My Virginia

The Virginia flaggers have been on the streets in front of the VMFA (The Virginia Museum of Fine Ahem... ) for over 5 years now.  Initially, their  goal was to restore some battle flags that were removed from the premises of the Confederate Memorial Chapel. In the process, they have also been able to save and restore history to honor our brave Confederate ancestors. It all started with the removal of the Confederate Battle flags from the Confederate Memorial Chapel.  Built in 1887, the the chapel was used  to honor Confederate veterans and  sits within the confines of the museum's property. Not long ago, a hasty decision  was made to remove the flags from plain view. Instead , they placed a very ugly and unsightly flag pole on  the property, (containing the American and Virginia flag) ,  obfuscating  the historical accuracy of the chapel and its grounds. Not only was this move a slap in the face to our heritage, it was also illegal! ...

Years ago, I remember getting annoyed as a teenager when some dolt on "The Weather Channel" would refer to Virginia as part of the Mid-Atlantic region. Boy, was  I in for a surprise. Forget Mid Atlantic. Now we're considered the part of that frozen tundra called  "The Northeast".  Has the North moved South? Yes and No. But I think I don't really mind being called Mid Atlantic now. In fact I would long for it. Please call us Mid Atlantic or South Atlantic, East Coast,  or a border state. Anything but the Northeast!  If North Carolina is often referred to as "The Mind of the South", then Virginia is just above it. We are north of North Carolina,  and just below the Mason Dixon line. And we straddle the fence on what was once known as the "Upper South". But I don't think we are the Northeast. That is something I don't understand. How is Virginia the Northeast? Not by culture, certainly not by history, and no , not even geographically...

Doing family research is a lot of fun. Ancestry can turn up so many hidden gems and interesting stories throughout the years. These two historic  houses belonged to my ancestors on my  maternal Great Grandfather's side of the family.  His name was John Gifford Skelton III.   These two homes are located relatively in the same region, although in different counties. Both west of Richmond. Most of the people on this branch of the family settled just west of Richmond, Virginia, and came to Richmond just after the War Between the States. This first dwelling shown here is Paxton . I have covered Paxton before, but these earlier photos  show how  the farmhouse looked before it was painted white. Paxton was built by my great great great great Grandfather Ennion Skelton- a New Jersey born physician who migrated South to Virginia in 1800,  to join his friends  and relatives. He wanted a  large farmhouse in Powhatan County, and he began work on Paxton...