James River Exchange

Family Movie Night at Victory Hall Theater and lots of fun is to be had starting at 6:30 pm.

In this episode, Peggy Scott talks about the upcoming November 5th Health Fair and lots of interesting activities and health screenings that are free to our communities.

The Scottsville Museum announces the 8th annual “Twilight Tours through Scottsville History,” happening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 21-23.  Come and take a lamplight stroll through historic Scottsville with your tour guide and encounter town residents from bygone eras.  Hear their tales and recollections, see notable places and people brought to life from the pages of history.   

These 45 to an hour-long outdoor, walking tours are not handicap-accessible and depart every 10 minutes from the Scottsville Museum on Friday, Saturday 21-22 October.  Please dress appropriately for an outdoor, evening walking tours.  The indoor performance (handicap accessible) is on Sunday at 3pm Victory Hall.

Ticket information:Scottsville Museumhttps://smuseum.avenue.org/news/home.htmlSCAN’s online ticket sales athttps://twilighttours2022.bpt.me

Tickets are also available at the door each night of the tours.  

TOUR:Scottsville Museum – Tours depart from the museum every 10 minutes starting at 6pm and ending at 8pm. 

* At the Barclay House meet Oriana Moon an 1860s Confederate doctor and resident at Viewmont Farm: https://scottsvillemuseum.com/war/moon/home.html

* At Canal Basin Square, Joshua Fry; 1699-1754 cartographer, soldier and leader; “When Albemarle County was founded the following year, Joshua was named chief surveyor, responsible for finalizing claims on tracts of land throughout the county.  Beginning in 1746, Joshua was assisted throughout his work by his close friend, Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson.  Their bonds of friendship tied them until death.“ https://scottsvillemuseum.com/portraits/joshuafry/homeJoshuaFry.html

* Guests will then meet a Revolutionary Soldier named Isaac.

* A stop at the Harris Building, built circa 1840, where Etta Harris from 1903-1928 owned and operated the millinery and dry goods store. https://scottsvillemuseum.com/business/homecg88cdcg08.html

* Next the Switching Station, now Riverbend Boutique, where Edith Taggart was our local central telephone operator from 1911 until her retirement in 1950.  She was “On call” 24 hours 7 days a week for 39 years: https://scottsvillemuseum.com/business/homeb264cdB25.html

* The final stop ends at Victory Hall to meet Marion McKay, 1920s drama teacher, and D. Wiley Anderson, the theater’s architect: https://scottsvillemuseum.com/business/homeRoll3Neg20A.html

* Guests can then revisit the museum or support our local restaurants.

If always if you have a story, a song, an issue, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.

The Scottsville Museum announces the 8th annual “Twilight Tours through Scottsville History,” happening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 21-23.  Come and take a lamplight stroll through historic Scottsville with your tour guide and encounter town residents from bygone eras.  Hear their tales and recollections, see notable places and people brought to life from the pages of history.   

These 45 to an hour-long outdoor, walking tours are not handicap-accessible and depart every 10 minutes from the Scottsville Museum on Friday, Saturday 21-22 October.  Please dress appropriately for an outdoor, evening walking tours.  The indoor performance (handicap accessible) is on Sunday at 3pm Victory Hall.

Ticket information:Scottsville Museumhttps://smuseum.avenue.org/news/home.html SCAN’s online ticket sales at https://twilighttours2022.bpt.me

Tickets are also available at the door each night of the tours.  

TOUR:Scottsville Museum – Tours depart from the museum every 10 minutes starting at 6pm and ending at 8pm. 

* At the Barclay House meet Oriana Moon an 1860s Confederate doctor and resident at Viewmont Farm: https://scottsvillemuseum.com/war/moon/home.html

* At Canal Basin Square, Joshua Fry; 1699-1754 cartographer, soldier and leader; “When Albemarle County was founded the following year, Joshua was named chief surveyor, responsible for finalizing claims on tracts of land throughout the county.  Beginning in 1746, Joshua was assisted throughout his work by his close friend, Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson.  Their bonds of friendship tied them until death.“ https://scottsvillemuseum.com/portraits/joshuafry/homeJoshuaFry.html

* Guests will then meet a Revolutionary Soldier named Isaac.

* A stop at the Harris Building, built circa 1840, where Etta Harris from 1903-1928 owned and operated the millinery and dry goods store. https://scottsvillemuseum.com/business/homecg88cdcg08.html

* Next the Switching Station, now Riverbend Boutique, where Edith Taggart was our local central telephone operator from 1911 until her retirement in 1950.  She was “On call” 24 hours 7 days a week for 39 years: https://scottsvillemuseum.com/business/homeb264cdB25.html

* The final stop ends at Victory Hall to meet Marion McKay, 1920s drama teacher, and D. Wiley Anderson, the theater’s architect: https://scottsvillemuseum.com/business/homeRoll3Neg20A.html

* Guests can then revisit the museum or support our local restaurants.

