|
Seasonal Delights Polo and strawberries signal springtime in hunt country BY VICKY MOON Among the many charming aspects of Middleburg are the elegant treasures one finds down the quiet winding back roads off the beaten track. One such jewel is Farmer's Delight Plantation, the 89- acre former country home of the late Ambassador George Crews McGhee.
McGhee (1912 - 2005) and his wife, the late Cecilia DeGolyer McGhee, purchased the estate just three miles north of the village in 1948. The circa 1790s brick Federal mansion was built by Colonel Joseph Flavius Lane (1756 - 1803). The property dates to a 1661 King Charles II land grant. McGhee, a transplanted Texan, was a Rhodes Scholar who studied geology. He took his knowledge to the oil fields in several states as a wildcatter and was highly successful. After serving in World War II as a navy lieutenant, his career then took a turn toward diplomacy. He went on to serve as ambassador to Turkey, Greece and West Germany.
Through his twenty-plus years of international travel, McGhee collected many books and artifacts not only at en poste but also from his extensive travel for personal and business affairs. Some of the specific collections are the Central American Masks, African Masks, Middle Eastern artifacts (including a Bedouin tent and accoutrements) and a collection of Wedgwood porcelain. In 1973, Farmer's Delight Plantation was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Now, with very little fanfare, the McGhee Foundation (established in 2002 by the ambassador) is a nonprofit philanthropic organization "dedicated to educational purposes, particularly the furthering of the many political, historical and cultural interests which were at the core of his long life." After establishing the foundation, McGhee bequeathed to it in his will all the land including the manor house, gardens, library and barn museums. The plantation is open to visitors by appointment, which can be arranged by telephone or by visiting www.farmersdelight.org This spring, the McGhee Foundation will host fundraising events for two other non-profits, The Blue Ridge Wildlife Rescue League and the Virginia Land Trust annual garden party. "In the fall, we'll be hosting our own fundraiser with a silent auction," Executive Director Richard Berger says. "We're continuing our cross-cultural education project through a display of Central American masks at the Middleburg Public Library. These exhibits can travel to other public venues to support educational opportunities for children and adults." The large collection is being catalogued and organized while the infrastructure is undergoing unobtrusive renovation and the gardens are being meticulously cleaned.
The public can currently view traveling exhibits, which are examples from the collections. (One of which is at the Middleburg Library and later this year will be on display at The Hill School.)
It's Delovely It's Delicious In 1994, Mary Scott, the late wife of television personality Willard Scott, reinvented it. At the time, the couple lived in the area and were members of the nearby Emmanuel Episcopal Church, which now produces the event. The festival outgrew its roots and was relocated down the road to Sky Meadows State Park. The park was a generous gift to the state of Virginia from the late Paul Mellon, who donated a 1,132-acre swath of land for it. In his typical low-key manner, he later gave several hundred additional acres for a pathway to the Appalachian Trail. The park's name is a derivation of the Scottish Isle of Skye. This year's Strawberry Festival will take place on May 26 and 27. (Don't miss the National Strawberry Eating Championship.) And for anyone who may venture out to the countryside, here is a famous recipe for Strawberry Pie, which was previously published in my book, The Middleburg Mystique.
| ||||||||||||||
