ELUCIDATIONS
By Alyson L. Taylor-White
The Other Virginia Capitol
Enjoying a pleasant fall day in beautiful
downtown Scottsville with (l) Mayor R. Stephen Phipps, VR
Editor, and Valentine Richmond History Center Director William
J. Martin. We were treated to a day long of walking tours,
church, historic houses, and museum tours, and plenty of
hospitality. Scottsville is undergoing a transition into an
upscale destination with a little something for everyone.
SCOTTSVILLE EXPERIENCE
During a recent trip to Scottsville in
Albemarle County we were in for a special treat. When we
arrived in the small river town, we were greeted by the
enthusiastic Town Mayor R. Stephen Phipps. He was our spirited
and well informed guide on our walking tour of the small town
of just over 500 inhabitants. Everywhere we went, hammers and
paint brushes were at work, helping to craft an inviting and
hopefully prosperous downtown area.
If you haven’t discovered
Scottsville you are really missing out on a great place to
explore. We wandered through there a couple of years back, and
discovered a work in progress with some very friendly natives. Where
on the last visit we found some eclectic flea markets and
antique shops, today there is serious renovation going on in
the immediate area surrounding town hall, which, should be
mentioned, is in a renovated theater. Talk about local
government and drama!
There is also a very finely recreated
bateau at the Canal Basin Square near the old canal and modern
day levee walk. There we found markers detailing the history of
the river and the importance of trade up and down the mighty
James. As luck would have it the day we visited the Scottsville
Museum was open (it’s usually only open on weekends,
April through October) and we learned what a small community
can do with a valuable resource like an old church and
citizens’
e
learned recently that Governor Elect Tim Kaine will not be
taking his oath of office in Richmond on the restored Capitol
steps. That’s because there will be no south portico of
the Capitol there yet. The extensive renovations and
retrofitting of several Capitol Square buildings as well as the
Capitol itself have taken their toll on one tradition, and
planners have returned to the past for inspiration. Come
January, those of you who make the annual pilgrimage to the
Holy City to see the new politicos on the block get sworn in
will have to think “colonial” as in
“Williamsburg.”
It seems the powers that be decided
instead of using another space in Richmond for the ceremonies
(someplace nice and warm like the new convention center or
another venue) they would put the show on the road for the
inaugural proceedings. The swearing in will take place on
Saturday, January 14 in front of the Colonial Capitol in the
Historic Area
at noon. A parade down Duke of Gloucester Street will be featured. There will be guest shuttle pickup at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center, as well as stadium seating for guests of the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General.
at noon. A parade down Duke of Gloucester Street will be featured. There will be guest shuttle pickup at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center, as well as stadium seating for guests of the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General.
Many think this will be a positive way to
kick off Jamestown 2007. Governor Elect Tim Kaine will join Thomas
Jefferson and Patrick Henry as the other two Virginia Governors
who were sworn in there. That evening, the Governor Elect will
host three events, one in Williamsburg, one in Abingdon, and
one in Richmond. For information about any of the balls or
other festivities call the Governor Elect’s team at (804)
673-7431.