Blog Archives
May Day at the Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton, Virginia
Visiting the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia almost feels like you’ve been transported to the past. Between the replica houses, the costumed actors, and the demonstrations of daily life in the 17th, 18th, and 19th Century, history really does come to life right before your eyes. Furthermore, the Frontier Culture Museum offers a number of festivals throughout the year, and one upcoming event is the May Day Festival.
May Day is a celebration of spring, and the Frontier Culture Museum’s activities reflect a number of traditional activities from historic England, Ireland, and Germany. “In medieval England, people would celebrate the start of spring by going out to the country or woods—‘going a-maying’—and gathering greenery and flowers, or ‘bringing in the may’” (Infoplease).
On Saturday, May 3, 2014, take part in the available food, drink, children’s activities, and celebratory games. Enjoy the antics of the Mummers—costumed pantomimes—at the German and Irish farms, and, of course, join in a lively dance around the Maypole. Festivities begin at noon and run through 5:00 p.m.
(Need nearby lodging? How about a BBHSV member inn: https://www.bbhsv.org/shenandoah-valley-virginia-inns.htm)
Photo by Katie Currid
Explore History at Killahevlin in Front Royal, VA
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS B&B HAS NOW CLOSED.
There is no doubt that no matter where you set foot in Virginia, you will be in an area that is rich with the past. Many of our BBHSV members are links to history in and of themselves, and it is that history that makes inns like Killahevlin Bed and Breakfast such a wonderfully unique experience.
The Gaelic name “Killahevlin” has its origins in Northern Ireland, the childhood home of Irish immigrant William Edward Carson. In 1885 when Carson was only 15 years old, he moved to the United States, where he “took over his father’s lime-manufacturing plant at Riverton” (Encyclopedia Virginia). He eventually constructed his new home in Front Royal, an Edwardian-styled mansion that still stands proudly today and welcome guests within its walls.
Killahevlin’s past involves a greater history than just its edifice and its creator, however. The site on which the mansion is built has its roots in the American Civil War, where its “vantage point proved to be a strategic location for Union troop encampment” (VAIrish). Furthermore, it is believed that two members of the controversial Confederate 43rd Battalion (also known as “Mosby’s Men”) were executed at this very location.
In 1993, Killahevlin was the Virginia Landmarks Register as well as the National Register of Historic Places, solidifying its position in history. Now the establishment is owned and run by Tom and Kathy Conkey, who describe their B&B as “Southern hospitality meets Irish charm.” They blend both American history and Irish history with a wealth of modern amenities, creating a charmingly casual vicinity that promises fun and relaxation.
May Day at the Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton, Virginia
Visiting the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia almost feels like you’ve been transported to the past. Between the replica houses, the costumed actors, and the demonstrations of daily life in the 17th, 18th, and 19th Century, history really does come to life right before your eyes. Furthermore, the Frontier Culture Museum offers a number of festivals throughout the year, and one upcoming event is the May Day Festival.
May Day is a celebration of spring, and the Frontier Culture Museum’s activities reflect a number of traditional activities from historic England, Ireland, and Germany. “In medieval England, people would celebrate the start of spring by going out to the country or woods—‘going a-maying’—and gathering greenery and flowers, or ‘bringing in the may’” (Infoplease).
On Saturday, May 3, 2014, take part in the available food, drink, children’s activities, and celebratory games. Enjoy the antics of the Mummers—costumed pantomimes—at the German and Irish farms, and, of course, join in a lively dance around the Maypole. Festivities begin at noon and run through 5:00 p.m.
(Need nearby lodging? How about a BBHSV member inn: https://www.bbhsv.org/shenandoah-valley-virginia-inns.htm)
Photo by Katie Currid
Explore History at Killahevlin in Front Royal, VA
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS B&B HAS NOW CLOSED.
There is no doubt that no matter where you set foot in Virginia, you will be in an area that is rich with the past. Many of our BBHSV members are links to history in and of themselves, and it is that history that makes inns like Killahevlin Bed and Breakfast such a wonderfully unique experience.
The Gaelic name “Killahevlin” has its origins in Northern Ireland, the childhood home of Irish immigrant William Edward Carson. In 1885 when Carson was only 15 years old, he moved to the United States, where he “took over his father’s lime-manufacturing plant at Riverton” (Encyclopedia Virginia). He eventually constructed his new home in Front Royal, an Edwardian-styled mansion that still stands proudly today and welcome guests within its walls.
Killahevlin’s past involves a greater history than just its edifice and its creator, however. The site on which the mansion is built has its roots in the American Civil War, where its “vantage point proved to be a strategic location for Union troop encampment” (VAIrish). Furthermore, it is believed that two members of the controversial Confederate 43rd Battalion (also known as “Mosby’s Men”) were executed at this very location.
In 1993, Killahevlin was the Virginia Landmarks Register as well as the National Register of Historic Places, solidifying its position in history. Now the establishment is owned and run by Tom and Kathy Conkey, who describe their B&B as “Southern hospitality meets Irish charm.” They blend both American history and Irish history with a wealth of modern amenities, creating a charmingly casual vicinity that promises fun and relaxation.