Author: PHW

Virginia Civil War Legacy Project

The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and the Library of Virginia are partnering in the Civil War 150 Legacy Project to identify and locate original source materials in Virginia that are related to the Civil War and emancipation. The project will be visiting Winchester and Frederick County on July 22 and 23. Start looking for relevant items now!

Materials may include letters, memoirs, pension materials, military passes, discharge papers, diaries, hand-drawn maps, and selected memorabilia and other Civil War era manuscripts. Of particular interest to the project are global and pacifist perspectives and the viewpoints of individual African Americans and women. Items must be owned by the individual presenting the materials for digitization.

Follow the project and see a sampling of the scanned items at The Virginia Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the Civil War website.

American Freedom, 1865-1965: A History

Join Dr. Warren Hofstra for a free lecture on February 16. Is a single, finite definition of freedom the immutable bedrock principle of the American republic? Or is freedom an idea with a history that has changed in meaning with time and varied political circumstances? This talk explores how Americans have understood freedom in the critical century following the Civil War.

The lecture will be held on February 16, 7:30-9 PM at Shenandoah University’s Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium.  For more information, call (540) 665-5442 or e-mail jmille3@su.edu.

This event is sponsored by The Center for Lifelong Learning.

The Shenandoah Valley Book Festival

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester

If you love books and are interested in Civil War history, you will not want to miss the Shenandoah Valley Book Festival! In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this year’s event at the MSV will focus on the Civil War in print

What:       Shenandoah Valley Book Festival

When:      Saturday, January 22

Where:    Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst St., Winchester

Cost:          $8, $6 for senior/youth (includes gallery admission).  Free to MSV members.

More Information:  Available here or by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 235.

Website:  www.ShenandoahMuseum.org

Continue reading The Shenandoah Valley Book Festival

Patsy Cline’s Historic House Renovation Begins

The following is press release from the  Board of Celebrating Patsy Cline:

As supporters of Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc and our efforts to restore 608 South Kent Street, it is with great pleasure to take this opportunity to inform you that our dream is now a reality. On the front porch of her historic house this Friday, January 21, 2011 at 11:00 am, Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc will be announcing to the world that renovations will begin at Patsy Cline’s Historic House located in her hometown, Winchester, Virginia with anticipated opening to the public in late spring of 2011. January 21 marks the anniversary of Patsy winning the Arthur Godfrey talent show in New York City in 1957 by singing “Walkin’ After Midnight. This talent contest launched her world-famed career, and at this time she was living in this house with her mother and siblings. Celebrating Patsy Cline will publish a new Facebook Page dedicated to Patsy Cline’s Historic House immediately following the Press Conference. Fans can follow the progress of the restoration and watch for news of the opening event. Patsy Cline’s Historic House: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Patsy-Clines-Historic-House We hope you can join us in making this long-awaited announcement. Thank you for your continued support.

Parking for Holiday House Tour

On-street parking will be limited in the neighborhood for the tour.  There is no on-street parking along Fairmont Avenue. However, you may park for free in the rear yard at the Centre Friends Meeting House, the site of the Bough and Dough Shop. All homes are within reasonable walking distance from this location.

The Braddock Street and Loudoun Street parking garages are also located near the neighborhood of the tour.  Both garages are open 24 hours  a day. The Braddock Street garage is free to park on Sunday from 8 AM to 6AM.

Two Winchester Projects Receive Awards

(Reprinted from Winchester’s CitE-Newsletter Vol. 3, Issue 23.)

Two projects from Old Town Winchester were honored by the VDDA in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month.

The Downtown Winchester Renaissance and Improvements Project was honored in the Commercial Revitalization Plans and Streetscapes category.  The project saw the following work completed downtown over the course of 18 months:  replacing water utility infrastructure; installing brick sidewalks, decorative streetlights, meter posts and crosswalks; converting Cameron and Braddock Streets to two-way traffic; the construction of the George Washington Autopark; the installation of wayfinding signage and artscape banners; the relocation of the Winchester Department of Social Services to the Our Health Campus; revisions to the city’s Zoning Ordinance to streamline and facilitate the development of upper-floor apartments in buildings; and installing shade trees downtown and in new medians along Cameron Street.

The Lovett Building Project (163-165 N. Loudoun St.) was nominated by the Old Town Development Board and honored in the Building Development and Improvements category.  The project included the development of five upscale apartments on the building’s upper floors and 1,630 square feet of retail space on the first floor, now occupied by Espresso Bar & Café.

Karen Helm, Executive Director of the Old Town Development Board, was quoted in the November 8 issue of the Winchester Star saying, “…as we’re pulling out of the recession now, our city looks ready to do business.”

Click here to subscribe to Winchester’s free, bi-weekly newsletter CitE-News.

Holiday House Tour Spotlight: 303 Fairmont Avenue

303 Fairmont Avenue
Belvedere
Home of Mrs. Joseph Manuel
Franklin Wright, House Chair

Mrs. Manuel’s home will be open for the Preview Party on Saturday evening only.

This grand High Victorian Italianate style home, known as Belvedere, was built in 1876- 1877 by Dr. Philip W. Boyd. In the house’s 144 year history only four other families have resided in Belvedere. Built of imported soft tone English brick, the house exhibits a glorious array of Victorian ornamentation. The three story central tower, edged with alternating brick quoins, has paired round arched windows shaded by a canopy. The front porch with its decorative trim shelters the front door with its beveled, leaded glass in sidelights and transom. Upon entering the house, the high first floor ceilings create a feeling of grandeur for the Christmas tree in the entry hall. A spruce tree decorated with prisms and placed between two mirrored piers in the ballroom spreads the wonder of the holidays to all visitors.

Holiday House Tour Spotlight: 35 W. Piccadilly

35 W. Piccadilly St. 35 West Piccadilly Street
George Reed House
Home of the Rev. and Mrs. Dan McCoig
John Barker and Emily Skiles, House Chairs
Pat Jackson, Decorator

The “Rev.” George Reed House was built circa 1787. Reed, born in Sligo, Ireland, immigrated to Winchester in 1787 where he established himself as a coppersmith, and later served as mayor of Winchester and high sheriff of Frederick County. The main wing is a solid example of a late-Georgian/ early American stone house. The main wing has two rooms on the first floor, two rooms on the second floor, and two dormer rooms on the third floor. The west and south wings, both of which are two stories, are brick and were completed before 1810. Nearly all of the architectural woodwork is original. Especially notable are the mantles in the east and west front parlors, the central stairwell, and the original back door. Over its 200-plus year history, the house has been a boarding house, an art gallery, a business office, and a bank. The McCoigs restored the home to a private residence in 2008, receiving a PHW Award of Merit for their efforts in 2009.