HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK IN VIRGINIA

GARDEN CLUB OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA

Friday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by The Garden Club of the Middle Peninsula THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA GREEN PASTURES AND BLUE WATERS Tappahannock’s Open House The small town of Tappahannock in Essex County figured prominently in the development of Colonial Virginia. During the winter of 1608-09, Captain John Smith sailed up the Rappahannock River to “Topahanocke” and met the area’s Native Americans, who over succeeding years lost their lands to ambitious colonists. Present-day Tappahannock was founded in 1682 on the site of a deep-water harbor or “hole” owned by a Mr. Hobbs; hence the early name “Hobbs His Hole.” In an attempt to find a more dignified name, town fathers changed the name to New Plymouth and then to the Indian name Tappahannock, which meant “place of rising and falling waters.” In addition to the houses listed, guests also may visit the Court House (1848), Clerk’s Office (1808), Debtor’s Prison (1769), the early cemetery of St. John’s Episcopal Church and the tiny Confederate cemetery located behind the Essex County Museum, where town tour maps are available. Visitors may view the outside of the waterfront Customs House (1760) and Henley House Emerson’s Ordinary (1710), where restoration is in progress. Hostesses will be assisting at the Court House. NOTE: This is a walking tour of Tappahannock with the exception of a drive to Mahockney. LUNCH: There are many restaurants and fast-food chains in the Tappahannock area. Mahockney, St. Margaret’s and the Meriwether-Ritchie House will allow picnicking on the grounds. REFRESHMENTS: Complimentary refreshments will be served at St. Margaret’s Hall from 2-4 p.m.		Download the full color PDF brochure (large file)
Chairman: Martha M. Frank (Mrs. Ernest M., Jr.) P. O. Box 523, 720 Water Lane Tappahannock, VA 22560 Telephone (804) 443-1003 Co-Chairman: Betty Anne Garrett (Mrs. Macdowell I. Garrett) 1663 Pilkington Road Hustle, Virginia 22476 Telephone (804) 443-2275 E-mail: bagarrett4@hotmail.com Group Tour and Ticket Chairman: Elizabeth “Randy” Brown P. O. Box 2764 Tappahannock, VA 22560 Telephone (804) 443-2033 E-mail: Randy455@verizon.net   TICKETS: $30; single-site admission, $15. Tickets with maps may be purchased the day of the tour at St. Margaret’s Hall, Little Egypt and Mahockney. Flat walking shoes are recommended. No interior photography, cell phone use or smoking permitted. Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. ADVANCE TICKETS: $25 until April 15 by mail from the Group Tour and Ticket Chair (see address above). Please send a self-addressed, stamped, legal-sized envelope with check payable to GCMP. No refunds. Early tickets may also be purchased by accessing www.VAGardenweek.org.  Advance tickets for $25 also will be sold at the following locations: In Tappahannock:  Hobb’s Hole Restaurant, 1267 Hobbs Hole Drive; Riverside Accents & Gifts, 1251 Tappahannock Blvd.; Head to Toe, 845 Church Lane; in Urbanna:  Cyndy’s Bynn, 311 Virginia Street; The Wilde Bunch, 260 Virginia Street; Bristow’s Store, 200 Virginia & Cross Streets; in Saluda:  The Garden Club, 910 Gloucester Rd.; and in Locust Hill:  River Birch Gifts, 5944 General Puller Hwy.  Cash or personal checks only.  Sales in these locations start April 1st  and discontinue on April 20th at noon.                                                                                  DIRECTIONS TO TOUR AREA: All tour locations are within zip code 22560. The tour is in the town of Tappahannock, except for Mahockney which is 6 mi. northwest of town. Tappahannock is at the intersection of Rte. 17 and Rte. 360. It is 45 mi. from Richmond (Rte. 360E); 75 mi. from Newport News (Rte. 17N); 70 mi. from Williamsburg (I-64 W to Rte. 33E to Rte. 17N); and 47 mi. from Fredericksburg (Rte. 17S). If you are approaching Tappahannock from Williamsburg or Newport News, you will be coming to Tappahannock while traveling north on Rte. 17. When the divided highway ends and Rtes. 17 and 360 merge, you will still be proceeding north on Rte. 17. After going approximately 1.5 mi., at the 6th stoplight, where EVB and Essex Bank are cattycorner, turn left on Prince St. (Rte. 1005), go approximately 200 yards to Little Egypt on the right. Or, at the 6th light, you may turn right on Prince St., travel 2 blocks, turn right on Water Lane (Rte. 1004), proceed 150 yards and St. Margaret’s Hall will be on your left. If you are coming from Richmond on Rte. 360E, you will go through 7 stoplights and follow the same directions. When coming from Fredericksburg on 17S, start counting the lights when the divided highway ends. At the 3rd light, you will be on Prince St. where you will turn right or left and follow the same directions. To drive to Mahockney from Fredericksburg, turn right at the first stoplight onto Airport Rd. (Rte. 627), go 1.5 mi. and go right on Mt. Landing Rd. (Rte. 627) for 4.4 mi. If you are going through Tappahannock heading north, add 2 stoplights to your travel, turn left on Airport Rd. (Rte. 627) and follow the same directions. Tour tickets will include directions to all places. PROPERTIES MAY BE VISITED IN ANY ORDER. OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST: ESSEX COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 300 Prince St. Built in 1848, the courthouse contains the oldest legal records in Virginia, a large portrait collection, and a bell and clock tower. Hostesses will be available in the court house. CLERK’S OFFICE. Next to the courthouse on Prince St. is the Clerk’s Office, built in 1808. The building is currently used by the Essex Women’s Club. DEBTOR’S PRISON. Constructed around 1769, this building is located on the courthouse green next to the courthouse and currently is the Essex Treasurer’s Office. ESSEX COUNTY MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 218 S Water Lane, contains many artifacts from throughout the 350-year-history of Tappahannock and a gift shop. Museum will be open on tour day. CEMETERIES: An early cemetery for St. John’s Episcopal Church (1849) is located next to the church on 216 Duke Street, and a tiny Confederate Cemetery is behind the Essex County Museum and Historical Society.