Apple Garden Inn

Old buildings on Railroad Avenue

by b1bob

The first building, now an ice cream parlour, is a commercial Italianate, and was built in the 1880s or earlier. Obviously, it was one of the few buildings spared during the fire in 1893. Before Prohibition, the building housed Delarue's Saloon and Grocery.

The second old business to note is Cross Brothers Grocery, see shopping tip. When Christian and I were taking the tour, we were looking forward to this stop (Club Car Ice Cream parlour) the most. I was especially after one of those bright yellow historic houses down the road made me want lemon ice cream. However, we learned it didn't open until 3pm and we were gone by then.

en español, em português

Liberal enclave in a conservative county

by b1bob

Ashland has always been more liberal than the surrounding (very conservative) Hanover County. One would not know that a sleepy railroad town would be any different. The main reasons for this are Randolph-Macon College and a larger black community. Liberation-minded student proletariats always make university towns at least a little more liberal. In Ashland, you could see stickers like the one in the photo warning against dumping anything into storm drains because they empty into the Chesapeake Bay.

en español, em português

Montpelier Centre for Arts and Education

by b1bob

The Montpelier Centre for Arts and Education is located in the old Montpelier school building, one of the best examples of school architecture of the public school movement in the 1920s and '30s. The main function of the centre is providing educational opportunities, and encouraging participation in the arts in the rural setting of Western Hanover County. It can also be used for meetings and receptions. In July, 2002, it hosted a 4th of July picnic which Jimmy "brazilnut30" and Thomas attended. From Ashland, take Route 54 west, go 11 miles (17.7 km) to intersect with Rt. 33, another 1-1/2 miles (2.4 km) on Rt. 33 (Mountain Road) to the Montpelier Centre.

en español, em português

Old Railroad Town

by TRimer

"And a College Town"

Not only is Ashland a railroad town, it's also a college town. At the northern end of Railroad Avenue is a cluster of charming 19th-century buildings, the campus of Randolph-Macon College. Established in 1830, the college was transplanted here after the Civil War.

The town's railroad tracks tell the story of Ashland, developed in 1858 as a resort for Richmonders attracted by its natural mineral springs and racetrack.

Ashland's grand homes - with their fanciful turrets, gingerbread detail and welcoming porches bordering each side of the train tracks - stand as a testament to the inescapable importance of the railroad and its romantic hold on this community.

"Interesting Facts About Ashland"

- The community was named for Henry Clay's estate in Kentucky

- The town was founded as a health resort

- Patrick Henry delivered his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech here in the county courthouse

- A local girl, daughter of the Sheltons, is said to have been the inspiration for Edgar Allan Poe's "Lenore"