explore brunswick

COMPLIMENTARY - PLEASE TAKE ONE!2011EXPLORE

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, VA

explorebrunswickva.comVISITOR & NEWCOMER GUIDE

The Meherrin River

Lake Gaston

Lake Rawlings

Valentines Post Offi ce

Fishing on Poplar Creek Bike Virginia Fort Christanna Brunswick Stew

The Original Home ofBrunswick Stew

Discover the Potential... Itʼs Endless!

2 Explore Brunswick • 2011

SylviaAllenEditor

Baretta TaylorProject Director

Tom Childrey

Sales Manager

Carrie HazelwoodPage Design

NancyShell

Offi ce Manager

©2011 Womack Publishing Co., Inc Explore Brunswick • Volume 2 Issue 1explorebrunswickva.com • P. O. Box 250, 213 Main Street, Lawrenceville, VA 23868 • (434) 848-2114 • [email protected]

Table of ContentsBoard of Supervisors....................................................3Town of Alberta ..........................................................4Town of Lawrenceville .................................................5Real Story of Brunswick Stew......................................10Town of Brodnax........................................................13Brunswick County Tourism Association.........................15Brunswick County Museum.........................................17Taste of Brunswick Festival.........................................18Jurassic Park in Brunswick County...............................20A Native Son - Francis Wood.......................................22

Fort Christanna.........................................................26Meherrin Regional Library..........................................28Why We Call Brunswick County Home........................30County Park At Great Creek.......................................32The ArtBank.............................................................34Valentines Post Offi ce................................................36SVCC........................................................................38Ghosts Of Brunswick..................................................40CMH Cancer Care......................................................41Lake Gaston.............................................................44

Welcome to the 2011 edition of Explore Brunswick County. Thank you so much for the

many positive responses we received to last year’s magazine. It was very well received. We are building on last year’s success and think you will fi nd this edition even better. We also received some criticisms and some positive suggestions on how we could make the magazine even better. The Brunswick Chamber of Commerce and the Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Association used the magazine as a marketing tool. This magazine is again a partnership between Womack Publishing Company and the Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Association.

I want to thank Tom Childrey and Nancy Shell with the Brunswick Times-Gazette, and Carrie Hazelwood for their hard work on this project. A big thank you goes to Bobby Conner with the tourism association for his help and suggestions. I would also like to thank William Ward Moseley, a Brunswick County native, for allowing us to use his painting of the Brunswick County Courthouse on the cover. It truly was a team effort and we know that a team

effort yields positive results. For one of the features this year we

asked several people to share why they make Brunswick County their home and what they love about living here. That got me to thinking about why I love living in Dolphin, a quiet and friendly neighborhood. Just recently I saw three random acts of kindness that I think sometimes we take for granted. In the Food Lion parking lot a young lady asked an older lady if she needed help with her groceries. It is also the car that stops on Main Street to let a pedestrian pass. It is having car trouble and having a friend deliver a car for you to use, fi lled with gasoline (Thank you Sheriff Roberts). It is the person holding the door for you and speaking to you on the street. It is knowing your neighbor and knowing people in the restaurant who ask how your grandchildren are doing. It is letting your 10-year-old grandson walk from the Brunswick Times-Gazette offi ce to the Brunswick County Library on a Saturday morning knowing he will be safe. It is the kindness of people that we see every day that we sometimes take for granted.

A good friend has been living in

Connecticut for fi ve years and she and her husband are making plans to move back to Brunswick County or Southside Virginia. The reason? They haven’t made the friendships there that they made when they lived here and they miss it terribly. They enjoy the quiet of an evening on the patio just listening to the sounds of nature. They swear you can’t get glass of sweet ice tea “up there”. So they are moving back to the small town life that many of us consider very precious.

Be sure to check out list of the 12 things everyone should do when they visit Brunswick County. I think you will be surprised at the many things Brunswick County has to offer, from historical sites like Fort Christanna to recreational attractions like Lake Rawlings and Lake Gaston. We have it all right here in our own backyard. Let’s share that message with others as we look to the future. Let us know what you think of this edition.

Sylvia AllenEditor

3Explore Brunswick • 2011

Table of Contents

On behalf of the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors it is our pleasure to welcome you to Brunswick County and the second edition of Explore

Brunswick. Brunswick County has many things to offer to its citizens

and visitors. Our great educational system offers Kindergarten through grade 12, Southside Virginia Community College and Saint Paul’s College. Brunswick County’s secondary school system captured two state championships in 2011, Brunswick High School – AA Division 3 Basketball and Brunswick

Academy – state baseball. Brunswick County is a place where we benefit from its

unlimited opportunities, such as serene living, a secure neighborhood, and many cultural and historic activities to name a few. We have something for everyone.

Again, we welcome you and enjoy Brunswick County.

Bernard L. Jones, Sr. ChairBrunswick County Board of Supervisors.

Welcome extended The Brunswick County Board of Supervisors and County Administrator Charlette Woolridge welcome visitors and newcomers to Brunswick County. Points of interest include Fort Christanna, the Valentines Post Office, Tobacco Heritage Trail in Lawrenceville, Historic Downtown Lawrenceville, Lake Rawlings, Saint Paul’s College, and Southside Virginia Community College. Don’t forget to sample some delicious Brunswick stew. There is so much to see. County Administrator Charlette Woolridge, left, Supervisor Robert Conner, Supervisor Bernard Jones, chair, Supervisor Barbara Jarrett Drummond, Supervisor Welton Tyler and Supervisor Marc Finney are shown.

Welcome from the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors


Welcome to Alberta, this jewel of a small

town located on Historic Route 1 right off Interstate 85 was founded in 1928 at the intersection of two major railroads. While the trains have been discontinued, we continue to preserve the quality of life experienced more than 80 years ago.

Visitors can get the chance to watch one of our local civic groups make old fashioned Brunswick stew. This regional treat is cooked in a huge black, iron pot over an open flame for about 12 hours using hand-cut chicken and vegetables. You can also visit Daniel’s Auction where estate sales draw hundreds of people from surrounding areas. Items for sale range from antique guns to building supplies and are held on Saturday, about twice a month. Should you have a medical problem, the two doctors, one dentist and a group of dedicated medical staff can assist you at Southside Virginia Medical Center. This million-dollar facility was built a few years ago and offers a sliding scale for those on a fixed budget while offering excellent one on one care.

Recently, the Town of Alberta received a great boost through a Community Development Block Grant that paid for revitalization efforts that have seen two dozen business facades up-dated, created a beautiful Town Square, a focal point for concerts and civic events and added a vintage caboose that is in the process of being refurbished. Featured are new signage, new sidewalks, streetlights, park benches and trash receptacles.

Alberta is currently in the process of rebuilding or remodeling about 30 homes in a low to moderate income area on Samford, Oak and North Streets. Improved drainage in the area will eliminate periodic flooding in low-lying areas of the project. By

remodeling and, in some cases re-building homes for our residents we will be able to give about a fifth of the Town a better quality of life and add pride in our close knit community.

Alberta is home to Southside Virginia Community College where a countywide festival is held each year; the Taste of Brunswick Festival last year saw more than 8,000 attendees sample Brunswick stew made by more than 20 stew masters vying for cash prizes and recognition. About 50 vendors, that sold everything from corn dogs to handcrafted baskets, delighted those who came from far and wide to visit friends and make new ones.

Colonial Downs has an off-track wagering center and restaurant in Town where several events are held including poker tournaments, and a popular comedy hour event with dinner theater entertainment. People travel from as far as Charlotte, N.C. to view the standing room only bid for the Triple Crown as well as the Breeder’s Cup, one of the most attended events of record.

The new Meherrin River Regional Jail which is a joint effort between Brunswick, Dinwiddie and Mecklenburg Counties, is moving forward with a start up date for the summer of 2012. This $53 million facility will initially employ about 250 people creating much-needed jobs for many in the area. Alberta is in the process of upgrading its infrastructure to accommodate the growth that is envisioned for the facility that is located across U. S. 1 from Colonial Downs. We welcome you to drive into Alberta, visit the newly remodeled Alberta General Store, or just sit on the park bench at the post office, the hub of activity in Town. You might get the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a citizen who will regale you with stories of the first steam engine to come into the area or the motel on the highway that featured Indian teepees as lodging. For more information, please contact Alberta Mayor, Melissa Parrish at the Town Municipal office, (434) 949-7443.

Alberta poised for future growth

Mayor of Alberta Melissa Parrish is shown standing in front of the new Al-berta Town Square which is part of the town’s revitalization efforts.


Welcome to Lawrenceville. Our community is the County seat of

Brunswick County and as such is the governmental, commercial, and cultural center of the area. Lawrenceville is centrally located to Southside Virginia and is a perfect community to locate a business that serves the region. The Town Council recently approved a package of business incentives and works closely with two real estate agents to match entrepreneurs with buildings. We have immediate access to business consultants who meet one on one with prospective businesses at no charge.

When you visit Lawrenceville please stop by the Visitor Center in the lobby of the Municipal Building. The Visitor Center includes the offi ce of the Town and the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce staffed with good folks that can answer questions and provide information.

The Town has several places to visit including Sonny Wholey Field (1934), Saint Paul’s College (1888), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (1869), Courthouse Square, and Fort Christanna (1714).

The Downtown is a designated Historic District and pending legislation will allow for upper level residential development in the near future. The Historic District also connects with the developing Tobacco Heritage Trail that is a segment of the national rails to trails movement. Check us out at www.lawrencevilleweb.com or on our Town of Lawrenceville Facebook page.

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Welcome from Mayor of Lawrenceville Doug Pond

the lobby of the Municipal Building. The Visitor Center includes the offi ce of the Town and the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce


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Come visit our many historical, recreational and scenic places.

We have something for everyone. Lake Gaston, County Park at Great Creek,

Brunswick Lake, Brunswick County Museum, Fort Christanna,

Valentines Post Offi ce, Gholson Bridge, Tobacco Heritage Trail, Sonny Wholey Memorial Park, Meherrin River a State Scenic River, Civil Rights in Education

Heritage Trail, Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and the Civil War Trail.

Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Association

228 North Main StreetLawrenceville, Virginia 23868

434-848-6773, [email protected]

www.TourBrunswick.com

people of

BrunswickBryant L. Stith

A native of Brunswick County, Stith is a ten-year veteran of the National Basketball Association. He was ed-ucated in the B r u n s -w i c k County P u b l i c S c h o o l s y s t e m w h e r e he was a schol-ar and a leading athlete. Gradu-a t i n g as the valedictorian and the all-time leading scorer at Brunswick Senior High School, he continued his role as a student-athlete at the University of Virginia. After four years of study in Charlottesville, Stith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and as the leading scorer in the Universi-ty’s history. He was drafted by the Denver Nuggets as the thirteenth overall pick in 1992 and played with the team for eight years. He played one season with the Bos-ton Celtics and fi nished his career in the NBA by signing a two-year contract with the Cleveland Cav-aliers. Currently, Stith remains busy by serving as the Chairman of the Board of S.C.O.R.E. (Setting Chil-dren on the Road to Empower-ment), Inc., a nonprofi t organiza-tion serving the youth and families of Southside Virginia. Stith remains true to the game that he loved by serving as the head coach for the Brunswick High School Bulldogs. In three years, he has led his alma mater to three state champion-ship appearances, winning the state title in 2011, and he has been named Virginia Preps AA Coach of the year three times. He and his wife Barbara reside in Lawrencev-ille with their four children.


