ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 6, 1996 TAG: 9612060005
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON STAFF WRITER
"Holidays at Smithfield," an 18th-century-style celebration enhanced by candlelight and live musical entertainment, began Thursday and continues through Sunday at the historic home of Col. William Preston on the Virginia Tech campus off Duck Pond Road in Blacksburg, the partially restored house and grounds are decorated for the annual event.
Built soon after 1773 on a site now adjacent to Virginia Tech, Smithfield is one of the oldest surviving houses in Southwest Virginia. The main house is an example of architectural sophistication on what only a generation before had been the edge of the frontier.
Smithfield was the last home of Preston, a Revolutionary War officer, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a noted surveyor who fostered the settlement of western lands.
Smithfield was Preston's last home and was named for his wife, Susannah Smith Preston. It remained in the possession of Preston descendants for almost 200 years, until it was deeded to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities more than 30 years ago. Since then, the house and grounds have been partially restored by the APVA and its Montgomery Branch, which opened Smithfield to the public in 1964 as a historical site.
The Smithfield Preston Foundation of Blacksburg was initiated to provide funding for the preservation of historic properties, with the approval of the APVA. Such support for Smithfield Plantation's future would include reconstruction, preservation, expansion and maintenance.
A National Council of State Garden Clubs Inc. Standard Flower Show, "Walking Through a Colonial Christmas," is featured throughout the house during the holiday event. The juried flower show, sponsored by the Southside Garden Club of Blacksburg, a member of the Blue Ridge District of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs Inc., was held Thursday. The arrangements and designs will be exhibited through Sunday.
Colonial-era craft demonstrations will be offered throughout the house.
William Showalter of Greeneville, Tenn., a master woodworker and chairmaker, will demonstrate the art of making Windsor chairs on Saturday and Sunday. Showalter makes his reproductions in the manner of chairmakers of the Federal Period, with all pieces made entirely by hand using original materials, designs and construction methods.
Other craftsmen and storytellers will be featured in the reconstructed Weaver's Cabin, an 1820 log structure adjacent to the main house. Weaver Jane H. Jones of Blacksburg will demonstrate an antique loom that once belonged to a former docent of the Smithfield Foundation, Dottie McCombs. The rag rug Jones will be working on will be the first item produced on the loom since it was installed at Smithfield after McCombs' death.
In the Weaver's Cabin at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Blacksburg actress Elizabeth McCommon will tell stories about life on the Colonial Virginia frontier.
The drawing room of the main house will be the center for live musical entertainment during the celebration. Individual musicians and groups will provide selections on the flute, violin and harp. The Polovetsi String Quartet, the Church Street Consort, the Blacksburg High School Madrigal Singers, and Simple Gifts of the Blue Ridge will also perform.
The Smithfield Museum Store and annual Holiday Greenery Sale will be open all four days. Hours for the celebration programs are 2-6 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students, with an additional charge for an optional seated tea with homemade savories and sweets served in Susanna's Tea Shoppe ($6 adults, $3 children 12 and under) on Saturday and Sunday.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. 1. Jane Jones of Blacksburg makesby CNBadjustments to the antique loom that will be featured in the
weaver's cabin at Smithfield Plantation as part of "Holidays at
Smithfield" this weekend. 2. Darlene Simpson of Blacksburg, in her
period outfit, poses with a tea setting in the living room. color.