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Christmas on Cockrell's Creek
• Saturday - December 10th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday - December 11th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The annual “Christmas on Cockrell’s Creek” weekend proudly highlights the Northern Neck’s rich watermen’s heritage. Reedville, still one of the most active fishing ports in America, was established in 1867 when Capt. Elijah Reed sailed down from Maine and up the Chesapeake Bay and set up his first small fishery. By the turn of the twentieth century Reedville was purported to be the richest town per capita in the United States, and fish factories and packing companies lined the shores of Cockrell’s Creek. This prosperity led to the building of many fine residences on Main Street, which was declared a National Historic District in 1984. Two of these fine homes are on the tour this year. The Anchorage, a grand Queen Anne Victorian built in 1919, and the Haynie-Jett House, built in 1886. The talented ladies of the Chesapeake Bay Garden Club will again be adding festive seasonal touches to all the homes. Here's a description of all the homes on tour this year:
The Anchorage
Along “Millionaire’s Row”, The Anchorage at 328 Main Street will be opened by new owners Bill and Sally Chapoutot. Built for fishing industry leader Raymond A. Haynie, this elaborately detailed Queen Anne mansion displays all the lavish richness of the Victorian era. The elaborate interior woodwork has been restored to a fine luster, and the home is painted in complementary colors to bring out its architectural features.
Haynie-Jett House
The white clapboard Victorian with green shutters at 778 Main Street was built for Capt. Clem Haynie. He sold it in 1909 to Franklin C. Jett, who was one of the first officers of the Peoples Bank of Reedville when it opened in 1910. It was purchased in 2000 by Susan and Bob Tipton and has been restored to showcase Susan’s collection of family antiques and Reedville memorabilia. An avid traveler, Susan will also display her collection of nativity scenes from around the world.
Haynie Home
On the creek on the far side of Reedville at 109 Pine Drive, sits the Haynie Home built in 2001 by Reedville natives Lydia and Vincent Haynie. Both Haynies come from fishing industry and boat-building families and it is appropriate that their home sits on land once known as King’s Point for the menhaden fish factory once located there. They have furnished their home in traditional style incorporating many fine pieces from both their families, including historic photographs, furnishings, and other memorabilia.
Pleasant Grove
Pleasant Grove at 520 Fleeton Road backs up to Cockrell’s Creek and is one of the oldest houses in Reedville. Originally built as a one and a half story house in the late 1700’s, it was later enlarged and now reflects a Colonial Revival façade from its last major rebuilding in 1917. The home is owned by Darla and Tommy Williams, and Tommy, who works in the fishing industry, is a direct descendant of the original owner. The house was built from bricks made on the property, and there’s evidence of a civil war cannonball that hit the home. The last evidence of the earliest period of the house is found in the wide pine floor planks in the front hall, and there are several family heirlooms throughout the home.
Locksley Hall
Locksley Hall is a historic manor home once the centerpiece of a large farm on Bridge Creek. It was built in the mid 1800’s on an earlier foundation and was the home of Dr. Hiram Coles, a civil war surgeon. Gayle and John Sterrett acquired the home from John’s family and have lovingly restored it to its former elegance. An imposing foyer with a grand sweeping staircase sets the scene for this beautiful home. The Sterretts have furnished the home with period antiques and family heirlooms which are set off by fireplaces in every room and beautiful heart pine wide plank floors.
Kheary Home
Further upstream on Bridge Creek is the Kheary home at 406 Bridge Creek Circle. Built by Karen and John Kheary in 2010, this home has an amazing open floor plan taking advantage of wide waterviews across the mouth of Bridge Creek and down the Little Wicomico River. John, a master millwright, designed and built all the maple and mahogany custom built-in cabinets. Karen, an accomplished decorator, worked with a palette of grays, sea mist and aqua with accents of glass and steel to produce a stunning contemporary interior design.
Part of the museum complex, the William Walker House will be specially decorated for the holidays and serving hot cider and cookies. Built in 1875, it was one of the homes built for the newly arriving workers in the fishing businesses, and is the oldest house now standing in Reedville. It is furnished to reflect the life of a waterman’s family in the 1920’s. The Gothic Revival sanctuary of Bethany United Methodist Church built, consecrated in 1901, will also be open for free tours.
