Town and House Tour 2010

On the National Historic Registry, Edgewood was built in 1818, by Arthur B. Davies. Known at the time as Arthur’s Folly, Edgewood later served as the Higginbotham Academy for girls in the 1850s as well as a meeting place for the Clinton Masonic Lodge. Judge Taylor Berry (his door plate is still on the front door) acquired the property in the later 1850s and his descendents lived in the home until the mid 1990s. The oldest section features Federal and Greek Revival technologies and style, and comprises 4,500 square feet of the 8,500 total.

Interesting interior details of the old section include nine fireplaces with complex carved mantels, a circular staircase leading from the entry hall, past the curved door room to the third floor landing, and perhaps the most striking of all, a three-wall mural in the drawing room done by an itinerant painter around 1830. The mural’s vivid Indo-Chinese style scenes including tiger hunts, ladies on elephants and men picking oranges, were discovered in the 1970s when layers of the wallpaper were removed. They were featured in the magazine, Antiques, in March 1984. The 1972 addition features a sunken marble pool resembling a Roman bath.

This brick house was built by the widow Vara Page in 1952 who lived there with her daughter Virginia. It was the home of Frank T. “Bunny” and Margie Bryant Burks from 1968 until her death in 1990. Burks and his new wife Lil sold the house in 2001 to Jack and Peggy Hobbs who currently reside in the home with their son Jay. 

The house contains both contemporary furniture and family pieces. Important features of the structure include two large second floor bedrooms, a finished half basement, a walk-up attic and a beautiful basement-level patio and English boxwoods in the back yard. A brick breezeway connects the dwelling to a single car garage. The property extends all the way down the hill from Garland Avenue to Scott’s Hill Road and was once a portion of the Scott apple orchard.

Bishop John Johns consecrated the new brick church as Ascension Church in 1848. The Reverend David Caldwell became the first rector. Five determined men were inspired to have the church built: Dr. Henry Landon Davies, Mr. Marshall Harris, Capt. William Waller, Mr. Ben Taliaferro and Zachary Tinsley. The land had been donated by Mr. Elijah Fletcher and the widowed Mrs. David Garland also contributed substantially. Rev. David Caldwell was the son-in-law of William Waller and the grandson-in-law of Jane Meredith Garland (David Shepherd Garland's wife).

The contractor and builder was Hickman Meredith. The one story, gable roof, gable end in front with a later Gothic-revival central square, three story tower has had several additions over the years. In 1853 Elijah Fletcher donated the bell that is still in use. In 1875 the church was enlarged to include a recess chancel, organ chamber, baptistry and vestry room. In 1892, the six stained glass windows were installed. Notable features are the rose window and pointed arch windows in the tower, which is a local landmark. 1922 saw the addition of the parish house. Over the past century and a half, devoted parishioners have memorialized their fellow parishioners with gifts of altar and chancel linens, communion service and rail, lectern, pulpit and lectern, chandeliers and chairs. Further information can be found on tablets within the sanctuary.

The Amherst Presbyterian congregation was first organized May 26, 1831. Sessions met in an open field adjacent to the courthouse or at the Episcopal Church in New Glasgow (Clifford).

On August 12, 1878, a deed was recorded in which Robert M. Brown donated the property on 2nd Street for the church and a brick edifice was erected which “was perfect in its proportions and modeled after many churches in Northern Italy.”

The first major remodeling of the church started in 1917 and included stained glass memorial windows, new pews and a furnace. The pulpit came from the Waynesboro Presbyterian Church and the memorial windows from St. Louis. The church was remodeled in 1938, and the basement rooms were completed in 1944 to be used for Sunday School and family meals. In later years other changes were made, notably the education annex in 1956. In 1961 the church was again remodeled and the sanctuary repainted. During the 1970s the basement rooms, by then in disuse, were repainted and freshened up for the use of the church youth.

Mount Olivet Baptist Church was established in 1876, as the first and only place of worship for Negro residents within the Town of Amherst.  Mount Olivet not only served as a spiritual beacon to its members; the church also established the first schoolhouse where the town’s Negro children were educated.

Mount Olivet quickly outgrew its small building and was forced to seek alternate structures to accommodate its growing membership.  Church elders formed a committee and set forth with their efforts to secure building materials to expand its current structure, until a more appropriate location and structure could be located.  The committee soon discovered an abandoned tobacco warehouse located within a small neighborhood at the intersection of Needmore Street and Mt. Olive Road.  Following extensive discussion, the church family found itself at an impasse; some church members wanted to remain in the original church structure, while others advocated for relocation.  Unwavering convictions on both sides lead to the division of the church family.

Those members wanting to remain were allowed to do so and those desiring relocation moved into their new structure at the intersection of Needmore Street and Mt. Olive Road.  Those relocating retained the established church name, Mount Olive. Baptist Church, all monies within the established church treasury, the church bell and current church leader, Pastor Harrison P. Goode.  Members remaining within the original structure retained the church property, building and schoolhouse.  Members immediately set about the task of re-establishing and rebuilding their ‘new’ church.  Records indicate that the remaining members held a prayer vigil to seek guidance in re-establishing the church’s identity.  It is further reported that upon exiting the prayer meeting, members became inspired by witnessing the morning star.  This inspiration became the catalyst for a renewed spirit, a new beginning and a new church. 

