This week we’ll take a one-week intermission from the unfolding saga of my 1980’s globetrotting expedition for a little domestic exploration—to Schuyler, VA. If you’ve been following along, you’re already familiar with my sisters Seven and Fame, who’ll re-appear in this week’s post, forty-five years on.
Enjoy!
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I’m no stranger to mountains (a geological feature surely sewn into my heart as genetic memory; my mom’s maternal ancestors were Kentucky hill folk)—I live on Tuscarora Mountain in the Appalachians of southern PA.
But I was raised a flatlander, brought up in small-town Pennsylvania, the fifth daughter of a hard-working factory man who’d served in France in WWII after coming of age in the Great Depression and pulling a stint in Roosevelt’s CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps).
Certainly, having grown up hearing tales of hillbilly relatives I never met and learning of life during the Depression, it was little wonder The Waltons television show that debuted in 1972 struck a familiar chord—especially coming as I did from a family of nine kids.
Like a lot of fellow Americans (and soon after, fans worldwide), we tuned in every week to follow the unfolding story of a tightknit homespun family life inspired by author Earl Hamner’s own Depression Era upbringing.
So imagine our surprise when a few years back I and my sister, Earthmother, discovered the real Hamner home in Schuyler, VA, had been restored and was available to tour.
Road trip, anyone?
But how—and when?
Well, the perfect opportunity for Earth and I arose soon after.
Sure, we may’ve been five sisters of origin strong, but through the years that never stopped us from “adopting” more—one of whom was Seven’s high school friend, 6 ½ (so dubbed since she’s between Seven and Earth in age).
For many years, Earth had run a home-based daycare, loving a lot of lucky kids like only she could do, and two of those lucky kids were 6 ½’s. Once grown, they moved away, one to Arizona and one to North Carolina.
Well, 6 ½ having been unofficially adopted into our clan years before made her kids part of our family too, and in time, so were her kids’ kids—after all, once Earth takes you underwing, you’re snuggled there in perpetuity. Having become a de facto sibling to 6 ½ made Earth a de facto auntie to her kids, and eventually, a de facto grandma to 6 ½‘s grandkids—and what do grandkids do over a summer’s vacation? Visit grandma!
When the next summer rolled around and it was time for the Carolina kiddos to visit Earth’s Pennsyltucky home, Earth and I had arrived at the perfect excuse to visit Earl Hamner’s boyhood home—the real “Walton’s house”—in rural Schuyler, VA. We would meet 6 ½’s daughter there to trade off her kiddos.
That was two years ago, an occasion that afforded us enough time to visit, but not stay. For that, we’d have to return the next year. And why would Earth and I want to visit Schulyer twice? For the same reason many people return time and again: the passion project of one visionary Walton’s fan, Carol Johnson.
Though hailing from California, Carol relocated to rural VA to build her dreamhouse. It just happened to be Earl Hamner’s dreamhouse, as well: a replica of the television industry’s version of his boyhood home, seen by fans for decades as the home (stage set) of parents John and Olivia Walton (actors Ralph Waite & Michael Learned). And what better name for her dreamhouse / bed-and-breakfast than John & Olivia’s.
For some years now, Carol has been welcoming and delighting guests (read: Walton’s fans) to Schuyler, VA. For a time she owned both the B & B she built from the ground up as well as the original Hamner home, beside it. These days the Hamner home is no longer under her care, but she’s found another passion project across the street, a building in need of rescue that was long ago an area school, among other things.
The second time we visited Schuyler, Earth and I were accompanied by our sister, Seven. That was last year. This year our party consists of Seven, Fame, myself, and 6 ½ (Earth has since moved to Illinois), so…
…the Schuyler connection continues.
Another connection—at least for me and Fame—is the literary one. Growing up watching a show about a country-boy-become-author engaged us from the first episode, since both of us longed for similarly transformative lives as authors.
BEYOND THE MAIN ATTRACTION
To be sure, Schulyer is no bustling metropolis, so what else does one do if visiting the area? For many, it doesn’t really matter; the bucketlist-level experience of staying in the Walton house is often enough. But certainly, there’s more to explore, even after a walk down to Drucilla’s Pond and a visit to Ike’s store, up the road.
For one thing, the Schuyler School the Hamner’s attended is directly across the street; it’s been converted into the Walton’s Mountain Museum. A little further afield lies Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s famous homestead (which we visited this time around), as well as the charming town of Scottsville, an historic, oft-flooded (and one-time bustling canal stop) town on the James River.
Another great spot is the Batesville Market, an historic hole-in-the-wall with wonderful homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches, that hosts great music acts like the bluegrass Tara Mills band, which we saw on Saturday night.
Or while you’re in the area, check out the amazing Quarry Gardens of Schuyler, created from the reclaimed (and reimagined) soapstone quarries that once provided a living for many of the people in the Schuyler area, including the Hamner family.
I hope a few of you will be inspired to check out this rich region of Virginia. Meanwhile, I can’t say for sure we’ll be back again next year, but you can rest assured that countless devotees of The Waltons—and of Carol Johnson herself—surely will (and loving every minute of it, as they ought).
What’s more, among them are very likely to be some of the members of the television show’s cast; most (if not all) have already visited, amazed as any of us ordinary folk to see how Carol’s visionary effort has raised—like a phoenix from its own ashes—the familiar and beloved home so close to millions of hearts worldwide.
Thank you, Carol.
Thank you from all who’ve made the pilgrimage to gather with you for breakfast around Olivia’s kitchen table, and to hear at night the echo of those long-ago voices calling out beneath a blanket of stars, “Goodnight, John-Boy;” “Goodnight, Grandma and Grampa…”
Goodnight, Seven, Fame, 6 ½. You, too, Earth.
And goodnight, Carol.
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Thank you for visiting with me on another Monday morning. I hope you’ll share my weekly substack with friends. Do you have strong feelings for The Waltons or any other TV show you grew up with? I hope you’ll tell us a little about it in comments, below.
Then be sure to check out these current giveaways I’m running. I hope you’ll participate! By joining in the fun you might win a companion journal to my debut #kidlit book, #ShayTheBrave or even a copy of #Shay for every student in your favorite classroom or homeschooling family! Shay the Brave was released by Wild Ink Publishing on January 9th, and quickly reached #1 in it’s category on Amazon. It spent five weeks as a top-ten pick, and is currently still showing in the top 30 or so…
…so check it out!
I would love to see it all! You mentioned France and the war, my grandmothers mom’s son was killed in France during the war. The government paid her way there to bury him. I used to have a copy of her passport and a picture of her by his tombstone. It was so sad . I believe my brother has all my pics and the passport. It was pretty interesting.