Cover Story

Story by Michael G. Latsko, Director of Music & OrganistPhotographs by Bill Remington

Just in time for its 275th anniversary in 2020, Grace Church will have a refurbished, refreshed (and slightly taller) chancel, a new musician’s gallery framing an interior view of the beautiful tower stained glass window, and a brand new, bespoke pipe organ – the result of the unlikely combination of Mother Nature’s fury and what music director & organist Michael Latsko likes to call “blessed insurance,” a riff on the popular hymn “Blessed Assurance.”

It all started in October 2015 when, after several weeks of constant rain, a visiting organist turned on the church organ. The resulting din sounded like a broken circus calliope – about 50 or 60 notes were sounding at the same time!  That was no “joyful noise.” The rains had overwhelmed water abatement systems at the top of Grace Church’s bell tower. Over the course of several days, a literal waterfall fell inside the tower where, several floors below, a major portion of the church’s pipe organ was housed. Leaking rain mixed with plaster dust to ruin tin, brass, wood, leather, metal and electrical components.

The damaged organ had been purchased and installed in 1959 for $8,500 by Waynesboro organ builder Mark Wetzel. The church raised the funds for the organ from numerous parishioners, including principal donor Donald Gordon Stevens, Jr. His donation was made in memory of his wife Margaret Douglas Randolph who sang in the choir for many years.  In 1995 the church commissioned moderate refurbishments at a cost of $85,000 which was raised through the combined efforts of many parishioners and church friends. The wife of Richards D. Maxwell, Jr. (1910-1990) generously offered a matching grant in memory of her husband.

The rains of 2015 were what Michael calls the “second strike” by the Almighty.  In spring 2012, the church’s basement boiler misfired (the “first strike”), sending an internal rainstorm of black, oily soot through the ducts and all over the church including the pipes and mechanism of the organ.  In July 2012 Grace Church paid organ technicians Grooms & Payne approximately $8,000 to remove the pipes, clean and reinstall the organ.

Water-damaged organs, however, are much more difficult to repair. “Given the organ’s age, repair would have been a stopgap at best, with no guarantee against further problems down the road,” said Michael, an opinion backed up by more than one consultant engaged to assess the damage.  Moreover, the configuration of the organ, with the console at the front of the nave and the pipes at the back, could now be rethought. “It certainly was not ideal,” said Michael. 

In summer 2016, the church commissioned an “organ task force” to consider options and make a recommendation. In addition to studying and learning as much as they could about pipe organs, the group took field trips, both locally and to locations in Virginia, Washington D.C., and North Carolina, to see, hear, and play a variety of organs, to meet with organ builders, and to learn about and actually see what quality organ building craftsmanship looks and sounds like. 

Back at home, some parishioners did not notice that anything was wrong! In fact, there were various notes missing among the “ranks” of pipes that would not, according to Michael, be obvious to the untrained ear. Significantly, only one of the two keyboards (called “manuals” on an organ) had working pipes, so Michael was limited in the literature he could play. Besides not being able to play music employing two manuals (common in organ literature), it was more difficult to avoid overpowering the choir with the sounds that were available (sounds are produced by organ “stops”. Some of the missing “sounds” included angelic and shimmering strings, the robust trumpet and quieter oboe, and other flutes and flues that create the “traditional” organ tone.  Finally, all of the unaffected pipes were “out in the open” and not behind shutters (called the “Swell” division) so the organist could not control the volume of the sounds produced or create an effective crescendo.  

The pipe organ was dubbed the “King of Instruments” by Mozart, and, until the arrival of the atomic bomb, the organ was the most complicated instrument conceived by the mind of man. In the 18th century, during Mozart’s time, no other machine or instrument was as complex – or as grand – as the pipe organ. The art of organ building has changed very little from its origins in the third century BC, and high-quality pipe organs have lasted for centuries. In fact, the oldest playable pipe organ is in the Basilica of Valère in Sion, Switzerland and was built around 1435. New organs like the one at Grace Church rely on organ building techniques that have been around for centuries. Except for some modern materials (like epoxy and electricity), the pipe construction and key action in particular have stood the test of time.  Even with modern materials (such as carbon filament for trackers), pipes are still made from wood and metal, keys with cow bone and wood, and bellows with modern simulations of animal skins.  Electronics and technology comprise the most differences – powering bellows to provide the air to the pipes and proving the organist with playing aids and conveniences that enable rapid fire changes to the sounds (“registration”) generated. 

During its research, the Grace Church organ task force met with the founders of Taylor & Boody Organbuilders. Founded in 1977 by Virginia native (and graduate of both Woodberry Forest and Washington & Lee) George K. Taylor and Maine-born John H. Boody.  In 1979 they moved their company to a renovated school building just outside Staunton, Virginia.  Before they began working together George and John studied and apprenticed with some of the most respected organ builders in the world today [Rudolph von Beckerath in Hamburg, Germany, Fritz Noack in Georgetown, MA, and John Brombaugh of Middletown, OH]. Working together between 1970 and 1977, they built some twenty organs before launching their own business. Important to the members of Grace’s organ task force, all the parts of Taylor & Boody organs are made in the company’s Virginia workshop including the metal and wooden pipes and reed stops, keys (from cowbone and native woods), and the internal workings.  

For any organ to perform at its best, it must be adapted to its space, and its space adapted to it, or, as Michael says, “the room (and acoustic) in which the pipe organ will be played is as important as any of the stops.” Taylor and Boody recommended that Grace engage Dana Kirkegaard, an acoustic engineer as well as an architect based in Downers Grove, IL. Dana has served as consultant to over 250 churches and concert halls and is the recipient of numerous architectural design awards by the American Institute of Architects and architectural critics. Dana visited Grace Church three times and, on one occasion, led members of the organ task force through a series of acoustic tests in the church. He also pointed out some structural issues that should be addressed. After lengthy and thorough discussions of the problems and possibilities, it became apparent that some modifications to the sanctuary would be needed for optimal acoustic effect. These modifications included minimizing sound-absorbing surfaces and raising the ceiling over the chancel. Aesthetic issues also were discussed.  In particular, locating the organ entirely at the front of the church would allow removal of the pipes and their mechanisms from the back of the church which would, in turn, permit opening up the sanctuary to the tower, allowing the light and color of the tower’s tall stained glass window to suffuse the nave.  Such an alteration was, in fact, a restoration of the way the tower and nave were related prior to the installation of the 1959 organ and would be a stunningly beautiful change in the sense of interior space and light.

“I keep saying the Spirit led us to where we are today,” says Michael, who had dreamed of re-opening the gallery arch which had been covered by organ pipes since 1959, envisioning sunlight once again flooding the nave and giving those inside a chance to see the tower window. 

The new pipe organ at Grace Church will be Taylor and Boody’s opus 77 and will be located in chambers built from existing niches on either side of the chancel. The chancel was added to the original building designed by William Strickland after the church burned in 1895. Its ceiling was lower than that in the nave, and a proscenium arch prevented sound from travelling out into the nave. Grace has enlarged the chancel’s floor space, added more flexible (and comfortable seating), and provided more room for the baptismal font to be surrounded with a wooden inlay decoration as well as additional space for wedding parties in the front. The chancel’s ceiling was raised sixteen inches, no easy task considering that after the 1895 fire three steel beams were added to support the roof over the new chancel. “I refer to it as the Holy Trinity of beams,” said Michael, “but that wasn’t enough, because the good people of Grace built a wall of rocks and stones atop these beams!” This strong structure explains why Grace suffered no damage in 2011 when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake rumbled from nearby Mineral. The new ceiling is constructed of quarter sawn oak and decorated with a beautiful design in wood marquetry thereby finishing out the chancel in the church’s original gothic revival style. The resulting acoustic will be a rich, warm sound that should enhance choir and congregational singing as well as the spoken word. 