If always if you have a story, a song, an issue, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.

Good Sunday, everyone. Welcome to this episode of The James Exchange. I am your host, Nancy Gill

In this issue, I spoke with Jordan Miles who is the current chairman of the Buckingham Board of Supervisors. Our conversation took on gold mining issues, how the County can create a zoning ordiance banning the activity, and the Community Rights Ordinace that concerned residents has put before them. We touched briefly on solar farms and will continue our conversation on health initiatives and issues which will be covered in a future podcast.

For those of you who would like to learn more on the gold mining issues, there are links below:

Online articles:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gold_mining_disastershttps://www.hailegoldmine.com/about/history/https://www.friendsofbuckinghamva.org/friends/gold-mine-fined-100000-toxic-air-pollution-found-at-big-mine-near-tiny-town/

More on Jordan Miles:https://milesformaysville.com/about-me/https://www.facebook.com/MilesforMaysville/https://mobile.twitter.com/tjordanmiles3https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-miles-63a50534/

Two organizations concerned with gold mining and the environmenthttps://www.friendsofbuckinghamva.org/friends/https://vacommunityrights.org/

Coming up in future podcasts: Scottsville November ElectionStatus of Tiger FuelGrowth in Scottsville

In the works:A special series that will explore the issues regarding mental health and our jails and will include conversations with groups and individuals that provide services to those released from correctional facilities.

As always, if you have a song, a story, an issue, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.

Good Morning, and welcome to a James Exchange QuickTake, I am Nancy Gill your host. 

Canal Basin Square will be abuzz with activity this Friday and Saturday. 

For those who are not aware of this wonderful Outdoor Transportation History Park.

“Featuring the story of Virginia’s James River and Kanawha Canal from the Native Ameridan Monacans to the railroads.”

Located at 249 Main Street in Scottsville, CBS is open year round for self guided tours. CBS is also a Virginia Civil Wars Trail Site. 

On Friday evening at 7:00 the Mother Earth Medicine Show presents Ducky Dimsdale in GOLDMINE an Environmental Fairy Tale” This production illustrates an issue our Friends to the South in Buckingham are facing as the Canadian Company Aston Bay has been conducting expoloratory drilling in gold mines that were closed around 1860. If you care for an alcoholic beverage the Town of Scottsville has the ABC Event license in place for the evening. So visit a participating restaurant and walk on over to the square and watch the show. 

For those of you who listen to the podcast, you may remember my conversation with Garrett Nolt who brought attention to the disrepair of the boats at Canal Basin Square. I am here to tell you Town Council heard Garrett, and on Saturday there is a fundraising event for the boats and Canal Basin in general. So come on back to the Square on Saturday at noon for a “Strolling Buffet and Silent Auction.” The nominal fee of $15.00 lets you enjoy the park and support this meaningful exhibit at the same time!

I am working on several podcasts for future release. One is with Gordon Sutton of Tiger Fuel and a much anticipated conversation with Jordan Miles, Buckingham Board of Supervisors’ Chair. I will also have conversations with candidates for the November election for three spots on Town Council. Dan Gritsko and Meredith Hynes have filed and write-in candidates are Bill Hyson, Stuart Munson, and Liz Knotts.

I must say this is a healthy showing of our citizens who want to step up and serve!

That’s all for now! Enjoy the day and I hope to see everyone on Friday and Saturday.   

As always, if you have a story, an issue, a song, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.

It is Friday, September 30.

In this episode I spoke with Debbie Smith, the Scottsville Chamber of Commerce President. Our conversation started out with her experience as a youth growing up in Scottsville. She spent her career working in the federal government network in the Departments of Defense, IRS, the Mint, and Homeland Security. Her experience sheds light on how these departments work.

After retirement, Debbie moved back to Scottsville and got involved in her hometown.

What about the impending growth in our town? She has comments on this as well.

Enjoy her stories!

As always, if you have a story, an issue, a song, or want to have a conversation, contact me.

Good Monday morning! It is September 19 and this is a quick take from the James Exchange. I am your host, Nancy Gill.

This evening at 7:00 the Scottsville Town Council meets for their monthly public meeting. They have a relatively light agenda with action items being a vote on the tourism ordinance. This dates back to March 2020 when Town Council discussed creating Scottsville as a tourism zone as an economic development tool. Covid-19 postponed additional discussion on this ordinance. State law (Code section 58.1-3851) enables cities, counties, and towns to create tourism zones to promote hospitality-oriented businesses. Such business development is a strategic priority of Town Council. According to this particular code “Any city, county, or town may establish, by ordinance, one or more tourism zones. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility in a tourism zone.”

The other action item is a vote on a resolution allowing Town staff to proceed with the purchase of a police vehicle through USDA’s grant/loan program. The vehicle’s cost is about $70,000 and the USDA program will fund 75% with the town picking up the additional 25%. The vehicle should be ready for service sometime in Spring 2023.

