PHW – Page 29 – Preservation of Historic Winchester

Friday Roundup: Photos, Lecture Series, and Planning Survey

We hope you had a great celebration for the Fourth of July. There was a great turnout on the mall for the Rockin’ Independence Eve celebration. If you took a coloring sheet and made a masterpiece, let us know! A few images from the event are available at Flickr at the end of the Kids Events album, or top of the photostream.

We also have a few photos from the Annual Meeting held at Carter Hill Manor on June 28. Many, many thanks are owed to our hosts Tommy and Linda Ross Gibbs for opening their home, garden, and yard to us. It was the perfect venue and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time at the event.

The Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship Center’s annual summer lecture series begins next week. The series will be part of the celebration of Winchester’s 275-year history. Lectures will be given four evenings, starting at 7 p.m. in the Woltz Pavilion, 28 S. Loudoun St., Winchester, and will cover highlights of the centuries. The dates and topics are:

July 16: 1700s in Winchester – Tom Maccubbin on early business life in Winchester through ledgers; Gene E. Fisher on history of the Godfrey Miller Home

July 18: 1800s in Winchester – Rebecca Ebert on life before the War Between the States; Keven Walker on life during and after the war

July 23: 1900s in Winchester – Trish Ridgeway on benefactors to the area; Judy Humbert on integration in the second half of the century

July 25: 2000s in Winchester – Kris Tierney, Frederick County administrator, and Eden E. Freeman, Winchester city manager, on the present state of the area and future goals

Cost is $10 (cash or check) for each evening, collected at the door. Door prizes will be given away each evening. Proceeds from the lectures benefit programming for seniors at the Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship Center, 28 S. Loudoun St., Winchester. For more information, visit www.winchesterva.gov/275th-anniversary or call 540-247-0968.

You may have also heard of the survey being undertaken to update and guide the Winchester Comprehensive Plan. There is a survey available online now at the city’s website. The survey covers various topics on greenspace, housing, and corridors to town. The survey will be available until July 31.

If you are interested in attending the in-person planning sessions related to the above survey, you need only attend one session that best fits your schedule. Sessions will be held:

Thursday, July 25^th – 2:00 pm at Frederick Douglass Elementary School Gym, 100 West Cedarmeade Avenue
Monday, July 29^th – 10:00 am at Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School Cafeteria, 550 Virginia Avenue
Wednesday, July 31^st – 6:30 pm at John Kerr Elementary School Cafeteria, 427 Meadow Branch Avenue
Tuesday, August 6^th – 6:30 pm at Quarles Elementary School Cafeteria, 1310 South Loudoun Street

We know many of our members are concerned about and engaged with the future of Winchester, and this is a good opportunity in both the survey and in-person sessions to share your thoughts on the direction of Winchester for up to the next decade and beyond.

PHW Celebrates the 2019 Preservation Awards

Preservation of Historic Winchester’s 55^th Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, June 23 at Carter Hall, the home of Linda Ross Gibbs and Tommy Gibbs. At the conclusion of the business meeting, eight people and projects were recognized with awards by Preservation of Historic Winchester.

Six of the awards were for Awards of Merit to recognize rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of buildings that contribute to improving the character of their neighborhoods and maintaining the overall historic fabric of the city. The recognized projects were:

221-223 South Loudoun Street, The Guitar Studio Building, 106, LLC

This circa 1945 building recently completed a façade update to better bring the building in line with its modern construction by Daniel Brereton, the manager of the 106, LLC group. It is also a notable project for being able to keep the Guitar Studio in their longtime place of business.

119 West Leicester Street, Nancy Murphy and Miguel Reyes

Nancy Murphy is carrying on the tradition of PHW’s revolving fund by honoring our vernacular houses and giving them a second chance at life. Miguel Reyes, who completed most of the work on the house, will be purchasing the property as his home.

414 North Braddock Street, Thomas Ritter, II

This circa 1890s folk Victorian had long been a property in decline. The recent rehab kept the exterior in line with is historic appearance, and many of the historic pieces in the house were reused and repurposed. The house is Mr. Ritter’s first project in Winchester but not his first rehabilitation project in the area. The project was featured in the Winchester Star.

411 North Loudoun Street, Fort Loudoun Condominiums, Stan and Janet Corneal

While this is not the first major overhaul of The Fort, this was the first major overhaul of the building since the mid-1950s when Irvan O’Connell bought the former school and converted it to apartments. The Fort began a new phase of life in 2016 with a renovation to convert the apartments into luxury condominiums. The apartments have original fireplaces, high ceilings, gourmet kitchens, marble bathrooms, wonderful upstairs views.