The new organ will have three keyboards (manuals) instead of the former organ’s two with the customary pedal board to be played with the feet. The addition of a third manual will allow for the performance of almost all organ literature and offer performers, as well as Michael, almost infinite flexibility during service playing. The organ will contain 30 stops controlling 37 ranks of pipes (a rank generally means one pipe per note on the keyboard or pedal board). There will be over 1,800 pipes (ranging in length from sixteen feet to smaller than a pencil); the former organ had 800 or so pipes. All the pipes are made of lead/tin alloys or seasoned wood and constructed at the Taylor & Boody shop. The playing action is mechanical, or tracker action, meaning there is a direct mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe(s) of the corresponding note(s). The former organ had electric action given the distance from the console in the front and the pipes in the rear gallery. 

The organ will have some truly beautiful sounds. In addition to the bold chorus one usually associates with a pipe organ, there will be lush and shimmering strings, bold reeds including a sixteen foot long pedal trombone and a somewhat softer oboe, many gorgeous flutes made of wood and metal, and a unique sixteen foot violone (string bass) in the pedal.  

Some of the old will be incorporated into the new. Several pipes from the old organ were melted into the alloy used to make the new pipes. In this way, Michael said, “we honor the many years of music-making given forth by the old organ which resulted from the generosity of many parishioners and their families, many of whom still worship at Grace today.” In addition, the chimes (tubular bells struck by felt hammers) will be relocated high along the wall of the north chamber. These chimes were refurbished in 1994 by former Keswick resident Helena (“Nini”) Stevens Sliney and her sisters “to honor our father Donald Stevens [former owner of Charlottesville’s Gaslight Restaurant] and to continue honoring his first wife Catherine Loving Stevens.”

Ace Contracting has performed all the interior construction and associated HVAC, electrical and other upgrades, including removal of the existing chancel ceiling and raising of the metal beams that extend across the chancel ceiling. The church’s lighting and sound system have both been significantly improved, including the new ability to transmit sound and video to the parish hall and stream worship services on the internet. In the gallery, the old organ was removed as was a drop ceiling which opened the bell tower. Small side galleries were boxed in to provide a reflective surface, and a new musicians gallery has been added with a wrought iron railing executed by Stokes of England Blacksmiths. 

Grace established a formal capital campaign to raise the $1.8 million needed for the renovations, new chancel furnishings and the organ. Fortunately, seed money for the campaign came from the “blessed insurance” that covered the damage to the former organ. The Grace Church family has been generous, not only with the needed funds (including a generous group who offered to match gifts) but also with “sweat equity.” Over several weeks, parishioners and friends hauled buckets of dirt and rocks to create enough room under the chancel floor for new electrical infrastructure and vapor barriers as well as a channel through which the trackers to the south organ case could run. Inlay on the wooden music desk came from trees that fell on the property during past storms. Other wood (walnut and quarter sawn oak) used in the new chancel ceiling and floor and the handsome new organ cases was donated by parishioners. Other parishioners provided hospitality and housing for the organ builders as they installed, tuned, and voiced the many pipes. 

“We truly hope that the new organ and the overall improvements to the building will enhance the outreach and mission of Grace Church by converting it into the cultural center of the Keswick community, serving as a venue for concerts, recitals and performances,” said the Reverend G. Miles Smith, the church’s rector.  

The organ will receive its official debut to the public on Saturday, December 14 at 4pm when Grace will host a Community Christmas Carol Singing featuring favorite carols, solos, trumpeters, and a few solo organ works to show off the new instrument. Michael has also lined up an exciting array of performers throughout 2020 to inaugurate the new organ and suggests paying attention to the Grace Church website and Facebook page for details of these celebratory events.

By Colin J. Dougherty

Albemarle Supervisor – Rivanna District Representing Keswick

1.  Mike, in 100 words or less, tell us something about yourself:

I grew up on a farm in Oregon where I worked until I left for college. I acquired degrees in math and computer science (B.S.), biochemistry (M.S.) and biophysics (Ph.D.). I joined the UVa faculty in 1979, as a scientist, working chiefly on biomathematical modeling.

As an educator I have taught classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and directed the biophysics Ph.D. training program. I have also managed several federal grants.

I have lived in Albemarle County for the last 40 years, and in Rivanna District with my wife Diane for the last 21. Both of my children attended Albemarle County Schools and graduated UVa.

2.  Why are you running for Rivanna Supervisor?

I like the idea of serving the community that has given so much to me.

And truly, no candidate should run unopposed. Voters need to be offered a choice of two visions. My opponent’s vision is the same as the current supervisors who have started the county on an overspending and overtaxing spree that is making the county unaffordable for lower- and middle-income residents.

My vision is to let Virginia stay Virginia, where county residents are not overburdened with taxes and nitpicking regulations that interfere with their daily lives. Every new set of regulations calls for a new layer of bureaucracy to administer them.

I would like the County to take a more creative approach to solving problems, using free-market solutions, instead of throwing money at everything and setting up more inhibiting regulations. I want our county to be affordable for hard-working taxpayers, and more open to innovative solutions that do not cost money or add more regulations.

3.  What are your priorities for Albemarle County and its residents?

My first priority is the well-being and prosperity of Albemarle residents.

I want the county to stay affordable for all taxpayers. We are a small community and cannot afford the lavish spending programs that are planned for us by our current supervisors, and by my opponent. Real estate revenues come from only 37,000 homes!

More spending means higher taxes, and that comes out of household budgets. That hurts a lot of people. Fiscal responsibility means fiscal restraint.

I want to protect our agricultural community by keeping land-use values. County bureaucrats should not be micromanaging farms by an ever-growing body of regulations. Farmers remain the best stewards of their own land.

I would like to see the rural areas have more representation in our local government. About 41 percent of Albemarle’s population lives in rural areas, and yet 25 percent of the rural secondary roads remain unpaved. In 2008, Marcia Joseph, then chair of the County’s Planning Commission, stated: “I’d much rather put aside money for a park in the urban area than set aside money to pave a road in the rural area.” This means that the vehicles of many rural residents are ruined by wash-board, pot-holed gravel road surfaces. Rural residents also risk longer EMS response times.

And the Rain Tax? One of my neighbors told me she and her husband would have to plow up their paved driveway if it were passed. How did it even reach the voting stage in the first place? Our supervisors and my opponent never met a tax they didn’t like.

Traffic is another problem. But bike lanes, walking paths, ride-shares and more bus routes will not solve it. (My opponent wants ride-share lots to be built in our rural areas.) See below for my views on transportation.

4. What are your views on education?

I want our kids to have the best education possible, and that’s why I’m a big believer in back-to-basics education: a strong and demanding curriculum of math, science, English, history and languages. With that kind of broad background, our students will have the widest possible choices when they graduate. And it will be easier for them to change their career choices later on in life.

I am skeptical of the new Project-focused high school center model. The same goals could be accomplished with summer internships and apprenticeships – and save the county millions of dollars in infrastructure. It would also avoid shuttling students all around the county – increasing the already traffic-congested roads. I worry too that time studying the core subjects will be minimized.

Creativity is finding links between things that no one else can see. You need broad and deep knowledge to start the creative process.

I should add that I support building a new high school to serve the students in northern Albemarle. This will take hundreds of vehicles off the Rt. 29 corridor, and save students the hours they spend on school buses.

