RV Life

2011

FIND HISTORY, RECREATION, ART & CULTURE,FAMILY FUN AND WILDLIFE IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY

2 | ROANOKE VALLEY LIFE 2011

ROANOKE VALLEY LIFE 2011 | 3

PUBLISHER Titus L. [email protected](252) 537-2505 Ext. 248

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stephen [email protected](252) 537-2505 Ext. 233

EDITOR Kris [email protected](252) 537-2505 Ext. 238

AD/CREATIVE Linda [email protected](252) 537-2505 Ext. 224

CIRCULATION Tammy [email protected](252) 537-2505 Ext. 251

DESIGNERHeather Rhea [email protected]

Contributing WritersDella Rose, Jacqueline Hough, Shala Marks andRoger Bell

Ad DesignersHeather Rhea Wade and Hope Callahan

Contributing PhotographersLes Atkins and Will Bratton


ROANOKE VALLEY LIFE

916 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870P.O. Box 520, Roanoke Rapids NC 27870(252) 537-2505

Copyright 2011 Roanoke Valley Life MagazineNo portion of Roanoke Valley Life Magazine may bereprinted in any form or posted on the Internet without thepermission of the publisher.

content

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On The Cover...Napolean Hill standing by the mural hepainted in June 2011 of the former millsof the Roanoke Valley.Photo by Kris Smith

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pg 16 Halifax Arts Council

pg 22 Ventosa Plantation

pg 27 Historic Halifax


When you see the all-white church nes-tled on Highway 125 in Hobgood, youwouldn’t guess the small building has beenmoved four times over the past 130 years.

The Hobgood Country Church Museumhas had various resting places throughoutthe town, dating back before the town ex-isted.

Constructed in the 1880s with the help ofThaddeus Bland, the church started out as aMethodist “meeting house” in HobgoodFork.

With the formation of a railroad and de-pot, the village of Hobgood was incorporat-ed in 1891. The Methodist church was des-ignated a permanent site in a corner of E.P.Hyman’s garden.

Farmers used mules to roll the church onlogs a few feet each Saturday and wouldleave the 20 feet by 50 feet building sittingin the middle of the road until the following

week. Church members would gather wher-ever the church sat on Sundays for serviceuntil it was completely moved to the cornerof West 5th Avenue and South Pine Street.

It was used for church services until 1955.A new church was built behind the aging

building, Hobgood United MethodistChurch. This facility is still used today.

As workers paved the road beside thechurches, the oldchurch had to bemoved over a little tomake space.

Joe Bland, whosefather helped buildthe former church,and his wife laterbought the churchand used it for stor-age.

In 2003, HobgoodUnited MethodistChurch bought its

predecessor and donated it to the town.Many people from inside and outside Hob-good worked together to relocate the churchto its fourth and current home at 210 W.Commerce St.

David Mayer, a farmer two miles outsideof Hobgood, was one of the many whohelped move the church.

“People drive by on 125 and see the

Photo by Shala Marks

bbeeffoorree aafftteerr

Photo by Douglas Speight Photo by Shala Marks

story by Shala Marks


church,” he said. “It’s a centerpiece of thetown.”

Mayer said he felt the church was a goodsymbol to have of Hobgood. It’s a Christianchurch, he said, with a flag flying showingthe town’s belief in God.

Douglas Speight, of Scotland Neck, saidhe grew up in the church that is now a mu-seum.

He witnessed the various moves andhelped with the building’s restorationprocess.

Everything inside the church is either orig-inal or donated, Speight said.

The restoration did not come aboutthrough any tax dollars or grant money, butthrough the community’s time, effort anddonations.

“I think the reason it has been so success-ful is because there wasn’t one person incharge,” he said. “It was very communityoriented.”

Locals put in glass windows, wood ceil-ings and the floor. A man who grew up in thechurch donated a more than 100-year-oldorgan to the church while another offered aninoperative, yet extremely valuable piano.

Two original offering plates dating back tothe 1880s hang on the wall, while thestained glass window above the doubledoors was put in by a local man named ZebWinslow.

