Winchester Down Home Series Berryville Again in the Year 2010, We’Re Making Our Way Woodstock 66
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WINCHESTER DOWN HOME SERIES BERRYVILLE AGAIN IN THE YEAR 2010, WE’RE MAKING OUR WAY WOODSTOCK 66 AROUND THE REGION, EACH ISSUE VISITING A 81 DALE CITY SMALL TOWN AND MEETING SOME OF THE 95 FOLKS WHO MAKE UP THE HEART OF Charlottesville KING GEORGE PUNGOTEAGUE ELECTRIC CO-OP COUNTRY. ON 64 64 THIS YEAR’S SIXTH STOP, Richmond BUCKINGHAM COURT HOUSE AMELIA COURT HOUSE WE’LL BE ... Roanoke 460 85 81 MEHERRIN 95 77 VALENTINES DOWN HOME IN WINCHESTER Story and photos by Robin Couch Cardillo, Contributing Writer n a sunny Friday morning in May, magnet for history buffs, and the recreation- “I started talking to old-timers in town, to the Visitor Center on Winchester’s filled future, which caters to the nouveau hear stories about Winchester from the early OPleasant Valley Road is unusually tourist. That’s why alongside the Civil War to mid-20th century,” he says. “I learn even busy. A middle-aged couple from Lynchburg museums and battlefield markers now reside the most innocuous details, like where peo - stops in to ask about biking paths in the city. intricately mapped bicycle and walking paths, ple used to go out to dinner and how that The phone rings and the caller inquires about a nationally recognized golf course, a state-of- changes over time.” Patsy Cline attractions. Joggers trot along the the-art fitness center, even a dog park. At the five-year-old Museum of the center’s walkways, and visitors walk their Making the transition isn’t easy, but the Shenandoah Valley, the administrators un - dogs under the shade trees of an adjacent his - colorful vision of the townspeople drives derstand their audience is diverse, too. The toric home. Winchester forward. complex includes an 11-gallery museum Like many Shenandoah Valley locales, “Winchester has always been a crossroads, showcasing Shenandoah Valley artifacts, the Winchester and surrounding Frederick both geographically and historically,” says elegant Glen Burnie Historic House, and six County are merging two worlds: the richly Adrian O’Connor , the editorial page editor of acres of exquisitely landscaped gardens lush storied past of the area, which is a natural The Winchester Star . The newspaper has been a with herbs and vegetables, canopying vines, staple in the community since 1896. For more and trellised roses. than a decade, O’Connor has written a local Glen Burnie was the home of the history column, learning first-hand of Winches - founder of Winchester, Colonel James ter’s growth from many perspectives. Wood, who came to the area as a surveyor in 1735 and applied for a 1,200-acre land grant. Eventually, he laid out 26 half-acre lots on what’s now the walking mall in Old Town Winchester, establish - ing Frederick Town, or today’s Winchester. Years later, Wood’s descen - dant, Julian Wood Glass Jr., in - herited Glen Burnie and began renovating the deteriorating house. When Glass died in 1992, he left the estate to the city The editorial page edi - of Winchester. Today, the house tor of The Winchester is filled with Glass’ expansive col - Star , Adrian O’Connor lections of furniture and artwork collects tales from Win - — by such renowned artists as Sir chester’s past for his Joshua Reynolds, Gilbert Stuart, local history column. Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and Winchester’s downtown includes the Rembrandt Peale — as well as his beautiful architecture of such buildings as Rouss City Hall (center). antique china, silver, and books. 28 Cooperative Living/July 2010 1 AT A GLANC E... POPULATION: 26,000 (Winchester); 102,000 (Win - chester and surrounding Frederick County) LAND AREA: 9.3 square miles (Winchester) ELEVATION: 791 feet above sea level FOUNDED : 1744 as Frederick Town FACT OID : According to local historians, control of Winchester changed hands more than 70 times during the Civil War — and 13 times in one day! 3 2 1. & 2. Judge John Handley, a native of Scranton, Pa., so liked the Winchester area when he visited that he left part of his fortunes to build a library — Handley Regional Library — and endow a local school — now John Handley High School. Both are architecturally stunning. 