Editor, Gazette-Journal:
The staff and board of directors for the Fairfield Foundation, Rosewell Foundation, and the Joseph Bryan Branch of Preservation Virginia would like to thank the many guests and wonderful volunteers who joined us for our second annual Gloucester Fall History Crawl on Oct. 29. We also thank the many businesses who provided the food and refreshments that helped offset the inclement weather and bring a smile to everyone’s faces. Despite the rain and cold, the beautiful colors of a fall Gloucester day were a wonderful backdrop for the combination of great food, fascinating history, and exciting hands-on archaeology—a memorable experience for all.
Participants in the Crawl visited four of Gloucester’s most noteworthy historic sites: Fairfield Plantation, Rosewell Plantation, Walter Reed’s Birthplace and Abingdon Church. Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters, Olivia’s, Jessica’s Sweet Shop, Short Lane Ice Cream, the Wild Rabbit, Whitley’s Peanuts, and Rosemary and Wine generously donated food for the event. The diverse tastings at each site provided guests with a delicious sampler of the culinary talents within the county. The activities at each site, including colonial reenactments by the College of William and Mary’s "College Company," the Voices of Freedom at Walter Reed’s Birthplace and tours of the house with Boy Scout Troop 111, costumed interpreters and organ music at Abingdon Church and active archaeological excavations at Fairfield and Rosewell, demonstrate that there are many exciting ways to preserve, study and interpret our shared heritage.
This program built on the successful collaborative efforts begun in 2010 and will be repeated in 2012. We look forward to more shared events in the future. Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to seeing all this time next year at the third annual Gloucester Fall History Crawl.
David Brown and Thane Harpole
Co-directors, The Fairfield Foundation
John Gillis, chairman
Joseph Bryan Branch, Preservation Virginia
Sandy Pait, president
The Rosewell Foundation