The 50-seat church is complete with a

hand-made cross in the pulpit, a poem writ-ten about the church’s history and pews be-lieved to be original to the church due totheir precise number and size.

Although no longer used for Sunday serv-ices, Hobgood Country Church Museumholds special non-denominational Christ-mas and candlelight services, as well asweddings.

Mayer said his daughter plans to get mar-ried in the former church in August.

“Just knowing the church is being usednow as a community church is nice,” hesaid.

Sounds of Gold, an a cappella ensemblebased in Rocky Mount, recorded a CD in thechurch. The group sings all over the country.

Mayer said he is proud to have such a his-toric and symbolic asset in the town that wasbuilt through a community effort.

“You may not remember anything elseabout Hobgood, but you’ll remember thatlittle white church,” he said.

Anyone is welcome to get the keys fromthe town hall and explore the church.

From its beautiful landscape, completewith a fountain and engraved bricks fromthose who made contributions, to its quaintinterior proudly known for the bestacoustics, Speight says the church is some-thing you have to see to appreciate.

Stop by and add your name to the guestbook filled with visitors from around thecountry.

s

Photo by Douglas Speight

Photo by Douglas Speight


For the budget conscious, Medoc Moun-tain State Park is not only the best price(free), but also a great getaway without leav-ing the Roanoke Valley.

“It’s a great place where someone can getaway from the rat race and the grind ofeveryday living,” said Bill Myer, park super-intendent. “Everything is free. It will onlycost you the gas to get here.”

At 3,892 acres, Medoc Mountain StatePark is about 30 minutes from RoanokeRapids and Rocky Mount, and 25 minutesfrom Lake Gaston.

The only cost is if a person would like tocamp overnight, which is $25 for a site withelectricity and $20 without.

“To my knowledge, there are no plans tocharge an admission fee,” Myer said.

The park has a wide range of activities forvisitors — such as camping, 13 miles of hik-ing trails and canoeing.

Myer estimates there were between63,000 and 65,000 visitors to the park,which was established in 1972.

“Our visitation has been up due to gasprices,” he said. “Our camping has in-creased over the past year by five to 10 per-cent.”

Little Fishing Creek flows through the parkfor about 2.5 miles and offers an opportuni-ty to see it from a different perspective. Forbeginning paddlers, the waters of Little Fish-ing Creek flow slowly, and there are few ob-stacles along the way.

Myer said the park is also a good destina-tion for bird watchers.

Wood ducks and fish eating birds such asgreat blue herons and belted kingfishers areattracted to the waterways. As you walkthrough the woods, you can hear the calls ofred-tailed hawk and other birds.

Another recent activity added at the parkis the Bridle Trails, which opened in Octo-ber 2009.

The 13 miles of bridle trails provide a va-riety of options for riders, like the two-mileSilvertown Trail, one and three-quarter mileMoratock, one and a half mile Main Trail,three and a half mile Pine Loops and onemile Ridge Loop.

Throughout the year there are variousevents, such as the popular astronomy pro-gram, which allows people to view the nightsky.

One reason it is popular, Myer said, is be-cause there is very little artificial light at thepark.

“It’s open sky. We get quite a few as-tronomers out here,” he said.

One of the programs includes hiking theDam Site Loop. The two-hour hike crossesBear Swamp Creek on the park’s northernwalk bridge, crosses the Dam Site Loop trailand crest the summit of Medoc Mountain it-self.

Myer said the hike provides an opportuni-ty to look at the trees and wildlife habits.

IF YOU GO....• Medoc Mountain State Park is located at

1541 Medoc State Park Road in Hollister.• Park office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

weekdays.• Hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. June

through August; from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.March, October, April, May and September;and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Novemberthrough February.

• Medoc Mountain State Park is located inHalifax County, 21 miles southwest ofRoanoke Rapids, 23 miles north of RockyMount and 26 miles northeast of Louisburg.Off I-95, take exit 160 at NC 561 west andtravel nine miles to the park. Turn left onS.R. 1322 (park entry sign at this location)which will bring you to the park office, lo-cated one mile south and on the right.

FFoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn ccaallll 225522--558866--66558888..

Story and photos byJacqueline Hough


Polley


The serene setting of Lake Gastonfills with the joyful noise of childrenplaying and learning year round,thanks to Camp Willow Run, whichhas been bringing kids to the lake sincethe 1960s.

Camp Willow Run, a non-profit,interdenominational Christian camp,began as a day camp with 54 campersin 1968 after the camp’s co-founders,the Rev. Erbie Mangum Jr. and his wifeLinda, now Linda Harris, received thevision to start the camp from God in1967 while Mangum was the pastor atLittleton Baptist Church.

“As we got here, we wondered aboutChristian camping,” said Linda Harris,now the camp’s executive director.“We really felt going into overnightcamping was right and began landacquisition for year-round camping.”

The vision – Camp Willow Run – isbuilt around an old railroad theme,where campers from grades thirdthrough 12th grade stay in boxcarsconverted into dormitories. The facilityhosts 2,400 campers each summer, thebusiest season, and hosts weekendretreats throughout the rest of the year,all with the a faith-based purpose.“Our overall purpose is to winyoung people to Jesus Christ asLord and Savior and mature thosein their faith,” Harris said. “And to

show you can be a Christian and havefun.”

Fun includes sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, archery, basket-ball, model rocketry and fishing, saidcamp Director Robbie Harris, LindaHarris’ son.

The camp has exceeded Linda Harris’wildest dreams, even surviving thedeath of co-founder Mangum in 1975.Campers stay one week each summer,with the camp boasting a 60-percentreturn rate as children move upthrough the grade-level grouping sys-tem, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.

However, this return rate has led tothe camp having to refuse campers dueto a lack of space. Robbie Harris saidthey have turned away 6,000 kids in

ision of lake camp expandsV

story by Roger Bellphotos by Will Bratton


the past 12 years. “We would love to be able to haveserved those campers,” he said.

To address this need, Camp WillowRun has acquired property adjacent toits current location in Littleton to startCamp Willow Springs, a facilitydesigned to ultimately serve 240campers per week, in addition to the200 per week Camp Willow Run willcontinue to serve.

“We have some construction goingon, but we’re actively raising funds,”Harris said. “We have raised $3.6 mil-lion and probably need $2.4 millionmore. Some of that is gifts and in-kindservices, but some of it has been cash,as well.”

Robbie Harris said the goal is to openCamp Willow Springs alongsideWillow Run next summer, but this goalis contingent on the fundraising.If they can’t meet their goals to havethe swimming pool and dining facilitycompleted in time — there are alreadytwo dorms constructed on the property

— they will have to wait until 2013.Whatever the case, Linda Harris saidCamp Willow Run will continue toserve its campers, and she said she’svery pleased by how the camp hasgrown over the years.“Like anything, it’sexceeded what wecould have everdreamed,” Harris said.“You have a vision and adream, and it’s exceed-ed that. We couldn’toutdream God on that,and certainly He hasbrought it into a year-round situation, andwe’re maxed out. WhatGod has begun atWillow Springs, He willcomplete. We’re justinstruments He’s using.It’s been a blessing forus to have been placedhere on the shores ofLake Gaston.”

For additional information or to make a donation, visit

www.campwillowsprings.org orwww.campwillowrun.org.


LAKE GASTON 252-537-4111 TOLL FREE: 1-800-729-4125 Wilkie Real Estate–Lake Gaston 2435 River Road Henrico, NC 27842 E-Mail: [email protected] www.tourlakegaston.com

W ILKIE R EAL E STATE , I NC.

MAIN OFFICE 252-537-9012 TOLL FREE: 1-866-945-5431 Wilkie Real Estate 712 Roanoke Avenue Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 E-Mail: [email protected] www.wilkierealestate.com

We appreciate your loyalty for the past

30 years!


The Roanoke Valley has always had aspecial place on the East Coast. Abouthalfway between Florida and New York,people have stopped off Interstate 95 forgas and food for many years, but figuresshow a growing trend for travelers to stopand stay. According to Halifax County Convention

and Visitors Bureau President/CEO LoriMedlin, the focus on tourism in theRoanoke Valley is filling hotels first andreaping the positive impact from thatoccupancy.

