  I have, over the past couple months, the privilege and honor of hosting a series of wine suppers in the first person as Secretary Thomas Jefferson. The venue is the very dapper and historic Meander Inn in Locust Dale, VA just north of Orange on 15 just outside the original Civil War battlefield of Cedar Mountain.
The reason that this house was visited by Jefferson is that it belonged to the Rev Henry Fry, the son of the famous Joshua Fry. The Jefferson aficionados out there should recall that Jeffersons father, Peter, and Joshua Fry surveyed together, laying out for the first time the line betwixt NC and VA in what's now referred to colloquially as the Jefferson-Fry map. The land originally belonged to Lord Fairfax, for whom both Washington and Fry surveyed. Fry got there first, liked it enough to lay his claim, and eventually passed it onto his eldest, the Rev. Fry who built the existing home starting in 1766. So TJ and Henry grew up knowing each other probably as well as their fathers had, and would visit during trips northward. A banquet for Lafayette was also held there upon his return in 1825. Amongst the other notable guests to this home are Mason, Washington, Madison, Monroe, and several others. The later victorian occupants were the first to introduce the whippet to America. It now operates as a B&B as well as a restaurant, and I can highly recommend it. The guests were introduced to Jefferson with a sabrage in the spring of 1790 as he was on his way northward to take on the role of our first Secretary of State, but he just couldn't stop talking about his time in France, where where he had just returned the previous October. Each of the five courses were paired with a wine that accompanied various stories as Jefferson was reminded of his travels. He even read from his pocket sized copy of Sterne's A Sentimental Journey. For booking, reservations, or to ask about when you might be able to dine with Jefferson himself, please contact https://innatmeander.com Unearthing the Past at Emerson’s Ordinary March 15, 2023 BY G.C. ROSE A beehive of activity occurred Saturday morning and afternoon at 314 South Water Lane in Tappahannock as around two dozen people — ranging in age from pre- schoolers to senior citizens — gathered to discover what was in the soil at the historic Emerson’s Ordinary. Owners Greg and Jennifer Huff are converting the structure into a modern restaurant/pub. From left, historical interpreter Beau Robbins, Emerson’s Oridnary owner Greg Huff, and historical researcher Lynn Price Robbins look over some of the items unearthed at 314 South Water Lane in Tappahannock. Saturday found participants sifting soil from last bit of excavation for the construction of a patio and discovering remnants of a bygone era. “We have been interested in determining the background of our building,” Greg Huff told the Rappahannock Times. “We know that while it is one of the oldest buildings in the area, we want to figure out more of its history by doing a little bit of archaeology.” Huff said he has been working with fellow Essex County resident Jamie Fawcett, who is the executive director of the Hanover Museum of History and Culture, on the archaeological analysis of the site. “She is in the process of getting more certifications through archeology, and she has adopted this project to help her do that,” Huff explained. He also noted that some of the participants represented universities to assist with the dig and exploration of materials that have been unearthed at the location. Some other participants were working on certification with the Archeological Society of Virginia. James Cary Intermediate School was also represented. Huff said excavation for the patio project produced several piles of dirt on site “that even the youngest of people can dig through and find some cool things.” During a previous construction project at the site a cannonball — believed to date back to the War of 1812 — was discovered along with artifacts that date back to the early 1700s. “What we’re trying to do is tell the story of this town and an extension of Essex County through what we find in the dirt,” Huff said. Fawcett, who resides in historical Poverty Ridge in Caret, said she one day drove past Emerson’s Ordinary and noticed the restoration work being performed there. “We were looking for bricks and so I gatecrashed, and it’s been wonderful ever since,” she said. Fawcett, who studied at the Institute of Archeology in London, England, said she was happy with Saturday’s turnout. “The thing about archaeology is it’s destructive, so we have to do it with thought and intention,” she said. “We have a lot of spoils to look through and it is our due diligence to get as many people as we can to go through that spoil so we can honor the material culture. That will let us understand who was here before us.” Two professional experts on site Saturday were Beau Robbins, a professional historical interpreter, and his wife, Lynn, who is a research historian. “There’s a wide variety of not only items, but eras here,” Lynn said. “We are seeing things from different time periods. Finding more than 50 percent (of a plate) is a big deal. What we’ve found gives you an impressive snapshot of the people who lived in this area in different time periods.” “One of the best places to find actual material culture of a specific historical context is through archaeology,” Bo explained. Robbins described Saturday’s findings as “quite spectacular. Right now we’re only dealing with surface finds, so it’s going to be quite eye-opening in an exploration of this site and the town. This tavern would’ve been a social center in the first half of the 18th century. What’s going to be found in future work is really going to enlighten us as to the lifeways and material culture of this town since the early 18th century.” Meanwhile, Huff says he hopes to have the restoration project completed by the end of the April or early May. The origins of the site date back to the early 1700s and it operated as an Ordinary through the 1800s. Lodging will not be offered at the site, but the original building footprint remains intact as part of the property’s restoration is going to be used for dining and pub spaces. Modern restroom facilities have been constructed at the rear of the property, while a commercial kitchen will be located to the left side of the present structure.  From left, historical interpreter Beau Robbins, Emerson’s Oridnary owner Greg Huff, and historical researcher Lynn Price Robbins look over some of the items unearthed at 314 South Water Lane in Tappahannock.
For the entire month of March, I had the honor of portraying Patrick Henry once again. This time was at the invitation of Hanover Tavern which has been running spring Virginia history field trips for local fourth graders for nearly two decades. The tavern itself was once the temporary home of Patrick Henry, while across the street is the original Hanover courthouse (1742) where Henry's father was a sitting judge, and he himself argued the famous Parsons' Cause case. Being isolated from the rest of the interpreters across the street, I did have the luxury of one new friend over at the Courthouse. Steve Hawkins (George Washington) has been portraying Washington and others for 20 years at the St John's Church's "liberty or death" speech reenactment that runs year round in Richmond. My next appearance at Hanover Courthouse will be on June the second, for the county's History and Hops evening, as well as performing for the 4th graders once again in March of 2024. |
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