The 8th Annual Rappahannock Repast was held on Sunday, October 7, at beautiful Braehead Manor. In spite of the unseasonably warm weather, all were grateful that at least it wasn't raining! Dori Farrell and her talented staff served delicious food and special thanks goes to Paradox Plus for providing lively music during the event and Westwood Florist for their beautiful floral arrangements. Once again, innkeeper Mary Windsor Cline and events coordinator Deborah Johnson went above and beyond to make our guests feel truly welcome.

 

Many, many thanks to our corporate sponsor:

 

 

and to our individual sponsors:

 

Jack Apperson

Barbara Barrett

Jon and Meredith Beckett

Dan Bender

E. Gerald "G" Brown

Lucy and Wayne Harman

Clinton and Maureen Jones

Beverley King

Donna and Nat McCague

Kitty Farley and Vic Ramoneda

Ray and Susan Shackleford

 

The fundraising committee tried something a bit different this year: including a silent auction in the afternoon's festivities. We could not have included this event without the generous donations to the auction, provided by the following businesses and individuals:

 

Jacqueline Alexander

Doug Cooper

Jeannie Duris

Kitty Farley and Vic Ramoneda

Fredericksburg Hauntings

Jewel Box

H.F.F.I.

Steve Kelly

La Petite Auberge

Pam McLeod

Amy Olney

R&R Antiques

Susan Shackleford

Billy Withers

 

Because of our sponsors' generous support, in addition to donations and ticket sales, The Center was able to keep 100% of the proceeds from the event. The net amount was $7,881.80 and all of the money will be used to continue The Center's mission to preserve our local history. On behalf of the Board of Directors and all of the volunteers at the Center, I'd like to express our sincere appreciation to all who sponsored, donated and purchased tickets!

 

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday later this month, please note that The Center will be open normal hours on Tuesday, November 20, but will be closed on Wednesday, November 21, and Thursday, Nov. 22, so that our volunteers can enjoy time with their families and friends.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

What was happening 100 years ago in the central Rappahannock area? It was a momentous time, not just locally, but nationwide, even worldwide.

First, World War I was officially over. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, November 11, 1918, hostilities were declared officially ended and an armistice was signed. No more of our troops would be lost or wounded; those who survived would be coming home. The War Memorial at George and Barton Streets commemorates those who sacrificed in the "Great War," along with those in prior and subsequent wars. When you come to The Center at 900 Barton Street, visit the War Memorial across the street. The War Memorial records are housed at The Heritage Center. At St. George's Episcopal Church, a special banner with one gold star and fifty blue stars was hung above the chancel. The gold star honored Douglas H. Knox, the first casualty from Fredericksburg. The blue stars represented the fifty other young men from Fredericksburg who served. At Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site), a window commemorates Dr. Urbane Bass, an African American doctor who was fatality wounded in France.

A second event, more local in nature, was the opening of Dahlgren on October 16, 1918. It provided, and still does, state-of-the-art weapons technology and testing. It was chosen for its remote location and as a suitable place to test long-range naval guns. Many families came through The Depression with jobs and financial security because of Dahlgren.

Finally, the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 or the Spanish Flu. Local papers don't provide much information, the illness touched many families. The disease was most devastating to the young and healthy. Thomas Knox, brother of Douglas, was a victim. The flu attacked the respiratory system, sickening victims for several weeks. When it became pneumonia, as it often did, it proved fatal. There were no antibiotics until the 1940s. Warren Farmer's oral history recounts his experience with the flu.

Visit the Center and learn what else was happening in the Rappahannock area in 1918.