechanical Designs of Virginia provides metal fabrication services for clients in Virginia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
When the company needs a skilled welder or wants to train one of its employees, it turns to the Career and Technical Education’s welding program at Patrick County High School. The program teaches students both from the high school and Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville. There, they earn skills and certifications that prepare them to move directly into jobs like those at Mechanical Designs.
“We’ve hired kids right out of the welding program,” says Wayne Gilley, president of Mechanical Designs, “and we’ve actually hired people and sent them through the welding program. Some of the best welders I’ve ever seen came out of Patrick & Henry’s program.”
Gilley’s relationship with the welding program goes back 40 years, to when he worked with former instructor Dwight Bower. It continues now with current instructor Glenn Belcher.
“They know what we’ve done in the past, they know what we’re doing, they know what we need,” Gilley says.
Welding is just one of the programs that offer high school and community college students hands-on training to prepare them to successfully enter the workforce — including for Patrick County businesses.
“We have everything from welding and agriculture all the way to building trades and auto mechanics,” says Trey Cox, CTE director. “We have mechatronics, cosmetology, nursing, and culinary. We have horticulture, turf management, landscaping.”
In all, the career and technical education center offers 43 courses in 18 different topical areas. Roughly 800 students take courses at the center, including 15 to 20 Patrick County High School students who are dual enrolled at Patrick & Henry Community College and will graduate with a high school diploma and associates degree. The CTE center also offers an always popular community class in welding two nights a week; Cox is hoping to soon offer a community auto-tech night class.
“Our focus is high-quality workplace learning,” Cox says. “We want kids prepared to walk out of here as graduates and get a job, or get another certificate into that technical part. We have kids getting their pesticide license; that’s not easy. One kid walked away with six welding certificates this past year, and everyone in that class had at least two certificates.”
Alongside Mechanical Designs, other county businesses regularly call on the program for training needs. Welding is a particularly active program, sending alumni to Worley Machine in Woolwine and Thomas Industrial Fabrication in Floyd. Meanwhile, Primland Resort has hired students trained in the CTE program in cosmetology, turf management, horticulture and culinary arts. Other trainees have have started their own businesses or landed elsewhere.
Welding
The welding program at Patrick County High School is unique by offering welding to the high school students during the day and classes in the evening for Patrick & Henry Community College students. Welding instructor Glenn Belcher works closely with area companies, building relationships with the businesses while also exposing his students to jobs they may want to pursue. Belcher even obtained his bus license so he could take his students on field trips. He’s taken them to Mechanical Designs, Thomas Industrial Fabrication, Worley Machine, Insight Textiles — all Patrick County companies — as well as Alltech in Eden, NC and the John Deere factory in Kernersville, NC.
“We have a good connection with a lot of good companies around,” Belcher says. “They’ve got my phone number, and these
companies call and say, ‘I need five that need to be able to do this, this and this,’ and I give them phone numbers. We have that type of connection with them.”
Yet even while instructors and center officials partner with regional employers, they’re also preparing students to thrive no matter where they go.
“I want them to be able to go anywhere in the nation,” Belcher says. “We teach national certs that are recognized anywhere in the U.S.”
Most students go on to work in Virginia and North Carolina, but others have gotten jobs in places like New Mexico and Arizona. Many wind up at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
“We’ve got a broad horizon,” Belcher says.
Daeshawn Penn, 21, of Spencer, has been working with Belcher for nearly two years.
“I love it,” Penn says. “I like coming in here and having class with my buddies. My instructor [Belcher], he’s really good. He takes his time with us. Even when we’re outside of school, he’s in contact with us. You can’t beat having an instructor like that.”
Penn says he’s finishing up his education before moving on to take a job. As for what’s next? “Maybe working the pipeline, but whatever comes, wherever God takes me.”
Logan Conner, 20, of Stuart, is in his second semester of the college program. After starting in the Martinsville facility, he was able to transfer closer to home at the high school location.
“Glenn’s the main reason I wanted to come here,” Conner says. “He’s a good guy. He’s honest and straightforward. If there’s something wrong, he’s not going to sugarcoat it. He’s straight-up with you, and will tell you how to fix it. He’s good with handson. He’ll come in your booth. He’ll give you a demonstration. He’ll explain everything in great detail. He’s phenomenal.”
Conner says the training is starting to pick up more, but he figures he has at least four more semesters before he wraps up his testing. He’s currently running a sawmill, and wants to add welding as a side business to become more “self-sustainable, financially. That’s my goal, really. I feel like welding’s a good way to go.”
Agriculture
Eli Roberson attended Patrick County High School as a student and now teaches agriculture classes in the career and technical education program. He sees growing emphasis on career and technical education now compared to when he was in classes.
Roberson sees his job not just as training students for a particular profession, but also helping educate them about the field of study generally. Take horticulture, which functions as an introductory course that encompasses a lot of different topic areas. From there, students can pursue a given field to attain more expertise.
“The first year is introducing them to different fields of ag, and then they decide which field they’re interested in,” Roberson
says. “Or maybe they’re not interested at all. You can decide in a semester if you’re interested in horticulture or cosmetology, or whatever it is. It’s okay if you decide you’re not interested, but it’s important you can at least get a taste of what it is.”
Turf management is one example of a seemingly simple practice that contains a dizzying array of possible career paths.
“Turf management is a brand new subject for anyone, so the first part is introducing them to the field,” Roberson says. “We have two classes, Turf Management 1 and Turf Management 2, so students have the opportunity to study following years.”
“Primland’s golf course is a great opportunity in that field,” he says, “but there’s tons of golf courses, tons of athletic fields. You can go and get your doctorate in turf pathology and teach at a university. You can study and go as far as you want, or you can get a job right out of high school.”
Students who take courses in landscaping can get a job right out of high school with a company. More often, Roberson says, they start their own small businesses. During their training, landscaping students aren’t just learning, but benefitting the Patrick County community. This year and last, landscaping students beautified Stuart town signs and the school board office, Roberson says.
Students training in greenhouse plant production spend their semester producing, marketing, and ultimately selling products at a big plant sale each spring. That benefits residents’ gardens while acquiring invaluable training and exposure to a field of work.
“Over the semester, they get a pretty good idea of whether they want to pursue a career or not,” Roberson says.
Patrick County’s Career and Technical Education programs teach students the skills they need to pursue well-paying jobs and
careers. They provide training and a workforce pipeline for regional businesses. And they boost the community through service and by educating the next generation.
Ultimately, the students and programs in the CTE building at Patrick County High School reflect their community.
“We have good kids, and they work hard,” Cox says. “It’s amazing. We’re blessed.”
Patrick Promise
Meanwhile, Patrick County graduates are helping to pave the way for future students. The Patrick County High School class of 1973 has donated more than $164,000 to Patrick Promise for future graduates.
Patrick Promise funds free tuition for county high school students attending Patrick & Henry Community College. The program launched by Patrick County Education Foundation is a counterpart to Henry County’s SEED program assisting their county’s residents in attending the community college.
“Patrick County has a history of very meaningful investment in its students and their futures,” said Stewart Roberson, a member of the class of ’73 and chairman of the Patrick County Education Foundation. “Our class is fortunate to have benefitted from that community support, and we’re honored to give back by investing in the future of Patrick County in this substantial way.”
That funding has boosted not just students who want to go on to college, but also those in CTE classes. According to a news release, 54% of currently enrolled Patrick County students attend Patrick & Henry Community College at no cost to their family.
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