501 North Loudoun Street, Pizzoco, Karen Darby

This adaptive reuse of a former gas station to a pizza parlor was a project that had faced almost insurmountable odds finally came to fruition this spring. Much of the work on this project was going through the permitting process and working with neighbors to mitigate concerns in addition to the building rehabilitation. The award celebrates the completion of the building and the opening of Pizzoco, the neighborhood pizza parlor.

13 East Pall Mall Street, GinTon, LLC

This shotgun house from the early 1900s was a blighted and derelict property. By utilizing the local ten year real estate tax abatement program and discounted building permit fees, GinTon, LLC was able to completely rehabilitate the building. The house retains most of the original framing and floors while receiving new electricity, plumbing and HVAC. While not a traditional preservation project by many measures, it is hoped the efforts of GinTon, LLC will help turn over a new leaf for the historic properties in the neighborhood.

The Elsie Rosenberger Award was presented to Frances C. Lowe. This award is named in honor of Elsie Rosenberger, who volunteered behind the scenes in the 1970s and 1980s. The award recognizes the unsung volunteer or volunteers who selflessly contributed to the activities of PHW. Mrs. Lowe volunteered to read over the retyped Winchester: Limestone, Sycamores & Architecture manuscript for accuracy, grammar, and fact checking. The project took place behind the scenes at PHW from January to May.

The final award presented at the meeting was the Patron’s Award. This award recognizes a person or business which has been an outstanding supporter of the goals and programs of PHW. Elizabeth G. Helm was the mastermind behind the republication of Winchester: Limestone, Sycamores & Architecture. Discussion of the republication and how it would be tackled had been discussed for years. It was Mrs. Helm’s push that spurred the project to completion in 2019 to coincide the republication with Winchester’s 275^th anniversary.

Congratulations and thanks are due to all our award winners for helping to maintain the historic character of Winchester and promoting the goals and educational aims of Preservation of Historic Winchester. We are also deeply indebted to Linda Ross and Tommy Gibbs for opening their home and garden to us for the event on Sunday. It was a beautiful setting and perfect weather for a garden party.

Rockin’ Independence Eve and July Schedule

Come to Old Town on July 3 for an evening of activities!

PHW will be at the July 3 Rockin’ Independence Eve again this year. Our table will be in the same spot in front of the Godfrey Miller House at 28 South Loudoun St. as last year. Be sure to stop by, say hi, and see what fun activities we may have going on!

The PHW office will be closed for the first week of July (July 1-5). We will be back to normal on the week of July 8. Catch up with the PHW reps at Rocking Independence Eve, or leave a message for us and we will get back to you then.

Although it is said every year, it is worth repeating to be careful while enjoying the summer holidays, particularly grilling and fireworks. While both activities are a staple of summer celebrations, they can be hazardous to both people and buildings. If you need a refresher, you can find safety tips at FEMA and NFPA for these and other summer safety issues like pools, campfires, and storms. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July celebration!

Friday Photos: Dutch Mess Grave Marking Program

First, just a friendly reminder PHW’s 55th Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 23 at 529 Jefferson Street, beginning at 3 PM. While we are busy preparing for that event, we have a light Friday post for you from Larry Webb of the Clowser Foundation.

We have uploaded 11 photos shared of the grave marking program held by the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution for John Schultz, Dutch Mess Monument at Mt Hebron Cemetery.

Pvt. John Schultz, Captain Daniel Morgan’s Riflemen, was born in Philadelphia, PA. He was part of the 96 riflemen recruited by Captain Morgan in Winchester. He was with them on the Beeline March, eventually ending at the Siege of Quebec where he was captured. He was exchanged after two years and served the remainder of the war. He was a member of the Dutch Mess and remained close to this group throughout his life.

You can find all the photos shared by Larry Webb at Flickr. Happy viewing!

PHW’s 55th Annual Meeting

Printed invitations were mailed on Thursday, but we also wanted to send out our invitation digitally. All PHW members are cordially invited to the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 23, beginning at 3 PM.

PHW’s 55th Annual Meeting will be held at Carter Hill Manor, 529 Jefferson Street, the home of Linda Ross Gibbs and Tommy Gibbs. This Georgian Revival house of rose brick was built in 1949 for Louise A. Patten, the seventh direct descendant of King Carter. The home, built by the Shockey Company and designed by Fredericksburg architect Philip N. Stern, harkens back to the ancestral home of Mrs. Patten, Mannsfield. The stone wall surrounding the property, the brick walkway, and the interior woodwork are direct callbacks to Mannsfield. Carter Hill is situated on one of Winchester’s highest points. The Jefferson Street address is actually the rear of the home; the front was built to face “The Old Lane,” with a view of the three acres of gardens and yards.

Parking is available on-street, and additional parking may be found in the former John Kerr School lots across the street from Carter Hill. The meeting will be held outside, so dress for the weather and in comfortable, low-heeled shoes suitable for walking in the gardens at Carter Hill Manor. In the event of inclement weather, we have several options for shelter both outdoors and inside. The meeting will not be rescheduled for inclement weather.

