Brentsville Neighbors Information About Brentsville Shared Amoung Neighbors December 2006

WelcomeNeighbor!

Sitting here brings to mind that famous song from Alice in Wonderland, “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say hello, good-bye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late... .” Ah, the year has passed so quickly! And yet, there is so much to look forward to even as we look back and reminisce about the wonderfullife we have lived and shared with others.

Lastyearwe commented thatChristmasis the timeforourcoming togetherwith joyfulvoices. Thisyear will bring specialmeaning to that thought. Ifyou can,please plan on attending the Holiday Open House at the Brentsville HistoricCentre thatwillbeheld on December 9,2006, from 4:00pm until7:30pm. Very special holiday music willbe provided by theBrentsville DistrictHigh SchoolChoir in the newly restored Union Church at5:00pm and 6:00pm. It willbe so enjoyable to hear musicperformed in this wonderfulplace once again. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With warmest wishes, Nelson & Morgan This month:  Remembering Brentsville ...... page 2  Where Wild Things Live ...... pages 4&7  Citizens at War - Part I ...... pages 5&6  Flashback ...... page 7 Fun and Mischief Childhood Memories of Brentsville, 1950’s

Name: Jennings Clare Breeden Winters: Back to Webster’s pond. We DOB: September 6, 1943 would skate all day, jumping barrels, playing POB: Brentsville, Prince William Co., VA ice hockey “keep away” with sticks and a can Father: Morgan Henry Breeden and, when darkness fell, build a fire and skate Mother: Olive Marye (Wolfe) Breeden into the night. To us, “Shorty” Braden was an over grown I am Jennings Clare (JC) Breeden, the third kid with a driverslicense. Although outof the son of Morgan Henry Breeden and military, married, and settled down (?), Shorty Olive Marye (Wolfe) Breeden. I was a teenager at heart. When was born on September 6, 1943, the snows fell, and he saw us at home, in the house that daddy pullingour sleds along the road, he built on what we called Donovan would join us at Golladay’s hill Road, now named Izaak Walton (one of many places). He would Road. help us make good sledding trails Old Town Brentsville was not and sleigh with us until his too much smaller then as itis now. “mommie” called him home. Izaak Walton Road seems to be Mischief: We were taught to the only place where fields and respect other people’s property pastures have given way to small and did very little destruction. development. However, we did do “things” that we knew In the ‘50’s, we did not have “organized” were wrong. Examples: We would climb sports. However, we did not lack for fun. We Major Teir’s fence and eat his cherry tree practiced the old adage of “make do with what bare. He lived in Washington D.C. and came you have.” Though we played all of the here only on occasional weekends. When he seasonal sports, my fondest memories are of saw that his cherries were gone, he would go summer and winter. crazy, and we loved it! We would sneak into This was a time when a child could roam (Juan) Diaz’s strawberry patch and make just the neighborhood and his parents would not enough noise for him to hear us. He would worryabout hissafety. It was also a time when come out of the house, hollering in Spanish, if any adult spoke to anychild, thatchild would and we would take off. And, Mr. (John) listen or “getit” when he returned home. (Lack Donovan’s watermelon patch was also a spot of telephones did not inhibit fast for an occasional raid. communications!) All I need do is close my eyes and I can Summers: We watched as Webster’s see and hear other adults of my childhood. I pond was dug and then spent countless hours believed then, as I believe now, that my Uncle swimming and fishing there. We also swam Wynnett Wolfe could build an airplane if given and fished at ‘The Ford,’ ‘Birdie Keys’, and a saw,a hammer,and nails. Others are Sparky ‘Fair’s Rock’ on Cedar Run, and ‘the log’on Carter, Sidney Spitzer, and two wonderful old Broad Run. As we aged, we also swam at ladies, Miss Lillie (Keys) and Miss Feenie ‘the bridge’ (the old two lane steel bridge (Molair). crossing Cedar run on Rte. 619). To jump off In closing, it is impossible to drive through the lower rail of this bridge was a major feat. this beautiful little town and not be distracted However, to dive off thetop rail was something by a thousand thoughts and memories. It is that only time and courage could achieve. good to comehome, if only for a moment.

-2- Adult male coyote caught near Brentsville by Daniel Breeden earlier this year. Photo by Fred Wolfe.

The two pictures below are courtesy ofBill Wade

BillWademowingthelawn duringthe Summer of Barbara Wade (born August 3, 1940) with the 1941. The Molair homeis in the background. Molair housein thebackground and out buildings. Note path from houseto store. -3- Where WILD things live...