We could solve a lot of the area’s problems with some decentralizing.

5.  How do you think the County can make it affordable to Albemarle residents to buy their own homes? Would you support a permanent affordable housing fund as a line- item in the budget? Should the County purchase property and other real-estate to re-sell to low income residents?

We all want our residents to be able to afford a home, but too often government action can make things worse.

I think taxpayers going into the real estate business is opening a huge can of worms. I most definitely do not want – in my opponent’s words – a “permanent affordable housing fund” to “buy up properties when they become available and put those as part of our stock of affordable housing.”

It’s not clear if this “stock of affordable housing” would be for sale or for rent.

Either way, the county would need an entirely new and expensive layer of bureaucracy to find, purchase, and sell or rent, and to continue to administer a yearly growing stock of taxpayer-funded properties. That would cost taxpayers millions and millions of dollars. Would the neighborhoods have anything to say about this?

And what if buyers defaulted on a loan, or failed to pay rent? Or, if they bought a cheap, taxpayer-subsidized house, then resold that house to make a profit – at taxpayer expense?

Look at what’s happening in the real world: The lack of affordability in housing has to do with the red tape that the builders have to navigate just to get to the construction stage. There could be three or four design and architectural reviews, more meetings and reviews with the Planning commission, more public meetings with more demands, and, as always, thousands of dollars in proffers – all of which get added to the housing price.

Plus, there are the “inclusion” requirements that a certain percentage of those homes be sold at below the builder’s cost. These demands raise the prices of all units by thousands of dollars.

You cannot solve this problem by throwing taxpayer money at it. But you can pull the county back from its overbearing regulatory environment which is the direct cause of the lack of affordable housing.

6.  What suggestions do you have for solving the county’s transportation problems?

Our population needs to be mobile, to get to work on time, to spend less hours in traffic. Our residents should not be spending an hour on a bus to go 3 miles. Maybe that’s why are our buses empty most of the time. The system is clearly not meeting our residents’ demand.

We do need smaller buses, but not the high-dollar electric kind that will cost taxpayers in the millions. And the bus routes should be studied and redesigned – what a great summer “project focused” effort for high school students using data and programs and real-time experimentation, and a great way to earn extra credit towards college admission.

There is another “microtransit” solution that would save the county tons of money and transit riders lots of time. The county — perhaps in conjunction with the City using the county’s revenue sharing funds — could contract with a rideshare provider such as Via, Lyfft or Uber. The services use apps and smart phones to group travelers in a single vehicle that share a destination. This also works well for disabled constituents who need a more direct service.

This is being done in Arlington,Texas and in Innifsil, Ontario. I would not like to see the countryside dotted with (expensive taxpayer funded) rideshare lots. Carpooling should be a voluntary effort and individual decision.

7.  What do you think of the County’s “new economic development plan” whereby county funds are used to lure new businesses to the area?

There are a lot of ways to attract new business without taxpayers footing the bill.

Our hard-working taxpayers should not be asked to invest in a business they know nothing about. That’s not right. How do we know that the businesses funded by our taxpayers will remain solvent? And which ones will be the favored ones? This program is not only costly, but an invitation to corruption.

The best way to lure businesses to Albemarle County is to have a business- friendly environment, to make our county an easy place to do business, to lighten the burden of regulations and taxes. That’s a far better incentive than doling out taxpayer funds.

8.  Do you support the county’s Climate Action Plan?

Protecting our environment is a high priority with me. I am proud that our county is 72 percent tree cover and has no heavy industry. Our air, water and soil is in prime shape.

Having said that, I do not understand why county taxpayers should spend hundreds of millions of dollars following an international directive when we have done our job, as a county, to maintain our own environment.

I am the only candidate for supervisor who regularly attended the county’s Climate Action meetings. I never saw my opponent. The county staff’s Climate Action Phase 1 reports, the result of 2,000 hours of staff time, which were never published or publicized, can be viewed on my website.

Albemarle taxpayers will be funding, among other things, free EV (electric vehicle) charging stations, and “fuel” for the private vehicles of all county employees (second largest employer in Albemarle,) Residents could be subsidizing large solar farms, and solar panels for the homes of private individuals. Among many, many other things.

Another goal is to replace the our 222 school bus fleet with EVs, each costing $200,000 more – and which only have a range of 120 miles. That’s $44.4 million dollars! (Our county, with longer school bus ranges, will probably not be awarded any of Dominion Energy’s 100 subsidized EV buses.)

And that’s just for starters. The price tag for the county’s climate program is exorbitant. The goals that have been proposed have never been subject to cost-benefit analysis, let alone any measure of effeciveness.

The program will also come with an intrusive – and expensive – bureaucracy to administer the plan and monitor the daily lives of county residents. (The county’s budget currently calls for hiring three new planners, at a salary of $90,000 plus benefits.)

One part of the plan proposes “auditing” the utility usage of residents and businesses, to meet the challenges posed by lack of “transparency between energy providers and energy consumers.”

County taxpayers cannot afford it.

9.  What is the biggest threats to Keswick and how would you address them?

Keswick finds itself at the intersection of growth in Albemarle and the surrounding counties. We need to protect its rural, historic character while making it affordable for all.

Keswick has a serious traffic problem on Rt. 22/231.The huge trucks barreling around the curves are, in my opinion, the main danger. Police need to enforce the current truck traffic ban and perhaps impose a lower speed limit.. I would also push to reduce the maximum size of trucks allowed along Rt. 22/231.  The road is not suited for large amounts of traffic, let alone a stream of tractor-trailers. These mammoth vehicles are destroying the surface of the road and ruining the road for local traffic.

Other threats include over-taxation and over-regulation. After the “Rain Tax” debacle we cannot trust our current supervisors – or my opponent – to keep taxes and fees down. I have visited working farms and talked to farm owners. One of these farms was 500 feet from the Orange County border, and the farmer told me how much he would save if he only lived in the adjacent county! Farmers take taxes very seriously, it could determine their very survival..

Unlike my opponent, I am thoroughly familiar with the county’s Climate Action Plan. It is chock full of intrusive regulations that will pose a threat to  farmers and landowners not only in Keswick, but throughout the county. Our farmers who will be  beset with regulations and accompanying fines will be threatened, as will be our way of life here. The county’s plan will eventually demand that farm equipment be electrically run! Have they asked our farmers what they think?

Without our farms, we have lost our historic, rural character.  The same goes for all rural residents.  I believe we need to trust our farmers and landowners to steward their land, otherwise Keswick will lose its open, relaxed, wholesome character.

To cast your vote for Mike Johnson this Nov. 5, you must fill in the bubble next to the word “write-in” then write his full name. 

About the Candidate:

Mike Johnson, a retired scientist and UVa Professor Emeritus, is a forty-year resident of the county and has lived in the Southwest Mountain District with his wife Diane for the last 21 years.  As an educator, he taught pharmacology and biomathematics, and directed the biophysics Ph.D. training program, along with  several federal research grants. The Professor worries that excessive spending will result in higher taxes that will make the county unaffordable for lower- and middle-income residents. He believes that ethnic, racial and economic diversity in our community is what makes us rich. But the California tax-and-spend policies of his opponent will have the same results that they produced in California. People will be forced to leave their homes for lower-tax jurisdictions. 

“People who sit behind desks cannot micro-manage a farm through overbearing regulations and costs and expect it to stay solvent.” “The so-called ‘Rain Tax’ motivated me, and apparently the rest of the County,” he adds. “It showed how out-of-touch our Supervisors were.  They were all prepared to rubber-stamp this destructive tax proposed by County staff.  Now, how did that ever even get to the voting stage?  That tells me– it’s coming back. Several Supervisors should lose their seats over that one.”

