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A picture paints a thousand words and Ron Lucas of Fincastle has written an epic with the renovation of "Academy Hill," a Victorian home built by J. Figgatt circa 1872. The property is also known as "Bolton's Hill" because the Bolton family, an important Fincastle family, owned it for years during the early to mid 20th century. It has gone through several owners since and the house was a shadow of its former glory until Ron Lucas purchased it and began a total makeover for the grand old lady.

The property was part of a larger parcel that at one time that crossed Church Street and encompassed acreage surrounding Godwin Cemetery. For many long time residents the name Academy Hill is more associated with the other side of the road and other local landmarks, but according to the deed and courthouse documents, these are the property's facts of the old times.

The house is easily seen from US 220 the Roanoke Road just south of Fincastle on the hill behind the Happy Food Mart. With recent construction, renovation and acreage clearing, the house with the newly painted rust colored tower, has a 360 degree view of Fincastle and environs. It is spectacular.

There are 14 rooms in the house that Lucas gutted down to a skeleton and re-framed, re-leveled  and rebuilt so that the sturdy old home is now restored to better than her former grandeur. "This is a 19th century home upgraded to twenty first century code standards," said Lucas.The renovation began on May 15 and Lucas hopes to finish by the end of October. He has added a two car garage and restored the front wrap around porch as well. The porch beckons for wicker and oak rockers and baskets of Boston Ferns to waft lazily on the breeze and polite conversation and laughter to be served up with iced tea.

The elimination of scrub hardwoods, underbrush and cedars restored the best of all-- Mother Nature's painting that surrounds the home on every turn. The quaint town of Fincastle, rolling hills, mountains and an infinite blue sky on the day of the interview indicated though the interior of the home was gorgeous what lies beyond in the scenic landscape is inspirational.

"We have restored every baseboard and trim in the house," Lucas stated. The task has has been monumental but Lucas believes that whomever purchases the home that will be marketed as a family dwelling or Bed and Breakfast will be happy with the restoration. For a gallery of the pictures Lucas took during the restoration, click here. The photos of the colored room walls are prior to the restoration.

Genevieve Journell, a couturier who has a shop called Catrina Fashion's in Troutville, sews and designs beautiful gowns and wedding dresses and it is no wonder she had an honor bestowed upon her by the Association of Sewing and Design professionals to create one of the half scale models. The ASDP sent the following press release:

"The Association of Sewing and Design Professionals announced the premiere exhibit of Vionnet Identique at the Association's convention October 18, 2009, Hilton at Indian Lakes Resort, Bloomingdale, Ill.
The exhibit includes thirty-eight half-scale styles designed by the world renowned couturier
Madeleine Vionnet as featured in the book, "Vionnet," by Betty Kirke."

"Kirke is being awarded a lifetime achievement award for her work in the fashion industry and particularly for her book on Vionnet," said Journell from her studio which is filled with beautiful ball gowns , evening gowns and wedding dresses.

Currently a Vionnet exhibit is being held in Paris which Journell plans to see. It opened this past summer and is described as, "Vionnet, dubbed the “couturier of couturiers”, is being honoured with an exhibition, opening today "( June 24, 2009) at Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris, which spans her work from the setting up of her house in 1912 to the glory years of the Thirties," featured in the London Telegraph on June 24, 2009.

Each model will be represented in the toile or muslin drape and also in the fashion fabric similar
to the original full scale model of the period. A noted master designer of the Art Deco era,
Vionnet's innovative work is timeless and was a major influence upon the Golden Age of
Couture. This is the first major U. S. presentation of Vionnet's work in the half-scale, and
coincides with a significant French exhibit on Vionnet at the Musee de les Arts Decoratifs at the
Louvre in Paris.

Association members submitted both a sample toile and a fashion sample using authentic
fabrications and technique. Many of the designs feature silks and intricate handwork
details and Vionnet's famous geometric patterning which emphasized the beauty of the bias cut.
The designs are in the half-scale, and displayed on half-scale forms through an arrangement with
Dress Rite Forms, Skokie, IL.