Persimmon tree loaded with fruit in the Tavern Lot

Bark of the tree Ripe fruit

Persimmon seeds

-4- Citizens at War. The story of Brentsville’s Civil War

Paul Spencer,a resident of Australia,has an house on Main Street was the White House, just unexplained love of America’s Civil War across the road from the Courthouse. The Historyand in particular,it’simpact on a little population of PrinceWilliam Countyhad declined town in Virginia called Brentsville which was from a peak of 12,733in 1800 to just 8,129 in then the County Seat. Paul has recently 1850. (2) In 1859 the County’s population was completed a story that he is graciously recorded as over 5,000 whites, 2,500 slaves and allowing us to share with you. It will be 550 free Negroes. (3) searialized in smallsections until completed. We hopeyou enjoy his workas we do. Oneof the great fears throughout the South was of slave insurrection. This was reinforced by Part I. John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Although most areas had part time squads of Brentsville would be little remembered today Virginia StateMilitia, additionalmilitia companies except for the fateful decision of the Prince were formed in many places after Brown’s raid, William County (PWC)board members to move including Brentsville. A Company under the the County seat from Dumfries in the early command of Captain WW Thornton drilled each 1820’s. At the confluence of three streams, month. (4)Aflag was provided by the young Broad Run, Cedar Run and Kettle Run, and ladies of the area, including Miss Sarah roughly in the geographiccentre ofthe County Somerville Williams, the daughter of the owner Brentsville became the fourthseat of the PWC ofthe WhiteHouse.ATournament and Ballwere government. held in honourof thepresentation. (5)

By 1822 a newCourthouse and Jailhad been An unusualaspect ofthe Brentsville area was built, and the town started to expand. A the presence of about 40 families from New description of Brentsville in 1835 is provided Jersey,who had immigrated to the areaduring a from the Virginia General Assembly Joseph population push by theCounty in the 1850’s. Martin’s Gazetteer- “…The Courthouse, Clerk’s These families went on the land, and resided in office and jail arehandsomely situated on the the area between Brentsville and Catlett’s main street, in apublic square of 3acres. Besides Station.Moststayed trueto theUnion,although them the village contains 19 dwelling houses, 3 the sonsof one of the families laterenlisted for miscellaneous stores, 2 handsome taverns built the Confederacy.The area was known as “Jersey of brick and stocked, 1 house of entertainment, settlement”and sometimes “Yankee settlement.” 1 house of public worship, free for all denominations,a biblesociety, aSunday School, Brentsville remained a relatively small town as a temperance and a tract society. There is in the the CivilWar drew near, although its importance vicinity acommon schoolin which the rudiments to the area should not be underestimated. Farms ofthe English education are taught… population and plantations dotted the surrounding areas, 130 people of whom 3 areattorneys and 3 regular from the 1820’s onwards growing mainly corn, physicians.”(1) Perhaps the most prominent wheat, and a small amount of tobacco.

-5- (Continued on page 6) (Continued from page 5)

