THE
BULLETIN
WINTER 2015
www.BatterseaFound.org
Volume 3, Issue 2
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 101, Petersburg, VA 23804 • Telephone 804-732-9882 • email: [email protected]
The mission of Battersea Foundation is to preserve historic Battersea and offer educational, artistic
and cultural experiences that inform, enrich and inspire the public.
Battersea Executive Director Hired!
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce Al “AG” Sapp, has joined the Battersea
Foundation as its new Executive Director. Mr. Sapp began work on January 26, 2015.
Mr. Sapp brings wide range of expertise and experience to the Executive Director’s role.
Mr. Sapp has over 30 years of experience in a variety of executive, consulting, and leadership
roles both in the US and overseas. He is not new to non-profit organizations. Mr. Sapp is a
consultant on enterprise architecture at Fort Lee for LMI, a non-profit organization. He
has also served as a board member for a non-profit organization, Greyhounds Rock
Fredericksburg, dedicated to supporting canine cancer treatment and research. Mr. Sapp is
a US Army veteran who enjoys living in Petersburg.
“I’m truly excited to join the team to restore Battersea and help this historic and architecturally
significant home achieve its full potential,” said Mr. Sapp. “I appreciate all the hard work
Al “AG” Sapp
to date from the dedicated volunteers, board of directors, members, and donors to place
Battersea on solid footing to take the next step.”
Mr. Sapp also has a passion for history and the local area. “I love Petersburg,” said Mr. Sapp. “In addition to its
history, Petersburg is a fun place to live. The area has much for visitors to see and do. For good reason Civil War
history draws many tourists to the area. However, Battersea has the potential to attract more tourists and residents
alike to an earlier and exciting period of Petersburg history. I look forward to Battersea moving to the forefront of
area attractions.”
Battersea Awarded Roller–Bottimore Grant
The Battersea Foundation has been given a $25,000 grant from Richmond’s Roller–Bottimore Foundation for the
structural stabilization of the site’s Orangery. An Orangery (a French term for greenhouse or conservatory) was where
fruits and tropical trees were grown from the 17th to the 19th century. In Europe, they were found on most fashionable estates, and were usually given a classic architectural form.
Battersea’s Orangery was probably build in the 1820s or 1830s, and may be one of the oldest surviving greenhouses
in America. Originally, its south-facing side held a diagonal wall of glass
windows which collected heat and sunlight from Fall to Spring, growing
vegetables and fruit year-round.
Apparently, Battersea’s owners in the early 20th-century converted it into
a garage - the opening in the south wall is simply covered by large sheets of
plywood. Small, semi-circular glass windows are set in the attic areas of the
east and west walls. With its parapet-gabled walls and sophisticated brickwork, it is an architectural jewel, nearing two hundred years old.
Unfortunately, this rare and important building is failing structurally and
must be stabilized as soon as possible. The Board asked Enteros Design to
evaluate the structure and develop a plan for thestabilization and restoration
Battersea’s Orangery Today
(continued pg. 2)
of the Orangery. THE
PAGE 2
BULLETIN
Update from the Board President
Greetings!
We are so pleased to be able to announce that, after an exhaustive search, the
Foundation has hired a new Executive Director, A.G. Sapp. During the past few
weeks, A.G. and I have been meeting regularly to ensure a smooth transition for him.
Congratulations, A.G.!
During this bitter cold spell, we have suspended the masonry repairs, but not the
work of our architects and structural engineers who are busy designing the solutions
for stabilization of the Villa. You should expect a flurry of activity in March when
the weather is warmer.
Your Board and A.G. are now planning events for 2015 as a follow up to the successful Oyster Event. The monthly wine tastings kick off on March 6 as part of
Petersburg’s Friday at the Arts festivities. The Revolutionary War Re-enactment and
other activities on the grounds are scheduled for the weekend of April 18-19. John
Zeugner is organizing work parties in the Spring for volunteers interested in helping
us tackle both landscape and interior renovation projects. There is much to do.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter with its updates on our progress. See you soon at
Battersea.