“If the hotels are full, people go to theCanal Museum and Sylvan Heights andplaces like that,” Medlin said. “A lot ofpeople disagree with that, but it workshere. We don’t want people to stop, getgas and go. We want this to be a destina-tion.”

She defined a destination as a placewhere people stay for a few days andenjoy the local flavor.Medlin said her group focuses on threemain quadrants — I-95 exits 171 and 173,and Premiere Landing. She said the mainthing she tries to do is fill up area hotels.

To prove the strategy is working, theBureau can point to recently released fig-ures for 2010 that tourism spendingjumped 4.35 percent compared to 2009.Bureau board chairman Gene Minton saidvisitors spent approximately $75,926,391

in 2010 in Halifax County hotels, restau-rants, retail and service related businesses. He added more than $12 million wasspent in the hotels alone.

Hampton Inn General Manager PriscillaWest, a Bureau board member, said theBureau provides information for peopleon bus tours and for family reunions.“Pretty much anything we need done,tourism does for us,” she said.

In return, West said, area hotels act asambassadors for the Convention andVisitors Bureau, passing information on toclients to get the word out to as many peo-ple as possible about the good thingsgoing on in the Roanoke Valley.

The bureau, has been keeping up withfigures on tourism in the Roanoke Valleysince 1986. Medlin said the industry usesa complicated formula that calculatessales from hotels, restaurants and otheroutlets actively involved in tourism.

That first calculation in 1986 showed$33.3 million in tourism dollars werespent in Halifax County. When Medlinjoined the Bureau in 1995, tourism buckswere at $50.1 million, then jumped 13percent to $55 million in 1996 and havemade significant gains every year since. One of the most recent successes theBureau can boast is the Roanoke ValleyRocks program, in which six-foot Rockfishsculptures were commissioned by morethan 130 local businesses.

Local artists decorated each fish, andmaps are in the works so visitors can visiteach Rockfish work of art in its newRoanoke Valley home. Medlin said this isa way to promote tourism, local artists andlocal businesses in one program.

The town of Weldon was first to unveilits Rockfish, permanently on display at theWeldon boat ramp. Mayor Julia Meachamsaid Weldon is officially the “RockfishCapital of the World” because of annualmigrations, so she and the town sees thisas an opportunity to pay homage to one ofthe town’s greatest resources.

Medlin said the Bureau also strives tocapitalize on new technologies, includingits website, www.visithalifax.com.She said in 2010, pageviews increased66.7 percent as compared to 2009. Webvisitors were from 105 countries.Medlin said the Bureau launched itsFacebook page in 2009 and now has morethan 1,300 fans.

“Our staff regularly updates the pagewith events, commentaries, videos andinformation about our attractions, hotelsand other partners,” she said.

Medlin said the staff also sends outweekly e-blasts to local residents andbusinesses to increase awareness of com-munity events.

Moving forward, the Bureau is tacklinga challenge they’ve seen numerous timesover the year. Medlin said people on the

story by Della Rose

Photo by Les Atkins

front lines in the tourism industry are doing a goodjob of serving visitors, but sometimes a great oppor-tunity to promote the Roanoke Valley gets lostbecause they don’t know what’s going on in thearea.“We’ve tried cracking this nut eight ways toSunday,” Medlin said.

The Halifax County Convention and VisitorsBureau is planning to put together a YouTube train-ing video employers can show at staff meetings thatwill tell them about all the attractions.“It’s going to be funny, off beat and techy,” she said.Further north, Northampton County reaped $11million in tourism dollars in 2009, according toNorthampton County’s Tourism DevelopmentAuthority’s Director Dick Collier.

Collier said his group has only been up and run-ning about three years, and there’s only one hotel inNorthampton County, but that’s not stopping himfrom promoting the good things there.He said his county is different from Halifax Countywith most of its tourists visiting to hunt and fish, andthere’s also Lake Gaston.

