Artists Amy Castleberry, Ray Friend, Leslie Belvin, Skip Hollingsworth, and Carolyn Dudley (left to right) in front of their artwork on the Edge Hill Service Station.

Collaboration is at the heart of any preservation program.  Protecting a landscape, a landmark, or an archaeological site can often benefit other community efforts, like encouraging economic development, educational outreach, and exhibiting community pride.  At the Edge Hill Service Station, our window restoration dovetails nicely with our love of the arts.  “In what way?” you might ask.  The design of this 1930 Texaco “Denver-style” station was intended to convey a familiar and reliable business, recognizable across a region, but personalized to its time and community.  In many ways, public art, whether sculpture, murals, or the landscaping of our byways, are part of our community’s identity – a symbol of who we are and what we value.

Art and Preservation, working together.

Volunteer Tom Karow (left) and Fairfield Foundation Co-Director Dave Brown in front of Leslie Belvin's artwork.

Ray Friend's Artwork

Amy Castleberry's "The Brown Boys."

Carolyn Dudley's "May 21, 1936."

Leslie Belvin's Artwork.

Skip Hollingsworth's Artwork.

Walter Reed's Birthplace

Spend the day exploring four of Gloucester’s premier historic sites while enjoying tastings of delicious food from some of Gloucester’s finest eateries.  Join the Fairfield Foundation and the Joseph Bryan Branch of Preservation Virginia on October 29th from 2 to 6 p.m. for the second annual Gloucester Fall History Crawl.

Tickets on Sale Now! Email us at fairfield@inna.net

Participants in the Crawl will begin with tours, hands-on archaeology, and a colonial firearms demonstration at Fairfield Plantation – with crab cakes and specialty dips provided by Rosemary and Wine.  A selection of soups, zucchini bread, and Portuguese custard cupcakes from Olivia’s and The Wild Rabbit will follow at Rosewell Plantation where attendees can experience tours and hands-on archaeology while learning about the life of a Revolutionary War soldier beneath the majestic ruins of America’s most prominent manor house.  Preservation Virginia’s Walter Reed’s Birthplace serves as the third leg of this culinary progressive, offering historic presentations by Voices of Freedom, interpreting the African-American experience of the mid-nineteenth century.  You will also be able to tour the house and sample delicious delights from Short Lane Ice Cream, hot drinks from Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters, and snack on peanuts from Whitley’s.  Finally, attendees will enjoy the delightful fall weather in the shadow of historic Abingdon Church with tours of the cemetery, organ music, and singing while enjoying dessert treats from Jessica’s Sweet Shop and hot apple cider from Ware Neck Produce.

Dr. Wes Wilson and Chauncey Herring of Voices of Freedom

“Gloucester has so much to offer – its historic sites, its fine restaurants – and October is Virginia Archaeology Month.  What a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon celebrating and enjoying all of these things,” says John Gillis, Chairman of the Board of the Joseph Bryan Branch of Preservation Virginia.  There will be hands-on excavations at two locations provided by Fairfield Foundation staff and volunteers where kids and adults can really experience archaeology.  Fairfield Foundation Co-Director Thane Harpole notes, “all of these sites are important resources for Gloucester County, and they have many stories to tell that only archaeology can uncover.  We hope you will join us on the 29th to share in the process of discovery.”

Historic Abingdon Church

“This event is perfect for families.  It’s food, fun, and education – you get a quick introduction to the county’s history and a bite to eat to boot!” said David Tate, Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Joseph Bryan Branch of Preservation Virginia.

Historic Fairfield Plantation

Tickets for the “Gloucester Fall History Crawl” are $20 each and include a tour booklet highlighting the history of each site.  Children under 12 are free with a paying adult and will receive their own kids “past-port”, with fun games, coloring, and room for stamps from each site.  Tickets are available at the Rosemary and Wine, The Wild Rabbit, Short Lane Ice Cream and at Rosewell, all in Gloucester.  You can also reserve your tickets by emailing us at fairfield@inna.net or calling 804.815.4467.   Proceeds from the event will benefit the Foundations and help support preservation efforts in the community.  Please join us on the 29th, and bring your friends!

