©2005-2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : The original 2005 cast & crew of The Homecoming at The Hamner Theater in Nelson County, Virginia. The theater was established in Earl Hamner's honor in 2005. The Homecoming is currently on stage there until December 18th. Earl Hamner talks about his Christmas story this Thursday on the radio with NCL publisher Tommy Stafford.

Afton, Virginia
Memphis, Tennessee
If you are from Nelson County you know about the The Homecoming. If you aren’t from Nelson County, you probably still know about The Homecoming. This December marks 6 years of stage productions at The Hamner Theater in Afton, VA. The theater was established in honor of Nelson County native Earl Hamner, Jr from Schuyler. His Homecoming inspired the long running CBS television series, The Waltons. The stage production of The Homecoming is currently playing until December 18th at The Hamner Theater. This is a must see!

This Thursday – December 8th, Earl Hamner and NCL Publisher, Tommy Stafford will be on the radio in Memphis, Tennessee for an hour and a half talking about The Homecoming, Earl’s Christmas memories from here in Nelson, and much, much more. Tommy is frequently on the radio back in Memphis as part of The Earle Farrell Radio Show in the afternoons. Memphis is where Tommy began his television news and weather career.

You don’t have to be in range of a radio to hear the broadcast, simply head on over the www.kwam990.com on Thursday afternoon starting at 4:30 PM EST to listen to the live stream and hear Earl talk all about Nelson!

All Photos By Woody Greenberg : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Actor Richard Thomas (right) who played John Boy Walton in the television series The Waltons, presents a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award to Nelson native, Earl Hamner, Jr this past Saturday October 15, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia
By Woody Greenberg

The 14th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards Celebration honored Earl Hamner with its Literary Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday, Oct. 15 held at the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

The event was hosted by noted Virginia author Adriana Trigiani, who said she grew up in Big Stone Gap with six brothers and sisters watching “The Waltons”, which was about a similarly sized Virginia family. She said she was inspired by Hamner to become a writer and said other Virginia writers learned a great deal from him.

“Earl taught us how to desribe something, how to tell a story, how to be truthful and was never ashamed to have a big heart,” Triginiani told the overflow crowd, which included best-selling authors David Baldacci and John Casey as well as former Gov. Linwood Holton. She read passages from “Spencer’s Mountain” which was the basis for “The Homecoming” and “The Waltons” tv series.

Schuyler Virginia's Earl Hamner with Adriana Trigiani and Richard Thomas at awards event.

Triginiani introduced a surprise guest,l actor Richard Thomas, whose first great success was playing “John-Boy” on “The Waltons.”

“Earl is the one person in my life responsible for the success I’ve had,” said Thomas, who has appeared on Broadway numerous times, has directed a number of Shakespearian plays, and has starred in many movies. “With ‘The Waltons’ we got to do not just a tv series but American short stories,” he said, adding that Hamner’s stamp was on every show.

Earl Hamner speaks to guests this past Saturday October 15th in Richmond as Richard Thomas and Adriana Triginani look on.

Nelson County, Virginia native, Earl Hamner at Saturday's presentation in Richmond, VA

Hamner thanked his brothers and sisters, three of whom were in the audience, Jane, his wife of 57 years as of Oct. 16, and his two children, Caroline and Scott, who also attended. He told several jokes about getting old and ended with a passage from “Spencer’s Mountain” as a teenage Clay-Boy leaves his family to go off to college.

See more pictures that Woody took at Friday night’s reception leading up to the award presentation by clicking here.

Congrats again Earl!

Photos By Woody Greenberg : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Earl Hamner, Jr. (second from left) chats it up this past Friday night at a reception in Richmond with David Pounds (left) and Scott Lucas, owners of Waltons Mountain B&B in Schuyler, and longtime friend Judy Greenberg of Nelson County, Virginia.

Richmond, Virginia
A little over 88 years ago, Earl Hamner of Nelson County was born in Schuyler. Since then the man has accomplished a lifetime of work seen all over the world. Saturday October 15th, Earl will received a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia for his work.

Hamner grew up in Schuyler, Virginia, with seven brothers and sisters. From an early age he exhibited a love of words and writing. When he was six his poem, “My Dog” was published on the Children’s Page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. His potential was recognized and he received encouragement from his teachers and members of
the tight-knit community.