Northampton County’s strategy is to expand onlocal events and organizations. Collier said theauthority recently held its first Fourth of July cele-bration, and the authority is working to bring ingrants to help grow events through local nonprofitsin Northampton municipalities.

He said there’s the walking tour of Jackson, thecounty seat.“That’s been there forever,” Collier said.It features antebellum mansions, an incredible his-

toric courthouse and many other historic buildings.There’s also the Northampton County Museum,which features primitive and modern displays onthe area.Collier said the Authority has developed a websitewww.visitnorthamptonnc.com — which promotesall things Northampton.

Medlin said she’s hopeful the Roanoke Valley willbe able to develop a big draw — “Like a retail out-let or a successful repeating show at the theater(The Roanoke Rapids Theatre).”

She said that’s why the Bureau is supportive of thecity’s efforts at Carolina Crossroads and TheRoanoke Rapids Theatre.

“One day that interchange will be full of restau-rants and hotels,” she said. “There will have to be abig turn in the economy, but it will happen before Iretire.”

Photo by Kris Smith


With a wide range of events and activi-ties, the members of the Halifax CountyArts Council have worked hard to showthe organization is more than just amonthly Sip & See meeting. Arts Council president Sherry Wade said

it is part of their mission to foster the artsin the Roanoke Valley.

“We have created valuable partnershipsin the community,” she said. “We areproud to be able to provide a platform for

local artists.”Partnerships which led to actress and

photographer Daphne Reid displaying her“Doors” photography collection at anevent sponsored by the Arts Council andthe Lake Gaston Chapter of the LinksIncorporated.

Other collaborations were with Friendsof the Roanoke Rapids Public Library andHalifax Community College. The ArtsCouncil also co-sponsored First ForFreedom and the Summer Concert Seriesin the Park.

“This is part of our continued effort tobring quality art events to share with thecommunity,” Wade said. “We feel aresponsibility to represent the county weserve.”

The 2010-11 season was a great year forthe Arts Council, Wade said.Memberships and attendance numbershave risen.“We hope to stay on track and continue tooffer good things for the community,”Wade said.In June, Halifax County muralist

story by Jacqueline Hough

Focus on fostering more art exposure for the Roanoke ValleyFocus on fostering more art exposure for the Roanoke Valley


Napoleon Hill completed a mural com-missioned by the Arts Council and theRoanoke Avenue Business Alliance inuptown Roanoke Rapids.The 9-feet by 36-feet mural is on the side

of the Woodruff building at the corner ofRoanoke Avenue and 14th Street.The subjects of the mural were the PaperMill, the United Industrial Company Milland the Rosemary ManufacturingCompany.

Wade admitted she was blown awaywhen she saw the sketches for the firsttime.

“They exceeded all expectations,” shesaid. “We are so excited and so proud tooffer public art to the community. And tosupport a beloved local artist.”

Wade added a special thanks to CarlBrown, the owner of the Woodruff build-ing, for allowing them to have the art onthe building.

It is a goal of the Arts Council to have amural in each municipality in HalifaxCounty. Wade said they are looking formural opportunities for the county.

For the upcoming year, the ArtsCouncil will continue to offer eventsthroughout the Roanoke Valley.

As part of the group’s communityoutreach, Arts Council membersSusan Watson and Pat Barnes offer anart class once a month at the Boysand Girls Club of Halifax County.Both are retired teachers, and Wadesaid the classes have been well-received.

The monthly Sip & See events willbe held at the gallery, 1027 RoanokeAve. in Roanoke Rapids, or otherlocations through the Roanoke Valley.

Past Sip & See events have includeddance, jazz, pottery and other art forms.

The second Canvas Halifax, which fea-tures the unveiling and auctioning of alocal artist’s creation, will be from 6 to 8p.m. Sept. 23 at the Weldon River Mill.The artwork has been completed and willremain under wraps until the night of theevent.

“It is a not-to-be-missed event,” Wadesaid. “We encourage everyone to marktheir calendar.”

Charlotte Moss, chairman of the CanvasHalifax committee, said the event is a bigfundraiser for the Arts Council.“I think it is going to be fabulous, andpeople will be pleased with the painting,”she said.

