THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9406290093
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940630 LENGTH: SUFFOLK
A history major enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan College, Budzina has worked as an intern at Riddick's Folly since last November.
{REST} ``I had never been to Suffolk and it was the most pleasant surprise,'' she said. ``I've become obsessed with history since I've been at Riddick's Folly.''
A resident of Chesapeake, Budzina spent the past few months reconstructing a children's ``bed chamber'' circa 1840 for the museum. She researched information on the Riddick family and read books on the South and the Civil War.
``I got into files and went up into the attic,'' she said. ``Riddick's Folly is a rich, historical museum.''
Budzina compiled a notebook including pictures and descriptions of furniture, toys and clothing of the 19th century that the Riddick children may have used.
``Furnishing the room depends on donations, fund-raisers, and those who lend furniture to Riddick's Folly,'' she said.
A native of Oxnard, Calif., Budzina met her future husband, Stephan, when she traveled east to visit relatives in Ohio.
``It was a high school graduation gift,'' she said. ``I loved the farmlands of Ohio.''
After marriage, Budzina attended the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, for a year and then left school to raise a family and a garden. The Budzinas have four daughters and a son, ranging from 12 to 23.
Stephan Budzina is the assistant director of labor relations at Norfolk Southern. The Budzina family was transferred with the company several times before, settling in Great Bridge five years ago.
When Melody Budzina, 46, lost her job as a sales representative last year, she was not optimistic about beginning a new career. Employed by a dental supply company for the past several years, Budzina was surprised when she received notice that the business had filed bankruptcy proceedings.
``What would you tell your daughters to do if they had to choose another career?'' asked her husband.
``I knew I needed some training,'' she said. ``I had wanted to teach when I was younger and I have a lot of Girl Scout and Boy Scout experience. I also had confidence and a little maturity behind me, so I decided to splurge on myself by enrolling at Virginia Wesleyan. My age bothered me, but I said, `How could I be wrong? I'm not joining a sorority . . . I'm going to a class.' ''
Budzina enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan College last September and transferred her credits from Toledo University. Due to her interest in historic sites, she decided to major in history.
She's the oldest student in her classes. ``The students think I'm an oddity,'' she said with a smile, ``but they've all been very nice to me.''
At the beginning of the school year, Virginia Wesleyan encouraged some of the students to apply for an internship, Budzina said. Riddick's Folly was on the list of available internships and, since Budzina had never visited Suffolk, she applied for the position to do research work at the museum.
Although the school year has ended, Budzina will continue working as a volunteer at Riddick's Folly, conducting summer workshops for children and giving guided house tours. She also will continue to work on the chamber exhibit.
``During Riddick's Folly's spring luncheon, I put up tables and chairs, and answered the phone,'' she said. ``I also gave house tours.''
From July 20 through 22, Budzina will conduct a workshop entitled ``Houses Have History'' from 10 a.m. to noon each day for children ages 8 to 12. The group will tour Main Street to examine the architectural styles of historic buildings and will design the exterior of a cardboard house.
by CNB