Thank you to our wonderful Event Sponsors:

Construction is underway at the Edge Hill Service Station.  The hammering of nails, the whirl of drills and saws, and the beautiful noise of progress can be heard as our dream for this Gloucester landmark moves closer to reality.  In late September Courthouse Construction began the stabilization phase of our restoration project.  Removing just enough plaster to verify areas of rot, termite damage, and instability in the walls and roof, they scabbed and sistered the damaged studs while replacing much of the sill.  By the time you read this they will have started on the roof.  Before the end of the month, much of that flat roof will be repaired or replaced and before the end of the year the stabilization phase will be complete and we should have a building that no longer leaks.

Do you want to see the progress in person?  Email us (fairfield@inna.net) or give us a call (804-815-4467) to schedule a tour.

Architectural elements like these, including window frames and original lighting fixtures, will be conserved and reinstalled.

The devil (and the new discoveries) are in the details, though.  The “word of the week” for the first five days was “recycling.”  The metal ductwork, worn metal lath, the fuse box, fluorescent light fixtures, display shelves from the 1990s, and metal conduit from throughout the building avoided the landfill and went straight to the recycling center.  We moved donated exhibit cases, scrap lumber, bread racks (great for artifact drying shelves), and an old depth gauge for the long-gone underground gas tanks into our storage shed.  We flagged and saved all of the brackets, eye hooks, and early metal light fixtures in the ceiling which we will carefully conserve and replace.  We saved everything we could – even the kitchen sink (two, actually, including one donated to the cause by some friends).  All of this recycling will benefit our application for LEED Certification, and is just plain old good sense!

Consider a donation to help us fund the stabilization and restoration of the station.  Just click on Donate button (on the upper right) to make a contribution and join the Fairfield Foundation.

The sill is patched with treated lumber while the studs are scabbed and sistered, leaving much of the original wood which is still in good shape.

What of the other discoveries, you ask? We found intact portions of the building’s original rear (north) wall sealed within the mid-1930s expansion.  This included old stucco and the scuppers which drained the original roof structure.  We found evidence of more shelving (gone for years) in the west garage bay and the northwest corner room, and confirmed that the front door and the ladies room door are both 1970s replacements, despite the fact that they match the style of the 1930s building to a “T” (Texaco pun intended).  Most importantly, though, we found two really great guys in Robert and Jimmy – Courthouse Construction’s restoration team working on our project.  They’ve put in long days to move us forward and their hard work and attention to detail is a great benefit.

Want to help?  We’ll continue with our successful window workshops later this month and you can join us in re-glazing the gas station.

Once the roof and walls are repaired, we will return to complete the window restoration.  We are very close with the three large windows on the west side, and it should only take a few more dedicated days to get these windows to sparkle like they did in the 1930s.  If you’re driving through Gloucester, be sure to check out the station as you pass by and let us know what you think.

Fairfield Interns and Staff in 2009.

Minnesota – Yep.  North Carolina – Sure.  California – Yep, twice! Ohio – Definitely.  Interns come to Fairfield from across the United States and throughout Virginia to work with us and learn about archaeology and preservation.  This summer we celebrated our 80^th internship.  High School juniors and seniors, undergrads from community colleges and universities, graduate students, and some folks just looking to enhance their resumes and expand their horizons, spend between one and three weeks (sometimes longer) working alongside staff members learning the nuts and bolts of archaeology, non-profit management, and the day-to-day challenges of studying and preserving our past.  It is a wonderful learning experience for them and extremely rewarding for us.

“I recommend this internship to everyone because it is not only eye-opening, but it is also an experience you will never regret nor forget!” Kalli Mayton, 2009 Intern

Practical experience in directed research projects- interns learn and contribute.