Since its inception, Morning Star Baptist Church has provided spiritual guidance and a constant haven of worship for its devoted members.  The leadership of nine pastors, Rev. Robert G. Butcher as the longest serving pastor, ensured Morning Star’s endurance throughout years of numerous transitions and enhancements to its building and grounds.  In March 2009, Morning Star Baptist Church welcomed its new and current pastor, Rev. Francisco Mayo.  Under his formidable leadership, Morning Star has been revitalized.  The transformed spirit of its church family has re-energized productivity and inspired a renewed sense of purpose.  Morning Star’s rich history, humble beginning, unyielding leadership and the dedication of its members, serves as the foundation on which the church constructs its future.  A product of faith and conviction, Morning Star Baptist Church continues to serve as a beacon for its growing church family.

A few months after the church was established in 1899, Rev. Harrison P. Goode was ordained and called as the first Pastor. The officials and members of the young church thought it befitting to call one of their own “sons” who had the well being and success of the newly formed church at heart.

The first Annual Revival was held the first week in October, 1900. The evangelist for the week was Reverend Sandy Garland of Lynchburg, Virginia. During the Revival, there were 99 converts.

Rev. Benjamin A. Carrington was called to Mt. Olive in 1919. During his pastorate, the membership increased rapidly and the Ladies Aid Club was organized on August 7, 1923. Rev. Carrington had concern for the religious nurture of children and youth but not to the neglect of others.

In 1930, Rev. James H. Jones was called to the pastorate of Mt. Olive. Cris Thompson and William Mosby were ordained Deacons during Pastor Jones’ administration. In addition to becoming a Deacon, Cris Thompson also became a member of the Board of Trustees. After four years of faithful service, Pastor Jones resigned.

Rev. W. D. Johnson was called to the pastorate of Mt. Olive in 1935. During his tenure, the Men’s Pioneer Club was organized (1938). The vestibule was added to the church in 1938. Rev. Johnson was a kind and conscientious person who upon many occasions expressed his dedication to Kingdom building through songs. He resigned after six years of faithful service.

In 1942, Mount Olive called the Rev. E. D. Irvine as Pastor. Rev. Irvine was born in Lynchburg, where he attended school. He then went to Virginia Union University in Richmond, where he was awarded the B.Th. degree. He also taught in the Amherst County Public School System. Under his leadership the church made tremendous growth both physically and spiritually. In 1944, the Men’s Pioneer Club and the Ladies Aid Club united and became the Ladies Aid and Men’s Pioneer Club. The Climbing Vine Club was organized in 1944. The Amherst County Training School held many graduations at the church due to a lack of adequate facilities at the school. The Usher Board was organized in May, 1950. The Pastor’s Aid Club was organized on February 11, 1951. Rev. Purvis Rose became Associate Minister. The Gospel Chorus was organized in 1968.

During Rev. Irvine’s administration, some improvements to the physical appearance of Mount Olive including underpinning, conversion from coal to oil heat, brick siding and frosted glass windows were installed, replacement of the old pews and AC units added . Rev. Irvine resigned in 1980. and was followed by Rev. Austin who retired in 2002. Rev. Kelvin R. Brown is the current pastor.

In 1937 Charles Raymond and Margaret Cash Gregory built this house on eight lots bought from Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Gannaway. Built at the end of the Great Depression, the house contains six rooms, two baths, central heat and hardwood floors at a cost of just over $5000.

During the late 1930s and 40s the upstairs bedrooms were rented out to engineers at American Cyanimide, including Stephen Lamanna who later built the brick ranch across the street. Later Sweet Briar professors lived here also.

In the 50s and 60s the house also was a tourist home for travelers and young men dating Sweet Briar girls. Guests remember Margaret’s pound cake and whole wheat bread and Raymond’s coffee.

The side yard (lot) was a garden; the back contained grapes, raspberries and also vegetables. Ducks, geese, chickens, pigs and a goat lived in the back lot.

For the past twenty years this home has been the residence of Margaret and Raymond Gregory’s nephew, Marvin Cash and partner William Baker, who continue the tradition of southern hospitality.

No one has determined exactly when the first mill was built here on Rutledge Creek. However, James Franklin bequeathed a mill and lot to two daughters in a will of March 11, 1813. the original wooden dam to contain the water was well upstream, and the millrace was nearly a mile long.

Through the years there have been at least four owners before Richard Wydner purchased the works in 1940 from Mr. Baldock. At one time there was a mercantile complex at the site, including flour, saw, and plaster mills, an ice house, a store, and two dwelling houses. The Fitz Steel Wheel, installed in 1908, is still operational, but the milling today is powered by electricity. Livestock and animal feeds are ground and mixed daily and custom-ground flour may be purchased at the mill.