Author: PHW

Friday Roundup: Weekend Events and More!

This Saturday is the 10th annual Chocolate Escape in Old Town Winchester! Visit over twenty different locations February 4 from 2-5 PM for specials, discounts, sales, and restaurant specials for only $5. Follow the red heart-shaped balloons or visit the Old Town website for more details and a map to participating locations.

The MSV will host a free panel discussion “Contemporary Contributions” 3–4 PM this Sunday, February 5, highlighting several Black-owned businesses in Winchester. Panelists include Terry Carter, T-Bone’s Bar & Grill; LaTasha Do’zia, Selah Theatre Project, Inc.; James Frisby, FASST Sports Performance Training; historian Judy Humbert and moderator Carl Rush, chief equity officer for Loudoun County. Participants will discuss their challenges, inspirations, and successes. Preregistration is encouraged at https://bit.ly/3HEDcC2.

Belle Grove Plantation and the Winchester Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America are beginning a new community stitching project to honor the 270 people who were enslaved at Belle Grove—a quilt with each person’s name and birth date stitched onto it. Their first free public workshop will be Saturday, February 11, 1-3 PM at Bowman Library in Stephens City. Participants are asked to preregister with Irina Galunina at winchesterchapterega@gmail.com by February 5. Other stitching activities will be taking place at Bowman Library for Stitch in Public Day starting at 11 AM.

The Old Town Community Session on February 16th, Understanding and Enforcing New Walking Mall Codes, is open to residents and downtown businesses. Hear directly from City staff across multiple departments to better understand the newly adopted changes to City Code, how and when to report infractions, and what to expect from police. Event begins at 9 AM in the Zuckerman Board Room of Rouss City Hall in Winchester.

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation has opened its first Hungry for History Marker Grant Program. This program is designed to commemorate significant food dishes created prior to 1970 and the role they played in defining American culture and forging community identity. The grant is available to 501(c)(3) organizations, nonprofit academic institutions, and local, state and federal government entities within the United States. Letters of Intent are due March 13. Visit their website for full details.

Nominations are now open for the 2023 List of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places through Preservation Virginia. Each May as part of National Historic Preservation Month, Preservation Virginia works with community advocates to release a list of threatened historic sites in an effort to raise awareness and boost public support for their preservation, and encourage individuals, organizations, and governmental entities to advocate for and find collaborative solutions for preserving these places important to Virginia’s communities. Nominations can be made on their website. If you need assistance or have questions, contact Sonja Ingram, Assistant Director for Preservation Field Services, at singram@preservationvirginia.org.

Friday Roundup: Updates and Events

Thanks to a generous donor, the Flickr Pro account has been extended for one year. This should allow us time to add the images to our local hosting and make sure we have the captions matched up; however, it is likely we will not add our event photos back at least for the foreseeable future. We still highly recommend you save local copies of any images on Flickr you may be using for upcoming architectural research, as we are decreasing the image size for our online copies to reduce storage space. Full resolution copies are still available and can be emailed upon request.

This means the image captions are continuing on our social media accounts. To make sure we get the images correctly captioned, we’ll be doing the uploads and captions in small batches. We’re in this process for the long haul – hopefully the third time of moving our images and captions around online will be the last!

The work in the back yard at the Hexagon House is mostly complete, or at least the very intense portion of it. This work is part of the collaboration PHW and the MSV undertook in memory of Dr. Jim Laidlaw. He was a supporter of both our organizations, and now we have a permanent improvement to enjoy our back yard at the Hexagon House. We’re looking forward to seeing how things shape up this spring. Who knows, we might even be doing a lot of our office work in this space during the warm months….

Speaking of events that take place in the rear yard at the Hexagon House, we wanted to put the feelers out now for greenery donations for the Bough & Dough Shop early. If you are unaware of how we obtain fresh greens for holiday decorating, they are almost all provided by volunteers. If you have evergreens that are commonly used for holiday decorating, consider waiting on giving them a trim until the week of Thanksgiving and donating your cuttings to PHW. Alternatively, you may pass your contact information on to the PHW office if you are comfortable with volunteers cutting the greens on your property.

