We shopped downtown at Green Front Furniture, which is a high-end store with 16 buildings in Farmville. Green Front is a destination by itself. They deliver everywhere!
We drove around town to my old hangouts. Three of the four places I lived in no longer exist- they have been torn down. A lot of changes happen in 38 years!
Farmville was a sleepy little town when I lived there. Now, it is quite a busy place, with Longwood being a university and all that brings. Longwood was hosting both a baseball and a softball tournament.
The Longwood University Rotunda. The original Rotunda was burned down in 2005, as well as several nearby dorms. The rebuilt Rotunda looks exactly like it did when I went here.Form the inside of the Rotunda looking up to the top.Statue of Joan of Arc, the “patron saint” of Longwood.New entrance gateThis used to be a “Longwood College” signThe Lancers in action.Retired men’s basketball jerseys. Jerome Kersey was a freshman when I was a senior here. He went on to a successful NBA career, mainly with the Portland Trailblazers. He died a few years ago at age 52.We stayed here at the Hotel Weyanoke in Farmville, across the street from Longwood. This hotel was built in 1925, and has recently undergone a major renovation.
This site is where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses Grant, ending the American Civil War and bringing an end to a very dark period of American history.
After fierce fighting at Petersburg that saw a decisive Union victory, Lee’s forces of 30,000 moved westward toward Appomattox Courthouse, a very small village with a railroad depot. The Union forces of 65,000 raced the Confederates westward.
As Lee arrived near Appomattox, the Confederates rushed to get to the railroad depot to get desperately needed supplies. The Union forces got there first and both sides engaged in fierce fighting. Once Lee realized he was badly outnumbered and the effort to get to the depot was hopeless, he sent a messenger carrying a white flag to Grant to set up a meeting to establish terms of surrender.
Lee and Grant met at the McLean family’s house, and the surrender was made here.
Grant greatly respected Lee, so Grant strictly demanded that the Union soldiers not celebrate in front of the Confederates. He handled the surrender with class, allowing the rebels to return to their homes, and to take their horses home with him. Confederate officers were allowed to keep their swords.
In April 1865 this field (the trees were not there then) was the setting for fierce fighting between a total of 95,000 troops.McLean House, site of Lee’s surrender. This is not the actual house from 1865, but rebuilt exactly as it was.This is the room where the surrender took place. Lee arrived first, and sat at the larger, marble top table. Grant sat at the smaller table, and wrote the terms of surrender for Lee to sign. Grant composed the terms of his own volition, as President Lincoln had given him general principles he wanted in the terms, but not the terms themselves.The court house in the village of Appomattox Court House.General Merchandise storeVillage jailGraves of two unknown soldiers, one Confederate and one Union, in a small cemetery a few yards from the McLean House. In the cemetery there are 18 graves of the Confederate soldiers who died in the fighting at Appomattox leading to the surrender. The Union soldier was buried four years after the war.The Confederate Artillery surrendered here, Their line stretched over a half a mile, and they turned over 61 cannons and 13 caissons to the Union forces.
So we went to Charlottesville to make a visit to the University of Virginia for Mallory to take a look.
The Rotunda“Mr. Jefferson”Absolutely beautiful crisp December day. I didn’t know this…I did know this.Edgar Allen Poe’s room on The Lawn, preserved as an historic attraction. Yes, that is a raven picture above the mantel (and the flag).John Paul Jones ArenaA surprise – UVA basketball tickets to the William & Mary game! John Paul Jones Arena is a beautiful facility!Ty Jerome free throwA great time! Thanks Mitch!!
