Unveiling a New Exhibit
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
At 11 a.m. on Friday, February 1, the Warren Heritage Society (WHS) will unveil a new exhibit in the Front Royal Town Hall to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African-Americans prior to and after the establishment of Warren County.
The exhibit will be officially opened by Letasha Thompson. “As the first African-American woman elected to the Front Royal Town Council,” Thompson said, “I have a special interest in this exhibit, as it features the achievements of African-American women.”
The unveiling coincides with the opening of African-American History Month. Warren Heritage Society Executive Director Connie Marshner hopes that this exhibit will help to make known the Society’s ongoing effort to gather and preserve the African-American history of Front Royal and Warren County.
“This history is in danger of being lost without the help of the local community,” Marshner said. “I hope that this event will alert the community to the need to collect memories and memorabilia before they disappear forever.”
For many years, the southwest corner of Front Royal was known as “Freetown” or “South Town”. Now included in the U. S. Department of Interior’s National Register of Historic Places, it was bounded by Prospect Street and Criser Road and included Laurel, Pine, and Osage Streets. Letasha Thompson grew up on Osage Street, and remembers some of the buildings.
As this area has experienced “development” over the years, however, many of the old buildings have disappeared. In its heyday, however, it was a vibrant community with homes, schools, at least one church, a hotel, stores, businesses, and entertainment. Businesses had the names of Cozy Ace Restaurant, Elks Grill, Harlem Café, Lilian Davenport’s Beauty Shop, Toddy’s Grocery, Elks Hall, Pride of Warren Lodge, Pete’s Barber Shop, Timber’s Pool Room, and the Free Will Benevolent Society.
Sadly, however, neither the National Register nor the Warren Heritage Society has any pictures of Freetown. Nor are any memorabilia of Freetown to be found anywhere. The Heritage Society is seeking to save the history of Freetown before it is gone, and is actively seeking the help of the community.
If anybody has pictures or memorabilia – or even memories – of the area, it’s likely that somebody with roots in Front Royal has them or knows about them! Please share with us what you have. If you have information or pictures, please contact Archivist Deborah Corey at 540-636-1446, extension 2. “We will copy your pictures and return them to you, if you wish,” said Corey.
Marshner went on to say: “If someone is willing to talk about his or her memories or experience in Freetown, we will be happy to arrange an oral history interview with that person, either at the Heritage Society or in some other mutually convenient location.” She noted that oral history is something the Heritage Society has not done before, but because the clock is ticking so fast, “It is something we certainly will do if it will capture some memories.” Marshner stated.
The Laura Virginia Hale Archives, a section of the Warren Heritage Society, has a wealth of material documenting the African American experience in our area. “Our collection spans the centuries, from slave rental forms to desegregation. We have extensive genealogy and research tools to help anyone find ancestors. The Archives also has a collection of fiction and nonfiction books written by local African Americans writers about their and their families’ experiences,” Corey explained.
The Warren Heritage Society, www.WarrenHeritageSociety.org, is located at 101 Chester Street in Front Royal. We are open to the public Monday thru Friday from 10:00 to 4:00, and as of April will also be open on Saturdays from 11:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Opinion
COVID risks
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
Does the council also object to professional licensure as a requirement for employment in hospitals?
The price Front Royal will pay for refusing to mask up, vaccinated or not, will be paid by the children who will sit in classrooms all day with high levels of virus swirling about, each a little incubator for viral mutations, to be carried home to the family at the end of the day. Are you really advocating risking their young lives, or the devastation of lifelong complications of COVID, for your personal “freedom”? This is not the same as foregoing mental health counseling or a lipid medication. This is a deadly, debilitating, and highly contagious disease that has already killed over 600,000 people nationally!
The risk of a side effect from COVID vaccines is minuscule compared to the huge risk of suffering and dying from COVID. If you want to live in a healthy and prosperous community, then mask up and protect your children. In the final analysis, the cost to FR will be a personal tragedy, lost income, exorbitant medical costs, long-term suffering, and economic decline. Is this what you are advocating?
Cheryl Wulf
Warren County, Virginia
Obituaries
John Franklin Moser (1948 -2021)
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
John Franklin Moser, 72, of Middletown, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Winchester Medical Center.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Maddox Funeral Home. Inurnment will be private.
Mr. Moser was born September 27, 1948, in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, son of Lucille Moser of Winchester and the late John Calvin Moser.
Surviving with his mother, are his wife, Valrie Hines Moser; one son, John Eric Moser and fiancée Jennifer Lynn Boyd of Winchester; two daughters, Michelle Henry of Middletown and Rebecca Robinson and husband Mike of Front Royal; one brother, Tommy Moser of Winchester; one sister, Angie Cather and husband Mike of Berryville; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Five-Star Home Health Care for all of their help and support over the past year.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 6 from 10-11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.maddoxfuneralhome.com
Donations may be made to the family c/o Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.
Arrangements are being handled by Maddox Funeral Home, Front Royal.
Obituaries
Henry Clayton Corder, Jr. (1964 – 2021)
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
Henry Clayton Corder, Jr. 56, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at his home.
Henry Clayton Corder, Jr.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 5 at 4:00 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home with Sammy Campbell officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date.
