It was a reunion of monumental proportions. Henry Conner and Wes Bower had not seen each other in 69 years. The two were childhood friends in Troutville and lived on Stoney Battery Road. With the help of relatives and Bower’s determination, the two reconnected.  Both attended Troutville High School during the early years of WWII. Now in their 80’s, the pair reunited recently at a Montvale restaurant.

The war changed how the two would live. Bower is a Marine Veteran who fought on Iwo Jima. Conner joined the Marine Air Corps and flew in a Hellcat fighter as a tail gunner in the Pacific Theater of War. In the sixty nine years in between, both married and raised families, had careers and good lives. Said Bower, “I figured we didn’t have too much time to see each other again.” After several attempts and through the help of Conner’s daughter, the two were able to reunite in Bedford.

Bower  retired as a Lieutenant in the Roanoke City Police Department and still lives in the Blue Ridge area. He raised two sons and has several grandchildren. He headed up the security detail for Elvis Presley when the famed iconic rock and roll idol would come to Roanoke. He is active and goes to many Veterans events.

Conner went to college on the GI bill at William and Mary and also achieved a Master’s Degree. He married Martha Fauber and raised four children. He began his education career as a teacher at Asbury School in Botetourt, Troutville and then Eagle Rock High School. Eventually he moved to Nelson County, taught and became the School Superintendent. He is retired and still lives with his wife in Nelson County.

The two discussed the good old days over food at Mamma’s in Montvale. Cousins Steve Young and Larry Firebaugh and several other friends and relatives attended the reunion, to listen to the two chat. To hear men of the greatest generation talk of walking the rural roads of Botetourt County, playing in fields and school yards over 75 years ago was amazing.

When they left Troutville High School and entered the war, they never crossed paths again. Conner brought his annual from the class of 1943 as a reminder of their youth. The end of the War sent them into different worlds as it did for many returning GI’s. But for a moment in time, they were kids again. The good old days and even though America was in the Great Depression, then World War II, they had fond memories to trade of growing up in Botetourt County.

Will the James River may play a part in the Dead Files episode?

“The Dead Files” a Travel Channel reality show  wrapped up a week long production in Botetourt County on Sunday Feb. 10. The fourth season will feature an episode  in May concerning a 19th century home in the Arcadia area. The show features a fact finder Steve Di Schaivi and Medium or psychic  Amy Allan. The two separately investigate claims. DiSchaivi is a detective, so facts mean everything to him. Allan relies on contact with spirits to come to her conclusions. Each reveal their findings at the end of the show.

The Botetourt Historical Society Museum, Fincastle Library, the courthouse records and the Town of Buchanan provided information for Painless Productions,out of Los Angeles is the  film company behind the show.

Two beautiful young females: Julia and Sandy.

Hey it’s Terrific Tuesday again. How’s everything in your neck of the woods?

Ho Hum. I guess its the weather. I felt that way about the Super Bowl too except for the commercials. Loved the farmer and the kid who got punched in the eye at the prom and the little boy  wrasslin’  a bear. Sadly, we are becoming a third world country. Millions and millions of bucks and CBS, New Orleans and Lordy knows who else, can’t keep the stadium electricity on…oy vey.

When I got up this morning I had anxiety. Had it all week. Something is not right in the universe. The last time I felt like this my friend Mike went in the hospital and the Sandy Hook massacre happened. Geez, I am getting a complex or maybe it’s just gas.

On Sunday, the hawk and falconry experience was the most awesome event of my recent life. Read here. Sorry kids, I took your pic away from my Facebook Cover. This rocked.  Not that you don’t, but wow.  Daughter Julia balked when the apprenticeship falconer came up. She knows me too well. I would abandon everybody and everything to be the partner of a hawk and she knew it. I could take the hawk hunting five days per week and sit with her and watch TV and bond.  Julia would have to find rides to school and events ’cause I’d be with my bird. I just would quit writing about politics and interacting with the real world. I would live the way of the hawk.  Maybe if I ever retire I will get a hawk. Though I really am considering going to Africa, to Tanzania and be a missionary. This of course after I win the lottery or inherit a windfall from some lost kin. I’ll get the hawk when I get back. I dream a lot, can you tell???

I read author C.J. Box and his Joe Pickett series about a Wyoming game warden. My grandfather was a game warden, but in Roanoke County and back when bloodhounds helped catch crooks. He had the bloodhounds, too and a boatload of  chase stories.  Joe Pickett has a cool renegade friend named Nate Romanowski who is a master falconer. I have been enthralled with falconry due to his character. Last book, “Force of Nature” we found out that Nate had a run-in with Osama bin Laden (click the link who was also in real life a master falconer.) Hmmm, truth can be stranger than fiction!.

Anyway, the library has a whole series and so do the bookstores and Amazon. Start with book one and work your way through the series. Next book “Breaking Point” comes out on March 12.   C.J. this one is for you!

See ya next week!

The Toll House kitchen on Blue Ridge Turnpike about a mile east of Fincastle circa late 18th century. File Photo BV.

The Southern Shenandoah Valley Branch of Preservation Virginia will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 1:30 pm. The meeting and program will be held in the auditorium of Kendal Retirement Center at 1:30 pm with a reception immediately following.

Dr. Ann McCleary will be the guest speaker and will focus on “The History and Development of Early Turnpike Towns in the Valley of Virginia.” According to Kurt Russ, Branch director, “This topic will tie in nicely with our branch’s recent focus on the Lewis and Clark Eastern Legacy Trail initiative. It will allow us a unique perspective or glimpse of what the corridor of travel traversed by their expedition looked like in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Ann is not only from Augusta County but she is THE expert on the Valley’s architectural history and we feel very fortunate to have her as our speaker.”

Dr. McCleary has her Ph.D. from Brown University with a concentration in Early American History and American Material Culture. She is currently Associate Professor of History & Coordinator of Public History for the Department of History at the University of West Georgia, Carrollton GA.

For her lecture at the Southern Shenandoah Valley Branch’s annual meeting, she will use publications that specifically relate to what she describes as her “Turnpike Towns Lecture.”These include:

1)”Forging a Regional Identity: The Development of Rural Vernacular Architecture in the Central Shenandoah Valley, 1790-1850,” in Kenneth Kooks and Warren Hofstra, editors, After the Backcountry, University of Tennessee Press, 2000.

2)Entries for “The Valley of Virginia, “Augusta County,” “Rockingham County,” “Waynesboro” and “Harrisonburg” for A Guide to the Architecture of Western Virginia, edited by Anne Carter Lee, part of a series of guidebooks on state architecture sponsored by the Society of Architectural Historians and published by Oxford University Press.

3)”Ethnic Influences on the Early Architecture of the Shenandoah Valley,” in Michael Puglisi, Diversity and Accommodation: Essays on the Cultural Composition of the Virginia Frontier, University of Tennessee Press, 1997.

4)Historic Resources of Augusta County, Virginia, Eighteenth Century to Present, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 1983.

5)“The Turnpike Towns,@ in Warren Hofstra and Karl Raitz, editors, The Valley Turnpike, commissioned by the Center for American Places, University of Virginia Press, 2010.

The meeting and lecture are free and open to the public. For further information contact Peggy Crosson, 540-354-9698.

Tuskegee Airman Grant Williams.

CLIFTON FORGE — An original member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces, will be the featured speaker at the annual Black History Month Celebration at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s Moomaw Center at noon on Wednesday, February 20. There is no admission fee and the public is invited to attend.

Ninety-two-year-old Virginia native Chief Master Sergeant Grant S. Williams of Hampton, a two-time Bronze Star recipient, enlisted in the Army in 1942 at Fort Dix, NJ. He was sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field for basic training, served overseas in Italy during World War II, and enlisted in the reserves the same day he was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in 1945. He was recalled to active duty in 1950. For the next 24 years he served in administrative positions stateside and overseas. Williams received his first Bronze Star for meritorious service in connection with military operations in Italy from 1944-45, and again while serving in Vietnam in 1971-72.

As a documented Original Tuskegee Airman, Williams and others were cited for the Congressional Gold Medal at the U.S. Capitol in March 2007 when President Bush conferred this distinct honor on all of the individuals who participated in the Tuskegee Airmen Program. In September 2010, Williams became the first and only Tuskegee Airman to ever be inducted into the U.S. Air Force “CHIEFS” Room at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Most of Williams’ talk will focus on his service as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. The term “Tuskegee Airmen” refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air. The primary flight training for these service members took place at the Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee Institute. Air Corps officials built a separate facility at Tuskegee Army Air Field to train the pilots.

The Tuskegee Airmen not only battled enemies during wartime but also fought against racism and segregation. They trained in overcrowded classrooms and airstrips, and suffered from the racist attitude of some military officials. The Tuskegee Airman endured many hardships, but they proved themselves to be world class pilots. The men earned the nickname “Red Tail Angels”, since the bombers considered their escorts “angels” and the propellers and tails of their planes were painted red.

For more information about DSLCC’s Black History Month observation, contact Student Activities at (540) 863-2828.