To be able to offer the various programsand events, the Arts Council will host theHomemade Holiday Bazaar at BeckerVillage Mall on the first Saturday inDecember.

Another fundraiser for the organization,it features artists and vendors selling

homemade crafts.Arts Council board member Nancy

Mueller has seen the Holiday Bazaar fromboth sides, as a vendor and as an organiz-er.She said it features a wide variety of ven-

dors from as far as Raleigh and Virginia toartists in the Roanoke Valley.Mueller added the Arts Council encour-ages people to not only participate as ven-dors, but to attend the event, as well.“It is a good opportunity to get Christmaspresents for people,” she said.

Another upcoming event is Picasso Run,which will be held Nov. 12. Persons inter-ested in registering for the event can do soonline at www.halifaxarts.org.Memberships for the Halifax County Arts

Council are $30 for individuals and $50for family members. Corporate member-ships are available.

For 2011-12 year, Wade said the ArtsCouncil will continue to offer a widerange of activities and partnerships.Upcoming events includea musician fromSenegal, a DanishPlaywright and others.

For more information,visit their website orcall 252-532-2571.“It will be another greatyear,” she said. “Weare focusing on reach-ing out throughout thecounty to offerevents.”

252-537-5600 252-537-5600 1261 Julian Allsbrook Hwy, •Roanoke Rapids, NC (Beside Blockbuster Video) 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 7 Days a Week 7 Days a Week

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A tasty tripfor a day of fun

IfIf you’re looking for an interesting and

different way to enjoy the day, perhapsit’s time to celebrate Halifax County’sagrarian roots with a relaxing tour andwine tasting at Ventosa Plantation inScotland Neck.

Located eight miles east of SylvanHeights Waterfowl Park, Ventosa boastsa rich history and beauty not likelyfound anywhere else in the state.Owner Alex McLennan II knows thathistory and beauty well — he was bornand raised there.The 5,000-acre plantation has been in

McLennan’s family about 300 years.While Ventosa is primarily a cotton pro-ducing operation, it’s not unusual to seeother cash crops in one of the manyfields that lie near the river.

It’s a 100-percent no till operation —that means most of the labor and equip-

ment has been cut out. McLennan saidthere are wetlands on the farm, and he’salways trying to find innovative ways toutilize what they have, including acresand acres of bamboo — his father’sendeavor.

McLennan added the winery in 2004as a new facet to what comes naturallyto his family.

While most modern vineyards focuson European grapes for winemaking,McLennan said he decided to developthe winery around a North Carolinanative vine instead — the muscadine.The muscadine has an illustrious his-tory dating back centuries. Accordingto the North Carolina Department ofCommerce, the first recorded accountof these grapes occurs in the log bookof Giovanni de Verrazano, Frenchexplorer and navigator, who in 1524discovered them in the Cape FearRiver Valley.

Giovanni saw, “Many vines growingnaturally there that without doubtwould yield excellent wines.” The fruitof these wines was reportedly sweetand fleshy with a thick skin.

According to the department, NorthCarolina’s first commercial winery wasfounded on the muscadine in 1835 bySidney Weller.The Medoc Vineyard — in Brinkleyville(Medoc Mountain) in Halifax County —boasted 12 acres of white and black

VentosaVentosastory by Della Rosephotographs by Tia Bedwell


muscadines, and in 1853 produced 60barrels of wine annually. It was distrib-uted throughout the eastern UnitedStates at $1 to $6 per gallon — a heftysum in those days.

McLennan said he was focusing on awine that’s “closer to the classic style ofwine, instead of the very sweet wine.”“My dad is always trying to re-inventhimself,” said McLennan. “He’s alwaystrying something new.”

McLennan said it took a couple ofyears to get thewinery started. “It was 2007before we hadour first goodharvest,” hesaid, addingwhile heattended SurryC o m m u n i t yCollege, hegot most of hisknowledge asa vintner fromexperience.“I got knowl-edge bydoing,” hesaid, addingt h eAgr icu l tu ra lExtension andS t a t e

University provided information when-ever he needed it.All that doing paid off. In 2010, thevineyard harvested between 50 and 70tons of grapes. McLennan said he expects an even bet-ter harvest this year.