Journell made a reversible cape with fur collar in half scale for the exhibit. The garment is featured in the Kirke "Vionnet" book. Journell has been a sewing professional since 1991. She takes on work by appointment. From the results of her labors featured in her studio, she is a creator of highly finished garments with trimmings, beading and precise line and seam. The gowns are absolutely stunning and have been worn by Prom queens to beauty queens to beautiful brides. There is little wonder why she was chosen to  create for the important exhibit on Vionnet.

"Not only have the sewing and design professionals gained new insight into the genius of Vionnet's work, but through the exhibit, others will also be able to better understand her brilliance. Seeing the garments on a 3-D form really accents the visual beauty of her incredible work," continued the press release.

Journell is a former national president of the organization and  a member of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals that is a non-profit organization, providing education and networking for those working in the sewing and design profession. For
information on membership in the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, please
Contact: membership@sewingprofessionals.org

James River House is located on Main Street in Buchanan near the bridge over the James River. It has now opened for business after extensive renovations. Built circa 1870, the Historic Inn features five bedrooms and a basement suite as well as a balcony overlooking the street. Prices range from $89 per night to sleep three to $300 per night for the whole house that sleeps 12.

River recreation is readily available, hunting is also near by. Plenty of spots to dine along Main Street and shopping for antiques and collectibles are all in town. Roanoke is 30 minutes away and Lexington about the same. Movies play on Friday and Saturday nights at the Buchanan Theatre. A variety of quaint churches line Main Street for those who want to make a Sunday service. So the James River House is a great tourist addition to the town!

Twin River Outfitters on Lowe Street  are the proprietors. To make a reservation call, 540-261-7334.

"2,500 school kids from 54 different preschools, elementary schools and home school groups will be venturing to Ikenberry's farm in western Botetourt this fall in a six week period," announced Gwen Ikenberry, the family representative on hand to  greet the children. On Monday morning October 5, 79 of the students came from Greenfield Elementary School to learn about apples, pumpkins, colonial life in a cabin and to go on a hayride and view nature while hearing interesting facts about flora and fauna that one might find in the orchard. That trip also included six color associated coordinated scarecrows with pumpkin heads. Olivia Turner, a student in Mrs. Godsey's kindergarten class announced "I like the scarecrow Olivia Orange best,"-- naturally!

Indeed, the Standards of Learning are reinforced  with a trip to the Ikenberry farm and orchard off Haymakertown Road. Gwen Ikneberry asked some of her friends to help teach at the Apple classroom, the Pumpkin classroom and the cabin. Her cousin, Paul Craft drove the hayride tractor and her husband's aunt, Jean Craft helped guide students from the hayride to the cabin and the well oiled operation even had a bell ringing to announce the time limit on each classroom.

The circa 1790 cabin had its own historic Interpretor, Mrs. Kip Burton, dressed in Colonial garb who described a typical home arrangement for a young child in 1790. She talked about how different the times were then and schools were a luxury on the frontier, so most children were taught by their mothers.

Appropriately, the children sat on apple crates in each of the classrooms since Ikneberry's is known for apples and peaches! Cindy Bailey even taught the children a finger play about 5 Little Pumpkins sitting on a Gate in her Pumpkin classroom.

After visiting all four learning stations, the students, parents and teachers had bag lunches under the shade of walnut and other hard trees next to the historic cabin. Thus ended a beautiful day on the historic acreage  that invited the youngsters to take a step back into yesteryear as well as learn about agriculture, plants and animals.

Botetourt County Historical Society  presented  two awards, The Emily G. Honts Heritage Awards to local historians on Saturday night October 3 at the Fifth Annual Founder's Day dinner.  The awards went to the late Harry Fulwiller, Jr who penned "Buchanan, Virginia: Gateway to the Southwest" and Troutville author of numerous local histories including "Town of Troutville" and several family genealogies, Mary Ann Rader Obenshain who was on hand to receive the award. John Rader, President of the BCHS, introduced the evening and Weldon Martin, Executive Director acted as facilitator and also introduced former Sweet Briar president, Elizabeth Muhlenfeld who spoke on "The Civil War Through Women's Eye's."

