DOWN MEMORY LANE
Dec. 8, 1977
Old Mt. Salem, the Mother Church of all the Baptist Churches in Rappahannock, may soon become the county’s newest historical landmark. Thanks to the efforts of an inter-denominational restoration committee, the dignified old building is no longer subject to the ravages of weather. Windows have been repaired and doors hung. Graffiti scrawled on the walls has been covered with a new coat of paint. The floors have been sanded and generous benefactors have donated a stove and a pulpit.
The Virginia Historical Landmarks Committee is considering the church for designation as a historical landmark, according to Mrs. Sidney Mank, one of the organizers of the restoration effort. The site of the church has seen centuries of community service. In the late 1700s, said Mrs. Mank, a schoolhouse was built on the same location. The property, including 1.26 acres, was deeded by Byron O’Bannon on Oct. 11, 1824 as a schoolhouse to John Browning, Henry Miller and Henry J. Halley for $1.
The Rappahannock Supervisors received formal notice at last Thursday’s board meeting that the courthouse does not conform with Virginia fire safety regulations Chairman E.P. Luke told the board that the several violations of safety standards were found during an inspection last month.
According to Luke, steps necessary for correction include: construction of an exterior stairway from the upstairs courtroom as remote as possible from the existing interior stairway; resurvey of the courthouse electrical system and adjustments in the furnace system for the lockup to allow more air for proper combustion; installation of a smoke detection system in the lockup; installation of fire extinguishers in all the buildings in the courthouse complex.
Luke maintained that personal safety in the courthouse was a “very critical item” since any fire there would probably start in the furnace room and cut off the escape route from the courtroom upstairs. “If something goes wrong, the finger’s going to be pointed in a hell of a hurry at this board,” he warned.
Something remarkable is taking place in a little cubbyhole at the Rappahannock Elementary School. Students who have fallen way behind their grade level in mathematics are taking part in a special program and they’re learning. What’s more, they’re having a great time doing it. After a late start due to delay in the arrival of dollars and equipment, Molly Hobson opened her Mathematics Resource Skills Development Laboratory — better known as the math lab — on Nov. 14.
“It’s fun,” added David Smoot. In a demonstration, he selected a special lesson record, inserted it and sat down with his headphones on. As he listened to questions, pictures illustrating the answers flashed on a video screen. David selected the right answer and punched a button below that picture. The System 80 registered the correct answer and moved on to the next problem.
Jan. 11, 1995
The Flint Hill Store has been a popular spot for gathering and shopping for over 100 years.
Wilson and Jean Burke are the current storekeepers. They have been there for the past eight years. Mr. Burke has been in the grocery business since 1952. He began with Schwartz Store in Sperryville, now known as the Sperryville Corner. He owned the store there with Randolph Clater, the current proprietor, who is the brother of his wife Jean.
According to Jean Lillard, the owner of the building which houses Flint Hill Store, the store was first opened as Carey Store in 1889 by Alex Carey. He purchased the building from the Yates family. Mr. Marvin Bradford Sr. purchased the building in 1930, and ran the store with his family until his death in 1944. His son Boo, along with his wife Frances Bradford, who still resides in Flint Hill, ran the store along with a restaurant from 1941 through 1981. In 1984, Ms. Lillard and Bob and Sue Lane purchased the store, but Ms. Lillard is presently the sole owner. Her office at Roy Wheeler Realty is in the same building.
Hampton District representative on the Board of Supervisors Mike Massie announced this week that he will be a candidate for another term on the board. Mr. Massie said several constituents had contacted him in the past week and urged him to run. He said near the top of his list of concerns for the coming four years is developing a central dumpster site that is manned “to reduce the unlimited liability we now have with the open dumpsters.” He said that would also eliminate the county getting trash from outside the county that has to be buried at the landfill.
He said another goal is to “better protect the environmentally sensitive areas of the county.”