“We want ethnic, racial and economic diversity in our community.That’s what makes us rich,” he says. “The lavish spending programs proposed by my opponent and the current Board of Supervisors will put an  end to that diversity.“You can see this in other localities that have put forth programs such as my opponent and the current Supervisors. Just look at what has happened in California. We do not want that to happen here.

“I am running to keep the County affordable, and to keep County regulations from stifling our vibrant agricultural and business cultures.”

To learn more about Mike Johnson, see his website: www.mikejohnsonforsupervisor.com.

By Colin J. Dougherty

Albemarle Supervisor – Rivanna District Representing Keswick

1.  Bea in 100 words or less, tell us something about yourself:

I am a native Virginian from a military family. I have a Bachelors and a Master’s Degree and I had a long professional career as a teacher, principal and director of 24 elementary schools before retiring. I also served on my local city council for 20 years and on the planning commission for 4 years prior to that. I served on an air quality management board that focused on reducing the effects of air pollution. I also was on a transportation board that dealt with finding solutions to traffic congestion as well as on an organization of localities that found effective and economical ways of providing fire and police services.  So, I feel that I bring a lot of experience in working on solutions to many of the same issues that the Board of Supervisors are tasked with. 

2.  Why are you running for Supervisor?

I received a call from our current supervisor, Norman Dill, back in November and was asked because of my qualifications if I would be interested in serving on the County Board of Supervisors – and I said I would be. It does take a lot of time and fortunately I have the time, experience and energy that is necessary to effectively serve the citizens of Albemarle. I want to address the significant affordable housing issue in the county that affects a wide variety of citizens, including our growing senior population. I want to work on solutions for our transportation issues. I strongly support continued improvements to teacher compensation and investment in our school system.

3.  What are your priorities for Albemarle County and its residents?

The primary issues on my platform are preserving the rural areas, education, transportation, planning for climate change, affordable housing, and sustainable growth. 

4.  What are your views on education?

I spent many years as a teacher, then a principal and finally a director of 24 elementary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. I am very supportive of teachers and believe we must ensure our teachers are compensated enough that we continue to attract the best qualified individuals. I would want to make sure that the County funding allocated for the School System addresses the needs of our students and that there is a plan to make sure the programs to give additional assistance and opportunity where needed is provided. 

The recent ProPublica report is a wake up call that we as a community need to solve the problem of equity in our schools. Not all families come with the same resources to provide extra advantages for their children but they all want the best education possible. 

5.  How do you think the County can make it more affordable for Albemarle residents to buy their own homes?  Would you support a 

permanent affordable housing fund as a line-item in the budget?  Should the County purchase property and other real-estate to re-sell to low-income residents?

I advocate property tax reimbursements for affordable housing projects to make them more attractive to build. Developers should sign performance agreements that keep the units affordable for 30 years in exchange for the property tax reimbursements. I favor the formation of an affordable housing fund governed by policies that allow the county to buy affordable housing when it becomes available in order to keep and increase existing affordable housing stock. The fastest growing segment of our population is seniors. As our County population ages, it is critical that we ensure our lower or fixed income residents, which includes seniors, have reasonable and adequate options for housing.

6.  What suggestions do you have for solving the County’s transportation problems?

In the urban ring, we must move the transportation system to the next level.  Working with the City,  UVA and JAUNT, we need to expand our coverage, especially in our growth areas. We also need to promote and expand Rideshare opportunities in rural portions of the County.  Implementing the use of smaller buses that run more frequently on a regular schedule is an efficient use of resources and is economical. More long term, complex solutions such as capital improvement projects designed to alleviate congestion and continuing to expand multimodal commuting opportunities in the urban portions of the County must also be addressed.  

7. What do you think of the County’s “new economic development plan” whereby County funds are used to lure new businesses to locate in the area?

It is a common practice to incentivize the relocation or startup of businesses to an area seeking to expand its tax base, and so these practices are not unique to Albemarle County. An example of how Albemarle County can work with community partners to provide desirable accommodation for business is ensuring a trained and skilled workforce in the County, by supporting Albemarle County Public Schools, PVCC’s Network2Work, CATEC, Piedmont Workforce Network, and the City of Charlottesville’s GO workforce training programs. Another example of a partnership is with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Habitat for Humanity on the redevelopment of Southwood, originally a privately owned, low-income mobile home park which was in a severe state of disrepair. The partnership has included $2.25 million in grants from the state, and this community-based project will ultimately create a mixed income, mixed use development that can serve both the residential and business population.

8.  Do you support the County’s Climate Action Plan? 

The County is still months away from formulating a Climate Action Plan, so we will have to see what the finished product looks like, but one of my biggest concerns is Climate Resilience, which involves actions that a community can take to protect its population and physical assets from destructive forces associated with Climate Change, such as flooding, more frequent and severe storms, drought, etc. This includes public safety as well as land use. For example, we want to be sure we have sufficient, well trained public safety resources available and a really good emergency system in place. This is something we really need to address, and in particular, a County-wide Enhanced 911 address and information system for providing citizens with correct addresses and road names, which includes assigning and installing address markers, road and street signs as necessary, and maintaining the database for the system.  With regard to land use, flood plain locations are changing, and we need to be able to identify and adapt to those changes.

9.  Bea, what are the biggest threats to Keswick and how would you address them?

Keswick is well known for its rural character and it is important to ensure it remains that way. County programs that help to ensure the preservation of our rural lands include the Agricultural and Forestal Districts designations and the Acquisition of Conservation Easements (ACE) program. The Districts are rural conservation areas reserved for the production of agricultural products, timber, and the maintenance of open space land as an important economic and environmental resources, and can provide the landowner with land use taxation benefits.  The ACE program was designed to provide a financially attractive way for lower income landowners to protect family farms in Albemarle County and their unique open space resources. I strongly support these successful programs that help to preserve our farms, forests and natural beauty for today and for future generations.

About the Candidate:

Bea LaPisto Kirtley is a Virginia native and a retired educator who wants to represent all the residents of the Rivanna District on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. She and her husband, Ben, along with their two rescue dogs live in Keswick, where they bought land in 2005 and built their home.

Bea was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, where her father was stationed in the Army. Growing up, the family moved to a variety of locations with her father’s military transfers. “While my dad was Army, my oldest brother decided to join the Navy – which is why we moved to San Diego after Dad retired! California provided myriad opportunities for me – both professionally and in servce to my community and the region as a whole.”

Before retiring, Bea was a teacher, principal and director in charge of 24 elementary schools and her husband is a retired deputy sheriff. Bea also served on her local City Council for 20 years and 4 years on the planning commission. Other boards where she served include being the president of an organization for fire and police services that worked together to provide better services at a reduced cost for cities. She was on the Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (serving 14 million people), which works to reduce air pollution.  “I was always cognizant of the balance between cleaning up the air and working with the various industries to do so – looking for a common sense approach. You can only do that by listening to both sides of the issue.” She also served on a local council of governments, whose main mission was local transportation issues – something she considers urgent in Albemarle County as she listens to the needs of the residents. “It is imperative that we have a regional approach to solving our transportation issues – working with CAT, JAUNT and UVA, to improve services. “I’d like to see the use of smaller buses that run on a more frequent schedule.” Bea believes improving public services, whether it is transportation, fire, police, affordable housing – all of these are regional issues and working together with our community stakeholders can provide improved service at a lower cost. “Being fiscally responsible is an obligation of all elected officials – that’s good governance.”