Brunswick County is one of a very few counties that did not loose any of its court records

or books during the Civil War. While no major battles were fought in Brunswick County, groups of Union raiders would pass through the county searching for supplies. One particular raid passed through Lawrenceville in 1864. The Clerk of the Circuit and County Court of Brunswick at the time was Edward Randolph Turnbull. Mr. Turnbull had heard the raiders were coming through the area and just before he left the clerks office located in the courthouse, he placed his Masonic apron over the court books lying on an office table. After the raid, Mr. Turnbull returned to the courthouse where he found papers strewn all over the floor of the clerk’s office and ink poured over the papers. It looked as though all the records had been destroyed, but upon further examination, he found that the raiders had only damaged blank record books and other papers of no importance. The officer in charge of the raid according to local tradition was a Freemason and upon seeing the Masonic Apron, restrained his men from vandalizing the court books, leaving the records intact beginning with 1732 until the time of the raid. After a new clerks office (pictured here) was built in 1893 next to the courthouse, the court records were moved from the courthouse to their new home where all records through the present day are housed.

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1. Sample Some Brunswick Stew Attend the Annual Taste of Brunswick Festival

2. Take a Hike Walk the Tobacco Heritage Trail in Lawrenceville and Brodnax

3. Drop a Line Do Some fi shing at Lake Gaston, Brunswick Lake or Great Creek

4. Go Canoeing Paddle the scenic Meherrin River

5. Cruise the Byways Take a Ride on Virginia Scenic Byways: Highways 46, 626 or 903

6. Watch a Race Join the excitement of Kart racing at Brunswick Speedway Colonial Downs, off-track betting in Alberta

7. Peddle a Bike Go biking on any of Brunswick’s many scenic trails and roads

8. Learn some History Visit the Brunswick County Museum and Historical Society & the Fort Christanna Historical Site

9. Feel the Love Stop by the Valentines Virginia Post Offi ce

10. Catch a Show Attend the ArtBank’s annual season of musical performances and plays

11. Watch the Birds See many species of birds along the nature trails in Lawrenceville, Alberta and Brodnax

12. Relax and Enjoy Slow down, sit back and see all the sites Brunswick County has to offer Spend the night at Brunswick Mineral Springs B & B

1. Sample Some Brunswick Stew

12 THINGS

EVERYONE

SHOULD DO IN

BRUNSWICK

COUNTY


the real story of brunswick stewBy Gay Neale

The name of Brunswick County has traveled all over the world with the popularity

of its foremost product, Brunswick stew. A delicious blend of chicken and vegetables, the stew is simple to make and unforgettable in taste.

Its origins go back to early days in the county, around 1828, when a hunting party gathered at Mount Donum, on the Nottoway in the northwestern end of the county, the home of Dr. Creed Haskins. Dr. Haskins took with them his cook, “Uncle” Jimmy Matthews, who was well known for his culinary skills. He was always along on the hunting expeditions.

While the hunters went in search of game, Uncle Jimmy spent his time shooting the fat squirrels that abounded in the woods. He made a stew of them, and, so the legend says, butter, onions, stale bread and seasoning. Dr. Haskins, it was reported, added some brandy or Madeira to the pot on their return to ‘give the stew a flavor.”

The hunters, who had had no luck finding game, were delighted with the concoction and asked for more when they finished. And on future hunting expeditions Uncle Jimmy was always asked to make his stew. Soon he was making it for picnics and public events with great pride and delight.

Meade Haskins wrote down the original recipe in 1907. The family had kept the recipe and improved on it, but he contended that “Vegetables are not in the original Brunswick stew. Those who prefer vegetables add them after the stew is done, in their plates.” His recipe called for bacon to add some fat to the squirrel meat. After boiling with onions he added bread crumbs, butter, and salt and pepper at last. The pot should boil for four hours, and water should be added at intervals.

John P. Mason claimed to have a recipe handed down to him by Dr. Creed Haskins which is similar to the one above except that over a pound of butter went into the mix and it should be “rich and highly seasoned” with both black and red pepper. While he said other meat

could be used, “Squirrels are best.”In the 1930s, Freeman F. Browder was

renowned for his stew, and his recipe shows the evolution toward vegetables. By this time, in order to make a quantity, people were using the cast iron wash pots found in every back yard to make large batches. Browder’s recipe begins, “Scrub pot well.” He renders pork side meat for fat, braises the meat, then adds water, onions, tomatoes, butterbeans and corn. A final seasoning and the stew was perfection.

Around that same time, Virginia S. Woodruff wrote her recipe out as a verse:

First catch your chicken, clean andcut themAnd in an iron put you put themAnd water nearly to the topAnd in it salt and pepper drop.Boil slowly. Your tomatoes peel.Put in a shin or so of veal, And for the flavor, bear in mindA chunk of middling with the rind.Next some onions you throw in,The young and tender skin,And butterbeans do not forget;And what is more important yetThe corn. But do not be too fast,For you must cut and add it last, For better than the flour you’ll find it’ll doTo give some thickness to the stew.Some lemon peel cut very thinMay now be added and stirred in,And ere it is taken from the fireGive it a dash of Worcestershire.And soon you will hear its praises ring.This is a dish fit for a king.

Mrs. Woodruff’s recipe will strike purists as slightly overdone with its veal, lemon peel and Worcestershire, but it demonstrates the evolution of the dish.

The recipe has changed a bit through the years, some incorporating such vegetables as okra, celery or carrots. Potatoes are used extensively today. Since squirrels are harder to come by, chicken is the preferred meat incorporated in the more purist version. Some prefer ham or lamb, but others rule that out. Now it is a staple at large events, and many a fund-raiser depends

on profits from the stew. People in Brunswick often keep a few quarts in the freezer for unexpected guests, and it is even sold on-line through www.TheCinnamonCafe.com.

Naturally, with such a fine delicacy, there are imitations. For a period of time, Brunswick, Georgia claimed to have invented the stew, but their inferior product was never of the caliber of the local stew. Dr. Edwin T. Williams in 1958 said, “It is very evident that our Georgia friends were misled by the coincidence in names.” In the 1980s, debate continued between the two Brunswicks to the extent that various stew-making teams competed in annual “Stew-Wars” between the towns. Trucks pulling stewpots went alternately from Brunswick County, Virginia, to Brunswick, Georgia and competition was stiff at intense “stew-offs.” While no one was declared final victor in these years, the Brunswick County cooks definitely felt superior. In 1991 Southern Living did an extensive story on the “Stew Wars” with recipes from both sides, including a truly heretic version out of Georgia with barbecue sauce in it!

Today, acknowledged “stew-masters” in the county will be asked to make a stew for an occasion. They show up with giant pots, often made from cut-down propane tanks, and with built-in burners. These are mounted on trailers so they can be moved from one place to another, such as the annual trek to Richmond to make stew on the Capitol steps for the legislators on Brunswick Stew Day. Their crew of five or six stalwart assistants assembles and they begin the stew. It will bubble and boil all night, while the men in shifts stir it with canoe paddles. The waist-high pots are hard to stir once the stew begins to thicken, and it is not as easy as it seems.

Recently, an annual county festival, called “Taste of Brunswick,” brings music, arts and crafts, activities for children, politicians, snow-cones and funnel cake merchants, and more to a happy throng. The chief attraction at this fest, however, is a stew-off with as many as 18 stew-masters and their teams, each in its own tent, making gallons of stew and selling out by noon to an eager


the real story of brunswick stew

crowd. Lines form for the winners of the contest, but each stew-master has fans and the slight variations in taste (perhaps a whiff of woodsmoke, or maybe a bit more hot spice) add excitement.

Today cooks make a pot of Brunswick stew for their families with a version of the old recipes, possibly using new-fangled innovations such as crock-pots, microwaves and instant potatoes, but the stew is still much the same. And some probably, as Dr. Creed Haskins did, put a little brandy in it “for flavor.” Whatever the variation, it is still the original Brunswick stew from Brunswick County, Virginia.

Here is a recipe that feeds a family

and most nearly approaches the Platonic Ideal of Brunswick stew:

1 3 pound broiler-fryer2 stalks celery1 onion, quartered7 (or more) cups of water2 10-oz packages of frozen baby

lima beans3 10-oz packages of frozen whole

kernel corn1 Cup chopped onion2 28-oz cans whole or diced

tomatoes, undrained3 medium potatoes, peeled and

diced3 T butter or margarine1 T salt

1 1/2 t. pepper1/2 to 1 t. red pepper10 saltine crackers, crumbled

Combine chicken, celery, onion and 5 C. water in crock pot or Dutch oven. Bring to boil and reduce heat, simmering 1 hour. Cool and remove chicken, celery and onion. Save broth in pot. Bone and peel chicken and dice. Add chicken and all other ingredients except saltines to pot. Simmer uncovered 4 1/2 hours (crock pot on low) until all is blended, adding water if necessary. Stir often. Crumble crackers and add, cooking 15 minutes more. Yield: 3 1/2 quarts.

January 26 was Brunswick Stew Day at the General Assembly. Stewmaster David Tucker and the Red Oak Stew Crew cooked 85 gallons of stew on the grounds of the Capitol. Volunteers with the Bruns-wick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Association traveled in two vans provided by Southside Virginia Community College to serve the stew. Governor Bob McDonnell stopped by to greet the stew crew and volunteers as well as Delegate Tommy Wright, Delegate Roslyn Tyler, Senator Frank Ruff and Senator L. Louise Lucas.


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Welcome to Brunswick County! I hope that your visit is

positive and safe. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is proud of its high standards of excellence and in 2007 was the 59th Law Enforcement Agency out of over 415 in Virginia to become accredited. In 2011, we successfully went through our 1st Re-accreditation and have continued to lead in Southside Virginia in technology, grant writing, crime deterrence and professional standards.

As the Sheriff and a resident of Brunswick County, I understand the importance of keeping our county a safe and beautiful place to live. As “A Community Moving Forward,” we should all take a proactive approach to litter control and prevention.

James Q. Wilson conducted a study in the early 1980’s titled “The Broken Windows Theory of Crime Causation”. His research concluded what we already know.

Junk, trash, and similar quality of life issues, if allowed to go unchecked, signal the criminal element that the community does not care and neither does its law enforcement officers. Once this occurs, the crime rate increases and our quality of life decreases. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office cares, each year we successfully through the use of inmate labor, pick up over 10,000 bags of trash off of our highways and byways.

Allowing litter to go unchecked not only diminishes the beauty of our great county, but also directly contributes to an increase in criminal activity. In order to achieve and maintain a safe and litter-free county, it takes a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office and the Community. As a member of our Brunswick community, I am personally asking everyone to do their part to keep our community a clean and safe place to visit and live.

A Message from Sheriff Brian Roberts


Brodnax: A uniquely charming and inviting Southern Virginia community

Recent and current revitalization efforts in Brodnax are resulting in an attractive yet functional makeover to the downtown area without detracting from the

inherent charm of one of Southern Virginia’s most endearing-and enduring-communities.

With phase one of the revitalization already complete and the second and fi nal phase targeted for completion later in 2011, things are shaping up quite nicely in the downtown area.

Streetscape upgrades include the relocation of telephone lines from the more visible downtown throughway to the less visible rear portion of the Main Street area behind the structures lining one of the town’s busiest access points, in addition to the inclusion of attractive new lighting, benches, new trash receptacles and more. Improved handicapped-accessibility for the Brodnax Town Offi ce is also included in phase two of the project.

The improvements already in place have not only the town’s residents, but likewise visitors from near and far talking about the attractive and inviting community situated on Mecklenburg County’s easternmost and Brunswick County’s westernmost borders.

Not far from the downtown area, the Tobacco Heritage Trail is already creating plenty of positive buzz within local communities as well as from visitors who are passionate about what the local leg of the trail will offer upon completion. With the fi ve-mile segment of trail that connects La Crosse

to Brodnax already up and functional, project planners and supporters continue to move forward on the Brodnax-to-Lawrenceville leg of the trail. Several key meetings are scheduled for the second half of 2011 that should ultimately advance the Brodnax-to-Lawrenceville portion of the trail further toward completion.

Brodnax is blessed with community leaders that understand the importance of maintaining the town’s crucial link to its history-rich past while at the same time keeping an eye out for opportunities that will help ensure that it remains poised for positive future growth. Equally important to the town’s survival and ongoing vitality are the men, women and children who reside here, and who are at the heart and soul of what makes Brodnax a uniquely charming and inviting community that continues to shine as a small town with plenty of heart and arms open wide to a bright future.

Mayor of Brodnax Garland Baird invites you to visit the town and see all of the new and exciting work that is being done to revitalize the downtown area. He encour-ages everyone to take a stroll and enjoy the Tobacco Heri-tage Trail that runs through the heart of Brodnax.


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SPARC - Sponsoring Partnership and Revitalizing CommunitiesThe SPARC program provides below market rate for loans for first-time homebuyers through special allocations made to local housing groups. SPARC funding is intended to assist these housing groups in addressing critical housing needs facing their communities. (Allocations are made annually on a competitive basis.) Interest rates are 1/2% to 1% below VHDA’s published First-time Homebuyer Program rates. Special income limits and criteria determined by the housing organization may apply.

Features:Downpayment based on specific program selectedMost First-time Homebuyer programs are eligible

Stardard program qualifying appliesAuthorization for resevation must be obtained by the

specific SPARC housing organization.

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Contact: Chris StephensonExecutive DirectorTel. 434-247-9157

Virginia Individual Development Accounts (VIDA) Program

Ivest in Your FuturePersonal Finances and Credit

Reports


The Original Homeof Brunswick Stew and Much MoreWhile Brunswick County is known for its Brunswick

Stew, made famous in 1828 by camp cook Uncle Jimmy Matthews, there is plenty more to see and

do while visiting our scenic and historic county. Our people, our places and our spirit make Brunswick

County a destination to see and experience. There is an abundance of historical, recreational and scenic opportunities for all ages.

If you like history, visit the Fort Christanna Historical Site, established in 1714. There is interpretive signage describing various aspects of the fort’s history, a path around the original walls of the fort and nature trails.

The Brunswick County Museum and Historical Society located on the historic courthouse square in Lawrenceville tells the story of the county’s rich history and has exhibits on Brunswick Stew, Fort Christanna, former Governor Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., St. Paul’s College and local farm life.

Brunswick County is also part of the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail. The self-guided tour has historically significant stops honoring African Americans, Native Americans and women concerning their roles in developing rights to be equally educated. The county has four stops on the forty-one stop trail, which includes St. Paul’s College, Christanna Campus of Southside Virginia Community College, Fort Christanna and the Hospital and School of the Good Shepard (Three Angels Inn).

The Wilson-Kautz Raid, which is part of Lee’s Retreat and the Virginia Civil War Trails, has two stops located in Brunswick County. The stops are at Smoky Ordinary and Danieltown.

If you are a nature lover, the Christanna Loop of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail provides visitors with a wide variety of native plants and animals for viewing. The trail has four stops in the county which includes Fort Christanna, County Park at Great Creek, County Pond and the hiking trail at the Christanna Campus of Southside Virginia Community College.

Nature abounds while walking and enjoying the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the Tobacco Heritage Trail from Lawrenceville to Brodnax.

If you enjoy recreation, Brunswick County has a wide range of activities such as golfing, scuba diving at Lake Rawlings and paddling down the Meherrin, a State Scenic River. You can try your hand at catching the big one by fishing at County Park at Great Creak, County Pond or on Lake Gaston. Lake Gaston also offers the opportunity to enjoy boating, skiing or just relaxing and soaking up the sun.

For the lover inside you, visit the Valentines Post Office. Located inside Wright’s General Merchandise, the post office is famous for it’s special Valentines Day postmark. Each year the post office receives thousands of Valentines from all over

the world to be postmarked with the one of a kind heart shaped stamp. For some, it has also become a sort of chapel of love with weddings taking place right in the store and post office lobby.

If a leisurely drive is more your pace, Brunswick County is home to three scenic Virginia Byways. Highway 903 (Hendricks Mill Road), Highway 626 (Robinson Ferry and Gasburg Road) and Highway 46 (Christanna Highway) provide a great opportunity to see scenes of local beauty, history, farm life and Brunswick County at its best.

With our close proximity to Richmond, Raleigh and Tidewater, we have a lot to offer, whether you visit for a day, a weekend or stay for a lifetime.

For more information please contact the Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Association, 228, North Main Street, Suite B-100, Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868. Phone 434-848-6773, 1-866-STEWPOT. Email: [email protected] or on the web: www.tourbrunswick.com.


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The Brunswick Museum and Historical Society, Inc. is located in the historic

Courthouse Square in Lawrenceville, Virginia. The 501(c)(3) organization works to preserve and present the rich heritage and multi-faceted culture of Brunswick County and Southside Virginia. It strives to promote the history of Brunswick County through rotating exhibits at the museum and interesting lectures.

The museum houses three distinct display rooms. Present exhibitions on loan at the museum include a 1948 silver communion set from Trinity St. Mark’s Church, historic photographs from Saint Paul’s College, memorabilia from local fire and emergency services, and a Sons of Confederate Veterans display. Other exhibits include 4,000 year-old arrowheads and tomahawks in addition to an exhibit of Fort Christanna which, when established in 1714, was the

westernmost point of the British Empire. Community events sponsored by

the Brunswick Museum & Historical Society, Inc. include a Luncheon Speaker Series and art programs for children.

Newsletters are available through membership or at Brunswick County

Library, Saint Paul’s College Library, and Southside Virginia Community College (Alberta campus) Library.

Admission is free and volunteer docents work in the museum Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call (434) 848-0964.

Brunswick County Museum and Historical Society


Taste of Brunswick Festival

Entertaining, Educational and Exciting Annual

Event

If you are looking for a festival that offers great food, fun and fellowship the Taste of Brunswick Festival held the

second Saturday of October fills the bill. The festival is held on the grounds of Southside Virginia Community College - Christanna Campus – from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival is held rain or shine. There is no admission fee or parking fee. SVCC is located just off Interstate 85 at the intersection of Boydton Plank Road and Christanna Highway.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Brunswick Stew Cook-off to name the World Champion stewmaster. A total of $1,500 in prize money will be awarded, $800 for first place, $400 for second place, $200 for third place and $100 for fourth place. Winners are announced at 1 p.m. Stew will be available by the bowl from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Quarts of stew will be available after 1 p.m.

Entertainment in the past included bluegrass all day, the Butterbean Quartet, the Fort Lee Army Band, the Country Boys Gospel Singers, New Creation Gospel Singers, a children’s play about the history of Brunswick stew, Brunswick High School Chorus, a Confederate reenactment, horses, petting zoo, pony rides, rides for the kids, the SVCC Barrel Train, face painting, Civil War re-enactment, food vendors and so much more. There will be a car and tractor show.

Vendors will be selling honey hives, Mary Kay Cosmetics, handmade jewelry, pet novelties, gift baskets and silk flowers, crochet items, seasonal gifts, ceramics, goat milk soap and other items, lemonade, woodcrafts and many other items.

For more information about the Taste of Brunswick Festival visit www.tasteofbrunswickfestival.com or call (434) 949-0015.

The Taste of Brunswick Festival offers many activities for children but the main attraction for many is the delicious Brunswick stew which can be pur-chased by the bowl or by the quart.


Get a Taste of Brunswick is a registered trademark of the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, Lawrenceville, Virginia@ Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, Lawrenceville, Virginia. All Rights Reserved

Welcome to BRUNSWICK COUNTY

Get a REAL TASTE of Brunswick County by exploring our quaint, picturesque southern towns and communi-ties… Visit our Lakes and Rivers including the Meherrin and Nottoway rivers and beautiful lakes of Gaston and Lake Rawlings… or simply explore our Rolling Green Countryside that includes our scenic walking trail…Visit our many historic sites such as Fort Christanna and Historic Valentines Post offi ce. YOU’LL FIND IT ALL IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY !

Chamber Sponsored Events:

The Brunswick Chamber of Commerce400 North Main St

Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868434-848-3154

[email protected]

Spring Festival/Rotar 5-MilerThird Saturday in April

Annual Chamber Golf TournamentLast Wednesday in April

Annual Chamber PicnicSecond Wednesday in August

Halloween ParadeOctober/Friday before Halloween

Christmas ParadeFirst Friday Evening in December

Santa BreakfastSaturday Morning Following the Christmas Parade

people of BrunswickSusan Clarke Schaar

Born and raised in Brunswick County, Susan Clarke Schaar began her distin-guished career with the Virginia Senate Clerk’s offi ce in 1974 as an engrossing clerk, culminating in her election as Clerk of the Senate of Virginia in 1990, where she continues to serve with distinction and exceptional dedication.

The Clerk of the Senate is elected by the Senate and serves as the chief ad-ministrative offi cer. Schaar’s duties include overseeing the daily operations of the Senate, maintaining all Senate records, keeping the daily Journal, referring bills to committees, personnel management, in-formation technology, and facilities management. She has also served on many state committees and commissions including, the Virginia Commission on Interstate Cooperation, the Virginia Legislative Sup-port Commission, the Virginia Commission on Preservation of Capitol Square, the Virginia Capitol Foun-dation, the Governor’s Commission Honoring the American Indians of Virginia, the Governor’s Public Safety Memorial Commission and the Commemorative Commission to Honor the Contributions of the Women of Virginia

As a graduate of the University of Richmond, Schaar has served as chair or vice chair on numerous committees of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, as well as in leadership posi-tions, including secretary-treasurer in the 1995-1996 term and president-elect, president, and immediate past president in consecutive terms in 1996-1999. She has been an active supporter of Brunswick Stew Day at the General Assembly, helping with the logistics for the annual event held on Capitol Square.


Jurassic Park in Brunswick County

Joe Lively photo

Singing dinosaur? Normally secretive, this small creature dwells in shadows near water. A beautiful example of evolution from its fearsome dinosauran ancestors, Prothonotary warblers are always considered a real trophy sighting by seasoned birders and photographers. These tiny yellow jewels are seen frequently along the Tobacco Heritage Trail passing through Lawrenceville in the heart of Brunswick County, Va. Ideal habitat along this pristine natural trail attracts many rare bird species, but no living velociraptors (I don’t think).

Joe Lively photo

Bird watchers visitAfter a strong start, members from the Margaret Watson Bird Club try to locate secretive birds like the vividly colored Prothonotary warbler. They were successful and had a great time on this primitive, wildlife rich trail. Expect easy walking, lots of critters, two picnic tables and for that wilderness emergency – portable toilets.

By Joe Lively

To the majority of visitors coming to Brunswick County for the first time, taste buds

start drooling uncontrollably after catching the aroma drifting downwind from cooking pots offering The Original Brunswick Stew. You just gotta get you some!

Walking the Fort Christanna Trail returns one to the period in our history when Virginia’s first governor, Governor Spotswood initiated the policy of peaceful coexistence and trade with Native Americans living on the adjacent banks of the Meherrin River. Be sure to take in the Brunswick County Museum in Lawrenceville and the quaint town buildings out of the 1940-50s time warp

Of all the many attractants inviting whole families to a continuous diet of adventures, one is virtually unknown, but is quietly gaining attention. To get the best understanding, we need to travel back from 100 – 65 million years. Monsters roamed the land. Yes, dinosaurs like T-Rex and their smaller relatives. As these descendents changed their form and genetics to cope with post acropocroliphol condition. In one of the fastest growing eco-tourism industries, people with all different backgrounds are discovering bird species along the Tobacco Heritage Trail.

Today, all birds are swift, secretive. The first assessment was done on May 28th of this year. Taken under non-ideal conditions near noon, 51 identified species were recorded. Members of the Margaret Watson Bird Club visited from Farmville, Va.

Ideal habitat for breeding and a stopover bring in many tropical species that are rare elsewhere. Most pass through, some stay and fnd nesting sites. It wasn’t long before someone shouted, “Prothonitory Warbler.” Extremely rare and declining in population because of habitat destruction, these tiny yellow jewels. Many were sighted. OK birders, all you have to do is make your arrangements and go, Accommodations available.


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A Native Son ofBrunswick County

ByFrancis Eugene Wood

I have always been proud of my Brunswick heritage. I lived there just outside of Lawrenceville

from 1954 until my family relocated to Farmville, Virginia in 1971. Dad worked for VEPCO then and a job promotion came along at the right time for him and our family. My older sister, Sandra, was entering college and little brother, Dwight, was still in grade school. Although I knew it was the best thing , I sure hated to leave. All my friends were there. All my childhood memories. But one’s life is made up of a labyrinth of paths and choosing a new course will often leave us with cherished memories.

A few years ago when I was preparing the manuscript for Tackle Box Memories, a collection of outdoor adventures I had experienced while growing up in Brunswick County, I opened a page in Virginia Wildlife Magazine and was pleased to learn that the Meherrin River in Brunswick had been included in the Virginia Scenic River System. There was a photograph of then governor, Tim Kaine, signing the proclamation at a table set up on the Historic Gholson Bridge. Wow! That was my iron bridge over my river. You see, I had lived with my family in the gatehouse at Brunswick Plantation until I was nine years old when we moved into a new house in Lawrenceville Hills. So, I had crossed that bridge practically every day of my young life up to that point. And the river? Well, like so many other Brunswick natives, I thought of it as my own. Living there at the plantation, I grew up on it. I fished it with my dad, waded its shallows when I was small, and swam in it when I was older. I built log rafts and floated it with my friends. I camped in pup tents on its narrow sandy beaches. And even when we moved into “the hills” I walked and sometimes ran three miles through fields and forests to chase adventures along its banks. The lure of the river was

strong. I have often said that one third of my blood is made up of Meherrin River water. I sure did swallow enough of it.

I still have a shoe box filled with Native American artifacts and shards of pottery that I found along the river banks and the shelves above it. Fort Christianna was not far from where I lived and I was fascinated with its history. I recall reading everything I could about this “Indian school” and standing beside the cannon under towering pines and trying to imagine the layout of the fort. My boy scout troop cleaned up the area during a weekend camp back in the mid 60s. I commend the efforts that have gone into

making the site a destination for tourists to the area. An important historical site such as this should never be forgotten.

When I lived there in the 50s and 60s Lawrenceville was the all-American town. There was a constant drone of activity. Life in our little town was good, just as it was in the other smaller villages throughout Brunswick County. I knew kids from everywhere. We went to school together, played little league baseball at the old ball park down the hill and met after school at the soda fountains at either Allen’s Drug Store or Daniel’s. If you got a booth you were special. I remember playing checkers in the window seat at the local barber shop while waiting for Johnny Carpenter to cut my hair. Wilson Elmore would do it if Johnny was too busy. I loved that little town. And I knew it well. I delivered newspapers from the seat of my bike for enough years that I learned all the streets and avenues. I can still retrace my morning paper route in my mind even after all these years. Dad knew it too. He drove me whenever the weather was bad. Aside from that it was three miles to town on my bike, the route, and then back home in time to get ready for school and catch the bus. The sound of an early morning dog barking in the distance reminds me of my paper route through the sleepy streets of Lawrenceville. Cold wind on my face evokes the same memories. And for the record...it never occurred to me that Brunswick Stew originated from any other place.

I hope that small towns such as Lawrenceville and the surrounding villages throughout Brunswick County will survive the changing world around them. Oh, they can never again match the glory of years gone by. Our world has changed too much for that. But, perhaps they can stand as a reminder of what we once were and what we aspire to become again. Caring communities where everybody knows everybody, newcomers are welcomed, and children can play safely outside until it’s time to go home.

Francis Wood is an award-winning author of twenty two books. Many of his stories detail the rural upbringing he experienced in Brunswick County.

He is a storyteller and lecturer. Francis is a veteran radio broadcaster of over

forty years and is the General Manager of Colonial Broadcasting Company, Inc. Of Farmville and the current

president of The Virginia Association of Broadcasters. Visit his website at http://

tipofthemoon.com and find out more about this native son.


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A Native Son ofBrunswick County

people of BrunswickJames Solomon Russell

Despite being born into slavery in 1857 on the Hendrick estate in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, James Solomon Russell overcame great adversity to become founder of the St. Paul Normal School, now known as Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville. He lived with his mother, Armanda Russell, on the estate until after the Civil War, when his father, Solomon Russell, who lived on a nearby plantation in North Carolina, joined them.

Life after the Civil War was not easy for the family trying to farm on their own and make a living. The young Russell received encouragement from his parents to get as much edu-cation as possible. He attended school when possible and showed remarkable ability. He was further encouraged to go to Hampton Normal and Industrial School. His parents worked hard to send their son to school. Even though he had to leave Hampton twice because of lack of funds, he continued to pursue his education.

Russell had known from an early age that he wanted to be a priest. It was suggested that he visit Mrs. Pattie E. Buford of Lawrenceville, a white woman who was interested in missionary work in the black community. Mrs. Buford talked with the Bishop of Virginia, Francis M. Whittle, who arranged for Russell to attend the Theological Seminary of Virginia at St. Stephen’s Church, Petersburg. Russell was the fi rst and only student in a new school for the education of colored clergymen at the Seminary. Russell was under the direct guidance of Rev. Giles Buckner Cooke, rector of St. Stephen’s Church and a former major in the Army of the Confederacy.

He was ordained a deacon in 1882. That same year, he married Virginia Michigan Morgan, with whom he would have fi ve children. Russell’s fi rst assignment as a deacon was to Lawrenceville, Virginia, where he and his wife began a parish school in the vestry room of the newly created parish of St. Paul’s. In 1887 he was ordained to the priesthood, and a year later opened St. Paul’s Normal School with donated funds. James Solomon Russell died on March 28, 1935 in the President’s home on Saint Paul’s campus.

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The Fort Christanna Site Development Committee has been presented the 2010

American Association for State and Local History Award of Merit for the work completed at the Fort Christanna Historical Site. The American Association for State and Local History Leadership in History Awards, now in its 65th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

Nathaniel Neblett, chairman of the Fort Christanna Site Development Committee, expressed appreciation to members of the committee for their hard work and dedication to the Fort Christanna project.

“I am especially happy about receiving this award and we want the world to know what a big fish we landed. Tonight we present the award to you and thank you for your support,” Neblett said.

Neblett thanked John Kincheloe, historical consultant, and his wife, Susan McClintock who were instrumental in Fort Christanna being considered for the award. They worked to put the application together and receiving the award would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication. Kincheloe serves as Media Specialist and Adjunct Instructor, American Indian History and Cultures at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.

Kincheloe said in 2005 he came to the supervisors with a dream to develop the Fort Christanna site. He said it is important to tell the story of the fort and how the people interacted calling attention to Native Americans, colonists, traders and Governor Spotswood. Kincheloe said the fort was dedicated in April 2009 and the hope is for Fort Christanna to bring tourism dollars to Brunswick County.

Tony Lynch with the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe said it was a great honor to be involved with the Fort Christanna project emphasizing how important it is for us not

to forget history. “You can’t say there is nothing to do in

Brunswick County. Go to Fort Christanna. Our ancestors would be very proud. Keep up the good work. We are behind you 100 percent,” Lynch said.

The Fort Christanna Site has been developed into an historical park, with a

new parking area, trails around the fort walls and to the Meherrin River, and interpretive signage. There is also a new outdoor learning center, made possible through the Garden Club of Virginia’s Common Wealth Award. A grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission has provided a new information kiosk and highway signage on Interstate 85 and Highway 58.

The site is also a stop on the Christanna Loop of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, and has been added to the Virginia State Transportation Map as a new point of interest.

Governor Alexander Spotswood established the fort in 1714, along the Meherrin River, with the intention of establishing trade with the Native

Americans and protecting settlers moving into the region. The fort was five sided with each side made of a palisade of split logs, 300 feet to a side. At each corner small bastion houses held a 1400 pound cannon. Stationed at the fort were 12 rangers under the command of Captian Robert Hicks. At its time, it was the first western fort in Virginia.

With the Governor’s encouragement, several of the Siouan Indian tribes moved to Fort Christanna and banded together under the name Saponie. They built a village not far from the fort and over 200 Native Americans lived in the village. There was an Indian school located at the fort and Governor Spotswood paid from his own pocket to hire a teacher, Charles Griffin, to educate the Indian children who numbered as many as 100 at one time.

In 1718, the legislature withdrew funding from the fort. Private owners attempted to run it but were not successful and by 1722 the fort was almost abandoned by the English. Indians continued to live there for many years but the buildings disintegrated and the wilderness took over again.

In 1928 the Colonial Dames of Virginia bought 3.25 acres of land and a monument was placed on the grounds. That marker was a concrete block studded with arrowheads, which people vandalized. It was replaced by the present monument with cannon in the 1950s.

In 1979-1981 an archeological dig on the site under the direction of Dr. Mary C. Beaudry affirmed the outlines of the palisade wall and provided some information about life there. In 2002-2004 archaeology led by Dr. Chris Stevenson showed much more about the trade and life of the people of the fort.

The Brunswick County Board of Supervisors purchased the surrounding 25 acres of the site in early 2000 to further protect the site and began plans to develop the site into an historical park.

Fort Christanna project: National award winner


BRUNSWICK COUNTYBOARD OF SUPERVISORS

MEHERRIN DISTRICT/DISTRICT#1 POWELLTON DISTRICT/DISTRICT #2Hon. Robert H. Conner Hon. Welton TylerP.O. Box 52 639 Freeman Cross RoadEbony, Virginia 23845 Freeman, Virginia 23856 434-636-2043 (H) 434-634-3692 (H)434-636-2521 (Fax) 434-336-1785 (Fax)

RED OAK DISTRICT/DISTRICT #3 STURGEON DISTRICT/DISTRICT #4Hon. Bernard L. Jones, Sr. Hon. Marc L. Finney1670 Lew Jones Road 440 Sturgeon Road Alberta, Virginia 23821 Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868 434-676-3899 (H) 434-848-9778 (H) 434-676-9119 (Fax) 434-848-0598 (H-Fax)

TOTARO DISTRICT/DISTRICT #5 COUNTY ADMINISTRATORHon. Barbara Jarrett Drummond Charlette T. Woolridge18618 Christanna Highway P.O.Box 399Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868 Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868 434-848-8597 (H) 434-848-3107 (W)434-848-2039 (Fax) 434-848-0424 (Fax)


Brunswick County Library offers a full range of traditional and high-tech

library services, as a branch of Meherrin Regional Library System. The library’s interactive website and catalog are located at www.meherrinlib.org. The catalog provides full access to the collections of both libraries in Meherrin Regional Library System. Patrons may view their library account online, reserve materials, and even renew items they have already checked out. The website links local and global information for our viewers. Research and Reference, Medical Matters, Kid’s Spot, Teen Scene and Employment Avenues are just a sampling of the many links bringing opportunity and knowledge to patrons. Library links are updated regularly.

New books, movies, and audio books come in each week. A wide variety of best-sellers, popular fiction, non-fiction, and terrific new books are always available for every library patron. Patron requests for specific books are welcomed and are filled as often as possible. The library also purchases movies, audio books on CD, DVD’s and PLAYAWAYs for a patron’s viewing and listening pleasure. The library’s music collection holds more than 600 items including a variety of popular, rock, classical, jazz, blues, children’s, and holiday music all on CD.

Traditional walk-in and telephone service is available for reference and renewals. E-mail reference service is available at [email protected]. Local History and genealogy inquiries are welcome. The Dr. William McCaddin Pritchett Local History and Genealogy Room contains a wealth of information on Southside Virginia as well as family histories. For the student, distance learner, or researcher an extensive database of periodical literature, newspapers, and full-text professional journals is available through Find It Virginia (www.finditva.com) and is free to Virginia Public Libraries. Additional database learning opportunities are available through Mango Languages, A-Z

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Meherin Regional Library:Much more than just books


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USA, A-Z World Travel, and Heritage Quest. The Brunswick County Library subscribes to over 70 magazines and newspapers, which may be borrowed.

Special services for senior citizens and the visually impaired include a collection of large print and recorded books. Also available is a Magna-Sight machine which magnifies documents to make them easier to read. The library staff gives computer assistance as needed. Outreach Services offers shut in patrons library material selection, delivery and pick up services.

Health Information and Advocacy at your library is a free health information service offered throughout the region. This program sponsored through a grant by the Tobacco Indemnification Fund and VCU Massey Cancer Center. Ms. Ann Wrenn, Health Information Specialist, is available to assist the community in

gathering and understanding medical information. Ms. Wrenn can be reached for programs or individual information sessions by calling 434-594-4150.

Children’s Services include a weekly preschool Storytime every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Wonderful stories are shared using books, songs, felt board and movement activities during this special time. Storytime can be scheduled to visit classrooms or daycares. The children’s area has an interactive play and learn activity center, special computers, games, books, and a

large barn. This year’s Summer Reading

Program, Amazing Tales at the Library, kicks off July 7th with Krendl & Co. performing magic and comedy. Many programs, exhibits, performances, and prizes complement the theme all summer long. On August 4 the Summer Reading Program will conclude with a special “Reading Log Wrap Up Party” including a closing awards ceremony. Completed summer schedules are available now and registration began June.

Area zip codesAlberta — 23821

Brodnax — 23920 Dolphin — 23843 Dundas — 23938

Ebony – 23845Emporia — 23847 Freeman — 23856

Gasburg – 23857Kenbridge — 23944 La Crosse — 23950

Lawrenceville — 23868 Rawlings — 23876 South Hill — 23970 Valentines – 23887Warfield — 23889

White Plains — 23893

“No matter where Barbara and I lived during my time in the NBA, we always thought of Brunswick as home and always knew we would come back home to live. When I retired, we returned to the county to live and raise our children, Brandan, B.J., Bria and Brooke. We wanted to inspire other kids in the area to dream big, work hard and realize that their dreams can be achieved. Over the years, we gain positive knowledge on how to live and we wanted to share that information with others because you can’t take it with you when you are no longer here. Brunswick County is a great place to live and is important to our family.“

Bryant and Barbara Stith and familyLawrenceville

Why we call Brunswick County home…

“I came to Lawrenceville as a young blushing bride with my college sweetheart. Having met my husband, Wendell Freeman, while we were both students at Virginia State College.

The town and county were beautiful, clean, peaceful and inviting. Thus, I became a resident in my husband’s hometown, sharing a home with him and my son. Having spent 50 plus years here, I have seen many positive changes.

Living here has giving me the opportunity to share my talents and activism which include being an educator, piano instructor, church organist and volunteer with many organizations.

I have found the people of this community to always be there for each other no matter what. I enjoy the slow-paced lifestyle and the community has enabled me to grow and become a pillow of strength.”

Mildred FreemanLawrenceville

“I came to Brunswick 38 years ago to visit friends, and two days later had bought a farm and made plans to move. The people here were and are warm and welcoming. It is a very beautiful county, rich in history, and somehow the inroads of commercialism have passed it by. It has, to me, the perfect balance of country life within reach of cities, beaches, and mountains. My children have grown up here with advantages no city kid has. Brunswick, for all of us, is home. And I could go on and on...”

Gay NealeMeredithville


“When you grow weary of the fast-paced city life Alberta is the place to go. Seven years ago I returned to my hometown of Alberta. Some have asked why I moved back. The short answer is to be near my aging parents. The long answer is to find comfort, peace, center myself, re-energize my mind, body and soul, visit family and neighbors and attend my home church. Oftentimes while away I returned to Alberta for visits. After which I always returned to the city feeling centered, energized and at peace. Having made the full circle journey, I have found more than I ever imagined.”

Carla MartindaleAlberta


“I have lived here basically all my life. I call Brunswick County my home because this is where my family and friends are. In Brunswick I enjoy the rural

setting versus an urban setting because I enjoy the slower pace of the quiet, friendly communities in this

area. As an insurance agent I have more opportunities to meet friends and neighbors each day and feel I have

helped each client. This is why I enjoy being active on the Lawrenceville Town Council and other civic

organizations giving back to the community. To me Brunswick County is an ideal location between

the two urban areas of Richmond and Raleigh and two major interstate highways. I live in the Town of Lawrenceville, have an office in the town and enjoy the rural setting yet have the urban sprawl nearby.

Brunswick County is a good place to call home.”

Scott MartinLawrenceville

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County Park at Great Creek is located just off Christanna Highway on Park Place,

northwest of Lawrenceville, the county seat. This park, which is owned by Brunswick County, is on the banks of Great Creek Reservoir, a 212 acre lake constructed between 1987 and 1993, primarily for flood control and is also used as a water supply.

The park has many amenities for visitors and residents to enjoy. There are picnic shelters, restrooms, a playground, fishing pier and boat ramp available as well as athletic fields. There is parking available at both the boat ramp and picnic area.

County Park at Great Creek is open daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

County Park at Great Creek is also one stop on the Christanna loop of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Many species of birds and other wildlife can be found at the park which introduces visitors to large areas of rolling, open fields and patches of woods in various stages of growth. The numerous tree lines support northern mockingbirds, which constantly harass the resident American kestrel and the occasional red-tailed hawk. At times, family groups of northern flickers, with their bright flight feathers and white rumps, pass through the area exploring all the trees for potential prey, and making quite a racket as they call back and forth to each other. Many species of butterflies and dragonflies can be found along the wetlands area adjacent to the boat ramp and parking area.

County Park at Great Creek Rules and Regulations

The following activities are expressly prohibited on any property which constitutes the park area.

Any violation of the rules will be prosecuted.

1. Consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages.

2. Operation of any vehicle on any part of the dam, spillway or property located below the dam.

3. Operation of any vehicle on any portion of the park except for roads and parking areas.

4. Walking or climbing on or across the dam, spillway or property located below the dam.

5. Swimming, bathing or wading in the impoundment.

6. Hunting or trapping.7. Withdrawal of water from the

impoundment.8. Operating on the impoundment any

boat or other vessel powered by gasoline engine unless such vessel is operated by an employee of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Sheriff’s Department or the Virginia State Police.

9. Littering10. Being within the boundaries of the

park at any time except for the period commencing one hour prior to sunrise and ending one hour after sunset.

11. Operating any vehicle at a speed in excess of ten (10) miles per hour.

12. Creating or maintaining an open fire.

County Park at Great Creek is a

great place to hold family reunions, picnics and other functions. For more information or to reserve the park contact:

Brunswick County Administrator’s Office

102 Tobacco Street, P. O. Box 399Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

(434) 848-3107

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P.O. Box 157136 W. First AvenueAlberta, VA 23821

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Melissa B. Parrish, Mayor434-949-7443 Officewww.albertava.com

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County Park at Great Creek

33Explore Brunswick • 2011Explore Brunswick • 201

Fishing License Required for those persons 16 years of age or older.

