Tag: Historic Images

In 1987, PHW coordinated the production of “The Architecture of Historic Winchester Coloring Book” to bring architecture to children in a way they can understand. The books were both a fundraising item for PHW and used in the elementary schools as an educational tool. Twenty illustrations of local landmark buildings were drawn by Daniel Morgan Middle School and Handley High School students, under the direction of art teacher Ronald Fabin.

Landmarks included in the coloring book encompass the Red Lion Tavern, The Old Frederick County Court House, Christ Episcopal Church, the old John Kerr School, Mt. Hebron Cemetery Gatehouse, and Handley High School.

Recently a collection of negatives used in producing the line drawings was found in PHW’s files. The photos include some of the properties listed above, and also a few that didn’t make the cut, like the Aulick House at 414 S. Braddock St., the Wisteria House, and 617 S. Washington St. Most fascinating was the surprise image of the Aulick House, making this only the third known photo of the building prior to the arson. View the photo set on Flickr.

PHW does not have a copy of the completed coloring book in our files. If you have “The Architecture of Historic Winchester Coloring Book,” please consider donating it to PHW.

Today’s edition of Friday Photos brings you images from 1992-1996 of kids activities downtown. Although not quite Independence Day events, most of the photos were taken at the 1994 Children’s Heritage Festival, which celebrated the 250th anniversary of Winchester’s founding. Sharp eyed viewers will spot familiar faces like Roy Nester, Micheal Foreman, and Pat Zontine among the adults.

The event, which was held May 14, 1994, was geared to living history and colonial-era hands on activities. The Patuxent Living History Group reenacted the life of trappers and skinners at George Washington’s Headquarters, while the Cedar Creek Indian Horse Club was on hand the show their ponies and paint faces. Judge Robert K. Woltz led a mock trial from the colonial era in the Old Frederick County Court House. For those looking for more hands-on activities, the Winchester Girl Scouts helped guests make five colonial toys and the Belle Grove Quilters demonstrated how to stencil and quilt. No birthday celebration would have been complete without cake, and Michael Foreman, as the Chairman of the Commemorative Commission, led the birthday party complete with cake and beverages. Through it all, Roy Nester as Town Crier announced the upcoming events.

Other activities which were not recorded in these photos included the Kurtz Building exhibit on “James Wood and the Founding of Winchester,” a heritage poster contest, colonial storytelling at Handley Library, costumed guided walking tours of Old Town, an 18th century puppet show, Daniel Morgan folk dancers directed by Beth Huddleston, and a fashion show of period costumes.

View the photo set at Flickr.

This week for Friday Photos, PHW brings you a look back at business in the mid-1970s. This series of photographs was taken at a Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce event. The images are all unmarked, however, so particulars about this event are unclear. If you can help PHW identify anyone in the photos or provide more details about what might be happening, please contact us at phwi@verizon.net or (540) 667-3577.

Chamber of Commerce 1975

View the album on Picasa.

This week for Friday Photos, we look back at some images of one of the first large scale membership and fundraiser events in PHW’s history. The gathering – the forerunner of today’s Memberfest – was held at Glen Burnie on September 14, 1973.

As with most stories, a bit of background is necessary to set the stage. In August of 1971, PHW had started working in earnest on fundraising for what would eventually become known as the Jennings Revolving Fund. The first substantial loan went to the Roberts family, whose front wall of their limestone home on South Braddock Street collapsed prior to their stabilization efforts could begin.

By 1973, PHW was gearing up to increase this corpus of funds to begin purchasing endangered buildings for resale through the Revolving Fund. The “Grand Event” was conceived with a twofold mission to begin the Revolving Fund and increase membership to 300.

The committee, made up of Joe Headley, LouAnne and Ray Jennings, Barbara Laidlaw, Buddy Orndoff, George Robertson, Lee Taylor, and Elanor White, organized the event. There was a puppet show, various musical acts, and a square dancing demonstration. Much like the Open House at the Noakes House this spring, architectural artifacts and other interesting donations were auctioned off to raise funds. The ticket cost to the event – a modest $5 for a single or $7.50 for a couple – served as the membership dues for that year.

While no written report was filed at the end of the event, we can surmise from the happy faces in these photographs and that the Revolving Fund was in negotiations to purchase its first building in 1974 that the “Grand Event” was a grand success.

PHW's "Grand Event," Sept. 14. 1973

Today’s photos are images of a greenhouse once located at the Virginia Agricultural Experimental Station/Winchester Fruit Research Laboratory on Valley Avenue (Route 11), approximately where Hope Drive is located today. Several greenhouses on the site had been abandoned and were decaying after the Research Laboratory moved into larger facilities in the mid 1990s.

Theodora and Benjamin Rezba salvaged, relocated and restored one greenhouse left behind at the Valley Avenue facility. These images, given to PHW in 2006, show the greenhouse in its dilapidated state and during the reconstruction and restoration phase. The unusual project was recognized in 2006 by PHW with an Award of Merit for retaining this piece of Winchester history, even though it had to be moved from its original location. Today, it is once again a functional greenhouse.

Read more about the history of the Fruit Research Laboratory at Virginia Tech’s website.

Curious about what other projects have received recognition with PHW preservation awards? Find a list of past winners at Preservation Award Recipients.

Salvaged Greenhouse from Fruit Research Laboratory

In 2001, a team of PHW volunteers canvased South Kent Street to gather more information about the properties in that neighborhood as part of our Revolving Fund efforts at the Blues House, 401-403 S. Kent St. Although it was not a complete survey, some buildings in the 500-800 block – properties just outside the Winchester Historic District – were captured and documented, along with a few of the field volunteers in action. Take a look back and “remember when…” on South Kent Street!

From South Kent Street, 2001

This week we step back to 1984 and visit “Willow Brook” near Kernstown at 3105 Shawnee Drive. Willow Brook, also known as the Hamilton-Triplett-Copp House, was once a 300 acre working farm consisting of a dairy, icehouse, large barn and a brick smokehouse. Although the house is solidly vernacular from the exterior and the homeowners were not prominent in local history, the house still displays remarkable architectural details. The most prominent piece, an elaborate mantelpiece featuring a large handcarved eagle that was originally in the living room of Willow Brook, was purchased by E.I. DuPont in the 1930s and became part of the Winterthur Museum collection. By 1984 the farm was whittled down to the main house and a root cellar on 1.3 acres. Shortly after these photographs were taken, the house was sold and converted to an apartment complex.

From Willow Brook, November 1984