Sandy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alexander C. Graham, Jr., President
Midlothian, Virginia
John J. Zeugner, Vice-President
Richmond, Virginia
Virginia R. Belcher, Treasurer
William W. Cole, Secretary
Yorktown, Virginia
S. Lee Ballenger
Petersburg, Virginia
William (Billy) G. Beville
Petersburg, VA
Martha A. Burton
Dinwiddie, VA
Roxane G. Gilmore
Richmond, VA
Genevieve P. Keller
Charlottesville, Virginia
Dr. Elisabeth S. Muhlenfeld
Richmond, Virginia
Larry S. Shifflett
Richmond, Virginia
Addison B. Thompson
Richmond, Virginia
Lawrence C. Tucker
Petersburg, Virginia
Harry J. Warthen, III
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Orangery Grant
With amazing speed and thoroughness,
Gil Emtzinger delivered the report
(cont’d from pg. 1)
Sketch of original configuration, by
Charles Phillips, Architect (2012)
Suzanne P. Wright
Petersburg, Virginia
Orangery Stabilization Specifications
to provide historically accurate and appropriate guidelines for saving Battersea’s
Orangery. This will be our guide for its reconstruction and restoration. Additionally,
an interpretive sign will be developed to identify the building and its age, explain its
use in colonial times, relate the structure to the property’s early owners, and
recognize the Roller-Bottimore Foundation and other funders of the restoration
project.
The Roller–Bottimore Foundation requires a 50-50% match for the grant, and
they must be new funds. If you are interested in flowers or herbs, plant-breeding or
gardening, or wish to make a gift in memory of a family member or loved one, this is a remarkable opportunity for you to support. We will be glad to show you the
building and discuss the various options available for your help!
THE
PAGE 3
BULLETIN
Oysters, Barbecue...Battersea! Third Annual Festival A Success!
The weatherman had forecast mostly rain for Saturday, November 1st, but instead, it drizzled a little in the morning,
and stayed cool and slightly overcast for the rest of the day. This did not deter more than two hundred Oyster-lovers
and Battersea fans, who came out to feast on roasted oysters and BBQ, enjoy special beers and wine, and take tours of
the Battersea villa. Old friends got reacquainted, new friends met and mixed, and all agreed that Battersea’s grounds
are a great place for gathering and socializing.
Photo by A.G. Sapp
Photo by A.G. Sapp
Photo by A.G. Sapp
Giant Pecan Tree Work
For a number of years, the VA Dept of Historic Landmarks and Battersea Board members have been watching a
huge Pecan Tree located about 50 feet northeast of the villa. Not only had several of its large limbs grown over the
eastern pavilion and hyphen, but the tree’s sheer height and mass would have crushed more than half of the house,
had high winds or a hurricane tipped it over.
The Board hired True-Timber of Richmond to remove the most threatening limbs, take off some of the top limbs (to
lower its center of gravity), and thin out the crown, to allow potential gale winds to pass through it, without pushing
the tree over.
The crew chief who climbed to the top said it was the biggest and tallest he had
ever seen -- about 120 feet high, he estimated. Thanks to the anonymous Board
member for paying for this preventative maintenance.
Photo by John Zeugner
Photo by Pam Covil
Photo by Pam Covil
PAGE 4
WINTER 2015
Will the Real John Banister Please Stand Up!
In our last newsletter, we revealed that a portrait of Col. John Banister, Battersea’s
builder had come to light, and it was to be donated to the Battersea Foundation by a
Banister descendant in Lynchburg. One of our Board members, Bill Cole, owner and
proprietor of the York River Inn Bed and Breakfast in Yorktown, volunteered to pick up
the painting from John Banister Stalling and deliver it to be examined by experts and art
conservators.
The painting was brought to several experts in Williamsburg, and to Cleo Mullins, at
Richmond Conservation Studio. Once the ornate oval frame was removed, Bill and the
conservators could clearly see the name “S. L. Mahood” on the lower left corner of the
painting. Sallie Lee (Blunt) Mahood (1864-1953), from Lynchburg, was a prominent
artist in the area, and she was known for her copying ability as well as for her original
paintings. More information on her, her family, and her career will be presented when
we put her painting on display in the new Petersburg Public Library in 2015.
Cleo and her colleagues believe that the painting was based on the etching of
Col. John Banister, by Henry Bryan Hall, one of 51 portraits published in 1873 of
The Members of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 (Virginia Delegates). A collection
of these prints is in the NY Public Library collection; the Banister print, still shown on
the Petersburg DAR website, is reproduced here.
So the painting we were given is old, but not painted from life, as we had hoped. However, at the end of November, we received another email from a woman in
Chuckey, Tennessee, who said she has traced her Banister lineage back to her fourth
great grandfather, Burrel Banister, whom she said was born on July 19th, 1779 in
Dinwiddie County, Virginia. She said his biography and grave marker shows he was
a son of Col. John Banister. This lady also directed us to several paintings which may
depict Col. Banister and/or members of his family. Obviously, much more detective
work needs to be done!
Fortunately, over the last few years, former Petersburg Judge Garland Bigley has been extensively researching the
Banister family tree. Part of her genealogical research will be incorporated into this year’s Banister exhibition at the
Petersburg Public Library, and a summary of her findings will be published in an upcoming issue of the Battersea
Bulletin.