“It’s been raining at a regular pace,”he said. “And grapes like heat whenthey’ve got water to grow. The vineyardis coming on up and looking prettygood. It is a really good year on thefarm.”

While making wine may seem like aneasy task, a lot of thought and chemistrygoes into each vintage and there havebeen a lot of changes in the processover the years.

Pressing the grapes, like all theprocesses, is mechanized now, but it’sstill messy.

Most of the pressing is done by gravi-ty, but you still have to shovel out all theskins, seeds and other particles for themechanized pressing.

“Things can get kind of slippery,” hesaid, then laughed. “We had a coupleof close calls.”

On a tour of the vineyard, McLennanwalked the rows of beautifully managedvines.

“There’s a prevailing wind from theWest on the farm,” he said. “You’llnotice the vines are foliage heavy onthe East and the fruit is full on the

West.” He gingerly handled the vines, show-

ing the full clusters of sweet fruit.He explained how the vines were bredto optimize the better qualities of mus-cadine grapes and their difference fromwild varieties. He explained while wildgrapes come in male and female vines— each one distinct, his grapes havebeen bred to produce the perfect flowerand clusters of grapes instead of indi-vidual grapes.

He continued walking from row torow, explaining you can tell the differ-ence between a Noble (a red), and aMagnolia (a white) vine by the newgrowth.

“Almost always, the new growth on awhite grape will be yellowish to lightgreen, while a red grape will have pink-ish red leaves,” he said.

McLennan has created a new winethis year — a blend of the Carlos (red)and Noble grapes. He said it is almost aRose. It will be ready for sale in August. He hasn’t decided on what to name ityet, but “Chockoyotte” is in the lead.“We have to check on some legalities,”he said.McLennan sells his wines from the win-ery and at a few farmers markets in thearea.

For more information on VentosaPlantation, call 252-826-3416.

Alex McLennan, whose family owns VentosaPlantation, checking the fruit in his vineyard forjust the right ripeness before harvest. Ventosagrows muscadine grapes and makes wines.

Alex McLennan, whose family owns VentosaPlantation strolling through the vineyard.


Sir Archie

Take a drive along U.S. Route 158 inNorthampton County and you will see astate marker dedicated to one of the mostinfluential thoroughbreds in the historyof horse racing.

It reads: SIR ARCHIE Foundation sire ofAmerican Thoroughbred race horses,including Timoleon, Boston, Lexington,& Man O’War. Died at Mowfield, onemile north, in 1833.

Sir Archy, commonly spelled “SirArchie,” is known as one of the greatestthoroughbred race horses in Americanhistory, not only because of his personalachievements, but also for those of hisfamous offspring.

Born in 1805 on the James River inVirginia, Sir Archy only ran in sevenraces from age 2 to 4 due to hisunmatchable skills.

William Ransom Johnson, native toWarrenton, purchased Sir Archy for$1,500 and brought him to NorthamptonCounty. The horse won races inRichmond and Petersburg, Va.In 1809, Sir Archy set a record at aScotland Neck course near Halifax when

he beat a horse, Blank, by a length in 7minutes and 25 seconds, the fastest fourmiles ever run South of the James River.That same year, the thoroughbred creat-ed so much distance between him andthe other contenders in the Jockey ClubPurse that Sir Archy walked across thefinish line.

According to the December 1829 arti-cle “Memoir of Sir Archy” from AmericanTurf Register and Sporting Magazine, SirArchy did not run many races “but beatall the best horses of his day.”

“When Sir Archy quit the turf, he hadno equal in this country,” the article said. Johnson was said to have offeredbetween $5,000 to $10,000 to match SirArchy whom he deemed “the best horseI have ever seen.”

His strength, speed and reputation leftSir Archy without competition and hesoon retired to stud (or breed).

