Archives for July 2021

The historic village was ten years in the making and opened on September 20th, 2007. It is located on almost 40 acres adjacent to the Lee Wayside and is owned by Historic Buckingham, Inc. The historic significance of the property is that Rose Cottage was a stage coach stop and also the spot where General Robert E. Lee and his troops stayed two days after the surrender at Appomattox on his way back to Richmond.

At the present time, the Village consists of the following structures: log tobacco barn, slate company office, slate roofed privy, general store/ welcome center, corn crib, smoke house, one room school, post office and an outdoor pavilion. A working blacksmith shop which was built on site now contains a beautiful brick forge and is staffed with a local blacksmith during special events. 

The newest addition to the village is The Village Stage. Completed in 2013, it is used for music and theater. The restroom facility was completed in 2017 and the Morgan Building , housing a sawmill exhibit and the 1918 Chevy car opened in 2019. 

Over 2000 visitors come to the Village during its 7 major events and also on weekends when there is no event. A volunteer staff is available every weekend to lead visitors on a tour. The Village, which is a living history park, is an extension of HBI’s main headquarters. The Housewright Museum is located across from the Buckingham County Courthouse. The Housewright Museum has wonderful exhibits of Buckingham history and artifacts.

In 2018 , HBI opened a wonderful addition to its other sites, The Adams Museum. This new building is located directly behind the Housewright Museum and houses the collections of H. Spencer Adams and his late wife, Winnie Adams. The HBI Research Library is also housed in The Adams Museum which is handicapped accessible.

• The Historic Village is open, weather permitting, April–December, on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm. Call (434) 547-2296 for information, for a special tour of the village, to volunteer or to use the park for your group, or visit www.leewaysidevillage.com

• Housewright Museum and The Adams Museum are open April–December, 1pm to 4pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Call (434) 547-2296 for more information about the museum, or visit www.historicbuckingham.org

• Events in 2021: During COVID restrictions, the museums and village may not open until June. Check website or call 434-547-2296.

Plan to Attend These Fun Events!

Other special events not pictured here:

Primitive Technology Day is cancelled 2021.

Vino in The Village TBA

Indian Relic Show Oct 9

 

Keith Agee was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Glenmore Division of the Buckingham County Fire Dept. He has been an active member of the Glenmore United Methodist Church, where he has held many titles. Read more about Keith in his nomination letter below.

Rachel Bardon, a Senior at Buckingham County High School, won the Youth Achievement Award. She is in the Governor’s school program and, In addition to her heavy academic load, she is the vice-president of the future Business Leaders of America and a member of the Students Against Destructive Decisions.

She has also been a member of the local 4-H club for several years. Read more about Rachel in her nomination letter below.

Special Touch Design Florist was recognized as Business of the Year. Owned and operated by Tracy and Jonathan Fitzgerald, they were honored for their excellent customer service and professionalism. Read more about Special Touch Design Florist in their nomination letter below.

Atman Johnson was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award for his work at the James River State Park, assistance with newborns at U.VA, and his help with Heartland Horse Heros in Dillwyn. Read more about Atman in his nomination letter below.

(An Interview With Buckingham County IT Manager Jamie Shumaker)

 

Buckingham County Guidebook (BCG) –
Do you have any way of estimating how many homes and businesses in Buckingham now have Broadband?

While there is no published compilation of quantifiable data, if we take into account the FCC Broadband Coverage Map and the Commonwealth’s Connect data, we deduce that around 35% – 40% of County residents and businesses have Broadband, or near Broadband speeds, at this time. The estimated coverage numbers are presented to the FCC by telecommunication providers throughout the County.

(BCG) What Broadband providers are currently available in the County?

Buckingham has expanded available broadband providers three-fold in just the last two years, when Broadband services were only available through HughesNet, Wildblue and CenturyLink. Additionally, locally owned Kinex Telecom has been working to bring fiber to many areas throughout the County. Utilizing the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Corporation (MBC) fiber network, Kinex has been able to add residents and businesses throughout Buckingham. They provide internet to several large users such as the Buckingham County Public Schools as well as the Administration Building and Courthouse, and are continuing to build fiber around these areas and providing service to the residents that they pass. A great percentage of Buckingham residents with current access to broadband depend on the local telephone provider, CenturyLink, for access to high-speed internet. In August of 2020, Comcast announced its infrastructure expansion in the County to cover approximately 1800 homes at project completion, possibly in the summer of 2021. Finally, Central VA Electric Co-op (CVEC) coverage, serviced through their subsidiary Firefly, is estimated to be completed by mid-2022 and offer as many as 4590 passings (a resident or business that will have the opportunity to become a customer).

(BCG) Do you know about how many homes and businesses outside the CVEC coverage area will be serviced through their subsidiary Firefly?

Outside of the CVEC service territory, Firefly has committed to an additional 1200 locations based on FCC auction awards, and have applied for several grants that would potentially add another 800 homes and businesses to their network (if the grants are awarded). At present, Firefly service is available to 1200 locations within Buckingham. By this summer (2021), that number is expected to increase to 3200. Through their initiative, all CVEC customers, which include a great majority of the western part of Buckingham, will have access to fiber broadband.

(BCG) How is Buckingham County encouraging Broadband expansion?

As Senator Mark Peake has stated, “Access to the internet is no longer a nicety; it is a necessity. We absolutely depend on it. Broadband has become an important part of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure and nowhere is that infrastructure weaker than in our rural areas.” As a rural area, it is increasingly important for Buckingham to make sure that our residents are able to have access to broadband for education, career opportunities, healthcare services, and social awareness. Local government is keenly aware of the importance of broadband and the dangers of the lack thereof. We are constantly pursuing opportunities to expand coverage areas of existing providers and exploring viable alternative providers through grassroots conversational efforts, grant applications, and Virginia committees that encourage advancement.

by Dan Curran, Publisher,
Buckingham County Guidebook