Courthouse days saw the Main Street jam He was head ofhis class at the end ofhis second packed, and it was difficult to find ahitching post, year, and was oneof the students chosen to serve orget a mealat the taverns such were the crowds. as a drill instructor at the Camp of Instruction in Richmond after the war began. (8) In July 1861 Most of the area was pro secession, with the when the training camps disbanded Joseph obvious exception being the “Jersey settlement”. returned to Brentsville, undecided whether to No doubt oneoftheprimemoversin people’s return to the Institute (which was now destitute feelings was Eppa Hunton,the Commonwealth of mostof thebest teachers,)ortoenlist when Attorney for Prince William County since 1846 he turned eighteen. Shortly after his birthday he and a Brentsville resident. Hunton, an avowed decided on the latter and was appointed a secessionist, also held various posts inthe Virginia Lieutenant in Captain AR Courtney’s Hampden State Militia, including Colonel and later Artillery. This was oneof the batteries he had Brigadier General. He was sent as one of the instructed and Courtney was his cousin. In County’s voting members to the Virginia Septemberhe was “unanimously elected”as the SecessionConvention held in Richmond on April senior second Lieutenant of the battery, and by 17, and whilst areferendum of thepeople the April 1863 was a major - though still only following month was to decide the issue of nineteen.He was often referred to asthe “Boy secession there was little doubt as to which way Major.” (9) thevote would go. In fact recruitmenthad already begun forthe ConfederateService atmany places Due to its semi-strategic location and proximity including at the Brentsville Courthouse on April to the northerncapital, war was nevergoing to 23. Sixty-five that had drilled under Captain be easy for the area around Brentsville. Up until Thornton enlisted that day. This was to become 1864there was constant skirmishingand scouting CompanyAofthe 4th Virginia Cavalry. When by both sides in the area. Every day the war Virginia eventually seceded a new flag was must have played an enormous part in the lives required for the Company, and the of those that stayed. The War’s impact on aforementioned Miss Sarah Williams donated a Brentsville is still being researched today and I silk dress,with the young ladies of thearea again have included information from other places in assisting in making it into a flag. (6) the same general area. I feelthat it is reasonable to assume that much of what follows was more When war did break out Eppa Hunton was than likelyto havealso occurredin thearea of appointed by the Virginia Governor as Colonel Brentsville. (Continuednextmonth) of the 8th VirginiaInfantry and was “warmly commended” forhis role at 1st Manassas. His FLASHBACK brigade was also prominent at the Battleof Ball’s The Manassas Journal- Brentsville News Bluff in October. Although plagued by ill health December14, 1923 for muchof thewarcaused by apainful fistula Aplayandentertainment will be given at theschool house tomorow evening. A small admission fee will be charged that would notheal, he was to see action in most and refreshments will be sold. The proceeds are to be used of the major engagements of the Army of toward finishing the payments on the school piano. Northern Virginia. (7) Misses Elsie May and Ora Bean, who have been sick with chickenpox, are able to be out. Joseph Latimerwas anotherBrentsville resident Paul and Howard, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cooksey,who were ill withthe same disease, are verymuch just before the War.He lived with his parents improved. near Brentsville, and became a student at the Butchering has been the order of the day. Virginia Military Institute at Lexington in 1859. Mrs. Pearl Pierson, of Pennsylvania, spent a few days this week with her children, Louvenia and Franklin, at the home of Mr. J. R. Owens. -6- Where the WILD things grow...

Diospyros virginiana Common Names: American persimmon, common persimmon Family: ( family) Description: Folk Songs of North America frequently made Thepersimmon is a slow-growing deciduous tree, reference to localplants and animals-- something rarely exceeding 50 ft (15 m) in height. The leaves everyone could relate to. The following is an are generally elliptic, 4-6 in (10-15 cm) long, dark abbreviated version of onesuch song: green on top and pale green underneath. The bark on oldertrunks isblackandbroken upinto distinctive, Bile Dat Cabbage Down regular squareblocks. Theflowers aregreenish and inconspicuous, with each tree having only male (staminate)or female(pistillate) flowers,a condition Bile dat cabbage down called dioecious. The female lowers develop into Bake dat hoe-cake brown showy orange fruits,up to 2 in (5 cm)in diameter, Craziest song I ever heard, that are very astringent during maturation, but Bile dat cabbage down. deliciously sweet when fully ripe. Severalcultivars selectedforfruitquality,seedlessness,cold hardiness Possum in a ‘simmon tree, and disease resistance are available. Raccoon on the ground, Raccoon says,“You son-of-a-gun, Location: Shake some‘simmons down!” Persimmon is native to eastern NorthAmerica from NewEngland, west to , and south to Bile dat cabbage down and . It is one ofthe most widely-adapted of Bake dat hoe-cake brown trees,growingnaturallyinbottomland swamps,along Craziest song I ever heard, stream banks, in upland forests, in fields, piney Bile dat cabbage down. , and even dry scrub lands. So, Possum began to shake, Features: ‘simmons began to fall, When you gently shake apersimmon tree,the ripe Racoon says, “You son-of-a-gun, fruits fallto theground. Ifyou haveto pullthe fruit I didn’t want them all!” off thetree, itwillsurely pucker yourmouth inside out! Ripepersimmons aredelicious outof hand, Bile dat cabbage down and can bemade into puddings and cakes. Frozen, Bake dat hoe-cake brown they satisfy like icecream, whiledried Craziest song I ever heard, are like dates.Persimmon is prized for its Bile dat cabbage down. beauty and extremedensity,and used forgolf club heads and poolcues.

Source: http://www.floridata.com/ref/D/diosp_v.cfm Steve Christman 02/ 26/98; updated 11/28/99, 2/14/03, 2/20/03, 9/4/03

-7- Brentsville Neighbors Information About Brentsville Shared Amoung Neighbors

Brentsville Neighbors c/o Morgan Breeden 9721 Windy Hill Drive Nokesville, VA20181