I don’t know her real name, but she went by Mrs. Claus. I was visiting at a nursing home in Mayfield, Kentucky sometime in the late 1990s. They had an activity for residents to play the part of Santa, or Mrs. Claus, and take Christmas requests from children on the phone. I was carrying a Canon T-90 SLR loaded with Kodak B&W Tri-x film and a Vivitar 283 flash unit, which I bounced off the ceiling and a white index card for fill light.
There were other residents, too, dressed for the part and reading scripts for the children. They would answer the phone with a hearty “Ho, Ho, Ho! What is your name?” Mrs. Claus would introduce herself and let the kids know that Santa was out feeding the Reindeer, but she would let him know what gift they wanted for Christmas.
This Mrs. Claus caught my attention and she truly seemed to be enjoying playing the part. I snapped a few frames, and knew I had the shot that I wanted. The B&W shot is a favorite of mine for Christmas. However, this year I decided to see what it might look like in color. I played around with it for a while in Photoshop, trying to get the effect of a hand colored photo. I hope you like it. Merry Christmas!
SCV members fire a Civil War cannon at a community social, Union, Monroe County, WV. (Click on image for larger photo).
Sometimes great shots aren’t planned. Many of you know that I like shots with clouds. When I left the house there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but I had a couple of cameras with me anyway, as is usual. I had some errands to run, and the dogs were almost out of their favorite dog food, so I knew I would have to pick up a few cans before returning home. I made it to Union (WV) and stopped at the grocery and picked up a few items. By the time I was out of the store, clouds were filling the sky and I decided to drive by some of the town’s historic homes and structures. As I neared the northern edge of town, I noticed Confederate flags flying at the Confederate War Memorial, and I decided to check it out.
A shot of the Monroe County Confederate Soldiers Monument taken in June, 2020 (Click on image for larger photo).
A few men and a woman in uniforms and Civil War period dress were milling around the monument that honors Monroe County’s Confederate soldiers. I found out that Beirne Chapman Camp 148 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was having a social. People were coming and going, as reenactors answered questions about local history, and their activities to honor and remember the young men of Monroe County that fought for the Southern cause. The group was there to celebrate their second anniversary.
SCV Beirne Chapman Camp 148 members pose for a photo at a community social, Union, Monroe County, WV. (Click on image for larger photo).
The location of the Confederate monument, is directly across US 219 from Elmwood Estate. In 1864, some 10,000 Union troops, under the command of Gen. George Crook occupied Union for five days and looted the elegant Southern mansion, which has been restored, and is now a venue for weddings and other events. The Union soldiers camped in the fields around Elmwood, where the Confederate monument now stands, and the events of today were going on.
A member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans group, Commander Steve Dransfield, asked if I was going to stay for the cannon to be fired. They were going to be firing a Civil War era cannon as part of their historical display. That was something I didn’t want to miss. I walked around and snapped a few shots while they readied the gun. I was hoping to catch the muzzle blast. I knew that it had to be perfectly timed, as there wouldn’t be a second chance.
SCV Beirne Chapman Camp 148 members pose for a photo at a community social, Union, Monroe County, WV. (Click on image for larger photo).
I shot a few images of their rountine. The men covered their ears and I prepared to shoot. I heard the command, “Fire.” My shutter clicked and I heard the boom. I shot a couple more images, as they finished up.
As the men came near, one asked if I had caught the muzzle blast. I hit the button on the back of camera to review the images, and went back a couple of frames. I showed him the viewfinder. Yes, I had got the muzzle blast. It was better than I had expected. I knew that I had the shot that I wanted. I shot a few more frames and then headed home to process the images, feed the dogs and work on this article.
The estate house at Elmwood was built in the 1830s. (Click on image for larger photo).
Fall has arrived in Monroe County, WV and the colors are approaching peak.It’s a great time for photography, and other outdoor activities. It’s perfect for Driving Back Roads. I can’t think of a better place to be this time of year.
Elmwood was built by Thomas Jefferson’s best mason, William B. Phillips. (Click on image for larger photo).
A view of Elmwood from across US 219 at Union Presbyterian Church. (Click on image for larger photo).
Chris Wszolek let me know that the autumn colors were bright and vivid at his place in Union, and kindly offered to let me walk around and shoot some photos. He and his wife, Anita, call Elmwood Estate home. It’s easily one of the most recognizable historic homes in Monroe County, if not the state. They bought the farm in 2001 and saved the magnificent Greek Revival home and associated structures from years of neglect. Today, the buildings have been restored, and the property serves as a wedding and events venue. Another home on the estate serves as an Airbnb. The Wszoleks are very much into historic preservation, and are doing their part for Union and the surrounding area. They have also purchased other historic homes and revived and refitted them for modern needs, while letting them retain their historic integrity.
The original home on the property, built in approx. 1808-1810 for Hugh Caperton, was converted to barn for working horses years ago. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places. (Click on image for larger photo).
My wife and I pulled into the long lane leading up to the historic home. It was early afternoon, and the sun lit the trees, which were in rich autumn shades. I opened the back door of the truck and pulled out a couple of cameras and a monopod and we started to walk around.
Me posing with an old Oliver tractor. It reminded me of one we had on the farm in Kentucky, when I was a kid. (Click on image for larger photo).
One can only image scenes from the past that have played out here. The Greathouse at Elmwood was built in the 1830s by Thomas Jefferson’s best mason, William B. Phillips for Hugh Caperton. The original Elmwood was a brick structure located behind the main house,built around 1808-1810 for the Caperton family. It was later converted to a barn to house work horses. The brick barn is on the National Register of Historic Places.
An old restored Oliver tractor sat under a side shed of the brick barn. It remined me of one we had back on the farm in Kentucky, whenI was a kid. My wife snapped my picture with it. A 1952 Chevy pickup sat in the garage. Chris brings it to Kittles Hardware store in downtown Union on Saturdays, which they own and operate.
Bathroom facilities at Elmwoood with their autumn surroundings. (Click on image for larger photo).
Fall colors at Elmwood are awesome, but also all around Monroe County and the surrounding area.One would do good to pick any back road and drive. Monroe County will not disappoint.
More information about Elmwood and Monroe County, WV can be found below in the following links:
