Meeting and Greeting, Virginia Style!

It was a day of new faces and new off-the-beaten-path places -

And even the gently intermittent summer rain didn’t slow us down.

You can definitely forget cell phone connectivity out here, and leave it behind gratefully while you reconnect with nature and the surrounding ever-present history of this place.

Independence, Virginia.

The Town of Independence came into being in 1850 as the settlement of a dispute about where to locate the county seat. At that time, a controversy arose between the people of Old Town and people of the Elk Creek area. Each group wanted the County seat in its area. 

The final decision, made by three commissioners from adjacent counties, was to locate on the site favored by a group of "independents" and to call the town Independence. These commissioners hiked to the top of Point Lookout Mountain and looked down into a grove of trees where 5 streams met and decided that would be the site for the new town.

Independence, Virginia is located 15 miles west of Galax, 40 miles east of Marion, 29 miles south of Wytheville, and 10 miles north of Sparta, North Carolina.  [source]

Interesting factoid:  The architect for the 1908 Courthouse in Independence was also the architect for Quiltville Inn, the Old Field's Mansion. Click HERE for my post on that beauty!

Outside of Independence, down a long and winding dirt road stands Ward Manor. 

On the road to Ward Manor.

Housed on 280 acres that remain of an original land grant of 660 acres deeded to Nathan Ward by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1777.  

Ward Manor has been held in the Ward family in a direct line for the past 230 years.  In the 1930s, the Ward farm came into possession of Rose Ward Jenkins.  Upon her death, the land was bequeathed to Michael D. Jenkins, current owner.

​Rain clouds gather overhead.

Ward Manor has been a working farm for the entirety of its existence.  Through feast or famine, war or peace, good times or bad, crops and livestock have been raised without interruption on the farm.  

Every resource available had to be used, but also preserved and cared for in order to keep the farm in good shape for the next generation.  

The beauty and preservation of this land  is the fruit of nearly two and a half centuries of meticulous stewardship.

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In 2001, Michael D. Jenkins inherited Ward Manor upon the death of his beloved Mother Glenda Jenkins.  

Raised, always, to keep in mind the preservation of the farm; and faced with changing times, he decided the best way to keep the farm intact and productive (in addition to the ongoing agriculture) was to open the house and grounds to the public as a Bed and Breakfast.

Steps  to the “Garden Shed”

In 2012, renovation of “The Garden Shed” was begun in order to make it ready to open as a rental cabin independent of the Bed and Breakfast.

This was the cutest cutest little place, and it housed the bathroom we were using from our pavilion in the 1800s restored barn for our luncheon:

Poppies and lilies, oh my!

A gathering of quilters for a catered lunch and much chatter!

Fields of wild growing daisies just make me happy!

I enjoyed my afternoon of meeting the members of the Alleghany Quilters Guild, listened to their upcoming plotting and planning for their quilt show that is right around the corner, and even volunteered to have a quilt show sign placed in the front yard at Quiltville Inn as I am right on the main road that passes through Mouth of Wilson to Independence.

Of COURSE I would help get the word out!

Coming up, mid July!

Many folks brought guests to the luncheon, and I met several who have lived in the area for many many years and remember the Field’s family when they owned Quiltville Inn, the general store and the auto dealership across the street.  

So many stories of going to the corner store in the heat of the summer, and picking out a cold Orange Crush from the cooler, cold enough to have chunks of ice floating in it.

I love the connection to these memories and want to learn all I can about the history of this place.

Carolyn, who picked me up at Quiltville Inn on our way to the luncheon told me she has lived here for 50 years and remembers when my post office was THE post office for the area.

I so value these stories and look forward to learning more.

Some of this happened when I was back at the Inn.

8 blocks left to go!

No borders needed, and I think I’ll bind it scrappy.

I’m on my way home today – there is much to do before my flight to Chicago on Sunday, and I’ve done all that I came to do.

Remember, I’ll be seeing you TOMORROW NIGHT (Saturday, June 23!) as I join with HollyAnne Knight of String & Story via Facebook Live on HER String & Story Facebook Page for Summer Social Hour at 8pm EASTERN!  

My old brain is still hoping we can get this split screen double trouble video chat going.  It’s going to be fun to try, no matter what happens.

I’ll catch you tomorrow from home!

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

I remember being told by my father as a young teenager that not everyone was going to like me, and I needed to accept that.

I think this is something that quite a few of us still struggle with, trying to please everyone so they will love us.

Especially through social media. It leads to frustration.

The first one to love you should be you!

Have a happy Friday!