At last week’s work session, Town Council heard from Andrew Hillman of Blink Charging Company on installing two EV charging stations in the Town parking lot by Victory Hall.

Funding for this comes through funds from the US Department of Energy to Virginia Clean Cities. The former has been in existence since 1996 and its mission is:

“Virginia Clean Cities advances air quality improvement, economic opportunity, and energy security through deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure, education programs and other petroleum reduction activities.”

Blink Charging Company has been contracted by Virginia Clean Cities to install EV charging stations throughout the Commonwealth. Mr. Hillman pointed out at last week’s meeting that Scottsville is strategically located for this installation. There is no cost to the town, and proceeds are shared between Blink and the Town.

Work has begun on repairs to the packet boat at Canal Basin Square. The town has hired Dustin Denby to to the work. Liz Knotts, a previous Town Councilor and Vice Mayor, undertook a GoFundMe to help. She raised $500 which has been donated to the town. On October 8, Liz and current Town Councilor Alex Bessette are coordinating an event at Canal Basin Square. Details are coming on this.

I am in touch with Buckingham County Board of Supervisor’s chair, Jordan Miles for a discussion on issues they are grappling with—primarily industrial solar farms, gold-mining, and the Community Rights Ordinance. 

That’s it for this James Exchange Quick Take. As always, if you have a story, a song, an issue, or want to have a conversation, contact me.

It is Sunday, September 18. This is a James Exchange special with Emma Thomas who is on a musical journey. Emma has joined us previously and I look forward to having her on this podcast for many years to come.

As always if you have a story, a song, an issue, or want to have a conversation, contact me.

It is Wednesday September 14 and this is the fourth and final (for now) episode in the James River Series. This is the James Exchange and I am your host, Nancy Gill.

At last year’s Batteau Festival in Scottsville, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. William “Bill” Trout. Bill is an expert on the canals and rivers in Virginia and beyond, and he heads up the Virginia Canals and Navigation Society (VCNS). Our conversation was short, and doesn’t even begin to demonstrate the depth of knowledge and work, Bill has accomplished throughout his professional career.

If you visit Scottsville during the festival, you have seen Bill. He sits at the very first table as you enter Reeling and Rafting’s campground. Someone is always in conversation with him on a variety of subjects. The five minute conversation I had with him has morphed into a four-hour +/- series of rabbit holes I delved into on things he mentioned.

I was able to find some of the information he spoke to, but I came up short with the Library of Congress. I did locate an image from Harper’s Magazine of a batteau.

I urge everyone who is interested in our “Our Founding River—the James” to visit the various links in this podcast, especially the VCNS.

Bill talks about the enslaved Frank Padget who saved people from drowning only to lose his life during the rescue mission.

An historic marker in Amherst County recognizes Mr. Padget’s bravery with these words:

“Heavy rains early in 1854 left the James River and the treacherous Balcony Falls in full flood. On 21 January the towrope of the canal boat, Clinton, snapped. Washed over the Mountain Dam and through successive falls, its passengers became stranded in the raging waters. Braving the dangerous river, Frank Padget, an enslaved boatman, skillfully led a crew of five rescuers who successfully saved dozens of the stranded passengers. While he was attempting to rescue the last passenger, Padget's craft was broken on the rocks. Unable to fight the rushing current, Padget drowned.”

(Conversation with Bill Trout audio portion only).

A few years ago we experienced the bravery of three young men who saved the life of Dan. They were by the river in Buckingham County when one of them heard someone calling for help from the river. Without thinking, LJ, Steven, and Joey jumped into action and were able to rescue Dan who had been collecting trash from the river when his kayak capsized. I was Mayor at the time and signed an executive order establishing “Scottsville Heroes Day.”

The James has given much to our communities, and it has taken away. This meandering river can bring peace and destruction during flooding events. There will be more on this later. Even though this is the fourth and final episode in this series on the James River, I will continue researching and recording conversations.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with Garret Nolt. I am happy to report, barring supply issues, the packet boat at Canal Basin Square will be repaired. His presentation to the Scottsville Town Council caused forward movement on this issue. It doesn’t matter how old or experienced you are, if you have passion speak out! Thank you Garrett for bringing the state of the boat to light.

This has been a special episode from The James Exchange. I will be back on Friday with a report on the many things Scottsville Town Council discussed Monday, September 12 at their monthly work session.

As always, if you have a story, a song, an issue, or just want to have a conversation, contact me. Again, a special thank you to Will Smith of the James River Tour Company for the music used in this podcast.

Virginia Canals and Navigation Society and Bill Trout Links:

Virginia Canals and Navigation Society

American Canal Society: Bill Trout

Richmond Magazine Article on Bill Trout

Blue Ridge Country Magazine Article on Bill Trout

Roanoke Times Article on Bill Trout and the Cadets

More on Frank Padget:

Appetite for History: Frank Padget Hero Batteauman

Historic Market in Glasgow Virginia