“One of my goals is to ensure excellent educational opportunities for all our children and to support our teachers to make that happen.” 

Climate change planning is another area of focus for Bea, especially with regard to climate resilience, which addresses the planning required to ensure, to the extent possible, protection of assets and citizens. “We need to address our region’s climate change impacts in a way that ensures we have public safety programs in place for the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. For example, storms are increasing in frequency and severity, and so people need to be prepared for issues such as flooding that is greater than we used to see.”

 “I am issue oriented and listen to both sides of any issue before making a decision.” A case in point is Bea’s interest in working with the local Farm Bureau. “I recently met with citizens who are serving on the Albemarle Rural Advisory Committee and are also members of the local Farm Bureau and we discussed their knowledge regarding farming, agriculture and forested areas – and they offered to the County their free advice and expertise. I offered to be the liaison.”  

“A common sense approach to governance with practical solutions that will focus on the issues – that is what my experience has taught me. I don’t engage in drama  and negativity – there is important work to be done and my priorities are there.”

Bea has not been idle during retirement – serving our community as a CASA volunteer, helping fundraise for the Hospice of the Piedmont Keswick 5K Race, member of 100 + Women Who Care (fundraising for local nonprofits) and the League of Women Voters.

For more information or to know more about Bea, please visit her website: BeaForAlbemarle.com

Keswick Hall To Unveil a Dramatic, Expansive Transformation

Setting Bold Goal to have the Facility Open by the Third Quarter of 2020

Covered by Steve Bessett for Keswick Life

The beautiful and historic Keswick Hall is set to reopen late Summer 2020, following the completion of an extensive and loving restoration that marries the resort’s classic style and sophistication with luxurious comfort and modern amenities.  The Hardies are directors of the private investment firm H7 Holding Company, which owns Keswick Hall and The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, among other investments – including Clover Hill Farm and the adjacent Oakdale Farm. 

They purchased Keswick from Orient Express Hotels in 2012. Orient had purchased the property from Sir Bernard Ashley, co-founder of Laura Ashley fabrics and decorating, in 1999. Ashley had purchased the property, which was then a club facing bankruptcy, in 1990, and turned it into an inn.  The Hardies shuttered the inn to the public in January 2018 to start the renovation process. The remodeling is extensive. Much of the manor house has been taken down to the studs with the wiring and plumbing updated as well as the layout of rooms redesigned.

The entirety of Keswick Hall has been expanded and transformed, including a new guest wing that will increase the number of accommodations to 80 guest rooms, The room unveiled recently  is one of 38 planned The inn’s new look may be a big change for old customers. Previously, Keswick rooms were smaller with darker woods, artwork and antiques. The new rooms are less formal and more open. The older rooms were all of different sizes and dimensions and they were smaller with dark woods and a variety of antiques and paintings. The new rooms will be lighter, brighter and more consistent in size, although there will be different suites available. 

The main manor house, which was built in 1912 as a private residence and served as a country club before becoming a luxury hotel in the 1990s. The hall is currently under heavy renovation that will reduce the inn’s former 48 smaller lodgings by 10 while expanding the size of the new suites. An additional residential wing featuring 42 suites will join the manor house as well as the addition of a redesigned spa, a new infinity pool and cabanas and reimagined resort grounds. 

In addition, the renewed Keswick Hall will feature a signature restaurant by legendary Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. For this project, owners Molly and Robert Hardie tapped the architecture firm Hart Howerton distinguished lighting design firm, L’Observatoire International and the renowned landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz to work together and redefine the art of American hospitality.

“It has been no small undertaking to transform this special and iconic retreat and we cannot wait to unveil the new Keswick Hall,” said owners Molly and Robert Hardie. “We poured our hearts into thoughtfully redesigning the property and we feel confident that our passion for this project will be embraced by everyone who visits following our reopening.”

Guest accommodations will feature four signature suites, including a distinctive two-The new signature restaurant by acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten invites guests to take in the expansive views of the Virginia Mountains while feasting on organic and sustainable ingredients from local family-owned food supplies and farms. Comprised of 130 indoor seats, 20 bar seats and 70 outdoor seats, the new space will feature white tiled and wooden floors, custom-designed light fixtures from L’Observatoire International, ceramic-face bar, a stone fireplace and vibrant outside area. As a pre-dinner treat, guests are encouraged to partake in a game of boules on the Pétanque court with a cocktail in hand.

Other property enhancements will include a Market located off the lobby, offering a selection of artisanal breakfast items, teas and coffees in the morning, thereafter transforming into a retail shop featuring a range of sundries, gifts for children, bathroom amenities and more. The newly designed ballroom with a pre-function space can accommodate up to 250 guests. There will also be several new areas specifically designed for weddings and special occasions, one housing a natural amphitheater adjacent to outdoor-tented areas that can hold events for up to 400 people.

To highlight the outdoor experience at the new Keswick Hall, landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz are creating an enchanting outdoor destination that will allure guests to explore myriad walking paths and beautifully designed resort grounds –all sustainable and reflective of the native Virginia landscape. Additionally, a striking infinity pool will be the focal point of Keswick Hall’s brand new pool pavilion and cabanas, providing a unique, hammerhead design – unusual for this type of pool – that will allow for more guests to take in the breathtaking views of the stunning Virginia countryside. Opening in spring 2021, will be Keswick Hall’s new spa featuring eight sumptuous treatment rooms with services that incorporate indigenous ingredients employing organic red flower products.

The pair has strong Charlottesville connections. Robert Hardie is a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors and earned a bachelor’s degree from the university as well as a master’s degree in business and a doctorate degree in management from its Darden School of Business.

A Richmond native, Molly Hardie graduated from the UVa School of Medicine and has served on the UVa Health Foundation Board of Trustees, the Virginia Discovery Museum board and the Peabody School board of trustees. The couple lives on a farm near Keswick Hall and are raising five sons.

“When we first saw Keswick Hall, we fell in love with it. We’re only about six miles from Charlottesville but it is like being in a different country. We realized it was time to update the property and we thought, why not us?” Robert Hardie said.

“We love the property and we can care for it and treat it with the respect it deserves,” he said. “We’re lucky to be the ones to bring it into the 21st Century.”

As part of the expansive and transformative restoration, Molly and Robert Hardie are creating five speculative homes at Keswick Estates, which will debut in 2021. Keswick Estates, the residential enclave that is part of the property, provides residents the opportunity of enjoying resort life all year round.

Keswick Hall, nestled in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont region, among lush, rolling hills at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, will also offer exceptional local experiences for guests. This peaceful and pastoral property will provide access and transportation to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier plantation, the University of Virginia, and gastronomic and cultural experiences including visits to local wineries, craft breweries, distilleries and farms

The goal is to have the facility open by the third quarter of 2020.

Jacqueline Camille Langholtz and William Randolph Taylor met by chance at Common House, in Charlottesville, just weeks after the social club opened in the summer of 2017. The attraction was instantaneous and mutual, and on June first they were married in the chapel of St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville. Thomas Taylor, of Keswick, brother of the groom, was best man and Annabel Taylor, the groom’s sister, offered a reading—Jacqueline’s sister, Gabrielle Langholtz was the bride’s attendant and her daughter Bess was flower girl. The multi-faith ceremony was led by Episcopal Rector Will Peyton with support by Catholic Deacon Chris Morash, with a recitation of Hebrew prayers by cousins of the bride.