We hope that you will join us in this yearly reflection on our past year, celebration of completed preservation projects, and election of new members to the PHW Board to continue our work for the next year.

Carter Hill Manor, as seen from Jefferson Street.

The 2019-2020 PHW Board of Directors

Nominees for election or re-election to the Board for a 2-year term

Patrick Rodgers, Assistant Treasurer

Ed Acker, VP for Education

Jim Stewart, VP for Issues and Advocacy

Rose Eberhardt

Callie Fitzwater

Heather Merchant

Anne Scully

Dan Whitacre *

* Elected by the board to fill the unexpired term of John Flood

Directors whose current terms expire in 2020

Bruce Downing, President

John Barker, Past President

Mary Scully Riley, Treasurer

Friday Photos: Clowser Memorial Service 2019

Welcome back! It has been a long time since we had a Friday Photos edition, but last weekend we added to our collection of photographs with the fourth Clowser memorial service. If you weren’t able to attend, the Clowser Foundation gave us an update on their progress. They are still raising funds to continue the next phases of stabilizing the house, with a French drain being a high priority to help keep the foundation dry (as you may know, there is a small stream very close to the house). They also are working on new shutters for the exterior, and always need funds to cover various repairs, improvements, and insurance coverage. If you would like to make a donation to the Clowser Foundation to support their continuing improvements, you can make a donation online or find their snail mail address on their website clowserfoundation.org. You can see all 32 photos in our Flickr album. Happy viewing!

Friday Roundup: End of the Year Wrap Ups

PHW will be starting our 55th year in June. Thank you to all who have supported us. Your membership, interest, and engagement in our local community is a huge part of why Winchester has a thriving and active historic downtown. While it is well worth congratulating ourselves on the success we have had in the historic district protecting and valuing our local buildings, we always need to be aware and engaged in activities that will shape the development of our downtown in the future for the next fifty years. We look forward to supporting preservation and adaptive reuse projects, and we are always available to anyone who is looking for resources on collaborative and innovative solutions to development and design issues.

Today may be the last day of Preservation Month, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop celebrating our local history and architecture. The annual Clowser Memorial Service is this Saturday, June 1 at 10 AM. Come out to the Clowser House at 152 Tomahawk Trail in Shawneeland for a service open to all individuals who support the preservation of the historic Clowser House. The event will be held rain or shine. Learn more on their Facebook page!

While the school year is coming to an end for most students, you may want to peer back in time to see the growth and value of public education in Winchester and Frederick County. The article What Winchester Is Doing for Its Public Schools ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch on December 3, 1911. It is a copiously illustrated article, so be sure to check out the images of some of the old county schoolhouses!

Peonies cascade over a marble statue on the grounds of Carter Hill Manor.

PHW is also pleased to announce the details of our 55th Annual Meeting. We will be convening at Carter Hill Manor, the home of Linda Ross Gibbs and Tommy Gibbs, 529 Jefferson Street on June 23, beginning at 3 PM. Carter Hill Manor, a Georgian Revival style home of rose brick, is situated on one of Winchester’s highest points. The Jefferson Street address is actually the rear of the home; the front was built to face “The Old Lane,” with a view of the three acres of gardens. We plan to meet outside and enjoy the tranquil setting. In addition to the annual business portion and election of officers, we will also recognize the PHW preservation award winners for 2019. This is a great chance to celebrate local preservation projects and to meet our incoming PHW board members.

Last, mark your calendars for the Godfrey Miller Lecture Series of 2019! All lectures will be held at 7 PM in the Woltz Pavilion, 28 S. Loudoun St., Winchester. Cost is $10 (cash or check) for each evening, collected at the door. Proceeds benefit programs at the Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship Center. Door prizes will be given away each evening. For more information, visit https://www.winchesterva.gov/275th-anniversary

July 16 — 1700s in Winchester – Tom Maccubbin on early business life in Winchester through ledgers; Gene Fisher on history of the Godfrey Miller Home

July 18 — 1800s in Winchester – Rebecca Ebert on life before the War Between the States; Keven Walker on life during and after the war

July 23 — 1900s in Winchester – Trish Ridgeway on benefactors to the area; Judy Humbert on integration in the second half of the century

July 25 — 2000s in Winchester – Kris Tierney, Frederick County administrator, and Eden Freeman, Winchester city manager, on the present state of the area and future goals

Friday Roundup: Memorial Day Weekend

Hexagon House Sign — Found! This sign was on the Hexagon House in the mid to late 1980s. We’ve spoken with more than one person who remembers having their portraits taken on the Hexagon House staircase with Cookie and Larry Sullivan, so we were delighted to find this little bit of history tucked behind some boards.

