he home of one of Virginia’ s and West Virginia’ s founding families finds new life as a vibrant and beautiful events venue.

Any student of the south knows that the south is as much a state of mind as a geographical and physical place. Yes that state of mind has intimations of history but perhaps most importantly it means hospitality.

Sitting on the Chinese Chippendale railed back porch with Christopher and Anita Wszolek is case in point. There is homemade lemonade served in silver mint julip cups, bees are buzzing, cattle are grazing and Whiskers, the Maine Coon who cheekily sauntered in one day like he owned the place, is circling around your legs and vying for attention. There is really no

place like home.

Home in this case is Elmwood, a stately Jeffersonian manor that was built in the 1830’ s by Thomas Jefferson’ s brick mason, William B. Phillips. The red brick that was used to construct the house was fired and formed on the property( a Jefferson influence since he liked to use local materials). The beautiful façade with its colonnade and wide

front limestone steps is a regal example of early nineteenth century Greek revival architecture and Jefferson’ s classicism and Palladian influence. Perhaps what is most magical about Elmwood is the setting. A pristine backdrop of rolling fields, ancient trees and boxwood and meandering paths that lead to dependencies and English style gardens.

“ We have always been a bit

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