Earl Hamner with son Scott to his left and wife Jane (immediate right) along with daughter Caroline at Friday night's reception in Richmond.

Hamner received a scholarship to the University of Richmond, but midway through his sophomore year Hamner was drafted. He spent time learning to drive tanks and defuse mines, but his ability to type landed him in the Quartermaster Corps. While in the U.S. Army Hamner began to submit stories for publication.
After his discharge in March 1946 he returned to Richmond and briefly worked for local radio station WMBG. In the fall of 1946 Hamner enrolled in the school of broadcasting at the University of Cincinnati and graduated in 1948.

Shortly after graduation Hamner went to New York City and found work as a radio writer for NBC. His first book, Fifty Roads to Town, was published by Random House in 1953 and in 1961 his novel Spencer’s Mountain was published by Dial Press. He began writing scripts for episodes of the Twilight Zone and CBS Playhouse. The film rights to Spencer’s Mountain were purchased by Warner Bros. and Hamner was on his way as a success in Hollywood. In 1970 The Homecoming was published by Random House and became a CBS special starring Patricia Neal and later was the basis of the long-running and hugely popular television series The Waltons. Hamner garnered additional fame as a writer for Falcon Crest, a prime time soap opera, which aired on CBS from 1981 to 1990.

Earl with sisters Nancy Jamerson Hamner, Audrey Hamner and brother Paul Hamner.

Thanks to Woody Greenberg for sending the pics along!

Congrats Earl!

Portions of the text from Library of Virginia release.

©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Emergency and law enforcement units on the scene near Schuyler, Virginia Thursday afternoon October 6, 2011.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia

Updated 6:30PM EDT
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks has released the identity of a man pulled from the quarry Thursday afternoon. He is identified as 24 year old Earl Aleksander Miller of Adail Road in Nelson County.

Original Post
Sheriff Brooks says he’s confident the death of Miller was not the result of foul play but most likely self inflicted. “Many pieces of evidence at the scene and other forms of evidence we found lead us to believe this was not done by someone else,” Sheriff Brooks continued.

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department dive team assisted Nelson authorities in the investigation.

Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks confirms to NCL that his agency is working a scene at this hour along Route 800 in the Schuyler portion of East Nelson County, Virginia. “We received a call about an abandoned car near the old quarry in Schuyler. At first it appeared a cell phone was lying on the windshield outside of the car, but on our arrival we found out it was a GPS,” Sheriff Brooks tells NCL.

The sheriff went on to say they found a jacket near the top of the quarry and are confident a body is in the water.

Divers work to recover what is believed to be a body from the abandoned quarry near Schuyler, VA on Thursday afternoon October 6th, 2011

“At this point we don’t suspect foul play, but are treating the entire area as a crime scene to be completely safe,” Sheriff Brooks continued,

More as we know it.

Nelson County, Virginia
Below is a verbatim press release issued by the Virginia State Police:

NELSON COUNTY, Va. – Marijuana eradication efforts are well underway across the Commonwealth this summer. On Tuesday, Aug. 2, Virginia State Police with the assistance of Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents seized approximately 5,400 marijuana plants within Nelson County.

The day began with the discovery of a significant crop of marijuana in the Schuyler area of the county. Investigators confiscated 5,204 marijuana plants from an isolated, wooded location.

Later in the day, throughout the county, multiple smaller plots were located and a couple hundred more plants were removed by police.

Arrests are pending as the investigation into each plot continues at this time.

These operations are part of the Governor’s Initiative Against Narcotics Trafficking (G.I.A.N.T.), a collaborative effort among state agencies to eradicate marijuana production and distribution within the Commonwealth.

Anyone with information on any of the plots discovered today or anyone who would like to report a marijuana plot is encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police Appomattox Division toll-free at 1-800-552-0962.

©2011 www.nelsoncountylfe.com : Earl Hamner during a visit with us here at NCL a few years ago.

Studio City, California

Today marks 88 years that Nelson’s native son, Earl Hamner has been on this earth. Ironically it’s the wedding anniversary of Tommy & Yvette Stafford too! A great day! Earl Hamner, Jr. was born on July 10, 1923 in Schuyler, Virginia.

