 sj |
||
|
||
Staunton, Virginia
|
|
|
Subject: Staunton, Virginia From: greg stephens Date: 22 Feb 02 - 06:23 PM Anybody tell me anything about Staunton, Virginia? My son's just got married there, couldn't get over for it, but i'm going soon. What will I find? |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Bobert Date: 22 Feb 02 - 06:43 PM First of all, when ya' get there... it's stan-ton, not ston-ton. Ston-ton is in Pa. Nice little Shenandoah Valley town though. If ya' like mountains, drive 20 miles west and you'll be in some real pretty country. I don't know much about the politics or economy but I do know that if you like a nice small with some nice old brick buildings that's nestled between mountains and a stone's throw to Charlottesville, you'll love it... |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: greg stephens Date: 22 Feb 02 - 06:47 PM tthanks bobert, thats more information than i've managed to get out of my son in a month. He didn't mention mountains, which is exactly what i like. anybody know anything about music? |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Mark Cohen Date: 22 Feb 02 - 07:22 PM Woodrow Wilson's boyhood home is there (worth a visit), and it's the gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway, unless my memory is fooling me again. It's a lovely town, and when I was there in 1996 on the way to my stepson's wedding, I caught part of a storytelling festival. I'm sure there's wonderful music in the area. Old-time fiddling and shape-note singing are almost certain to be there. Aloha, Mark |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Sandy Paton Date: 22 Feb 02 - 08:12 PM Fletcher Collins, collector of traditional songs, lives in Staunton (Stan-ton), and has produced folk festivals at his Oak Grove Theater for many years. He's in his quite vigorous 80s, and a wonderful man. Also living there and still singing nicely, is Jeannie Lee, who wrote one of the songs I recorded on an album back in 1966 or so, a modification of the older "Goin' Where the Chilly Winds Don't Blow." Very talented 16-year-old when she made the song and taught it to Paul Clayton, from whom I learned it. Staunton is certainly a lovely town, and I'd be happy to live in or near it, but I once spent a miserable night there, trying to get to sleep in a rat-trap of a cheap motel that reeked of bad plumbing. My next visit, I was a guest of Fletcher Collins and his wife in their beautiful brick home. Give them a call and tell them I said hello. They are wonderfully good folks. (My last name is pronounced PAYTON, by the way.) Sandy |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Bobert Date: 22 Feb 02 - 08:55 PM And, Greg, those mountains to the west are the Appalachains. Well worth a little drive. Half and hours and you'll be going, "wow". If you can wait another 6 weeks, they will be spectacular and if you go back in the fall... well even more so. The entire valley is filled with all kinds of pickers. Bluegrass, Old time, folk. You will love the Shenandoah Valley... I live in the northern most part of the valley and Stanton is in the lower end. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: greg stephens Date: 22 Feb 02 - 09:20 PM thanks again. it'll be May i think. i just rung the boy up and he's safely wed, a husband of two hours standing. he still hasnt noticed the mountains, dont think they go out much. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Bobert Date: 22 Feb 02 - 09:29 PM She must be one fine lookin' lady if the boy hadn't noticed that he's got mountains all around him. You might want to check the caller I.D. next time he calls. I think the boy might have married one of them Stanton, Iowa gals. Jus' funnin about the Iowa thing, but not your new daughter-in-law. I mean, Stevie Wonder wouldn't miss them mountains. No sir... |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Feb 02 - 10:57 PM Staunton is a beautiful area. My cousin lives there, and her yard has appeared in Southern Living several times. It's near lots of natural wonders, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains (with the Parkway) and Luray Caverns. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 23 Feb 02 - 12:15 AM The state was developing several working farms from various eras of history from the old country as well as the new. If they have done what they originally intended, it should be an interesting place to visit. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Allan C. Date: 23 Feb 02 - 07:50 AM Head west on Hwy. 250 toward the mountains for about twenty minutes or so and you will find The Buckhorn Inn. This restaurant features the kind of fancy home cooking that I enjoy. I remember stopping there one morning on my way into the mountains with my honey. They weren't open yet, but we were invited into the kitchen to freely pick and choose whatever we wanted to make up a picnic lunch. Now, that's hospitality! Every Fourth of July in Staunton the Statler Brothers used to put on a free concert in the town park. It was their gift to their hometown. They finally stopped participating a few years ago but the tradition of the country music in the park continues, featuring some great performers. Something else that is well worth seeing there is the Frontier Culture Museum. The area around Staunton was settled by people coming from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. This museum consists of reconstructed farmhouses that reflect the styles of those cultures. Inside of each are people who dress and act the part of the people who would have lived there. Craft demonstrations and displays are among the special attractions. For the best hamburger and shake you may have had in years, be sure to stop at White's Drive-In Restaurant just across from the old Western State Mental Hospital (now converted into a prison - which was not much of a stretch in my way of thinking). A short drive eastward on I-64 will bring you to Waynesboro. Watch the signs for the Rt. 340 South exit and for the P. Buckley Moss Museum. She is an extremely talented, local artist whose work is certainly worth seeing. There's lots more to tell you about, but half the fun is in discovering things for yourself. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Allan C. Date: 23 Feb 02 - 07:58 AM Two corrections: I should have said Wright's. It was once called Wright's Dairy Bar but I think it may have changed the name slightly. Also, I may have understated the kind of food you would find at the Buckhorn. Take a look at their menu! |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Charley Noble Date: 23 Feb 02 - 02:05 PM I would second what Sandy Paton has to say about Staunton and the Collins. Fletcher and Margaret Collins are old family friends, having taught school together with my father in the 1930's in Arthurdale, WV. The Oak Grove (literally a grove of trees with a stage within), located on a hill above the Collins farm (their other property besides the brick mansion) outside of town, is a fine place for live concerts and theatre. I have fond memories of showing up at the Collins' door one evening in the early 1970's, muttering some magic words, and being invited in to spend the night swapping stories, tunes and songs. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Sandy Paton Date: 23 Feb 02 - 03:01 PM Roy Harris reminds me that Burl Ives credits Fletcher Collins as his source for "Buckeye Jim." Maybe someone far more clever than I would like to add that bit of info to the thread about "Buckeye Jim" which was started a few days ago. Fletcher and his wife have been singing the definitive "Quaker's Courtship" together for many years. What lovely people they are! Sandy |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: greg stephens Date: 23 Feb 02 - 03:11 PM Staunton is getting to sound better and better.Keep the info flowing, I am looking forward to visiting very much. Anybody have a contact for Fletcher Collins. Would Oak Grove, Staunton, Va do for an address? thanks everybody Greg |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Feb 02 - 10:09 AM Greg - Here's where I hesitate about providing more detailed contact information, not knowing more about you and having the outmost respect for the Collins. Please tell me more about yourself in a direct e-mail: ipbar@agate.net
|
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: rea Date: 24 Feb 02 - 10:35 AM North of staunton, up near the VA /MD border, is Sheppardstown, a hotbed of folk and bluegrass music. Haven't been myself (and I live in Charlottesville, silly me) but my folks say it's a great place to go if you like music. Once you get to Stauton, find a local paper and check out what's playing. Appalachia being one of the homes of bluegrass, you shouldn't be disappointed. and now i'm home sick, stuck up here in ny state, far from my mountains.... bah! |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 24 Feb 02 - 01:02 PM A.W. Jeffreys, dulcimer maker, lives (lived?) in Staunton. He published a book on the Appalachian Dulcimer in 1958. Paul Clayton also lived there I believe. He and Jeffreys and Richard Farina were close friends. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Feb 02 - 04:19 PM Jeffreys was also there when I visted back in 1973. If he's still alive he'd be in his 90's; we had a great discussion about how to best "antique" wood. He was one of the pioneers in terms of making traditional Appalachian dulcimers for folk revival musicians. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: RangerSteve Date: 25 Feb 02 - 06:22 AM I agree with Allan C - check out the Museum of Frontier Culture. And the Blue Ridge Parkway. And further south in Floyd, County Sales has a record store there. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Mrrzy Date: 25 Feb 02 - 02:02 PM Staunton is not somewhere I go to often, living in Charlottesville, unless I'm heading up into the Blue Ridge in which case it is my "gateway" as somebody said (there are other places to get onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I like the Rockfish Gap one best, and it's right by Staunton, which I can only remember to pronounce STANton if I'm not seeing it written down). BUT I do hear wonderful things about it, I just haven't experienced any of them. I would hesitate to recommend anyone come to central VA without checking out Charlottesville, though, let us know if you're coming through! One thing I have to say is, you will find no more beautiful setting for a wedding, I'll bet you, than the Blue Ridge area, Staunton included! I may have had a lousy marriage but we had a GORGEOUS wedding down here! |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Kim C Date: 25 Feb 02 - 02:17 PM Allan C. already mentioned the Frontier Culture Museum. Lots of fun there. The whole area is very nice - but don't eat in Staunton. I have never had a good dining experience in the city proper. Just outside of Staunton is the Edelweiss Restaurant - my personal favorite. I don't remember the exit, but search for them on the Net, and I'm sure you'll find them. |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Mrrzy Date: 25 Feb 02 - 02:24 PM There is a great restaurant called something River, SOuth river maybe, owned my some friends of mine named Jim & Lisa... tell'm Microwave Man sent you. And I ALMOST forgot, the perfect thing for a Central VA wedding... Can't elope to Orange, Virginia |
|
Subject: RE: Staunton, Virginia From: Fortunato Date: 25 Feb 02 - 02:28 PM I'm surprised no one has mentioned that the Huss & Dalton guitar factory is in Staunton. They welcome visitors. Fine hand made guitars that rival the best anywhere.
|
| Share Thread: |