Immediately following the noon wedding, the couple celebrated with family from near and far at a garden luncheon at Keswick Farm. Summer flowers, including Sweet William, came from the gardens of Monticello, Castle Hill, and area farms and were arranged by Lou Hatch. Guests enjoyed a lunch by Judy Johnson and JM Stock and the beautiful cake was a wedding gift, baked by Melanie Pyne, a local friend of the bride. Annie Vanderwarker kept things organized under the tent while dogs lolled under the tables and children played badminton.

Jacqueline was finishing a lunchtime meeting with the Director of Second Street Gallery, where she is a board member. William, a founding member of the club and patron of the art gallery, was there with his business partner and father, and asked to be introduced. “Hi, dad!” were Jacqueline’s first words to her future father-in-law. Sensing William’s sweetness, and admiring his suspenders, she hoped he would ask her back for a drink at Common House. He did. As she entered the club for their first date a week later, Jacqueline bumped into a woman who happened to be walking in at the same time. Seeing the two ladies approaching together, “Hello, mother,” was William’s surprised greeting. With that second parental introduction haphazardly taken care of, William and Jacqueline quickly found they had much in common: a shared love of Broadway’s “Hamilton: An American Musical,” an enthusiasm for the arts and community engagement, New York City, homemade pasta, August birthdays, many shared friends, and more. They realized that Jacqueline, Education Manager at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, had known William’s aunt, Monticello’s Executive Vice President, since she’d moved from Brooklyn for the job six years prior. Jacqueline owned up to having a “no dating bankers” rule. William, Assistant Vice President at BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, took the position that financial advisors weren’t really bankers. She chose not to argue the point. As luck would have it, Common House happened to take a photo of their social hall that evening and posted it to Instagram. Among the drinkers and diners it’s easy to see two people, both eagerly leaning towards each other, engaged in a lively conversation. William has a huge smile on his face. The club’s first couple will be their first couple to get married.

The bride, 35, manages educational programs at Monticello. A graduate of William & Mary, she has recently begun a doctorate program in Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy at the University of Virginia. Jacqueline is the daughter of Dr. Danielle Moretti-Langholtz, a lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and Curator of Native American Art at the College of William & Mary. Her father, Dr. Harvey Langholtz, is also a professor at William & Mary and is a retired US Coast Guard Commander and Director of the International Peace Operations Training Institute.

The groom, 33, is Assistant Vice President and Financial Advisor at BB&T Scott & Stringfellow in Charlottesville, where he works in partnership with his father, Rocky Taylor. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, William is currently completing his MBA at Virginia Commonswealth University. William’s mother, Sandra Mirkil, lives in Charlottesville. His stepmother, Liza Nash Taylor, is a novelist. The couple will reside in Charlottesville.

Margaret Sutherland Carragher and David Gregory Kalergis, Jr. met at the wedding of their mutual friends, Annie and Drew Thomasson, in May 2016. There was an immediate spark of attraction and three years later, Maggie and David wed at James Monroe’s Highland in Charlottesville on June 1, 2019.

The bride’s best friend, Hillary Parsons, served as the maid of honor with the groom’s sister, Natasha Kalergis, as one of the bridal attendants. The groom’s brothers, Hugh and James Kalergis, served as best men with the bride’s brother, James Carragher, as one of the groomsmen. The groom’s daugher, Virginia Porter, alongside his nieces, Harper and Grayson, and nephew, Alexander, served as flower girls and ring bearer. The service was officiated by The Very Reverend Charles C. McCoart, Jr., Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

A boisterous and spirited cocktail hour and reception followed the 5:30pm ceremony. Charlottesville-based photographer and friend of the groom, Meredith Coe, expertly captured the smiles, joyful tears, and love and happiness of the wedding celebration. Kelsey Mayo with Donovan-Groves Events coordinated the wedding celebration and Faded Poppy provided the floral decorations. Guests enjoyed mouthwatering BBQ and fried chicken prepared by BBQ Exchange and were then treated to an Albermarle Bakery carrot cake for dessert. The Virginia Beath-based 6-iece band, 10 Spot, kept the dance floor rocking as they entertained guests with tunes ranging from Motown to classic soul, rock’n’roll to contemporary party hits. The couple exited the reception under the lights of sparklers, surrounded by their closest family and friends, and made their getaway in a 1980s Jeep Wagoneer.

The bride, 28, manages community partnerships and events at Lowcountry Land Trust, a conservation nonprofit based in Charleston, SC. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she moved from Washington DC to Charleston, SC shortly after meeting the groom. She has made her new home in the Lowcountry and enjoys spending summers at the beach with her family. Maggie is the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Tuttle, author and President & CEO of the American Horticultural Society, based in Alexandria, VA. Her father, Robert Carragher, serves as Senior State Affairs Advisor at the Society for Human Resource Management, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

The groom, 36, is founder of Lowcountry Family and Children, a family and child counseling practice based in Mount Pleasant, SC. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, David completed his Masters of Education in Counselor Education at The Citadel Graduate College. David’s mother, Mary Motley Kalergis, is an author, photographer, and interviewer living in Charlottesville, VA. His father, David Gregory Kalergis, Sr., is co-founder and CEO at Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Charlottesville, VA-based biotechnology and pharmaceutical company. The couple and their family will reside in Charleston, SC.

Bianca Moreira Catta-Preta and Ross Michael Svetz were married on June fifteenth two thousand nineteen. The ceremony took place at the mountain top cabin on East Belmont Farm which provided breathtaking views of the southwest mountains. The ceremony was presided over by Cathy Quick of Staunton, Virginia and a blessing was performed by Bruce Binney, originally from Keswick, Virginia. Ross’ cousin, Dex Wheeler, was the Best Man. Bianca’s sister, Jade Catta-Preta, was the Maid of Honor and Bianca’s best friend, Jessica Philhour, was the Matron of Honor. They had lots of other bridesmaids and groomsmen including Amanda Svetz Wainscott and Mary Alice Wainscott was the flower girl.

Immediately following the ceremony, the happy couple held a reception for family and friends at the newly renovated Keswick Hunt Club, which also happens to be the same location where the Groom’s parents had their reception! Food was catered by Exchange Events of BBQ Exchange in Gordonsville, Virginia and the cake was provided by Hot Cakes of Charlottesville, Virginia. The breathtaking Keswick scenery was enhanced by the beautiful flower by Phlour Design & The Orchid Station, as well as by Gregory Britt Design. The couple, along with their guests, danced the night away to incredible music performed by Soul Expressions of Richmond, Virginia. The rehearsal dinner for the bridal party, family and out of town quests was held at Prospect Hill.

The bride was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia with her family in 1995. Her parents, Fernando and Sely Catta-Preta currently life in Charlottesville, Virginia and her sister Jade Catta-Preta lives in Los Angeles, California. Dianca received her bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College, where she majored in Art and played lacrosse.

The groom was born and raised in Keswick, Virginia. His parents, Michael and Betty Svetz currently live in Keswick, Virginia and his sister Amanda Wainscott lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two children. Ross received his bachelor’s degree from Hampton Sydney College where he majored in Economics.

Bianca Catta-Preta and Ross Svetz met in Charlottesville, Virginia in summer of 2014. During the summer of 2016 Bianca and Ross moved to Keswick, Virginia where they currently reside at Cismont Manor Farm. After several years of dating Ross proposed to Bianca at their favorite spot on Cismont Manor Farm. Bianca is the Marketing Associate for Southern Development Homes and Ross is part of the sales team at Virginia Eagle Distributing.

