Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
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The Stroller
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
MONDAY’S WORD was putative (PYOO-tuh-tiv). It means commonly accepted or supposed; assumed to exist or to have existed. Corporate restructuring and a need to cut costs were the putative reasons for the layoffs.
TUESDAY’S WORD is skulk (SKULK). “These handsome gray birds … are usually found skulking amid the shadows of shrubs and thickets below a forest canopy.” — From an article by Gary Phillips at MyrtleBeachOnline.com, April 11, 2012.
The seventh annual Fieldale Heritage Festival will be Saturday, and the historic Virginia Home Inn will be open for tours. The following information about it is from festival organizer Bea Bullard.
“The new plant, named Fieldcrest Mills, began its operation in September 1919. The dormitory located on Field Avenue was completed in August 1920, to house the young unmarried ladies who came to work in the mill. It was easily within walking distance. The dormitory was a two-story colonial home with a full two-story porch and boasted 17 bedrooms with three large rooms, a living room, dining room and a kitchen.
“In 1929, the ‘Junie’ Merriman family came to operate the dormitory, and changed the name to The Virginia Home. At the demise of the last surviving Merriman daughter, Alice (Ted Merriman), The Virginia Home was closed and put on the market.
“In June 2009, William and Edward Lewis purchased the home, which was already listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmark Registry. Since that time, the building has been restored and is now decorated with comfortable furniture, antiques and Oriental rugs.
“There are rumors of noises in the night, and some have mentioned seeing a glimpse of a ghost walking down the downstairs hall. The grounds are spectacular with shrubbery and flowers.”
As in previous festivals, the Lewises will open The Virginia Home Inn for tours on the day of the festival. The tours are free, but you must have a ticket. Tickets will be available at the Fieldale Insurance Agency adjacent to where shuttles will load. It is suggested you get a ticket early and come back for the tour.
Shuttles also will go to the Fieldale Park for the encampment of the newly recreated 2nd N.C. Regiment of the Continental Line and the George Waller Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The festival will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Fieldale.
The Senior Spring Golf Tournament scheduled for today at Beaver Hills Golf Club has been postponed until Wednesday. Tee-off is still at 8 a.m. For more information, call Beaver Hills at 632-1526, Henry County Parks and Recreation at 634-4644 or the Martinsville Senior Center at 403-5260.
Many bluegrass musicians locally will recognize the name of Everett Lilly of Beckley, W.Va. Lilly was a fiddle and mandolin player. He and his brother Bea started performing as the Lilly Brothers and toured with entertainers such as Doc Watson, Jim and Jessie, and Bill Monroe. He played at the Grand Ole Opry for a number of years. His band also was the backup band for the Old Dominion Cloggers for performances in Oklahoma and West Virginia for a number of years. Lilly died May 8 at 87. He had been honored with numerous awards, including the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Hall of Honor.
Free advice at social affairs? Don’t bet on it. Here’s an example from a humor website:
A doctor and a lawyer were attending a cocktail party when the doctor was approached by a man who asked advice on how to handle his ulcer. The doctor mumbled some medical advice, then turned to the lawyer and remarked, “I never know how to handle the situation when I’m asked for medical advice during a social function. Is it acceptable to send a bill for such advice?” The lawyer replied that it was certainly acceptable to do so.
The next day, the doctor sent the ulcer-stricken man a bill. The lawyer also sent one to the doctor.
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