* The following are prohibited: - Swimming - Open Air Fires - Trotlines - Littering - Seining - Camping - Waterfowl Hunting - Fishing Tournaments Involving

Prizes - Gasoline Outboard Motors

Questions? Please ContactVirginia Department of Game and

Inland FisheriesP. O. Box 11104

Richmond, Virginia 23230


Lawrenceville and Brunswick County have more than one or two well-kept secrets. Looking

for a great deal in live entertainment without driving to Richmond or beyond? Brunswick County, Lake Gaston area, and the surrounding localities have a bargain in concerts and the performing arts with The ArtBank of Southside Virginia. With its twenty-three year continuous record of presenting an annual series and over 280 programs, The ArtBank brings a variety of entertainment to fit every taste in music, dance, theater, and more.

The ArtBank’s well-kept secret has offered a broad spectrum of entertainment based in a selection from the wealth of performers found in Virginia. Performances have included world premiere performances presented by the Richmond Ballet and the Richmond Symphony. Every series highlights a variety of musical styles from country-bluegrass to opera and show tunes through classical, vocalists with a diversity of styles, live theater and dance, and always an evening that ends in getting hooked on the arts presented by The ArtBank. Performers previously presented include Theatre IV, Tommy Dorsey Band, Elegba Folklore Society, Allison Brown, American Shakespeare Center, Scott Ainslie, Tidewater Guitar Orchestra, Latin Ballet of Virginia, Robin & Linda Williams, Le Hotclub de Biglick, 7 Sopranos, Virginia Opera, Jonathan Romeo, IONA, J. Plunky Branch, Cephus & Wiggins, Virginia Company, Celtibillies, Theater Lime Kiln, Fat Ammons Band, and more.

Brunswick County holds a wealth of a bargain with The ArtBank’s series. Founded in 1989, The ArtBank of Southside Virginia continues to promote, encourage, and support the arts and cultural events in Brunswick County and the surrounding areas for the enjoyment and education of its citizens. The

ArtBank remains a totally volunteer 501 (c) (3) Organization. Programming receives support in part by Local Government Grants from Brunswick County and the Town of Lawrenceville through the Virginia Commission for the

Arts, as well as several programs made possible through special funding by the United States Congress for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts with additional support from the Virginia General

19416 Carson RoadDinwiddie, VA 23847-0056

website : www.sec.coop

Headquarters & Office & Central DistrictLocated on Highway 460 WestP.O. Box 7, Crewe, VA 23930

VA WATS Toll Free 1-800-552-2118VA WATS Toll Free (866)878-5514 for Power Outages ONLY

FAX (434)645-1147

Brunswick has a bargain in the performing arts with The ArtBank of Southside Virginia

Hansel and Gretal

The Seven Sopranos


Assembly. Event Sponsors, Supporters and Friends come from local businesses, civic organizations, Series ticket holders and Patrons. The non-profi t group continues the mission and offers a series ticket of fi ve to six performances for less than $100.00 and individual tickets cost $10.00 or less for quality, professional concerts and shows. A family series

ticket remains one of the best deals in the area guaranteeing family-time and evenings of live entertainment for less than the cost of a movie or ballgame. Looking to keep the arts alive in Brunswick County and the surrounding area, consider becoming a patron or series ticket holder and contacting The ArtBank at P.O. Box 862, Lawrenceville,

Virginia 23868 or [email protected]. So why drive an hour or more when a trip to Lawrenceville can bring quality entertainment to the local stage? Looking for a bargain without leaving the area? It can be found in Lawrenceville, Virginia with The ArtBank of Southside Virginia.

people of BrunswickCleo E. Powell

A native of Brunswick County, Judge Cleo E. Powell is the fi rst African American Woman to serve on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. She was appointed in 2008 by then Governor Timothy M. Kaine. As a practicing lawyer, Powell represented man-agement in labor and employment law. She also served as assistant attorney general for Virginia from 1986-1989 before she went on the bench in Chesterfi eld County and Colonial Heights, where she served in the general district and circuit courts. Powell holds a bachelor’s degree in American government and a law degree from the Uni-versity of Virginia. She gives credit to a former teacher at Brunswick County High School for helping her form her interest in the legal profession. Her teacher arranged a meeting with several students, including Powell, to meet with Samuel L. Tucker at his Emporia offi ce. Tucker was a legendary civil rights attorney and found-ing partner of the Hill, Tucker, Marsh law fi rm in Richmond. The meeting proved to be “personal, powerful and moving” for Powell, who several years later would enter University of Virginia, earning her undergraduate and law degree.

The Seven Sopranos


Get Direction in life...www.southside.edu1-888-220-SVCC

Success Starts Here

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People send valentines cards from lots of places every year to the Valentines Post Office to

be stamped with a special stamp of love. Postmaster Kathy Fajna usually receives the first batch of valentines in January and over the years she has received valentines from nearly every state. She said valentines have been mailed to many foreign countries including France, Belgium, England, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Germany and Scotland. Typically the Post Office postmarks over 25,000 valentines each year.

Each valentine is hand stamped with a heart cachet in the upper left corner and the postmark is shaped like a valentine.

Established in 1887, the Valentines, Virginia, Post Office was originally located in the Valentine Family Store, in the southern part of Brunswick County, and named after the first Postmaster, William Henry Valentine, who served in the small rural post office until his death in 1911.

His wife, Emma Rawlings Valentine, took over the post from 1911 to 1914, and then was passed to son, Herbert E. Valentine, and then to another son, Lewis Valentine, who carried on the family tradition.In 1924, the post office was moved to Robert J. Clary’s store a mile down the road from the original location where he served as postmaster. After Mr. Clary’s retirement, William R. Wright became postmaster and designed the special valentines postmark. Through the efforts of Mr. Wright and his wife Francis, the postmark grew in popularity and has brought the community much notoriety. Many newspaper and magazine articles have been written and television news stories have covered the little post office in Valentines and its famous postmark. The 1995 Love Stamp was first issued by the United States Postal Service on February 1, 1995, at the Valentines Post

Office It hosted the official first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the stamp and postmarked 75,000 requests for first-day-of-issue postmark cancellations.

Denise Evans followed Mr. Wright as postmaster and on June 10, 2007, Fajna was named postmaster and began serving on July 1. She has been with the United State Postal Service since 1993 and knew the former postmaster, the late Willie Wright.

“I remember coming to the post office

when I was a kid and seeing Mr. Wright. I am enjoying meeting the people and carrying on this great tradition,” Fajna said.

Over the years, the post office has hosted many weddings and countless other special events. Many local elementary school children have visited and mailed their cards directly through the post office.

In 2006, the Post Office was an appropriate rest stop and hosted

With love from the Valentines Post Office


thousands of bikers on the Bike Virginia: Tour de Love.

In 2008, the Virginia General Assembly through House Joint Resolution 27 gave special recognition to the post offi ce and community

of Valentines, designating February 14, 2008 and each succeeding year, as Valentines, Virginia Day in the Commonwealth. The last line of the resolution sums up best the meaning of the post offi ce to the community: The

citizens of Valentines, Virginia, are immensely proud of the role that the Valentines, Virginia, Post Offi ce provides in making Valentine’s Day a special day for countless children, families, romantics, and collectors.

Get that special postmark

If you can’t make it to Valentines, but you’d like the special postmark on your Valentine’s cards, mail your addressed cards to the Valentines post offi ce in a large envelope.

You can put stamps on each of the cards or enclose a check for the price of the stamps at 44 cents per card.

Postmaster Kathy Fajna will hand-cancel the cards with the Valentines postmark and rubber-stamp each with a special red, heart-shaped seal. Mail your cards to:

Postmaster 23 Manning Drive

Valentines, VA 23887

people of

BrunswickAlbertis S. Harrison, Jr.

Born on January 11, 1907 in Alberta, Virgin-ia, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. became the only Governor of Virginia during the 20th century to serve in all three branches of state gov-ernment. He began his public and political career in 1931 when he was elected Com-monwealth’s attorney for Brunswick County. He served in the U.S. Navy reserve during World War II and upon returning to the coun-ty was elected to the Virginia Senate where he served from 1948-1959. He was elected Attorney General of Vir-ginia in 1959 where he served until 1961 when he was elected Gov-ernor. As Governor, he championed a system of state-supported technical schools that would become Virginia’s community college system. He worked to improve Virginia’s highway system and led the efforts for creating over 177,000 new jobs in the Commonwealth. He served as Governor until 1966. In 1967, Governor Mills Godwin named him to the Virginia Supreme Court where he served until his retirement in 1982. He lived out his retirement with his wife, the former Lacy Virginia Barkley, at his family farm “Saddletree” where he died on January 23, 1995.

he served from 1948-1959. He was elected Attorney General of Vir-


Life begins at 40 and Southside Virginia Community College has been a part of many lives

during the past four decades and one year. Be assured, the local community college has no plans for slowing down or stopping the momentum.

With a headcount enrollment approaching 10,000 annually, Southside has grown and changed over the years. The college has a mission to touch the lives of all Southside Virginians and innovatively approaches this mission by adding classes, programs, services and partnering with area agencies to further its accessibility.

A two year institution of higher education established as a part of the statewide system of community colleges created by the 1966 Virginia General Assembly, the college serves primarily the residents of the city of Emporia and the counties of Brunswick, Buckingham (partial), Charlotte, Cumberland, Greensville, Halifax (partial), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward. This represents an area of approximately 4,200 square miles. The college operates under the guidance of a local board, and is fi nanced primarily by tuition revenues and state funds, supplemented by contributions from the participating localities and federal funds.

During a period from 1966 to 1968, a committee composed of local business, civic, industrial, and political leaders was appointed by the governing bodies of counties and cities in Region 20 for the purpose of promoting and establishing campuses where needed. In 1968, the plan for building the

Christanna Campus of Southside Virginia Community College near Alberta, Virginia, was approved by the State Board for Community Colleges, and appropriations were made for its construction. The local advisory board for the college was established in July 1969.

The Christanna Campus was opened in September 1970 with approximately 55,600 square feet located on over 100 acres. Due to the extremely large service area assigned to the college, the John H. Have provided compassionate care for animals large and small for over 35 years.Have provided compassionate care for animals large and small for over 35 years.Have provided compassionate care for animals large and small for over 35 years.

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Have provided compassionate care for animals large and small for over 35 years.

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Daniel Campus was opened in September 1971 near Keysville, Virginia, about 40 miles northwest of Alberta. The John H. Daniel facility is located on 98 acres with approximately 57,500 square feet. A Workforce Development Center was opened on each campus in 2001. These buildings are 14,095 square feet each.

There are also Centers throughout the service region providing classes and services to the people. These include the Southside Virginia Education Center in Emporia, the Southside Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston, the Estes Community Center in Chase City, the SVCC Occupational Technical Center in Blackstone, the Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill, and the Educational Advancement Center of the Cumberland Community Center in Cumberland. Just this year, the college also expanded its offerings

to include those at the Clarksville Enrichment Complex in Clarksville. And, the college offers classes at more than 50 sites throughout the region at any given time.

Since 1983, Dr. John J. Cavan has directed the course of Southside as president. Under his leadership, the college has developed an Honors Program, maintained the largest dual enrollment program in the Commonwealth, opened the Middle College Program for high school dropouts at six sites, and started a Truck Driver Training School and Diesel Technician program. The college also houses the Governor’s School on its campuses, provides health care training for Nurse Aide, Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing and also now offers Fire Science and Emergency Medical Technician programs. Transfer agreements with 20 colleges in Virginia

offer an opportunity for students to obtain the first two years of college at home and then transfer to college and universities throughout the state. The Old Dominion University Distant Learning sites housed on the college’s campuses also allow students to complete the baccalaureate, masters and even doctoral degrees without leaving the area.

SVCC is a dynamic institution, always developing and changing to meet the new and challenging needs of a complex society. The college’s future is interwoven with the development of the community and services through the college are driven by the community and its needs.

At 41, SVCC has only just begun. Success starts at Southside Virginia Community College. For more information, visit the website at www.southside.edu or call 1-888-220-SVCC.

By Gay W. Neale

Settlers began to drift into what is now Brunswick County in the early 1700s, looking for fresh land and new chances. Some ghosts were here when they came; others wandered in soon after. The focus for settling in this area in the very south of Virginia and halfway between the ocean and the mountains was the protection offered by a trading post and fort, called Fort

Christanna, built in 1714, where there was also an Indian village to protect rag-tag remnants of scattered tribes. Today, young people claim these Indians still have an effect today. Near an Indian graveyard, not far from the location of the fort (now being developed as a historic site and park), is an iron bridge over the Meherrin River. If a car is driven over this bridge on a moonlit night, the young claim, it acts strange, stalls and even is mysteriously drawn backward. At the site of the fort itself, a white horse races through the woods and down the road, rearing and neighing at young lovers parked there. Some wonder if the horse will appear when the fort is transformed into a park.

Later, in the 1800s, plantations dotted the countryside. In Brunswick, these were seldom pretentious places, but were the functional homes of working farmers. One ghost of this era, a woman who had died at Ellerslie, a large home east of Lawrenceville, would come at night, her silk skirts rustling. The inhabitants of the house would hear her ascend the stairs, and when they went up to check their children, they would find the bedclothes neatly tucked around each child with loving care. A child haunted Woodstock, an old place on Rt. 1 in Meredithville. It would stand outside a door, breathing in a raspy, gasping way, but when the door was opened, no one was there. Renovations to the upstairs of Woodstock chased this ghost away.

Millville, home of the Lewis family in the early 1800s, in the Cochran area, was a place with a varied history. First a plantation home, then a hotel for travelers on Rt. 1, then a rather disrespectful place of business, it had seen many things. Before it was destroyed by fire in the 1980s, it harbored a spirit that would follow explorers through its vacant and abandoned rooms, closing doors behind them on the stillest days.

Also in the mid-1800s, Edgar Allan Poe visited Brunswick County. He came for a festive weekend with his classmate at the University of Virginia, Thomas Goode Tucker. Young folks had gathered at Prestwood, the Tucker plantation in the northeast of Brunswick County in Warfield. Poe dismayed his hosts by not participating in the fox and squirrel hunting or the dances planned. He preferred to walk down the road to Rome, a nearby plantation, where he was fascinated by an old slave, Armitage, who told the most amazing stories involving voodoo, witchcraft and African magic. Ghosts were predominant in these tales, and Poe took notes and enjoyed them very much. He told his hosts that Armitage was by far the most interesting man he had ever met. Undoubtedly these African and Brunswick County ghosts led to the mysterious and nameless evils in Poe’s later stories.

Animal ghosts, like the Christanna white horse, are frequent in Brunswick County lore. Oak Shades in Meredithville has, for years, had a white cat that not only goes through the door of the upstairs bedroom, but often hops on the bed and goes to sleep with a visitor. People who have never met or heard of the cat have experienced its presence. Mason’s Mill, an old meal and flour mill in Alberta, still in good shape with its lovely mill pond and dam, harbors the ghost of a dog, reported to be that of the miller and his family who died in some difficulty. The dog howls on occasion, and is known to roam the area night and day.

Other ghosts have wandered through the homes of Brunswick. Who knows what persistence of the present will linger for future generations?

Ghosts of

Brunswick



Cancer treatment has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last decade and Community

Memorial Healthcenter’s (CMH) Cancer and Specialty Care Center has been on the front lines of the fight against cancer. From state-of- the- art services to Oncologists, CMH has the team, the skills, and the access to the technologies needed to help put cancer into remission.

“It’s a comprehensive cancer center that’s close to home,” said Mary Hardin, the director of the Cancer and Specialty Care Center. Not to mention that with most cancer treatments, patients don’t want to have to travel more than an hour, battling traffic and high gas prices while facing the side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

“You don’t have the distance to travel, and you have the accessibility of specialty doctors coming here to our rural area,” said Harding. As the service has grown, so have the needs of those utilizing the Cancer Center; hence the need for oncologists to be available to patients 80 percent of the time. “In the past, we would have an oncologist one day a week. Now we have someone here four days a week,” said Hardin. “In the future we’ll have an oncologist here every day.”

Not having to travel out of town is another huge benefit to localized cancer treatment. Patients are able to meet with a friendly staff, have certified oncology and chemotherapy nurses care for them, and deal with warm, caring, compassionate people, all without having to travel hours away each day.

CMH has also answered the call for patients in need of radiation therapy by submitting an application to the state for a certificate of need for radiation treatment center in South Hill. While it will be months before the hospital hears the results of their request, the possibilities of having a state of the art, radiation therapy center in Southside Virginia is exhilarating.

The Radiation Center would also provide full time Radiation Oncologists so that patients can receive optimal treatment plans. “That will complete our cancer program here,” said Hardin. “It is a huge service line that this community has

needed for many years.” Radiation therapy patients currently

have to travel as far away as Henderson, Richmond and Raleigh for treatment. But with gas prices at record highs, some are unable to make it to their treatments. These patients that cannot afford to drive for their treatment sometimes have to make healthcare decisions based on their financial situation.

“This is going to open many doors for the patients that didn’t have any options before,” said Hardin. “I know of several patients in Lunenburg County

who couldn’t afford to drive to South Hill to ride the van that takes patients to Radiation Therapy in Petersburg and Richmond. Patients won’t have to make decisions about their health based on whether or not they are able to make it to the treatments in Richmond, Petersburg, or Raleigh,” said Hardin. “We

are optimistic that our request will be approved so that we can add this much needed service for our community.”

CMH Cancer Care: Servingthose that need it most

Mary Hardin, RN, BSN OCN, is the Director of the CMH Cancer & Specialty Care Center.


Since food has long been a symbol of hospitality in the South, even the simplest food when enjoyed with family and friends takes on a feeling of elegance and sophistication. Served indoors or out these recipes by Brunswick County resident and professional chef Angie East will be remembered by all.

MenuDelicious Chicken

SnapsCorn Pudding

Jiffy Cheese BiscuitsChocolate Covered Strawberries

Iced Tea or Lemonade

Delicious ChickenIngredients: 1 Whole broiler/fryer (for frying, grilling, broiling or baking)1 Lemon cut in quarters1 Tablespoon garlic salt or 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 1tablespoon saltEnough water to coverDirections:

1. Chicken sits overnight in lemon, garlic salt water.2. Pat dry with paper towels-sprinkle black pepper over

chicken.3. Frying-Dredge in flour or chicken breader. Heat

oil 375 degrees in skillet and fry until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 (this is for any method used to cook chicken).

4. Grill using charcoal or gas until done.5. Broil until done.6. Bake on 375 for 1 hour.

Snaps1 pound string beans-canned, fresh or frozen seasoned to taste with ham hock or smoked turkey1 Onion-peeled and chopped up1Tablespoon minced garlicSalt and pepper to taste.Use chicken broth to cook snaps if you do not want to use ham hock or smoked turkey. Simmer in broth until tenderness desired. Fresh snaps out of the garden can be sautéed in vegetable oil or sesame oil and sliced fresh ginger along with the onions and garlic for a different taste.

Corn PuddingServes 62 Cups corn2 Large eggs (beaten)2 Tablespoons flour (all purpose)1/2 Cup sugar1 Tablespoon sugar1 Tablespoons butter (melted)1 Cup milk1/2 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon pepper

1. Combine flour, sugar, salt and pepper in a bowl.2. Whisk eggs and milk together. Add rest of ingredients

together.3. Bake 45 minutes at 375 in a casserole dish. Serve

warm.Chef’s Tip: This recipe is a sweet corn pudding. For a more savory pudding decrease sugar and add chopped red, green, yellow, jalapeno peppers and chopped onions.

Jiffy Cheese Biscuits20 biscuitsIngredients:1/2 cup shortening (solid)21/2 cups self-rising flour1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese3/4 cup milkDirections:Cut shortening into flour with pastry blender of 2 knives.Add cheese, and gradually stir in milk; knead lightly.Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board; roll to 1/2 inch thickness.Cut into small biscuits.Place on a greased baking sheet, and bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries3 dozen strawberriesStrawberries are in season this time of year. This is a sweet and special treat for your family and friends.Ingredients:6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped4 ounces white chocolate, chopped1 tablespoon shortening36 large strawberries, washed and dried (dry with a paper towel or lint free kitchen towel)Preparation:Line baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.In 1/2 quart saucepan, place bittersweet chocolate and heat until chocolate is completely melted, stirring occasionally.Dip strawberries halfway into chocolate and place on waxed paper.Chill in refrigerator until chocolate is set.In 1/2 quart saucepan, place white chocolate and shortening.Melt until smooth. Drizzle white chocolate over dark chocolate-covered strawberries. Chill about 30 minutes or until set. Strawberries can be refrigerated up to 6 hours.