Earl is best known for creating the long running series, The Waltons on CBS. Though he has a very long list of other career accomplishments spanning his entire life. Just within the past few weeks it was announced that Earl will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia.

Via earlhamner.com: Nelson County native Earl Hamner, writer of novels, television shows, and movies and the force behind the semiautobiographical television series The Waltons, will receive the 2011 Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia at the 14th Annual Literary Awards Celebration on October 15, 2011.

You’ve seen some of the columns in our NCL magazine over the years that Earl has written. We continue to stay in touch with him to this day. We talk by phone at least every month or so just to see what’s happening on each side of the country. For decades Earl has been living out west in Studio City, California. Though he still thinks of his birthplace, Schuyler, as his home.

©2009 NCL Magazine : Nelson County, Virginia native, Earl Hamner, Jr. turns 86 years old today. He was born on this date back in 1923 in Schuyler. Here he sits on the steps of his old home place back in Schuyler.

Happy Birthday Earl from all of back here in Nelson!

Our previous birthday coverage here. And here. And here.

Te read more about Earl visit his blog here.

Photos By Hayley Osborne : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Mary McDonough (left) poses with one of her many fans this past weekend in Schuyler, Virginia. Mary played Erin Walton in the long running series, The Waltons. Based loosely on the life of Earl Hamner, Jr. from Schuyler.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
Fans from near and far descended on Schuyler this past weekend to get a chance to meet Mary McDonough who played Erin Walton in the long running CBS television series, The Waltons.

“I’ll always be a Walton,” said the former child star who is still a prominent actress and now a published author of Lessons from the Mountain: What I learned from Erin Walton. “That’s why I wrote [the book]. There are so many loyal fans and I wanted to share with them all of the lovely memories and the lovely behind-the-scenes antics. And the other reason is the lessons I have learned.”

NCL Photographer, Hayley Osborne and writer, Jennie T Williams, got the chance to speak and photograph Mary when she was back in Schuyler. Mary talked with Jennie about her life on The Waltons and beyond. Hayley got the chance to walk down memory lane with Mary in Schuyler during her photoshoot. Mary was there signing her new book at Waltons’ Mountain County Store.

An endless line of people wait outside Walton's Mountain Country Store in Schuyler, Virginia for a chance to meet Mary McDonough and have her sign her new book, Lessons From The Mountain.

Mary peeks out the upstairs bedroom window of Earl Hamner, Jr's boyhood home in Schuyler, Virginia. The home and his life are the focus of the long running CBS television series.

We’ll share lots more with you about Mary’s visit back to Schuyler and about a new book Earl Hamner just released. All of that in our June 2011 issue coming out late this month!

Mary McDonough who played Erin Walton on the long running CBS television series, The Waltons, will be in Schuyler The Waltons' Mountain Country Story this weekend.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
By Jennie T. Williams

Many Nelsonians (and, to be fair, many Americans) of a certain age (and, to be inclusive, of pretty much all ages) grew up learning important life lessons from watching The Waltons on television.

Mary McDonough grew up learning those same important life lessons from being a Walton on television.
And now she’s written a book to help us non-Waltons feel even more like part of the family.

Mary, who played Erin Walton on the long-running television series based on the writings of hometown hero Earl Hamner, was cast as Erin when she was just 10 years old. Though the show (which aired from 1971 to 1981) and movies were set in 1930s and 1940s Nelson County, Mary didn’t set foot in the county until 1992 for a Walton’s reunion. And she hasn’t been able stop coming since.
“I love it!” she said.

Mary will be back 1 p.m. May 14 at Walton’s Mountain Bed & Breakfast in Schuyler to sign copies of her new book, Lessons from the Mountain: What I learned from Erin Walton.

For more information, visit www.waltonsmountaincountrystore.com or www.marymcdonough.com.

All Photos Courtesy of INSP : ©2010 www.insp.com : Nelson County, VA native and The Waltons creator, Earl Hamner, Jr. on the set with the original cast members of the popular television series. A special television reunion is set for October 18th. Click on images to enlarge.

