The Village of Ettrick’s historic and iconic gem saved from demolition four years ago is getting an exterior makeover. HistoriCorps, the nationally recognized leader in mobilizing citizens to save and protect places that matter, currently has its team on-site leading volunteers and students with a six-week field school to serve as a demonstration project while preserving historic Summerseat, which Virginia State University owns and which concerned citizens of Ettrick and members of the Chesterfield Historical Society, and eventually, the university, saved. The project is being funded by a $130,797 grant from The Cameron Foundation.
“I am thrilled that we have assembled such an experienced team to lead this project and instruct the Summerseat volunteers and students,” said Robert W. Ogle, director of HistoriCorps Institute, the education arm of HistoriCorps. “All members of our leadership team have distinguished themselves in preservation practice and value the role project-based and hands-on learning play in developing rewarding career opportunities for participants. In addition to our own staff, local education institutions and preservation organizations like Virginia State University, Chesterfield Technical Center, Richard Bland College, City of Petersburg, Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia and the Citizens Committee for Summerseat Community Dialogue have committed faculty, students, volunteers, administrative, and other resources to support the project.”
Along with Ogle, the leadership team includes crew leader Natalie Henshaw and project supervisors Denis Moran and Michael Riegert.It was around four years ago that Therese “Tra” Wagenknecht, vice president of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia, became concerned when she saw that Summerseat was not included on a map showing future plans for the university. It was confirmed that it would be demolished by university officials. She took a stand and said that something had to happen to save this building. With the help of Concerned Citizens of Ettrick and Jane Harris, associate vice president for capital outlay and facilities, VSU, Summerseat was saved.
Wagenknecht was on-site during the first week of the project with HistoriCorps and was very happy. “I can’t even say how wonderful it is,” she said. “We started in 2011 to make sure something would happen for this building.”
Nancy Ross, a member of Concerned Citizens of Ettrick, also on-site, said they received over 100 signatures supporting to keep Summerseat. The committee also held a picnic on the site early on and invited citizens to give their input on how the historic structure could be used in the future. “I am elated to be a part of the collaboration and partnership to preserve Summerseat,” she said. “It is wonderful. We are making it happen; part of Ettrick’s history remains.”
The historic Summerseat is located on the campus of Virginia State University at the corner of Chesterfield Avenue and River Road. The unique raised cottage was owned and constructed around 1860 by local carpenter Linneaus H. James. Over the decades, the building changed hands many times and was used as a dwelling by several of Ettrick’s resident skilled tradesmen. Oral history says the house was used in the summer for a court by the local magistrate; hence the name “Summerseat:” the upstairs served as a courtroom, while the basement served as a jail. Its last known use was as an antique shop.
The first couple of weeks of the project involved volunteers from as far away as Wisconsin and Michigan working on the foundation’s brickwork. Students from the Chesterfield Technical Center will arrive during the third week to use their carpentry skills on the raised section of the cottage and gain knowledge of restoring historic properties.
Ogle said , “If this project is successful it will lead to other projects in the community. Working with experts in historical preservations, different groups in the local community, a model to be used with a lot of schools such as with the Chesterfield Technical students, Richard Bland College and Virginia State University for classes to earn credits and much more.”
“While the preservation of Summerseat is important, we also are interested in the greater potential that HistoriCorps can bring to this region through its educational partnerships. These local field schools can provide valuable training and workforce skills in the preservation trades and at the same time restore some of the fabric within our communities,” explained Cameron Foundation President J. Todd Graham. “With such a diverse stock of historic buildings in need of rehabilitation, this collaboration can benefit the community in many ways.”
