ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 13, 1996 TAG: 9604150052
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
MEMO: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
THE TOWER REPRESENTS the kind used when English revolutionary Oliver Cromwell overthrew King Charles I in 1649.
The attack occurred in the early morning hours.
The enemy emerged out of the darkness, set the watchtower on fire and then fled, Henry County's fire marshal says.
The apparent onslaught succeeded: The replica of the British civil war tower was destroyed.
The fire marshal, Steve Eanes, has seen a lot of fires over the years, but never one like Friday's, which engulfed part of a fortress built to re-enact English battles during the 1600s.
"I didn't even know the thing existed," he said.
The two-story watchtower - about 10 feet square inside - was on a half-acre plot off Virginia 693. The land is owned by Dean and Nancy Cline of Ridgeway, whose house is on adjacent property. The tower was made of unfinished oak beams bound together with wooden pegs and leather hinges, and was surrounded by an earthen wall topped with sharp wooden spikes, Dean Cline said.
The tower represents the kind used when Oliver Cromwell, an English revolutionary, overthrew King Charles I in 1649. Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. His son Richard succeeded him but lost power in 1659 with the restoration to the throne of the House of Stuart with Charles II.
Cline said his neighbors, Paul and Veronica Burke, organize the re-enactments and helped build the fortress.
Cline said people from England and Canada come to the re-enactments, which include costumes and horses.
"They take it seriously," he said. "You can't even carry a modern glass or coffee cup."
Cline said the events aren't highly publicized because the people who enjoy them want it that way.
It was Cline who discovered the fire shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, when he got out of bed, looked out a window and saw what he thought was a campfire.
He soon realized the tower was ablaze.
Eanes said an investigation has turned up several things that point to arson. He declined to elaborate, because no suspects had been identified Friday.
A reward is being offered by the International Association of Arson Investigators. Anyone with information about the fire can call (540)634-4660. The watchtower's value is estimated at $2,500.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB