Middle Peninsula Friday, April 24, 2015 10 A.M

136 Middle Peninsula Friday, April 24, 2015 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photo courtesy of the Garden Club of Middle Peninsula

In 1607 Captain John Smith first visited Essex County describing the area as “excellent, pleasant, fertile, and goodly navigable.” Essex County has a history rich in planting, crabbing, fishing and oystering. This year’s tour of the Middle Peninsula features five homes, each set within the unspoiled scenic rural beauty of the Rappahannock River Valley. Visitors will have access to four 18th-century homes of Tidewater architecture offering a glimpse into the lives of colonial planters and patriots. On tour are restored outbuildings bordered by flower gardens and old native trees and shrubs. In addition, three homes will be open for the first time: a coastal-style waterfront home with elegant furnishings, a mid-18th century handsome frame dwelling and a 1750s saltbox.

Hosted by (804) 769-2601. Available locally or by mail Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula before April 15 at the following locations: Lowery’s Restaurant and The Crying Shame ______Chairmen in Tappahannock, Divin’ Off the Dock in Kerry Garrett West Point, Cyndy’s Bynn in Urbanna, and (804) 443-1413 or The Wild Bunch in Kilmarnock. [email protected] St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 7924 Richmond-Tappahannock Hwy Betty Anne Garrett (Rt. 360), Millers Tavern. Preordered box (804) 443-2275 or lunches for $12 pp. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. [email protected] Reservations required by mail prior to April Frances Ellis 17. Check payable to St. Paul’s Episcopal (804) 443-2025 or Church. Mail to Poohdie Miller, P.O. Box [email protected] 309, Aylett, VA 23009. (804) 769-0865. In- clude designated attendee name(s) and choice of chicken salad or spinach mush- ______Tour Information room quiche. No confirmation mailed. Pre-order list will be used on day of event for Tickets: $30 pp. $15 per site. Tickets are lunch pick-up. available on tour day at each of the houses and at St. Paul’s Church, 7924 Rich- Complimentary and served at mond-Tappahannock Hwy, Millers Tavern. Goldberry from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Credit cards may be used at St. Paul’s and Facilities: Available at St. Paul’s Church, Goldberry. Cherry Walk, and Goldberry. Advance Tickets: $25 pp. www.vagard- enweek.org or send a check by April 15 Weather permitting Plein-air artists will payable to the Garden Club of the Middle be painting in the gardens at each site. Peninsula with a self-addressed, stamped Directions: The tour is in the central part legal-sized envelope to Kelly Gwathmey, of Essex County, near the town of Tappa- 6357 W. River Road, Aylett, VA 23009. hannock, and may be accessed by Rt. 360 137 Middle Peninsula

E from Richmond, Rt. 17 N from Williams- Woodlawn-Sandy burg, and 17 S from Fredericksburg. Tour headquarters: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2009 Dunbrooke Road, Millers Tavern 7924 Richmond-Tappahannock Hwy (Rt.360). From Richmond: St. Paul’s is 12 Also referred to as the “Circus House,” mi. east of Central Garage (intersection of Woodlawn-Sandy is a late-18th-century frame, 360 & 30). From Tappahannock: St. Paul’s three-bay home with dormered gambrel is 10 mi. west of downtown Tappahannock roof and a large chimney at each end. The on Rt. 360. Shelba, Woodlawn-Sandy and front doors, original to the house, open to a Cherry Walk are within 1.6 mi. of each center hall with three-foot-high wainscoting. other. From St. Paul’s: go east on 360 Originally believed to have been built by the for 1.3 mi., turn left onto Rt. 620 Wood family from Woodville, the house was (Dunbrooke Rd.) for 0.7 mi. to Shelba on acquired by Captain P.A. Sandy in 1859. The left; leaving Shelba turn left for 1.2 mi. to home is complete with period antiques, in- Woodlawn-Sandy on left; leaving there, cluding European bird- themed prints and the turn left for 0.4 mi. to Cherry Walk on left. owners’ collection of antique clocks. During Woodlawn (Trible) from St. Paul’s, go east the 1940s, Woodlawn-Sandy was a winter on 360 for 2.7 mi. Woodlawn (Trible) will resting place for a traveling circus known as be seen on your right. Goldberry is 4.6 mi. the Johnny J. Jones Exposition. Folklore tells on Rt. 17 N from the Rt. 17 and Prince St. that a sideshow member known as “Monkey intersection in Tappahannock; turn right Woman” lived in the house and that an ele- onto Goldberry Ln. and follow signs. From phant is buried on the property. The English Port Royal: take 17 S for 22.7 mi., take basement, which served as a tavern room crossover on left onto Goldberry Ln. and wine cellar, has circus memorabilia on display. Behind the house sits a large barn with high-pitched roof where circus carriag- Ticket includes admission to the es were stored. Notable is a summer-kitchen following 5 private homes and gardens: house containing pottery and kettles indic- ative of the period and an antique Virginia farm table. A unique guest house repurposed from three chicken houses is adorned with Shelba 1940s New England cottage furniture, pay- 763 Dunbrooke Road ing homage to the owner’s roots. Crushed clam shells lead to English-style gardens that Shelba is a modest 18th-century align a brick pathway and include perenni- Virginia planter’s house situated on a als and numerous native plants. Steven and working farm. The earliest part was Elsbeth Wyatt, owners. completed during the Revolution and consisted of a side hall and large room with Cherry Walk a sleeping loft above. In the 1790s, a parlor and loft were added to the hall. In the 2459 Dunbrooke Road, Millers Tavern early 1800s, a separate kitchen was constructed; there is a penciled date of Built c. 1780 by Carter Croxton of Revolu- August 1815 in the English basement of the tionary War fame, Cherry Walk is an intact kitchen. Today, the old outside wall of the Eastern Virginia plantation complex. The back is exposed in the connecting passage- property remained in the same family until way between the dining room and the 1982 when it was purchased by its present kitchen. A full English basement with brick owners. The house is a four-bay brick dwell- floor is located beneath the main part of the ing with a dormered steep gambrel roof atop house. High ceilings, a built-in bookcase a high English basement. American and En- lined with old wallpaper, a magnificent fire- glish antiques, period wallpapers, 18th-cen- place mantel with over mantel paneling, tury prints, watercolors and other collected and mostly original heart-of-pine flooring pieces grace all of the rooms, together with are downstairs. There are eight fireplaces; the owner’s art work. Of particular interest seven of them are functional. Many win- are eight supporting outbuildings that have dows have original glazing. Shelba contains been carefully restored as well: two dairies, Southern, mostly 18th-century, furniture smokehouse, summer kitchen/guest house, and a collection of period engravings four-holed privy, an enlarged early barn, related to Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, plank corncrib and late-19th-century black- Lafayette and other founders of the smith’s shop. In 1998, the owner designed a republic. The owners’ love of music, books, formal period garden behind the house. An and art is readily apparent. Outdoors, entrance arbor leads to a central shell walk 18th-century inspired gardens as well as and crosswalk which divides the area into contemporary ones designed by Cynthia four symmetrical gardens, each with a des- Carter speak to her passion for gardening. ignated purpose: a swimming pool with sur- Richard and Cynthia Carter, owners. rounding perennial beds, a vegetable garden, Middle Peninsula 138

Shelba an area for small and large fruits, an herb/ The majority of the first floor and all of the native plant garden. The wide variety of old second floor have the original flooring. The native trees and shrubs, along with the gar- English basement is made of handmade dens and evolving meadows, hum with the bricks. Between the floors were ladders until activity of birds, butterflies, and other pol- the 1860s when narrow, steep steps were linators. Cherry Walk is listed on the Vir- added. Outside are gardens of vegetables ginia Landmarks Register and the National and flowers that reflect the life of a farming Register of Historic Places, and the entire family. The owner keeps the gardens as property has been placed under a conserva- would a farm and family of the 1750s. The tion easement with the Virginia Department smokehouse in the yard is believed to be of Historic Resources. Walter and Beverley from the 1750s. Woodlawn is listed on the Rowland, owners. Virginia Landmarks Register and the Na- tional Register of Historic Places. Brother Woodlawn (Trible) Mark Jenkins, OSF, owner. 4431 Richmond Highway, Tappahannock Goldberry Built around 1750, Woodlawn is a 1023 Goldberry Lane, Tappahannock classic example of a New England- Overlooking the Rappahannock River style saltbox house with one and a half sto- and neighboring Blandfield Plantation ries, five rooms, two chimneys, and four fire- is Goldberry, a sprawling coastal-style home places. It is the only one of its type in Essex with an open floorplan, heart-of-pine floors county. The roof rafters are continuous, indi- and vaulted ceilings. Built in 1996, the home cating the house was built as a saltbox. In makes the most of its waterfront setting with the late 1860s, three feet were added to the a view of the river from each room. The inte- back of the house. Despite the age of this rior of the home is eclectic, blending the old house, all baseboards, chair rails and most of with the new and formality with informality. the window trim inside are original. The in- Inside is a mix of antiques and family por- terior doors are original as well; they have traits from Virginia and South Carolina, a five raised panels and a single panel at the historic map, and artifacts from the owners’ top. Two of the doors have string latches. travels, resulting in elegant and comfortable Much of the window glass is also original. living spaces. Of particular interest is the 139 Middle Peninsula stone fireplace and hearth within the recently built fully modern kitchen/living room addition. The paneling, overhead beams, and cab- inetry are of pecky cypress from South Caro- lina. The mantel is a 150-year-old hand-hewn beam of solid chestnut. Unique to the fireplace are several fossils inlaid in the stone, each found by one of the owner’s children. On the riverside of the home is a grand porch sweeping the front of the house which steps down to a patio featuring a cannon from the French Napoleonic era and brought back from Haiti. Charles and Linda Gilchrist, owners.

Places of Interest in downtown Tappahannock: Essex County Museum, Water Lane Auto, Home, Life, Health, Farm, Crop, Business Tappahannock Art Guild, Prince Street 2 Locations St. Margaret’s School, Water Lane 636 Church Lane, Tappahannock, VA 6372 Mechanicsville Turnpike Suite 102 St. John’s Church, Duke Street Mechanicsville, VA 804-443-3307 804-723-4952

Tappahannock-Essex Chamber of Commerce www.riverlandinsurers.com . The Tappahannock Essex Chamber of Commerce welcomes all of our guests to Historic Garden Week. Enjoy your visit to Essex County.

Visit the Essex County Museum in downtown Tappahannock during your visit.

www.tecoc.com

Lowery's Seafood Restaurant Founded 1734 Captain's Grill & Patio

The perfect location for your wedding, reception, christening, family reunion, musical program or meeting

‣ The Finest Seafood Anywhere ‣ Live Entertainment Every ‣ Certified Angus Beef Thursday & Select Weekends ‣ All American Chicken ‣ Full Service Outdoor Patio ‣ Daily Lunch Specials ‣ Outdoor Cornhole & Giant • beautifully restored, with period accessories and organ ‣ Lunch Buffet Monday, Jenga • heated and air-conditioned Wednesday & Friday • used interdenominationally ‣ Saturday Night All American • holds approximately 175 people Buffet ‣ Open 7 Days a Week • separate restrooms & dressing room located in adjacent building ‣ 528 Church Lane • ample parking ‣ Full Carry-Out Available ‣ Tappahannock, VA 22560 ‣ Great Kids Menu ‣ (804) 443-4314 Located at 103 St. John’s Church Lane, West Point, VA 23181, on Route ‣ Friendly Dedicated Staff ‣ lowerysseafoodrestaurant.com #30 south of King William Courthouse, 10 miles north of West Point ‣ Beer, Wine & Mixed Beverages For further information and pictures, go to http://oldstjohns.org St. John’s Church Restoration Association 804-843-9194 Middle Peninsula 140 Photo courtesy of Dawn Howeth

Woodlawn - Sandy

Key to HGW Tour Symbols

walking tour garden emphasis designated shuttles parking available

history focus lunch offered special activities important notes included conducive for bus refreshments first time on GCV groups included HGW Tour restoration site

Divin’Divin’ OffOff thethe DockDock Featuring unique gifts for the home and garden with an emphasis on the river. Great collections of accessories and clothing. Conveniently located in the heart of the neighborhood at 417 6th Street in beautiful downtown West Point. Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 10-6 and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Saturday, 10-5. invites you to share in the flowering of this historic church, 804•THE•DOCK in the English manner during the hours of 10:00 - 4:30 Friday, April 24, 2015.

7924 Richmond-Tappahannock Hwy. Millers Tavern, Virginia