Insiders Guide to the 10th Annual Grace Church Country Fair and Farm Tour

Please join us June 8 as we celebrate 10 years of charitable giving and present our 10th Anniversary Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair, “beyond the gates”.

Come along with us as we go “beyond the gates”, past those rock walls and stroll with us down the tree lined paths to six of Keswick’s celebrated historic farms, the Keswick Hunt Club and Grace Church.  Our chosen route for this special day in the country was first traveled by Virginia’s earliest settlers, future Presidents, Revolutionary and English militia, Confederate and Union troops and the grounds are as beautiful today as they were 300 years ago.  

Grace Episcopal Church stands at the site of one of six colonial churches in Virginia that still have active congregations. Foundation stones of the original church, constructed of wood and completed in 1748, are visible today under spreading oak trees in front of the present structure. A mountain chapel had previously existed on the premises, having been built by the earliest settlers in the area, probably in the 1730’s. Thomas Jefferson served as a member of the Vestry from 1767 to 1770.

The present church edifice was completed in 1855 and was later damaged in a fire in 1895. The stone tower and 4 walls remained standing and were incorporated into the present structure when the church was rebuilt. A 1,575-pound bell was salvaged from the ashes and is still in use. 

The first annual Blessing of the Hounds was held at the Church in 1929.  Each Thanksgiving Day, this colorful ceremony brings together foxhunters and their horses and hounds in the church yard for prayers and thanksgiving. 

Today Grace Church has over 200 members and provides personal and financial support for numerous charitable missions, including Grace’s food closet, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels and many others.  100% of Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair proceeds are dedicated to funding these special ministries. 

…and Country Fair Stepping back to “Yesteryear”, Grace’s Church Yard transforms to an earlier time, when families, friends, and neighbors gathered to celebrate each other, a bountiful spring harvest, baby livestock and the sharing of memories past and present. 

The Country Fair has something fun for every member of the family.  Let the kids get up close to the 4-H Livestock exhibits featuring over 50 entries during Albemarle County’s only sanctioned 4-H Livestock Show. Meet the llamas and learn about keeping bees and enjoy live music throughout the day as you visit farm to table vendors, talented artisans and taste some of the delicious food offerings from Grace Grill and food truck vendors. Take time to visit our Historic Grace Church and observe the restoration taking place as we prepare to welcome our new organ later this year. And if you have a green thumb and have questions about gardening in Virginia, there will be Master Gardeners and representatives from Southern States to answer your questions.  Children’s pony rides available after 2:00 PM.

Gates open promptly at 10 AM and will close at 4:00 PM.  Y’all come!

Old Keswick is part of a tract given by Thomas Walker to his daughter, Jane Frances Walker, who married Dr. Mann Page. The estate’s residence was built in stages beginning in 1736.  The Page family sold the farm to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Augustus in 1952. Formed here as a thoroughbred breeding and racing operation, Keswick Stables has sold many notable horses, including Sabin, Simply Majestic, Alwuhush, Eishin Guyman, Johnny D, Raise a Native, Natalma, and the 2015 Eclipse Award winning filly Stellar Wind, who won more than $3 million. 

Equestrian, Ann Sutherland, will demonstrate combined driving, a sport that showcases skills in dressage, marathon, and cones.  Equestrian, Tadd Coffin, will discuss and demonstrate his latest saddle technology, SmartRide Rx, and Thera-Tree. Coffin won two gold medals at the 1996 Montreal Olympic Games. He appeared in the movie National Velvet and will be in the upcoming film Billy & Blaze.

Belvoir Cemetery was first settled by Col. Robert Lewis and was later owned by Dr. Thomas Walker and his son, Col. John Walker. Col. Walker was a U.S. Senator and an aide to General Washington. During the Revolutionary War, British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his men stopped at Belvior en route to Charlottesvile, in an attempt to capture Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and others. 

Col. Walker’s only grandchild, Eliza Kinloch, inherited Belvoir and married Judge Hugh Nelson. Nelson served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, a federal judge, and President elector in 1809, a Congressman, and Minister to Spain,  Several prominent figures lie in Belvoir’s cemetery, including Dr. Walker, Col. Walker, Eliza Kinloch, Hugh Nelson and Thomas Warner Meriwether,  Grace Church, Walker’s Parish, now stands on 2 acres of land John Walker transferred from Belvoir in 1769.

At nearby Montanova, visitors may watch a farrier’s demonstration from 10 am to 1:00 pm; enjoy twin sisters, Lise Pratt and Marcy Burke, demonstrate dog agility training; observe riding lessons; and see horses, ponies, goats and chickens.  Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary will all so be onsite.

Castalia was owned by relatives of famed explore Meriwether Lewis for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. Murray Boocock purchased the farm in 1894 and initiated a breeding program known as the Castalia stock Farm.   He built two large livestock barns, one of which burned down. The “upper barn” was a massive two-story structure with ground floor and second story central sliding doors with large singe pane, divided light windows. Three louvered cupolas graced the peak of the standing seam gambrel roof. Lattice work under the eaves provided additional ventilation. In the ventilated second story, hay was stored before being dropped through chutes to the stalls and feeding pens on the ground.

In 1986, Castalia was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Hitchcock, who bred, raised and showed champion Paso Fino horses.  In 2013, Paul and Diane Manning purchased Castalia and restored the upper barn to active use while preserving much of the original fabric.  During the Farm Tour, the historic barn will be filled with antique dealers from the Mid-Atlantic offering art, furniture, textiles, silver, jewelry, books and accessories.

Cismont Manor Farm was formed from the Cloverfield’s plantation in 1820, as a home for Peter Minor Meriwether and his wife, Mary Walker Meriwether.  The Meriwether’s initially lived in a tavern on the property, which later served as a home for Rev. Ebenezer Boyden.  The tavern, which no longer stands, became known as the Cottage Rectory, and Boyden conducted a school there. The Meriwether’s built the present residence in 1836. The Wheeler family acquired the farm in the 1950’s and have bred trained and exhibited some of the country’s top show horses.

Cismont Manor consists of a main manor house and four cottages on 200 acres of land. There are three barns with several turnout paddocks, and three jumping coups for use by the Keswick Hunt Club. In the pass 50 years, two major additions have been added to the main house. In the 1960’s, formal rose gardens were established, and a lake added.  Visitors will see a collection of rare antique carriages and classic automobiles, as well as stables where number of U.S. Equestrian Foundation Hall of Fame horses have been trained, including Showdown, Isgilde, Gozzi, Super Flash, Apollo Sand, Tijuana Starlet, One For The road, and Celebrity.

Keswick Hunt Club was founded in 1896, and its recently renovated clubhouse was built in 1898. Foxhunting has been an important part of the community since 1742, when, according to sporting histories and family tradition, Dr. Thomas Walker of Castle Hill imported a pack of foxhounds. Walker also helped found the city of Charlottesville in 1762. 

The Hunt Club has hosted at least one annual horse show since 1904.  Initially, the lower ring’s proximity to the railroad tracks was a convenience for spectators who traveled to the event by train from Charlottesville.  Riders whose horses were spooked by the trains welcomed construction of the upper ring in 1957. 

During the club’s early decades, hounds resided at whichever area farm belonged to the Master of Foxhounds. In 1937 hunt club officers decided to locate the kennels on hunt club grounds.  The present kennels, built in 2018, are home to about 70 American Foxhounds who lead mounted club members on chases in designated territory in four counties.  The hunting season stretches from last summer to early spring. 