A Free Boat Shuttle is provided between the Fishermen’s Museum and the homes on Cockrell’s Creek. Step aboard Rescue I, Smith Point Sea Rescue’s patrol boat; Dudley, Fred Biddlecomb’s historic ‘buyboat’, Fishing Buddy II, Buddy Sylvia’s vintage deadrise workboat, or Miss Margie, Robert Gwaltney’s classic workboat, and enjoy a narrated boat ride between house visits.
Unique Gifts and Artworks by Members - More than twenty talented RFM members bring fine examples of their artworks to Santa's Workshop, where you may enjoy and purchase unique gifts arranged in a delightful holiday venue. Potters and woodcrafters, painters and jewelry makers, fabric artists and others offer gifts for people on your list, at a price range that covers stocking stuffers to that Very Special Gift. The Workshop will be set up in the Masonic Temple, Main Street, Reedville. Artists will be on hand to meet and greet guests during the full two days of the house tours, and each is generously donating 25% of the proceeds from each purchase to support the museum's many educational and community programs. Your ticket to the tour includes admission.
Click Here to view/download a Map for all the Homes on the Tour
Christmas Tour Ticket Information
• Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the tour and include admission to all houses and museum events. VISA and MC accepted at the museum office for advance phone orders.
• Individual houses may be visited for $10 each.
• During the tour weekend, tickets will only be available at the museum.
• Please note: No food, photos, strollers or backpacks in houses. Each child under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to remove your shoes when touring houses.
Holiday Season Events
Festival Holiday "Tablescapes" • The Northern Neck's most talented designers have created individually decorated table settings all set for a special festive event. Museum admission $5 or included in the Christmas Homes Tour ticket.
The museum’s perennially popular Model Train Exhibit will also be open and included in the tour ticket price. The exhibit will remain on display during normal museum hours through mid-January. ‘Railroad engineers’ will be on hand to operate freight and passenger trains through switching yards and over 100 feet of track on a layout that is approximately 30 feet long by 10 feet wide. Local model-makers have worked the past several years building scale model buildings depicting bygone days in the villages of Reedville, Heathsville, Irvington and White Stone.
Breakfast with Santa • Saturday, December 10th at 9 AM • FREE!! Santa will arrive aboard the "Elva C" at the museum dock and proceed with the children to the Model Railroad Exhibit at the RFM Model Shop! Afterwards, it's on to the Bethany United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Donuts and juice will be served as Santa sits in his special chair in front of the fireplace and passes out bags of candy to all the children. Bring your camera!! (Event co-sponsored by Bethany United Methodist Church)
Reedville Festival Chorale Christmas Concert • Sunday December 18th at 3 p.m. at the Festival Halle. Under the direction of Artistic Director Sharon Freude and accompanied by Carina Kline Harrison, the Chorale will perform renditions of favorite carols and seasonal music. In the spirit of Christmas giving, no ticket is required; but guests are encouraged to bring canned or nonperishable food items or cash donations to benefit local food pantries. Enjoy the music and sing along with Chorale members.
Museum Gift Shop • Choose from a wide selection of regional books, giftware, jewelry, gourmet treats, original artworks and prints, children’s books and toys
Holiday Schedule
Through December 18th, the RFM will be open from 10:30-4:30 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. The Northern Neck Railroad model trains will begin running the day after Thanksgiving and will continue to run on days the Museum is open. Following tradition, we will be open every day from Monday, December 26th through Saturday, December 31st with the model trains running daily, with the exception of Dec. 31st.
During January, the Museum will be open on Saturday/Sunday Jan 7th & 8th and Saturday/Sunday Jan. 14th & 15th, and the trains will be running.
To clarify, the Museum will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day.
(Note: The RFM Office is closed the week between Christmas and New Years)
Copyright
2011• Reedville Fishermen's Museum • PO Box 306 •
504 Main Street • Reedville, VA 22539
(804) 453-6529 email:
RFM Office