Saturday, October 3 was almost perfect for Mountain Magic in Buchanan.  With the exception of a stiff breeze on Saturday afternoon that blew items around in a few of the display booths, every thing else went on with out a hitch. Several thousand people took advantage of the beautiful weather and available parking on the carnival grounds to enjoy Buchanan at its finest.

Blue Skies overhead, good food, music,art, crafts and plenty to look at accompanied by a few politicians handing out promises and some really terrific antique cars gave the visitor a chance to spend a couple of hours in the quaint Gateway to the Southwest to the south or Gateway to the Shenadoah to the north! Beautiful Buchanan, Virginia at its best!

Here's some pictures of the activities.

JRHS celebrates 50 years on October 11

JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL'S

50TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL!!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

PLEASE VISIT REGISTRATION FIRST!

11:00-3:30-REGISTRATION

Front Entrance & Gym Complex Entrance

11:00-3:30-HOME COOKED BBQ

with slaw, baked beans, & drink--$5

Desserts extra!

All food proceeds go to the

50th Anniversary Scholarship.

Eating space tents on softball field Read more »

Child Id program continues and is sponsored by Free Masons and Eastern Star members around Virginia and this group at Fincastle

During the Fincastle Heritage Days, Freemasons and Eastern Star members provided a community service to parents and children by providing them with free identification hardcopy and CDs. Exactly 50 children were served in this weekend event. The IDs included general biographical information, fingerprints, still and video images with sound, and a kit to allow parents to take DNA samples. All computer files were erased as soon as the hardcopy and CDs were made for each child so that only the parents retained the information about their child. submitted by Dick Vinal

Catawba Lodge #342 of Fincastle started providing this community service in June of this year and has thus far completed a total of 103 identifications for Cub Scouts and Millcreek Baptist summer school students as well as those at this weekend event. Pleasants Lodge of Roanoke will be running a day-long identification program at Tanglewood Mall on October 3. Botetourt children are welcome to get their IDs then.

Heritage Days in Fincastle had a sunny Saturday and cloudy Sunday, but the spirits were high on both days!  Though the crowds were steady, attendance was fair to middlin'  Arts, crafts, food and fun were the order of the day. The Confederate calvary rode around town and the cannon roared on Sunday afternoon.

The youth art showed had some very nice art on display. Plenty of old time crafters exhibited their trades. The most popular venue appeared to be the hayrides through town with tour guides. Music was plentiful around the town and the highlight of course the three shows of the Wright Kids!

Happy 50th Birthday!

Taran Shukla, Anna Robertson, Alicia Wells and Mary Katherine Hayth from the year book staff with the memorabilia and some photos of the 1959 version of student life!

No black balloons or grim reaper cut outs were there, either! Lord Botetourt had a birthday party for the school on Monday September 14. Two cakes were served and pictures of the first year lined the hall ways to the cafeteria. Memorabilia from the first year decorates the front display case.

Students seemed to be interested in the photos deciding that the 1959 students looked older than they do now! Tim Bane, principal at LBHS said, "They seemed to have embraced the whole idea. We have many events this year including a spring open house." The next big event is homecoming and the school is still searching for homecoming Queens and Kings for the festivities.

Every Friday Bane sends out 50th anniversary trivia to the faculty. The kids interact on that too! for instance , did you know that each of the schools cost $975,000? The county citizens had a bond referendum to pay for the three shcool which included Central Academy? If the schools had gone over bid, the auditorium and gyms would have been combines.

Both LBHS and JRHS were designed to hold 650-700 students. LBHS has 1100 students and JRHS 483.

"50th anniversary t shirts and polos are on sale in the library by order in both short sleeve and long sleeve. It take s about a week and half for the shirts to come in." said one of the Anniversary sponsors, Elizabeth Bolton.

Tim Bane displayed a patch that will be on the class of 2010 graduation gown this year to commemorate the big 50th year event.

Librarian Sam Sutherland has been at the school for four decades and taught many students US government in the 60s and 70s. he is a wealth of information!. As for the photos in the main hall way they will be relocated to the different areas of school life represented. One thing is for sure-- at Lord Botetourt  50 years is being celebrated!

LBHS 50 years of Excellence!