Los Angeles, California
For roughly two years fans of The Waltons have not been able to view the highly popular series in reruns. The long running CBS television series was created by Nelson County, Virginia native, Earl Hamner, Jr. who was born and raised in Schuyler. The show was loosely based on his childhood in the Eastern Nelson County community. On October 18th a special reunion featuring many of the original cast members will air on a new cable television network called, INSP, short for Inspiration. The special television reunion will air at 7PM EDT followed at 8PM by the very first episode of The Waltons. According to a promotion placed on YouTube, reruns will then air on the network.

Nelson County native, Earl Hamner, Jr. on the INSP reunion set.

The above video is a behind the scenes look at the filming of the special Waltons Reunion that will air October 18th on INSP.

Ralph Waite (center seated) who played John Walton in the series and Michael Learned (right) who played Olivia Walton, go over notes with a member of the production staff during the shooting of the reunion series.

Unfortunately, according to INSP’s cable system finder, the television network is not currently available in the Nellysford 22958 / or Lovingston 22949 zip on cable or in the 22902 zip for Charlottesville, but does show available on DirecTV Channel 364 and DishTV Channel 259.

©2009-2010 : www.nelsoncountylife.com : Marina Childs of Afton with one of the animals at Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary in our September 2009 story. Click to enlarge.

Charlottesville/Schuyler, VA
We first told you about The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary in our September 2009 issue of Nelson County Life Magazine. Click here to see that article.

Since that article last fall, the sanctuary has some great news!

The Perry Foundation has awarded a $50,000 Challenge Grant for the renovation of a barn on the grounds of Miller School for use by Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary. This award is contingent on a successful capital campaign with a goal of $118,000. Using this catalyst gift, grants from other foundations and donations from individuals must be raised to match, several times over, this important contribution to Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary’s growth. The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary board is committed to cultivating the relationships necessary to make this effort successful. The capital campaign began with 100% of the board making capacity gifts to meet the challenge made by The Perry Foundation.

Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary seeks to expand to an additional permanent and sustainable location that allows for additional and improved facilities and the infrastructure needed to rehabilitate more injured and orphaned wild animals, and in the future, to educate more people about their habitat needs. A successful capital campaign will raise the necessary funds to renovate the existing barn, create safe, species-specific outdoor caging and begin development of an educational curriculum in collaboration with the Miller School faculty.

In 2004, Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary was built around its founder’s family home. Baby animals soon took over an upstairs guest bedroom and animal diet shared the kitchen with human diet. Over twelve cages now house animals in the yard of the house, including a large cage for hawks. At any given time, the family shares space and duties with three college interns, animal care volunteers and sanctuary staff. In 2008, the Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary Board decided to expand the sanctuary to a more suitable and sustainable site. The Miller School, a private school in Batesville, offered to provide acreage and an abandoned barn for just this purpose.

More from our 2009 story The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary. Click image above to read more.

“A collaborative partnership between these two organizations has significant potential to enhance the operations of both. We are excited to move substantial operations to the beautiful grounds of the Miller School”, reports Nathou Attinger, Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary founder and president.

Miller School students will benefit from an experiential learning site that will provide educational opportunities to students in the areas of math, biology, chemistry, ecology and the environment. Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary will be able to care for significantly more injured and orphaned wild animals, increase its educational programming in the future and improve its facilities. The Miller School and Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary have initiated this collaboration with a five year lease with an option to renew for at least another five years.

The existing barn on the Miller School property will be renovated so that the orphaned and newly injured wildlife can be cared for there, rather than in Schuyler (where the older animals awaiting release will continue their rehabilitation). Renovation will require a new roof on the barn, a well and septic system, and work on the inside of the barn to create a nursery, staff area, bathroom, and storage facilities. In addition, outside cages and a fenced area will created.

Eventually, the Sanctuary will develop the infrastructure necessary for its larger education mission, building an education center for visiting school groups with a parking area and trail to the main buildings and outdoor classrooms. A curriculum will be developed to train Miller School students to serve as assistants to the wildlife rehabilitators, and also as docents for visiting school groups. Finally, outreach programs will bring education animals to other schools and facilities to educate the public about the needs of wildlife and the importance of habitat protection.