Let’s CookWith

Chef Angie


Brunswick County ContactsFire/Police/Rescue: 911

Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department - Non-EmergencySheriff Brian RobertsTel: (434) 848-3133 120 E. Hicks St.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

County Administrator’s OfficeCharlette T. Woolridge, County AdministratorTel: (434) 848-3107100 Tobacco Street, Room 102P. O. Box 399Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Animal Control DepartmentJames Maclin, Animal Control OfficerShelton Jones, Animal Control OfficerTel: (434) 848-0912 595 Planters Rd.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Building InspectorDavid TuckerTel: (434) 848-2962100 Tobacco Street, Room 102P.O. Box 399Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Planning DepartmentLeslie SullivanTel: ( 434) 848-0882100 Tobacco Street, Room 102P. O. Box 399Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Solid Waste DepartmentElla RidleyTel: (434) 848-3562107 Mallard Crossing Rd.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Commonwealth”s AttorneyLezlie S. GreenTel: (434) 848-3122P.O. Box 797Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Clerk of Circuit CourtV. Earl Stanley, Jr., ClerkTel: (434) 848-2215 Fax: 434) 848-4307216 N. Main St.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

General District CourtKathy Clary, ClerkTel: (434) 848-2315202 N. Main St.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

USDA/Farm Service AgencyBrunswick FSA OfficePeggy LeeTel: (434) 848-22231727 Lawrenceville Plank Rd.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Virginia Cooperative Extension ServiceBrunswick CountyTel: ( 434) 848-2151100-A Tobacco StreetLawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County Department of Social ServicesTel: (434) 848-2142201 Sharp Street, Suite 100Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County Health DepartmentTel: (434) 848-25251632 Lawrenceville Plank Rd.Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Brunswick County Voter RegistrarBarbara Y. LewisTel: (434 )848-4414100 Tobacco Street, Room 103Lawrenceville, Virginia

Meherrin Regional LibrarySarah A.P. Bulduc, DirectorTel: (434) 848-2418Fax: (434) 848-4786133 W. Hicks StreetLawrenceville, VA 23868

Brunswick County Treasurer’s OfficeAlice Carol Maitland, TreasurerTel: 434-848-2512228 North Main Street, Room 104P. O. Box 130Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County Commissioner of RevenueWanda Jones Beville, Commissioner of RevenueTel: (434) 848-2313228 North Main StreetP. O. Box 669Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County Public SchoolsDr. Oliver W. Spencer, Jr., Superintendent434-848-31381718 Farmers Field RoadLawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism434-848-67731-866-STEWPOT228 North Main Street, Suite B-100Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County Chamber of CommerceTel: (434) 848-3154400 North Main StreetLawrenceville, Virginia 23868

Brunswick County Industrial Development AuthorityTel: (434) 848-0248116 West Hicks StreetP. O. Box 48Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868


Boating, Fishing and Relaxing

Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia/North Carolina border between Interstates 95 and 85, is 34 miles in length, with approximately 350 miles of

shoreline surrounding over 20,000 acres. The average depth of the lake is 45 feet with a maximum of 95 feet. It is the second lake in a series of three lakes resulting from dams built for hydroelectric power. Lake Gaston is fed by water from Kerr Lake to the west, and supplies water to Roanoke Rapids Lake downstream. The lake was built in the early 1960’s for fl ood control, hydroelectric power and recreation. A portion of Lake Gaston is located in Brunswick County along its southern border.

Lake Gaston offers ideal facilities for fi shing, hunting, camping, boating and an array of water sports. There are no horsepower restrictions on the lake. Lake Gaston is stocked with game fi sh which include striped bass or rockfi sh, large mouth bass, bream, crappies, and several other varieties of catfi sh and sunfi sh.

There is a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

public boat launching ramp located just off Gasburg Road on Pea Hill Creek in Gasburg and another on Hendrick’s Mill Road at Poplar Creek just west of Ebony. Several marinas are located around the lake with one located on Hendrick’s Mill Road at Poplar Creek.

Rental homes, from small cabins to larger homes that sleep six or more people, are available around the lake through the many real estate companies that serve the lake area. Camping is available at Lake Gaston Lodges and by membership at The Club, Lake Gaston Resort both located in Gasburg.

Many restaurants are located on both the Virginia and North Carolina sides of the lake. They range from pizza and sub restaurants to elegant waterfront bistros.

Local communities near the lake include Ebony and Gasburg in Virginia and Littleton and Norlina in North Carolina. Larger towns are in the outlying area and include Lawrenceville, South Hill, and Emporia in Virginia and Roanoke Rapids, Warrenton and Norlina in North Carolina. Within a little more than an hours drive are Raleigh and Rocky Mount in North Carolina and Petersburg and Richmond in Virginia.

Come enjoy some boating, fi shing, sun and all the relaxation your heart body and soul desires on beautiful Lake Gaston.

Lake Gaston: Fun in the

Explore Brunswick • 2011


Boating, Fishing and Relaxing

Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia/North Carolina border between Interstates 95 and 85, is 34 miles in length, with approximately 350 miles of

shoreline surrounding over 20,000 acres. The average depth of the lake is 45 feet with a maximum of 95 feet. It is the second lake in a series of three lakes resulting from dams built for hydroelectric power. Lake Gaston is fed by water from Kerr Lake to the west, and supplies water to Roanoke Rapids Lake downstream. The lake was built in the early 1960’s for fl ood control, hydroelectric power and recreation. A portion of Lake Gaston is located in Brunswick County along its southern border.

Lake Gaston offers ideal facilities for fi shing, hunting, camping, boating and an array of water sports. There are no horsepower restrictions on the lake. Lake Gaston is stocked with game fi sh which include striped bass or rockfi sh, large mouth bass, bream, crappies, and several other varieties of catfi sh and sunfi sh.

There is a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

public boat launching ramp located just off Gasburg Road on Pea Hill Creek in Gasburg and another on Hendrick’s Mill Road at Poplar Creek just west of Ebony. Several marinas are located around the lake with one located on Hendrick’s Mill Road at Poplar Creek.

Rental homes, from small cabins to larger homes that sleep six or more people, are available around the lake through the many real estate companies that serve the lake area. Camping is available at Lake Gaston Lodges and by membership at The Club, Lake Gaston Resort both located in Gasburg.

Many restaurants are located on both the Virginia and North Carolina sides of the lake. They range from pizza and sub restaurants to elegant waterfront bistros.

Local communities near the lake include Ebony and Gasburg in Virginia and Littleton and Norlina in North Carolina. Larger towns are in the outlying area and include Lawrenceville, South Hill, and Emporia in Virginia and Roanoke Rapids, Warrenton and Norlina in North Carolina. Within a little more than an hours drive are Raleigh and Rocky Mount in North Carolina and Petersburg and Richmond in Virginia.

Come enjoy some boating, fi shing, sun and all the relaxation your heart body and soul desires on beautiful Lake Gaston.

Brunswick Mineral Springs Bed and Breakfast was built around 1785. Owners Dave and Nan Spears have owned the property for around 16 years and have made major improvements. Brunswick Mineral Springs is located near Lake Rawlings and Lake Gaston. Amenities include: Wi-Fi Internet, indoor heated salt-water swimming pool, wedding pavilion, picnic lunches, game room, fi replace, exercise equipment and library. Tripadviser.com gave he establishment fi ve stars. Brunswick Mineral Springs is located at 14910 Western Mill Road, Lawrenceville, Virginia. For more information visit www.brunswickmineralsprings.com

Brunswick Mineral Springs Bed and Breakfast

people of BrunswickGoronwy Owen

Goronwy Owen (1723-1769) was one of Wales’s most important poets of the eigh-teenth century and a master of the cynghanedd (described in the University of Wales dictionary as ‘a system of consonance or alliteration in a line of Welsh poetry in strict metre’). He was born in Wales and where he attended several schools. He was appointed a deacon in 1746 at which time he became headmaster of several different schools. In 1755 he moved to London where he worked for several years. In 1757 he accepted, with the consent of the Bishop of London, an appointment as headmaster of the gram-mar school attached to the college of William and Mary in Wil-liamsburg, Virginia. His wife and one of his children died on the journey. He re-married in America but his second wife died within a few months. He lost his position in the school as a consequence of his excessive drinking in 1760. Owen spent his fi nal years as a parish parson in St. Andrew’s, Brunswick County where he lived on a tobacco and cotton plantation that he purchased the same year. In 1763, he married for the third time to Joan Simmonds. He died in Brunswick County in July 1769 and is buried near the home where he lived. A marker at St. Andrew’s Church in Lawrenceville memorializes his life and his importance to Welsh poetry.


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The new Lawrenceville Brunswick Airport ter-minal provides all of the amenities for pilots and passengers arriving in Brunswick County.


The Brunswick County Indus-trial Development Authority of-fers sites at two industrial parks located in the county. The fi rst is Brunswick Industrial Park located just east of Lawrencev-ille off Highway 58. The second is the I-85 Business Center Park located in Alberta. For more in-formation about the parks call the IDA at (434) 848-0248 or visit www.bcida.org

47Explore Brunswick • 2011 47Explore Brunswick • 2011

B&W Timber .............................................. 29Benchmark Community Bank ....................... 9Brunswick Chamber of Commerce .............. 19Brunswick County IDA ................................ 46Brunswick Insurance Agency ...................... 31Brunswick Lake Gaston Tourism Assoc ........... 7Brunswick Vet Clinic .................................. 38Care Advantage ......................................... 28Carl Wright’s Garage .................................. 31Citizens Community Bank ........................... 12Community Memorial Healthcenter .............. 5Lake Country Construction Inc. ................... 48Lake Rawlings ........................................... 17

Parker Oil Company ...................................... 8Pecht Distributors ...................................... 21Ricky’s Service Center ................................ 38Saint Paul’s College ................................... 16S. C. O. R. E ............................................... 14Southside Electric Coop ............................. 34Southside Virginia Community College ........ 36The Blue Piano........................................... 32The Powell Agency ..................................... 38Town of Alberta ....................................... 32Town of Lawrenceville .................................. 6Virginia Urology ........................................ 23Whitman Properties .................................. 29

Thank you to all of our advertisers

Brunswick County Public Schools

The mission of the Brunswick County Public School System is to provide an educational program and staff to help 21st century citizens achieve full development of their potential. In order to develop this potential,

lifelong learning and critical thinking skills must be nurtured, and students will be prepared to meet the challenge of change in real-life situations. The fulfi llment of this mission is guided

by the knowledge that student success requires a shared responsibility and cooperation by students, school personnel, parents and community.

The Brunswick County School System consist of three elementary schools, a junior high and high school. Excellence is placed on academics and advanced placement courses and dual enrollment are offered for high school students.

For More Information Contact:Brunswick County Public Schools1718 Farmer’s Field Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Phone: (434) 848-3138www.brun.K12.va.us

Brunswick AcademyFounded

in 1964, Brunswick Academy is an independent, co-educational, day facility offering an Early

Learning Center for 3- and 4-year olds and Kindergarten through twelfth grade classes. Its goal is to instill aesthetic, moral, ethical, and democratic values to the young people that attend.

For over four decades, Brunswick Academy has provided the students of Southside Virginia with quality education. B.A. affords its students experiences in responsibility, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, creativity, leadership training, decision making, and communication skills. There is an emphasis on maintaining high standards of instruction for its students.

Brunswick Academy is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) whose accreditation process has been approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education Committee on Accreditation as authorized by the Virginia State Board of Education.

For More information please contact:Brunswick Academy2100 Planters RoadLawrenceville, VA 23868

Phone: (434) 848-2220www.brunswickacademy.com


LAKE COUNTRYCONSTRUCTION, INC.

Call Us at: 434-636-4576

Licensed in VA & NC��

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Systems and Site Built Construction and Remodeling

Chris & Tia Clary

Residential Construction Specialist

73 Dogwood Way, Bracey, VA • Visit Our Site: www.LakeCountryConst.com

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