Internships are scheduled throughout the year, although summer is our busiest season.  Whether for practical experience, or to try something they’ve always wanted to try, perhaps inspired by Indiana Jones or a lifelong fascination with history, the chance to “do” archaeology is what attracts most interns.  You can design your own research project, learn how to write grants, participate in hands-on preservation, or learn the basics of archaeology in the field and lab.  Interested?  Email us at fairfield@inna.net for a free brochure and application detailing our program.  Don’t hesitate to contact us if you, your teenager, or a friend might be interested in learning more about our internships.  Also, stay tuned for blog posts from former Fairfield interns- they all have something to share.

Nothing beats getting your hands dirty.

Come see the hard work of our volunteers and restoration advisors on the windows of the Edge Hill Service Station.  We have made steady progress across the building, staying on track to complete the window work this fall.  The arduous task of removing broken panes of glass, 80 years of window putty, grime, and rust is rewarded with a cleansing wipe of denatured alcohol and a coat of new primer – all for the privilege of placing that 1/8” thick glass pane back into place.  Held in with small metal clamps and a thick border of glaze, each volunteer has left their initials in a small section of the putty, marking their contribution to the restoration of this remarkable building.

Join the fun!

Interested in helping?  Want to spend some quality time with your favorite early twentieth-century gas station?  Join us for “Window Workshop Days.”  Our next days are September 2nd (Friday), 9th (Friday) and 12th (Monday), from 9 am to 4 pm and we invite anyone from the novice preservationist to the most zealous window fanatic to help us re-glaze the station’s windows.  We’ll provide the equipment – including chisels, respirators, gloves, glass, and putty – you bring the enthusiasm and the desire to protect the past for the future.  Whether for an hour or for the day let us know if you are interested. Every last bit helps – but we’re limited to 10 volunteers at a time, so reserve your spot soon – and leave your mark on Gloucester’s most exciting preservation project!

Contact us: Fairfield@inna.net 804-815-4467

Test Units at Fairfield, 2010.

 http://thefairfieldfoundation.​shutterfly.com/

Click on the link to set up an account and we’ll open your eyes to a world of discovery that illustrates just how exciting the past can be, especially when you’re looking at it through the eyes of an archaeologist. Enjoy!  And keep an eye out for younger versions of Dave and Thane.

Preserving the past is about more than just saving buildings….

The scenic wayside near the intersection of Ware Neck road and Route 14 is now noteworthy for more than its beautiful setting, picnic tables, and Brent and Becky’s Bulbs.  On June 8th the Fairfield Foundation helped unveil Virginia’s newest historic highway marker.  Entitled “Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)”, the marker draws your attention to the remarkable contribution a select group of women made to our military effort during World War II.  Specifically, it highlights the contribution of WASP Margaret Ann Hamilton Tunner (1917-2009), who resided at Hockley on Ware Neck.  Together with her fellow pilots, she transported and flight tested aircraft and towed targets for the U.S. military.  A vital part of the war effort, the WASPs delivered more than 12,260 aircraft around the world, often with only road maps at their disposal.  Despite their amazing contribution, Congress disbanded them in 1944 without recognition or benefits.  Not until 1977, and due largely to the efforts of surviving WASPs, did our government recognize their efforts, granting them veteran status.  In 2010, the WASPs received one of our country’s highest honors: the Congressional Gold Medal.

Virginia’s historic highway marker program is the oldest of its kind in the nation.  The marker was written by Lisa Harper and The Fairfield Foundation and sponsored by the Virginia Department of Transporation and the Diversity Marker Program of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.  It is an honor for us to recognize such a worthy group and especially one of our own in Gloucester who has done so much for us and should never be forgotten. 

WASP Highway Marker with Ware Neck road and Brent and Becky's Bulbs in the background.

Volunteers help excavate at the White Marsh cemetery.