With numerous offspring, historianJohn Hervey narrowed down Sir Archy’s“exceptional sons” to an impressive 31. His descendants, both male and female,have become some of the best thorough-

bred racing horses over the past 100years.

Big names such as Timoleon, Bostonand Lexington — all related to Sir Archy— were 19th century champions whoalso sired successful horses.

Allan Carter is a historian at TheNational Museum of Racing and Hall ofFame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., who isalso familiar with Sir Archy’s lineage.

“He’s the paternal grandfather ofLexington, one of the greatest thorough-breds of the late 1800s,” he said.Sir Archy is also related to La Troienne, a

story and photographs by Shala Marks

‘Tail’ of a legend still told today‘Tail’ of a legend still told todayJackson attracts racing fans

Contributed by www.hmdb.org


broodmare from France who won racesand mothered successful horses as well.“She’s incredible,” Carter said. “You can’tcome up with two bigger influences thanthose two.”

In 1955, Sir Archy was inducted intothe Hall of Fame where a slew of hisdescendants such as Secretariat, Cigar,Native Dancer and Seabiscuit would fol-low suit.“He sent out a succession of champions,which more or less, founded the breed ofthe American Thoroughbred,” the articlesaid. “The influence of Sir Archy on thedevelopment of the American race horsewas overwhelming.”

All 20 horses in the 2008 KentuckyDerby were related to the pride ofNorthampton County.

No need to make a trip to New York todiscover Sir Archy’s legacy though, theNorthampton County Museum inJackson has an entire display honoringthe horse known as the “best sireAmerica has ever produced.”Dennis Babb and his family help run themuseum, where he said the Sir Archy dis-play is very popular.

“People love to see it,” hesaid.

Babb said visitors askmany questions, and heenjoys telling them aboutthe horse’s history, espe-cially the legends.

Rumor has it the interiorof Sir Archy’s stable wasmade with expensivemahogany, and the horsewas buried with silvershoes on his hooves.

Although Babb is unsureof the validity behind somestories, he is certain SirArchy wasn’t the only success-ful race horse produced by NorthamptonCounty.Janus was a successful horse fromJackson whom many people don’t knowabout, Babb said.

The non-profit organization also has amural of the more well-known racehorse painted on the side of the building.Babb said his grandson, Chase, lovesshowing it to visitors.

“That sign is what draws them here

though,” Babb said of the marker dedi-cated to Sir Archy.The museum is located at 203 W.Jefferson St. in Jackson.It is open Thursday and Friday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m., although Babb said he is avail-able for appointments.

The next time you see the famousmarker on U.S. Route 158, stop by theNorthampton County Museum and dis-cover the historical racehorse behind it.

Contributed by www.historicjacksonnc.com

The Northampton County Muesum in Jackson offers a display case filled with information about thefamous racehorse Sir Archy including pictures, a book written about him and facts about his life andcareer.


Pictured, above, is the Owens House named after HalifaxMerchant George Owens. The 18th Century English townhouseis the oldest home at the site.

Pictured, right, originally located in Scotland Neck, the SallyBilly Plantation was moved to Halifax in the 1970s. This homeincludes 1800s furnishings and is one of the most popular homesat the site.

A walking tour of

Historic HalifaxHistoric Halifax

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Below, behave improperly in public and you could have spent aday in one of these. Facing the main street of the town, these pil-lories were a form of colonial punishment that everyone passingby could see. They’re located next to the town’s two-story brickjail. This is the third jail structure as the first two, made of wood,were burned down by escaping prisoners.

It may look like just a large rock, but this monu-ment symbolizes “the heart” of Historic Halifax.With no original drawings or pictures, this rock represents the original location of the HalifaxCounty Courthouse, where on April 12, 1776,delegates enacted the first legislation by a wholecolony seeking independence from Englandknown as the “Halifax Resolves.”

The Clerk’s Office, which has no interior connecting doors, con-tains the print shop where State Printer Abraham Hodge workedthe printing press. Stop by to see a demonstration of the late1800s model.


The newest addition to the historical site is this “slave trail.” It is a part of the underground railroad used by escapingslaves as they passed through Halifax in their search for freedom or displaced family members.


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