Even though Del. Ed Scott, R-Madison, is retiring, his family name is duly represented in the Virginia Capitol this holiday season.
That’s because his mother, Jane Scott, submitted the winning ornament, depicting Culpeper traditions, now hanging on the Christmas tree in the governor’s mansion in Richmond. To be fair, hers was the only submission received when the Culpeper Tourism Department solicited entries early this year for the statewide “Celebrating Virginia’s Localities” ornament contest.
Scott nonetheless created a cross-stitched decoration aptly highlighting seven notable aspects of Culpeper life – agriculture, historic homes, industries, tourism, Civil War battlefields, education and legendary churches.
“I love cross-stitching and creativity, but also, of course, with Ed retiring I thought it would be a nice something to try to do,” she said.
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At the center of her ornament is the Culpeper Courthouse, a historic building Scott said she feels represents the county. As for religion, she attends the nearly 250-year-old Culpeper Baptist Church.
“We have a lot of other historical churches, too,” Scott said. “Our faith is a major part of our life.”
Agriculture is also personally important.
“I am a dairy man’s daughter,” she said, adding, “If we don’t have farms, we don’t eat.”
There’s been a lot of emphasis on area Civil War battlefields lately, Scott said, with the 150th anniversary recently completed and serious talks about a creating a battlefield state park in Culpeper. Tourism and industry are both major sources of income for Culpeper, she added.
Scott has called Culpeper home since 1963 after being raised in nearby Loudon County on a farm that’s now a housing development.
“I can remember when Dulles Airport was Kincaid Dairy Farm,” she said.
Her son said he was not surprised his mother’s ornament is now hanging on the governor’s tree.
“Mom has always been crafty,” said Del. Scott. “She wanted to do something that would represent what you think about when you think about Culpeper.”
Culpeper Tourism Director Paige Read was pleased with the single ornament submission.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Mrs. Scott did a phenomenal job. It has such a level of detail.”
Numerous localities are represented on the tree situated in the main ballroom at the governor’s mansion and the theme continues throughout the public spaces with greenery from Virginia’s forests interspersed with agricultural products and natural resources from the diverse regions of the state.
Holiday tours of the mansion are open to the public, but end this week. Tour hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The mansion officially closes for the holidays Dec. 21.
James Barbour, of Orange County, was the first governor to reside in the Executive Mansion, built in 1813. Terry McAuliffe is the 55th governor to reside in the Executive Mansion, the oldest governor’s mansion in the U.S. built for that purpose, according to the National Park Service.
McAuliffe recently declared December Virginia Christmas Tree Month. The commonwealth is seventh in the top 10 states for total Christmas trees harvested, total tree acreage and number of operations, including numerous tree farms here in Culpeper County.
For retiring Del. Scott, the holiday holds a simple meaning.
“Christmas is a time when families get together,” he said.
Allison Brophy Champion is a news reporter for The Culpeper Star-Exponent. You can contact her at 540-825-0771 ext. 101 or abrophy@starexponent.com.