Sweetser was half of the feed and grain supply company Young-Sweetser Company from the 1920’s which later became Farm and Tack Supply in the 1980’s. It is noted for the Purina Grain Tower which marks the Fredericksburg skyline. Before this he and Young worked on a bedding manufacturing concern which had been destroyed by fire … Read more
By February, 1968 Avis Harris had taken her seat as one of the “vestrymen” and the first woman to sit on the Vestry. While women served, many customs from the past remained. It was not until 1978 that “vestrypersons” replaced the term “vestrymen” in the minutes. Dr. Carroll Quenzel had first proposed a female vestry … Read more
John Herndon was born and grew up in Fredericksburg for his first four years but spent most of his adult life away from the town. Educated in Washington DC he lived in Alexandria and worked with a variety of government agencies – the Census bureau, US Capital, Treasury Department. In retirement he moved to Charlottesville … Read more
“I believe that God is love. We need to become one world of people who care for each other in our different ways. You can’t lose when you try to love people” – 2002 Oral history In her oral memoirs to Tomi Reneau, Mary remarked “When I was coming along in my year at the … Read more
During 1954, just before the Supreme Court announced its decision of Brown vs. Board of Education case which stated “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal”, Tom Faulkner was embroiled in his own civil rights issues with the Vestry. Faulkner would eventually prevail and through his example, leadership and work turned the issue around toward acceptance of other races. It provided foundation for our welcoming statement in the Bulletin and also “Growing into Christ + Reaching out in Love.” Charles Sydnor did something similar for sexual orientation years later.
Design and Changes St. George’s Pews are boxed pews, encased in paneling as opposed to the open pews. It is likely that this was a holdover from the first St. George’s in the 1730’s. Box pews provided privacy and allowed the family to sit together. Pews were originally purchased from the church by their owners … Read more
BARBARA P. WILLIS The first church built in Fredericksburg was by action of the Vestry of St. George’s Parish at a meeting on March 13th, 1732. Col. Henry Willis contracted to build it and the new church at Mattapony for 150,000 lbs. of tobacco. George Home, who surveyed the newly established town of Fredericksburg (1728) … Read more
Exploring the parish profiles we have online as well as the directories. How to distinguish between them ?