Looking for something to do this weekend? The Handley Library is hosting two events tomorrow that may pique your interest. First, “Heraldry and Coats of Arms: Finding your Armorial Ancestor” by Katherine Collins, MLISc, from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM in the Benham Gallery Room will explain what armorial and gateway ancestors are, standards of evidence, best practices, and where to register historical arms. She will demonstrate how to use traditional books in our local libraries and archives, online databases, and the records of lineage societies to prove the connection to a documented armorial ancestor or “gateway ancestor.” Register now!

The presentation “The Impact of the Civil War on Medicine” by Dr. Dianne Murphy from 1-2 PM in the Robinson Auditorium will focus on the medical environment at the beginning of the Civil War and three dramatic changes that occur during this period that were to change the care of war wounded. Presented in partnership with Winchester/Frederick County Historical Society. No registration is required for this event.

Feeling more like staying in this weekend? You may want to check out these two resources online. The National Trust has compiled a webpage for State Historic Tax Credits – Virginia gets a top billing mention as one of the leaders in this arena for providing incentives to reuse our historic buildings. Check out the full report at savingplaces.org.

If you’re looking for a bit more of an interactive experience while reading, you may enjoy perusing the article This App Turns the World Into a Wikipedia Scavenger Hunt. The app looks like an interesting combination of Wikipedia data mixed with open source mapping. If you want to contribute, there’s even suggestions on how you can expand the image selections, or even add Wikipedia articles about an interesting place.

Friday Roundup: Miscellaneous Notes and Events

Work continues around the entrance to our office at the Hexagon House. We appreciate everyone’s patience as our back yard is getting a facelift. As the work continues, you may see us out and about taking the yearly Revolving Fund images.

Our application to continue our nonprofit status on Flickr was denied this week. We have subsequently lost our Pro status and over 10,000 of our images are at risk of deletion at any time. If you enjoy our photo captions and the visual resource embodied in the Flickr collection, please reach out to us at phwinc.org@gmail.com or consider directly gifting us a Pro account keep the collection online for now. In the meantime we have have downloaded all our photos and captions and are working on self-hosting. Due to the migration of our images to our own hosting, however, we will not be continuing the social media photo caption project at this time.

If you are currently using any of the photos on our Flickr account, we highly encourage you to download whatever ones strike your fancy now, as they may become unavailable for general researchers online for some time or possibly forever. Event photos will be the last to be added back, as obviously our building photos are the more useful resource for researchers.

We were also informed this week that AmazonSmile will be discontinued by February 20, 2023. Until this date, customer purchases made via AmazonSmile will continue to support your charity of choice as normal. Thank you to everyone who used this program and had PHW as one of your supported causes. We never received a tremendous amount of income through the program, but we enjoyed its impact while we had it.

The National Trust is pleased to share its first installment of a new report detailing the “State-of-the-State Historic Tax Credits.” Thanks to the generous support of the David and Julia Uihlein, the National Trust has developed a state historic tax credit resource guide and interactive map that will help advocates, stakeholders, and policy makers develop and strengthen state historic tax credit incentives to improve our communities. Hear from key leaders and supporters of rehabilitation incentives, including former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, about the importance of rehabilitating historic properties and elements of the most effective state programs. Learn how states are using rehabilitation incentives to address key priorities like affordable and workforce housing, rural development, and energy efficiency objectives. Join the National Trust for this exciting discussion and see how your state compares! Register on Zoom for State Historic Tax Credit Incentives – Tools and Perspectives for Building Stronger and More Vibrant Communities on January 24, 4:00 PM.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning improvements to Millwood Avenue (Route 17/50/522) in the City of Winchester. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 24 from 4-6 pm at Rouss City Hall, 15 North Cameron Street, Winchester. Local residents are invited to attend and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Mr. David Robinson, P.E., Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter.

The French & Indian War Foundation will host their annual George Washington Birthday Celebration on February 20 this year. There will be a free military muster at the site of Fort Loudoun, 419 N. Loudoun St., from 2-5 PM. A ticketed birthday celebration limited to 100 paid tickets will take 5-8 PM at Winchester Brew Works, 320 N. Cameron St. Tickets are $25/person and include a commemorative pint cup. Order tickets through their website, fiwf.org.