First, the PHW office will be closed on Monday, May 27. We hope you all have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Second, we are closing in on the end of PHW’s fiscal year on May 31. If you haven’t renewed your membership from the 2018-2019 fiscal year or want to make a donation, you can still send in a check to 530 Amherst St., Winchester, VA 22601. We also have two online credit card options. If you want to make a one-time payment or donation, we recommend the donation option. If you’d prefer to have yearly renewals set up automatically, you can select your membership level from the drop down menu on the Subscription option.

Third, if you have noticed a preservation project that deserves recognition in Winchester or Frederick County at PHW’s Annual Meeting, fill out a nomination form and let us know! For best consideration for a 2019 award, please return nominations by May 31. You don’t need to have all the information, but as much as you can provide will be helpful. Winners will be recognized at the 55th Annual Meeting on June 23.

If you know or have children in the 10-14 year age range and you need some ideas for summer activities in July, check out “Expedition Winchester.” This summer camp is themed around Winchester’s 275th anniversary and has a fantastic slate of programs, sites, and activities. Week 1 (beginning of Winchester through late 19th century) runs from July 8-12, and week 2 (late 19th century Winchester to today) runs July 15-19. Both camps are held between 9 AM and 3 PM. Each week is $55, or you can register for both weeks for just $100. Spots are still available as of May 23, but make sure you register by June 12! Go to https://webtrac.winchesterva.gov, click on “Special Events and Trips,” and you should see the options for Expedition Winchester.

Last, we found another history account of Winchester in the August 1, 1900 edition of Musical Million this week. While we spotted a few factual errors, there were also some tidbits we had not seen before. You may read the article “The City of Winchester and its Historic Associations” on Virginia Chronicle.

Friday Roundup: Books!

PHW recently had a small boom in our office library thanks to the donation of a box of books from Dick and Dorothea Malsbary. The new additions are mostly on the broad scope and history of American architecture and historic preservation. If this is the first you’re hearing of PHW’s non-circulating library, you can actually check out our catalog online at LibraryThing. We have our books and some periodicals cataloged here.

We are always open for book donations in the fields of architecture, architectural history, landscape and exterior design, interior design, local history (primarily Winchester and Frederick County, but we have a few bits of Clarke County as well), historic preservation, and related fields. If you are downsizing your books and think you might have some things that would be good for our collection, drop us a note. We’d be happy to look over your offerings and we can work with you for in-kind donations for tax purposes.

Our other major book news is that we are very close to finalizing the reprint of the Winchester: Limestone, Sycamores & Architecture book. The book is mostly the same, with minor text edits and corrections throughout, a new introduction to the 275th Anniversary edition, a completely overhauled appendix of contributing buildings in Winchester’s National Register District, an index to the text and images, and a new jacket design. In short, the book is essentially a revised second edition, with the bulk of the revisions tackling consistency and grammar instead of new text and images. While we don’t have a date yet for books to be in hand, we hope to have them in time for our Bough & Dough Shop in November.

Last, while we have you thinking about books, you might also want to check out some recommended historic preservation books from the National Trust and Goodreads communities. Of course, if you are inspired to buy some books from Amazon, we would be thrilled if you made your purchase through our AmazonSmile link so PHW gets a small donation at no extra cost to you. It’s a small percentage, but we are always grateful for a little surprise deposit from Amazon now and then.

The Preservation Month Happy Hour Is Tonight!

Celebrate Preservation Month with Preservation of Historic Winchester tonight!

We have been so pleased with the interest shown in our happy hour event tonight, 5 PM at 522 S. Loudoun St. Just a couple notes as you get ready:

Parking is always tricky on Loudoun Street. We ask you respect private driveways as you arrive tonight. Be alert for pedestrians walking in the area from the adjoining streets.

There will be a PHW banner on the porch of 522 S. Loudoun by 5 PM so you can find the house more easily.

We will have mainly wine, craft beer, and light snacks – it will probably not be enough to replace your dinner!

If the weather cooperates (fingers crossed!), we may be able to utilize the rear yard as well for socializing.

It is perfectly fine to just stop in for a couple minutes and say hi or check on your dues. You do not have to arrive at exactly 5 PM. We will not have a program of activities so you will not miss any announcements.

We will, however, have nametags so you can put a face to a name of our current and potential new board members and volunteers. Several of our Holiday House Tour homeowners also plan to stop in tonight, so you can get an early glimpse of how our Holiday House Tour Through History is shaping up.

We will also have a few dates for you to save, upcoming events to mark on your calendars, and some of the new 275 Years of History and Architecture tour brochures for you to pick up (they are a fabulous update thanks to the work of Tim Youmans, Jennifer Bell, Renee Bayliss, and Sandra Bosley – check it out even if you have an older version!)

The PHW office will be closing up by about 3:30 so we can get set up for the event. We’ll see you all tonight!