Until then, keep shaking the branches of the Banister family tree, and keep a sharp eye open for that elusive, perhaps
still undiscovered (or unrecognized) portrait of patriot Col. John Banister!still undiscovered (or unrecognized) portrait
of patriot Col. John Banister!
Historic and Cultural Landscape Tours Coming
In the early 20th century, the geographer Otto Schlüter first formally used “cultural landscape” as an academic
term. Exploring the topic further, he differentiated two main forms of geography: the ‘original landscape’, shaped
by nature over time, and the ‘cultural landscape’, the landscape created or shaped by human culture.
Battersea Board Member John Zeugner will lead two tours of Battersea’s landscape, from its geologic history to
its recent cultural influences. First tour Saturday, March 14th, 3 pm sharp, (rain date Sunday, March 15, 3 p.m.);
second tour Sunday, April 11th, 3 pm sharp, (rain date Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m.); Tour cost, $15 per person, $25
per couple or family (Free to Battersea members). Group size limited to 15!
Participants must be able to walk varied terrain, walk distance of 1.5 miles - please wear hiking shoes! Bring
your own water bottle; handouts included. Meet in front of Villa -- front gate will be open for 15 mins before tour
starts. Please sign up in advance ASAP at [email protected]. John’s cell phone: 804-338-1543.
PAGE 5
WINTER 2015
YOUR BATTERSEA MEMBERSHIP AT WORK!
YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Did you know that your contributions have helped Battersea to:
• Restore the front porch and balustrade to its 1820s appearance
• Restore the roof, flashing and chimneys and repaired the roof jack arch in the west pavilion
• Make gutter and drainage improvements which successfully dried out the walls and the interior
• Use renowned structural engineers to create a clear roadmap for restoration
• Remove old stucco to expose work to be done this spring through a Cameron grant
• Cover and seal all windows with UV-protective storm windows
• Perform an archaeological survey of the entire property which established rich periods of Native American, Colonial
and early farming, manufacturing and industrial activities
While much of this progress has come from grants, nearly half of our funds are from individuals and families in Petersburg and
Central Virginia. We are thankful, too, for all the in-kind contributions and gifts of time and expertise from preservationists and
businesses throughout the area.
BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE!
Did you know that your membership contributions will help Battersea to:
• Support our operating expenses - salaries, insurance, security - so that we can utilize the grants we have successfully
earned for restoration
• Match our current challenge grant from Roller-Bottimore to help restore the Orangery or greenhouse, perhaps one of
the oldest horticultural buildings in America
• Restore each of our special rooms to the 1820s period and preserve the spectacular front hall with its renowned
Chinese Chippendale staircase
• Develop cultural activities at Battersea that will enrich not only Battersea but the surrounding Petersburg community.
MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY AND HELP BATTERSEA CONTINUE ITS PROGRESS.
NEW FRIENDS ARE WELCOME!
Yes, I want to help restore Battersea and support its mission of historic preservation, education, cultural interpretation and
sustainability ! Please check one...
Friend of Battersea: Restorer: $100-$249
Individual:
$ 25 Architect: $250-$499
Couple:
$ 50 Conservator $500-$999
Family $ 75 Palladian Circle $1,000 and above
Student/Teacher $ 10 Elmwood Guild $10,000 and above
Battersea Foundation is a 501(c)3 IRS-certified non-profit charity. Generally, all but $20 of your contribution is tax-deductable.
Please consult with your accountant, tax advisor or financial planner for specific guidelines.
Please mail your check and membership form to
BATTERSEA FOUNDATION, INC.
PO Box 101, Petersburg, VA 23804 Thank you for your generous support !
THE
BULLETIN
Battersea Public Events Calendar
The Battersea Foundation presents a . . . .
Photo courtesy Ron Roller
April 18th & 19th
24th Annual Revolutionary War Reenactment Units
Friday for the Arts
Wine Tasting at McIlwaine House
Friday, March 13th;
Friday, April 10th;
Come to Battersea to commemorate the 234th anniversary of the Battle
of Petersburg, where 1,100 men from the Virginia Militia fought and
repeatedly repulsed attacks from more than 2,500 British soldiers, on
April 24th, 1782.
Saturday, April 18th, 10 am - 5pm
Sunday, April 19th, 10 am - 4pm
Adults, $10; Military, $5; Children, 12 & under, free
And please check our website for news of additional activities! www.batterseafound.org
Battersea Foundation
P.O. Box 101, Petersburg, VA 23804