Friday Roundup: Handley Library Tour and Upcoming Grants

First, please pardon our mess! The back yard at the Hexagon House is receiving some TLC at the moment. The work is currently taking place adjacent to our entrance. We encourage questioners to contact us via email at phwinc.org@gmail.com and not to visit in person while the machinery is in the parking lot.

The Handley Library branch tour will take you behind the scenes to all floors tomorrow, January 14, 11 AM. Come learn about the architecture and history of this iconic building. Walk on the famous glass floors and peer down the well built into the stage. Meet in the Lower Level. The tour is free and open to the public.

Can’t make the tour this weekend or want a specialized tour? You can visit their website for more information and to book a private tour for your group.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is starting the 2023 grant process. Letters of Intent through the Foundant grant system will be accepted from any eligible congregation. Submit your letter of intent by February 24 for projects such as:

  • Urgent repair needs that are integral to life safety.
  • Projects that improve the usability or ADA accessibility of the property.
  • Renovation projects that support important community outreach.

Learn more at www.fundforsacredplaces.org to see if your congregation’s project qualifies.

Applications due February 1 for National Trust Preservation Fund grants. These grants encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for planning and education projects. Virginia is one of the states earmarked for this round of applications. Grants range up to $5,000. Learn more at the National Trust’s website.

Friday Round Up: Welcome to 2023!

We are slowly easing back into work after our winter break. We hope you all had a joyful holiday season and are ready to start the new year off on the right foot. We expect to resume our daily photo captions on Facebook and Twitter next week.

We have one small request for our Bough & Dough Shop wrap up. If you have small, gently used gift bags to dispose of, PHW would like to replenish our small gift bag supply. We thought we’d ask now in case you need to eliminate some clutter soon after Christmas. We are particularly looking for bags in the 8″x10″ size and smaller range. Feel free to leave the bags inside the cabinet on the back porch at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.

Thank you in advance, and see you next week on social media!

Friday Roundup: Christmas Edition

Hard to believe, but another year has come and gone! We have one last Holiday House Tour item to share that will help get you in the holiday spirit (if the cold weather hasn’t done so already). Here is a short clip of the talented singers of Arts Chorale of Winchester performing at 119 East Clifford Street during the Holiday House Tour. Cant see the embedded video? Try the direct link: https://youtube.com/shorts/npSlZbKjllE

Taylor Hotel by Rick Geary
The Taylor Hotel, holiday postcard by Rick Geary, courtesy Bob Snyder. Read the full postcard description at Flickr.

The PHW Office will be closed for our winter break, so no post next week. We’ll see you again by blog on January 6. Stay safe, have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Friday Roundup: Holiday House Tour and Bough & Dough Shop Wrap Up

We finished the last day of sales at the Bough & Dough Shop on Sunday, December 11, and after we helped pack up all the unsold art and craft items to head back to their makers, we got down to the boring but very necessary part of the event – tallying sales.

From the ticket sale numbers, we had about 260 paid tour goers. From those who reported back to the Shop at the end of the tours, the variety in the houses, decorating styles, and architecture made this one of the best tours ever. If you missed the event, it sounds like it was a once a decade confluence of houses and decor. We have ideas for next year to keep up this new standard, so keep your eyes peeled as we move into the fall of 2023 for exact dates and locations for our 47th house tour.

While the Shop sales are not 100% double checked as of writing time, we are confident the overall sales numbers were up from last year, and most artists did well. We informally talked to a few during pickup about potential issues or things to consider for next year, but overall we had no issues with the Shop and are very pleased with the early numbers. Unless something unexpected happens over the spring to summer, we will most likely be opening in 2023 around the same time schedule. Many of the shopper comments this year remarked on how well the Shop was set up and that the quality of items was better this year than ever before. We are so pleased with the compliments and we hope we can do just as well next year.

If you’re an artist or know of someone who might be a good fit to join the Shop in 2023, keep an eye out here and on our Instagram for details about applying. We will also probably host an August open house event again for potential artists to visit the space in person beforehand and ask questions before applying. The number of artists we had this year seemed to be the sweet spot for variety without over-stuffing the floor, so we will most likely limit our vendors to no more than 25 again next year.

Last Weekend for the Bough & Dough Shop

It is that time of year when we wind down our holiday activities. This weekend is the last opportunity to shop at the Hexagon House for the 2022 season. If you are planning on doing some last minute shopping for something you’ve been thinking about, your best chances are today (Friday, Dec. 9) or Saturday (Dec. 10) as artists will start picking up around noon on Sunday.

Several artists have placed discounts on their items, including woodworking by Dave Hickman, weaving by Clara Schulte, scarves by Donna Sheets, and crocheted ornaments by Hilda Troxell (discount applied at checkout).

We still have some freshly cut greens from our last greens donation, including holly with berries, some boxwood, magnolia, and blue spruce. Greens are priced by the bag (bring your own gloves if needed!)

Thanks to everyone for your interest this year, and next week we hope to have a better picture of House Tour and the Shop to share with you.

Holiday House Tour 2022 – Final Notes

The Holiday House Tours are this Sunday, Dec. 4, noon-4 PM!

Did you procrastinate on getting tickets? You are in luck! Tickets are available for purchase at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St. at the Bough & Dough Shop this weekend, as well as at Kimberly’s, Winchester Book Gallery, and Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets are also available for order online through EventBrite (until noon on Sunday). If you are still not sure, tickets can also be purchased at the door of any of the houses on Sunday for $30/adult (cash or checks only).

If you ordered tickets online via Eventbrite, remember to bring your PDF ticket (printed or on your phone) as you start your tour. If you’d like an official ticket, you should be able to pick them up at any of the houses on the tour or the Bough & Dough Shop.

While printed booklets should be available at the physical ticket sale locations and the houses during the tour, if you would prefer a digital copy to have on your phone, please feel free to save our digital version and refer back to it.

The weather forecast for the weekend appears good, with partly cloudy skies, low chance of precipitation, and light winds. Be sure to dress warmly if you have to wait in line outside or for walking between sites. Stay safe while you are having fun!

You may also want to keep the digital version of the tour map handy as well for navigating between the sites. The QR code for the map is also available on all the printed physical tickets if you are out and about during the tour and need some navigation help.

While you are touring the homes, remember no photography is allowed inside the private residences.

Be on the lookout for the Winchester Arts Chorale carolers Sunday afternoon to enliven your tours. Be sure to thank the volunteers, as well!

We hope you enjoy the tours!

PHW is grateful for the support of Maral Kalbian, one of our business card advertising sponsors of the Holiday House Tour.

Holiday House Tour 2022 Ticket Sales

Are you ready for the Holiday House Tour on December 4?

Looking for tickets to our 46th annual Holiday House Tour? Here’s where you can find them!

Local sale locations: Kimberly’s, The Winchester Book Gallery, and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center (perfect if you are in town doing some shopping and sightseeing) – These locations have advance tickets for $25/adult available, as well as program booklets. Their hours depend on the individual businesses.

The Bough & Dough Shop at the Hexagon House (ideal if you are doing some holiday shopping or need last minute tickets) – The Shop will have tickets available through the afternoon of December 4 for the last-minute visitors. The Shop is open Wed.-Sun., 10 AM-5 PM. After noon on Dec. 4, the price will increase to $30/adult to match the at the door price of the tour houses.

Eventbrite (online sales, perfect if you are out of town) – This option gets you a digital ticket, so be sure to bring your phone or a printout of your receipt to the event! Tickets on Eventbrite will go off sale just before the tour starts on December 4. Additional online processing fees apply.

A digital copy of the program booklet is available at this link. Physical program booklets are available at the local ticket sale outlets, the Bough & Dough Shop, and will be available at the four tour sites on Sunday during the tour.

PHW is grateful for the support of Angel’s Roost Quilts, one of our business card advertising sponsors of the Holiday House Tour. Come see her work in person at the Bough & Dough Shop at the Hexagon House.