– Judy Clark, Public Relations and Non-Credit Coordinator, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College

Members of the 2004 Discovery Expedition in November 2012 at the NOAA marker dedication in Fincastle.

Lewis and Clark traversed Botetourt County over 200 years ago on the way to and from their Discovery Expedition’s trek across the Lousiana Purchase  Territory for President Thomas Jefferson.

In 1978, The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was established in the territory now located in a number of western US states. Soon, a proposed Eastern Legacy Trail will be proposed in Congress.

On Tuesday Jan. 22, Peggy Crosson who spear heads the campaign for Botetourt County’s inclusion came before the board to highlight the Eastern Legacy Trail. Along with Albemarle, Augusta and Rockbridge, Botetourt is one of the targeted counties in this area of the state along the Eastern Leagacy Trail.  The resolution highlights four primary sites in Botetourt County as reasonable points of historic connection and value on the proposed trail.

They are: Amsterdam Community/Greenfield Plantation: The home of William Preston who was a close friend of Lewis and Clark and visited by both after the expedition.  Botetourt County Courthouse./Town of Fincastle:u Couthouse square was the site of a post expedition celebration on Jan. 8, 1807 that honored Lewis and Clark and featured a speech by Sheriff Patrick Lockhart and a reply by William Clark. Town of Fincastle, Hancock Plantation: Santillane was the home of George Hancock, father of Julia Hancock  whom William Clark married on Jan. 5, 1808. The marriage license is located in the courthouse archives as well as a letter of consent from Hancock. Town of Fincastle: Feb. 1810, Nicholas Biddle a prominent American statesman, poet , and banker came to Fincastle to help Clark with his journals from the expedition.

The proclamation will pass on to the National Park Service and others as a show of support. In November, NOAA placed an historic marker in the yard of the courthouse. Our previous story.

Submitted by Mark Bryant

Caroline Bryant and her dad Mark participated in the 100th sing-along “Rock the Mall” in Washington, D.C. Saturday, June 9, 2012. Caroline represented her Brownie Troop #978 from Botetourt! It was a beautiful, “historic” day there with nearly quarter-million girls from all over the country gathered.

Submitted by Mark Bryant

Rena Worthen speaks about her efforts to find records and what you can do to help:

As many of you know I’m always on the hunt for the impossible records to find to be added the Genealogy room at the Fincastle Library.  This is one of the things that make the Fincastle Library Genealogy room unique from other research libraries.  I strive to add things that you can only find in Fincastle.

I am looking for a photo and records of burial of the H. L. Williams funeral Home. From information I have been able to obtain, the records for this Buchanan, Virginia funeral home was damaged in the flood of 1985 when most of the basements of homes was under water, and disposed of. H. L. Williams. He was born in Southampton Co., Va to George Wyatt Williams A planter and Soldier. His mother was Georginna Davis.  He moved to Buchanan in 1911 and Established H. L. Williams’s Funeral home, and in 1937 launched the H. L. Williams Funeral Home in Lexington.

He was married to Minnie P. Bishop in Norfolk, Va. on 31 Oct 1906 she was born 1 December 1874 the daughter of James and Mary World Bishop. H. L. Williams the proprietor of the 2 funeral homes.
Herbert Lee Williams
Birth: 28 Jun 1878
Death: 18 Jun 1967
This couple is interred in Fairview Cemetery in Buchanan.

Knowing the dates, helps me know that I need deaths occurring between 1911 and prior to his death in 1967.      Death Certificates are on reel from 1912 – 1939. This will narrow the hunt considerably, so I’m asking for help between 1939 and 1967.

Source: Buchanan – Gateway to the Southwest by Harry Fulwiler, page 848 Please call with any information you may have, such as a photo, of if your family used this funeral home for service.

You can contact Rena at 540-473-8339 ( The Fincastle Library)

Submitted by Rena Worthen, Librarians Assistant at Fincastle Library

Botetourt County is on its way to a having a renowned elevator in the courthouse in Fincastle. “Diesel Ducy “is a famous elevator film maker on YouTube and has been since 2006. In that 6 year period his elevator films have produced over 30 million hits. Yes. 30 million plus views of elevator rides! He has over 7,000 subscribers.

“Diesel Ducy” is really named Andrew Reams. He lives in Vinton and works for Norfolk Southern. Diesel Ducy is a toy locomotive that makes an appearance in his films.  ” I have loved elevators since I was a kid. I have filmed over 2,000 elevators and have 400 more on hard drives.” He is an aficionado of elevators. He owns  a collection of elevator ring buttons and came over to the Roanoke Times for a ride on the elevators as featured in the photo. He is a great conversationalist and very knowledgeable.