3. One of the most romantic spots in the Glen Burnie Gardens is this long, vine-covered walkway leading to a graceful sculpture. Franny Crawford , the museum’s acting In the spirit of community, the Little The - ucts. It’s a great time to be in the food executive director, says the board has ambi - atre lends its parking lot to area farmers to world in Winchester.” tious plans for the Winchester property: sell freshly harvested produce to locavores Even with the newfound emphasis on the “We’ve done a great job on the inside of the and area restaurants several days a week. arts and outdoors in Winchester, history museum. Now we’re focusing on the outside. Ed Matthews , chef and owner of One hounds won’t be disappointed. We’re beginning to create history and nature Block West, routinely treks to the Farmer’s On the Old Town walking mall stands the trails. And we plan to recreate a frontier envi - Market from his upscale bistro near the Old Old Court House Civil War Museum. Built in ronment with a 1760s cabin, develop outdoor Town walking mall. On a recent Saturday, he 1840, the courthouse was used as a hospital classrooms, recreate a Civil War encamp - stocked up on locally grown rhubarb, and prison during the Civil War. Today, an ment, and establish a native wheat field and a mesclun, green garlic, and Chinese broccoli. 1800s courtroom is recreated downstairs (last rock garden.” “Asparagus and strawberries are the gems of year, abolitionist John Brown’s trial was reen - May in this area,” he smiles. By July, he’ll acted here), and more than 3,000 Civil War FINE ARTS, FINE DINING horde herbs, squash, early tomatoes, early relics are on display upstairs. For performing arts patrons, the city offers stone fruits, and local berries. “We have one of the best artillery-shell a local acting troupe at the Winchester Little “We’re so close to the producers here collections you’ll see anywhere,” brags Mari - Theatre, and both students and professionals that we get the best-quality products be - col Miller , manager of the museum. Accord - share their talents at Shenandoah University’s fore they get to market in the metro D.C. ing to Miller, the Old Court House is not only Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. The latter is host - area,” Matthews explains. “And we have a historic landmark but also a research center, ing a 2010 Summer Music Theatre schedule a burgeoning farm-to-table movement with ongoing exploration into the prisoners that includes such favorites as Show Boat , that’s seeing more and more producers who were held there. Examples of the sol - Oklahoma! and Seussical . and consumers focused on local prod - diers’ graffiti are still visible on the walls. July 2010/www.co-opliving.com 29 1 2 One of the most fascinating scrawls is a fiery curse on Confederate President Jeffer - son Davis, written in 1863 by a Union pris - oner (forgive the spelling and punctuation): “To Jefe Davis: May here set afloat a boat without compass or rudder then that any contents be swallowed by a shark the shark by a whale whale in the devil’s belly and the devil in hell the gates locked the key lost and further may he be put in the northwest corner with a southeast wind blowing ashes in his eyes to all eternity.” Indeed, the passions ran high in Win - chester during the Civil War. Local lore 3 says the town changed hands between Union and Confederate forces more than 70 times — and, by some accounts, 13 times in one day! The grueling First, Second, and Third Battles of Winchester took place here, as did the First and Second Battles of Kernstown, the Battle of Cool Spring, and the nearby Battle of Cedar Creek at Frederick County’s Belle Grove Plantation. Throughout the en - gagements, Generals Jubal Early, George Custer, and Philip Sheridan walked Win - chester’s streets. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson actually lived in Winchester during the win - ter of 1861-’62. He planned the famous Val - 4 5 ley Campaign from his headquarters in a home on Braddock Street loaned to him by a local, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Moore. Today, the home is a museum displaying Jackson’s family and staff artifacts. Also open to the public is George Wash - ington’s Office Museum on Cork Street. Here, a small log building was used as a mil - itary headquarters during the French and Indian War. As commander-in-chief of the Colonial forces, Washington planned the 6 construction of Fort Loudoun in 1755 and 1756. (The original well remains at the site of the fort on the outskirts of town.) Few people realize that Winchester played such a pivotal role in Washington’s formative years. The first U.S. president ar - rived in town at the age of 16 to survey what he then referred to as “a vile outpost.” Later, he purchased land here and eventu - ally was elected to the House of Burgesses representing Frederick County, his first po - 1. Interim Executive Director of Tourism Sally Coates says the top three tourist magnets for Win - litical post. chester are its Civil War history, Patsy Cline, and outdoor activities. 2. The George Washington Of - fice Museum details Washington’s years in Winchester, first as a surveyor at the age of 16 (the RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS bronze statue is of a young George) and later as commander of the Colonial forces as they fought Winchester’s beauty and history — and the French and Indian War.