Summer is nearly here, and the archaeology field season is in full swing.  We are excited by the almost daily chance to make new discoveries and to share these exciting moments with visitors and volunteers.  Volunteers donated over 6,000 hours helping us in the field and lab last year!  We welcome you to join us in the weeks and months ahead as Research Associate Tracy Jenkins excavates part of an 18th-century quarter at Fairfield Plantation, we continue documenting the 19th-century cemetery at White Marsh, and we wash and identify artifacts from these and other projects across the Middle Peninsula at lab nights.  Send us an email at fairfield@inna.net or call 804-815-4467 to get on our Dig List and learn where you can help out in the field (normal times are Monday-Friday, 9-4), or join us for lab nights at the Rosewell Visitor Center (Tuesday evenings, 6-9).  Archaeology is the foundation for our research, preservation and education efforts - see below for more info on some of the exciting research planned for this summer.  

Search for Slave Quarters at Fairfield

Excavations at the Quarter Site at Fairfield Plantation.

Fairfield Foundation Research Associate Tracy Jenkins is back for his second summer of research on what is likely a mid-to-late-18th-century slave quarter at Fairfield Plantation.  In 2001, Fairfield staff identified a large feature at the edge of the field southwest of the manor house.  Located beside a slope that descends quickly to the edge of Carter’s Creek, the artifacts concentrate in a relatively small area distinctly separate from the plantation’s core.  Jenkins’ research interests (and the efforts of many volunteers like you) led him to excavate nine test units in 2010, uncovering a large feature complex that he hopes to better delineate and then sample as part of his studies at the College of William and Mary.  This area will contribute significantly to our understanding of Fairfield’s past.  Consider joining us for a day of digging here or at several other areas we are investigating at Fairfield.

Work Continues on White Marsh Cemetery

Excavations document tombstone fragments and brick fragments from the cemetery wall at White Marsh cemetery.

The 19th-century cemetery at White Marsh continues to fascinate excavators as we peel back the layers of soil and study the tombstones and other artifacts related to the Rootes and Tabb families that owned and lived at the plantation in the early-to-mid-19th century.  While our focus does not involve excavating burials, we are learning about the significance of grave markers, the memorialization of the dead, and the challenges of maintaining private family cemeteries.  The owners of White Marsh are working alongside the Fairfield Foundation to piece together the fragmented tombstones and plan a restoration of the graveyard.  This excavation is teaching us about history while showcasing the challenges of preserving the past for the future.

Workshop participants work to restore the metal windows at the Edge Hill Service Station.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see preservation in action!  All this week, May 22 through 27, you can visit and tour the Edge Hill Service Station and witness the restoration of the metal windows.  A dedicated group of Adventures in Preservation workshop participants is reglazing these essential elements of the early twentieth-century landmark, learning how to properly preserve the iron frames and replace broken glass panes.  Not only will their hard work accelerate the restoration of the station, but it will demonstrate how preservation projects like this can serve the community.  Drop by for a quick tutorial and learn how donating your time and energy can help save a vital part of our shared heritage.

You can help us restore the Edge Hill Service Station.

Make sure to visit our open house and reception starting at 6:30 on Thursday, May 26, at the offices of the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust.  Come talk with the workshop participants, learn about our plans for the Edge Hill Service Station, and enjoy some wonderful tasty treats while looking back in time at photographs of the station from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.  Our guests include project sponsor and the authors of the Downtown Gloucester Historic District nomination – Commonwealth Preservation Group.  Learn about how this important district is now among a select few recognized nationally for its significance and how the state and federal rehabilitation tax credit program can help restore old buildings along Main Street and throughout the Middle Peninsula. 

The windows workshop is a collaborative project directed by the Fairfield Foundation and Adventures in Preservation.  The workshop was made possible through generous sponsorships from private individuals and local businesses, including East River Marketing, Commonwealth Preservation Group, WalMart, and the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust.  The workshop is part of the larger restoration efforts aimed at restoring the Edge Hill Service Station as headquarters of the Fairfield Foundation and as the premier preservation project in our community.