Reams has a huge following particularly among  people with autism  disorders. He feels he too,  may have a form of Asperger’s Syndrome. He has filming students and friends from all over including Virginia Tech, that ride elevators with him. In 1993 using a camcorder, he filmed his first elevator ride at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta. He re-filmed  that elevator in 2007 for YouTube.”I have ridden in most every elevator in the Roanoke Valley.

From the first day the Botetourt View looked at the film on Dec. 18 the view count went from 12 hits to Dec. 21  when it had 1,217 hits.

Here’s what to know about the tiny elevator in the Fincastle courthouse. Reams discovered it on his step son’s school field trip. He always carries a camera in the car, so he retrieved the camera and filmed the ride. The courthouse elevator was manufactured by L.H. Gay of Richmond. It is a hydraulic elevator with an 800 lb weight limit and can only hold a couple of folks at a time. Most people take the steps. Indeed, the tiny elevator  makes a bit of noise as it climbs up and down the courthouse.

He has filmed elevators all over the United States. Facebook him at Diesel Ducy or email DieselDucy@gmail.com as he is always looking for a new elevator to film and ride.

Andrew Reams on the Otis freight elevator at The Roanoke Times.

The dove is a symbol of peace. Merry Christmas to you!

Hey it’s Terrific Tuesday again. How’s everything in your neck of the woods?

Today is the last installment of the “The Friendly Beasts.” In light of the school tragedy in Connecticut, I have chosen the dove. Not that I know much about doves. But… they symbolize peace. They symbolize God on Earth. To me, we need that now more than ever.

This is a fallen world by all accounts whether it is Christianity or Judiasm, or even karma-based like Buddhism. Things have never been good since folks began to record this stuff we call human history.  My favorite writer Kurt Vonnegut said, ““History is merely a list of surprises,’ I (he) said. ‘It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again. Please write that down.” He also wrote:

“So it goes.”

I was surprised last week by the evilness of one young man killing children til I realize in Africa in certain countries, it happens every day. Or even as ghastly, the children are part of human trafficking.

In America we ask? How does it happen? Well… mental illness, copy catting, availability of guns, struggle for power and pure evil unleashed.  This boy’s mother apparently, according to published accounts, believed Dec. 21  was the real end of the world, so she armed herself to the teeth. Even in a household where she told her friends, her son was very disturbed. Irony? The world ended a week early for the both of them and sadly 26 innocent children and educators. Lord have mercy.

The federal privacy act HIPPA protects,  but maybe too well. It impedes professionals from sharing what they know for fear of a lawsuit.

“So it goes.”

Doves. Peace. We live in a history of surprises and many of them reflect the dark side of human nature. But thankfully, good prevails. Eventually, it always has. The world teeters, then rights itself. The light. Look for the light in the situation. Millions around the world  have embraced the community and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Questions are being asked– do we really need more laws concerning gun ownership?– and does anyone need to own a semiautomatic rifle? Whatever you feel about the answers, thankfully the questions are on the table.

I will repeat the other lesson I used on my personal Facebook. Next time some politician, or anti public school person goes to villainize teachers and how much they cost the state, the locality, blah… blah. Simply say, “Sandy Hook Elementary School.” Those teachers  and administrators did the best they could to save the children in that school at loss of their own lives. Miss Soto will always be a hero of mine. They are heroes not villains. They educate the next generation, prepare our country for the future. Sometimes, they die doing it.

The teachers in Botetourt County, I have every good faith, would step-up to protect their students. It must be overwhelming to practice those drills for lock downs. I am sure it is not a class they take in college, either.  They teach to prepare your children and mine for the future by imparting knowledge. Our Sheriff’s Department is on top of the building drills as well. Matter of fact, they are a “go to” for other departments around the area for preparedness. Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle and his officers run a tight ship in the law enforcement world. You can be willing to bet every Botetourt EMS personnel has been briefed, too.  Botetourt County takes Emergency Services very seriously. We own a command center trailer for a reason. Be proud of your professionals.

“So it goes.”

The public safety workers came as fast as they could to Sandy Hook Elementary. Their arrival caused the killer to take his life. Sadly one deranged son, his mother and too many dead children and educators later but… it could have been much worse.

“I,” said the dove from the rafters high,
“I cooed Him to sleep so He would not cry;
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.”
“I,” said the dove from the rafters high.

A message loud and clear I hear today and heaven sent. “Peace. Do not cry,” cooed The Dove from on high in a teetering world needing HIS voice to right itself.

“So it goes.”

See you next year!