Ben Coolyn was first settled by James Clark under the name of Clark’s Tract.  Clark built the first dwelling in the early 1800’s on a site to the east of the current home.  The Clark’s named the property “Ben Coolyn”, meaning “Breezy Mountain” in their native Scottish language.  An heir added orchards and renamed the property “Fruitlands”. It was named as Ben Coolyn in 1918 by the Bogert family, who renovated the residence to take advantage of frequent breezes. In the late 1940’s, the Hallock family downsized the house by removing the sleeping porches and the second story north bedroom. 

In 2001, Ann and Peter Taylor bought some of the property, and the name “Ben Coolyn” conveyed with the sale. A number of Hallock’s still live on part of the original land, which was named “Fruitlands”.  The Taylor’s restored several gardens, created an arboretum, and planted many native trees, including 176 willow oaks, and deciduous flowering magnolia cultivars and crosses. Ben Coolyn has a bank barn standing on an older rock foundation, and a circa 1850 dogtrot corn crib.  Katie and Chris Henry bought Ben Coolyn in 2017 and established a vineyard.  Vineyard Manager Emily Pelton will give short presentations during the day.

Fruitlands was originally part of the Ben Coolyn estate, which was settled by James Clark under the name pf Clark’s Tract.  Clark Clark’s names the property “Ben Coolyn” meaning “Breezy Mountain” in their native Scottish language.  A subsequent heir, Major Jimmy Clark, added extensive orchards and renamed the property “Fruitlands”.  The estate was renamed as Ben Coolyn when it was acquired by the Bogert family in 1918.  They renovated the residence to take advantage of frequent breezes. 

In the late 1940’s, the Hallock family moved from their Long Island farm to Ben Coolyn. Several generations of Hallock’s continue to reside on a large portion of the original land, which was renamed “Fruitland”.  During the Farm Tour, the Farmington Beagles will demonstrate the sport of beagling at Fruitlands. The pack consists of 30 beagles that hunt primarily in the western portion of Albemarle Country, in Louisa County, and further afield by invitation. 

Please visit www.gracefarmtour.org for additional details.

Tickets can be purchased on line for $15.00 before the event, and for $20.00 the day of the event. Children are free. Please contact Bill Anda, Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair spokesperson at 434/906-5138, [email protected]. 

By Keswick Life

The Keswick Horse Show, the second oldest horse show in the United States, started and continues to be a community horse show that represents the best of Virginia horseman and our community. Started in 1904, the horse show has been chaired by members of the Keswick community and Keswick Hunt Club. The Horse Show happened even when hunting didn’t. In the years after World War I, hosting and running the annual show was about the only organized Hunt Club activity. First held Thursday, May 26, 1904, the show continues until this day. There have been many changes including types of classes and horses, but one constant has always been hard work by club members to make it possible.

Every spring in May, when all the country is beautiful, the Club holds its annual Horse Show unique in point of originality and emblematic of the highest sport of sporting spirit there being no Club prizes and only laurels to the winners in the form of ribbons. Privat Cups, the gifts of individuals, are often presented, but these are not Club prizes. It is a gathering of the gentry from far and near to enter into friendly competition, their best carriage teams and best hunters as well as their saddle horses and children’s ponies.

It is always a fete day and the psychological moment of enjoyment for the Southern beau and belle. Then the spirit of friendly rivalry where professionalism is eliminated, and our interest is keen because of our own and our friend’s exhibit, adds a personal zest to the show, a Grand Stand, a Judges Stand with Band Stand above, and a splendid Show Ring are matters of local pride.

– Dr. Thurman 1908 Virginia Country Homes

There wasn’t much going on back then, and when the day of the show would come, everyone in the neighborhood would be there, everybody took a box in the grandstand and stayed there and watched the whole day. And then they had the bandstand in the center of the ring right over the judge’s stand, we’d get a rusty old band to come out from Charlottesville, they played the National Anthem and all sorts of marches and songs when they awarded ribbons, the band was lots of fun and kepy everyone amused.

– Charlotte Rafferty

Keswick is one of a handful of shows in the country that have traditions and identity distinct from the generic show. Jimmy notes Keswick has a beautiful landscape , good parties and southern hospitality. 

– Jimmy Lee

From the tile of Julian Morris to today’s Cismont Manor and Belcort Farm, Keswick has always been home to top show horses.

Today, horses arrive at the Keswick showgrounds in gooseneck trailers, large vans, or larger tractor trailers. In earlier years horses and ponies had to use their own powere to get there. The late Ellie Wood Keith had a stable full of ponies at her home on Bollingwood Road near UVA for most of this century.In the late 20’s and 30’s she mounted children on ponies and rode with them across town, over Free Bridge and out to Keswick for the show. Her daughter, Elliwood, now Mrs. C. McGhee Baxter,remembers the ride took a few hours, and that was good for the ponies. Elliewood Keith continued teaching children to ride and taking them to shows through the 1970’s. 

Of the dozens of Keswick Horse Show trophies, the handsomest is the Waiting Home Perpetual Trophy for Champion Model Horse. On the trophy’s mahogany base stands a sculpture of KHC member Peggy Augustus on Waiting Home soaring over a rail fence. Peggy wears formal attire including shadbelly coat and top hat. The horse has his front legs folded and hind legs still stretched back.after taking off at speed. The sculpture is by Marilyn Newmark who took great pains to achieve accuracy. She took countless photographs of the horse jumping in the ring at Old Keswick, the Augustus home. He had to be braided so the sculpture would have the exact number of braids. She carried an old pair of his horseshoes to her studio. She even made Peggy crouch for hours in her living room in riding position while she made numerous sketches to be sure she had accurately sculpt the creases in her hunting breeches. The resulting sculpture is a beautiful memorial to a champion horse. The trophy resides now in  the Keswick Hunt Club for all to view, and is awarded annually to the Model Champion.

By Tony Vanderwarker

At 6 PM on February 23, a hundred and forty pairs of eyes blinked and went wide as Hunt Club members walked through the front door of the renovated club.  People were agog at the sight of the gleaming floor, the new porch dining room created from the former storage room and kitchen, the new curtains festooned with hunting scenes, and the 137 photos hanging on the walls which had been cleaned, reframed, captioned and hung in orderly groups on the walls. 

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As people toured the renovation, they were delighted by the men’s and ladies rooms, fresh, clean and roomy with new lighting and handicap accessibility, the gleaming kitchen, new hallways painted a light cream color and finally the heating and air conditioning systems which brought the hundred and twenty-year-old club into the twenty-first century. 

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The musty, tired interior had been given a facelift and makeover without losing any of its character. Everything felt familiar but refreshed, like an old friend showing up in a sparkling new outfit. 

Arnold and Ernest were back behind the bar that had been lowered and refinished and the faded green Naugahyde front removed and Judy and Marika were enjoying the spacious new kitchen. Earlier, when Judy first walked in, tears came to her eyes as she took in the sight. 

The renovation of the Hunt Club could not have happened without Paul Manning, Kenny Wheeler and many other generous contributors along with the constant and expert supervision of  Peter Taylor.  , the board who initiated the project, to Ceil Wheeler who helmed the decorating committee,  the team from the contractor, and the countless members who stepped up with donations of furniture and put in the time volunteering to assist in the renovation and in the previous week had swarmed over the club readying it for the opening. 

Still to be finished is the exterior. The Huntsman’s cottage has been removed and in its place are numerous bushes from  Keswick Hall that will figure in the landscaping plan along with a barn and huntsman’s cottage.

 Get ready for the next 100 years of fun. Keep checking Keswick LIfe’s Facebook page and reading Keswick Life for updates on this fabulous restoration of Keswick’s fine old clubhouse.