Henry was born December 2, 1964, in Front Royal, son of the late Henry Clayton Corder, Sr. and Frances Henry Butts.
Surviving is his children, Kimberly Graham of Little River, South Carolina and Clayton Corder of Front Royal; one sister, Deborah Gue (Walter) of Front Royal; and four grandchildren, Nevah Lewis, Brayden Leo Corder, Trinity Lam, and Jeffrey Lam, Jr.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Evelyn Showers.
Donations may be made to the family c/o Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.
Local Government
Supervisors traverse brief meeting agenda, get work session updates on AT Connector trail project, Public Works staffing plan
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
After a morning meeting comprised of four Outside Agency reports, approval of a 13-item Consent Agenda, supervisor and staff reports and adjournment to a Closed Session to discuss property acquisition, and an added item, an appointment to the Airport Commission, the Warren County Board of Supervisors convened to work session.
Is that all there is to it? the board may have been thinking after glancing at Tuesday’s agenda. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini
That August 3 work session focused on an update on plans surrounding the two-phased Appalachian Trail (AT) Connector project from Planning Director Joe Petty. A total remaining project cost of $3,028,142 was presented. Despite an 80% VDOT match of $527,088 on TAP Funding for the Phase 1 “Eastern Section”, leaving the 20% County TAP share at $131,772, Petty added the unhappy news that a remaining balance of $992,305 on the “Eastern Section Phase 1” was the County’s responsibility.
That, coupled with an as yet unapplied for TAP-funding assistance on Phase 2 “Western Section” projected cost of $2,084,294, accounted for the current County funding responsibility of just over $3 million.
Petty also reviewed design elements for a projected 5-foot AT connector trail along state roads that would transition between paved with varying levels of safety buffering from two feet to fenced separation and in some areas a boardwalk paralleling the roads. The planning director noted geographical challenges like rock outcroppings that present issues with the plan to develop the east-west sections AT Connector totally within the VDOT state road right of way.
Joe Petty reviews the East-West AT Connector plan, its many variables, and costs.
County Administrator Ed Daley suggested the board explore options for use of its funding for related or nearby projects that might intersect with the AT project if delays or funding hurdles are encountered.
Following the AT Connector update, Public Works Director Mike Berry gave the board a status report on the development of an Assistant Public Works Director position not currently in the county staff roster. Berry pointed to a discussion with Deputy County Administrator Taryn Logan on the advisability of creating the backup of an assistant director position in public works. He noted most county departments have some sort of deputy administrator position.
Logan pointed to an excellent staff makeup in Public Works, but noted the added security of someone with the type of departmental overview assistant directors working at the director’s side can provide were the director to be absent for an extended period of time.
Mike Berry told the board a Public Works deputy director could be an integral departmental cog.
See Petty’s full PowerPoint presentation and related comments, along with the Deputy Public Works Director position discussion, in the County August 3rd work session video; as well as the outside agency and board reports in the County August 3rd meeting video.
Food
Mexican Sweet Corn Salad
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
Inspired by Mexican elote, this corn salad makes great use of late summer sweet corn with tangy lime juice and flavorful poblano peppers. Add jalapeño peppers for extra spice or chipotle chili powder for a smoky kick.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 ears fresh sweet corn, shucked with kernels removed (about 3 cups fresh kernels)
Kosher salt
2 ounces crumbled cotija cheese
3 scallions, sliced (separate white bottoms from green tops)
1/2-cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 large poblano pepper, seeded, stemmed and finely chopped
2 medium cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons real mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Chili powder or hot chili flakes to taste
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat until shimmering, then add corn kernels and a pinch of salt. Toss the corn a couple of times and then cook until the corn is charred on one side, about two minutes. Stir and repeat until the corn is evenly charred, about eight to 10 minutes total. Halfway through the charring process, add the chopped poblano pepper and the white ends of the scallions.
When the corn is evenly charred and the pepper and scallions and pepper have softened, transfer the vegetable mixture to a large bowl and add the cheese, green scallion tops, cilantro, garlic, mayonnaise, lime juice, and chili powder. Toss to combine and add more lime juice or chili powder to taste. Serve warm.
Local News
Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Great Horned Owl
102 E Main St | Front Royal
VA 22630
Photos / Blue Ridge Wildlife Center
Possible West Nile Virus Case
We see many cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) each summer in corvids (crows/ravens) and raptors and this year is no exception. This Great Horned Owl was found unable to fly and was rescued by Kristi’s Caring Hands Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education, then brought to our hospital for evaluation. Given his mental status and signs, we suspect this may be due to WNV and diagnostics are currently pending.
WNV is a mosquito-borne disease that impacts humans and horses too. Luckily, there is a vaccination for horses. For the rest of us, mosquito control is the best protection!
Help out at home by removing standing water that accumulates in planters, pools, buckets, tires, etc. This is where mosquitoes lay eggs. Cover water storage containers (cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get in. Prevent bites by wearing long-sleeved clothing and using repellants when outdoors. Keep screens on doors/windows to prevent mosquitoes indoors.
WNV is just one of many diseases that mosquitoes can transmit to animals and people and lowering the prevalence helps us all!
While we wait for test results, this owl is receiving fluids and tube feedings as it is not yet stable enough to eat on its own. We are hopeful that this bird will recover, but WNV typically has a poor prognosis.