The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 2004 with a mission to:
Provide care for injured and orphaned wildlife while they are being prepared for release back into the wild;
Inform our fellow citizens about what to do when they find an injured or orphaned wild animal, and who to contact for help with the animal; and,
Educate the citizens of Central Virginia about the habitats and needs of native wildlife.

Since the organization’s founding, the annual census has increased every year and Sanctuary staff have rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of animals back into the wild. In 2009, Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary cared for 625 individual animals including songbirds, turtles, raccoons, chimney swifts, hawks, owls and opossum, among many other species. Animals come into care through direct referral and through the Wildlife Center of Virginia, which provides acute care to injured animals and depends on wildlife rehabilitators to nurse animals back to health and manage appropriate release

Photo via Nelson County Sheriff's Department : Jason Todd Cash was apprehended Thursday night near Schuyler, Virginia.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
After nearly two months on the run Todd Cash was apprehended Thursday night by lawmen. “He was captured in the Schuyler area on the Albemarle side late last night,” says Nelson County, Virgina Sheriff, David Brooks.

Cash was wanted on a list of several different charges listed below in earlier coverage.

Earlier story:
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County Sheriff, David Brooks, says his agency is looking for the man pictured above. Jason Todd Cash is wanted in connection with several felonies he committed back on January 24th. We first told you about the search by lawmen here.

Here’s the information Sheriff Brooks sent over this morning:

Jason Todd Cash
35 year old white male
5 ft 5 in tall
Blue eyes
Blonde hair

Last known address is 234 Midland Rd, Buckingham, Co. Mr. Cash also has connections in Nelson Co & Amherst Co.

Any information leading to his whereabouts, please contact the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office at 434-263-7050 or 877-570-8477(TIPS) Anonymous tip line

Wanted by Nelson County Sheriff’s Department on the following charges:
1- Felony – Assault & Batter by ramming vehicle
2- Felony – Attempt to kill police officer
3- Felony – Elude police officer
4- Felony – Driving habitual offender
5- Misdemeanor – Property damage less than $1000
6- Misdemeanor – Reckless Driving

©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photo provided by NCSO. Nelson Sheriff, David Brooks, says Bill Packard of Schuyler is charged with stealing donations.

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
A grieving Nelson family was shocked to find that a donation jar they placed in a local store to help raise money for a friend’s final burial expenses had been stolen. “A donation jar was placed at Nelson Food Mart in Lovingston to raise money for a deceased friend who was cremated. On January 2nd a white male walked into the Food Mart, and said he was collecting the jar to deliver it to the appropriate person. On Monday January 4th the mother and daughter went to the store to collect the donation jar and discovered it had been taken,” Nelson County Sheriff, David Brooks, tells NCL.

Sheriff Brooks went on to say the store clerk told the mother and daughter that the jar had been picked up by Bill Packard, age 49 of Schuyler, Virginia.

Sheriff Brooks says Packard was arrested on Tuesday – January 5th and is being held with no bond, charged with larceny.

An initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday – January 6th.

Anyone wishing to help out may send donations to:
(The Late) Russel Hudson
c/o Karen Truslow
55 Simpson Place
Faber, VA 22938

©2009 All Photos www.nelsoncountylife.com : By Lee Luther, Jr : Our June 2009 magazine spread about the renovated Harris Bridge power plant near Schuyler, Virginia. Click any photo to enlarge.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
We first told you about Jack Eggleston’s hydroelectric plant near Schuyler, VA in our June 2009 printed edition of Nelson County Life Magazine. Our story, Sweat Equity, was written by Aaron Lee and photographed by Lee Luther, Jr.

Jack Eggleston works inside the power plant back in the summer of 2009.

Recently Central Virginia Electric Cooperative in Arrington reached an agreement with Blue Sky Power to purchase the hydroelectric plant. “The plant was a natural fit for our Cooperative. It is located in the heart of our service territory, has withstood the high waters of Hurricane Camille and still has decades of useful life in its future. We expect it to serve our members for years to come,” said Gary Wood, CVEC President and CEO. The facility listed for $400,000.00 according to information posted on the pennlaird.com website with photos and information about the plant. The final purchase price was not disclosed as of this story.

The inside of the hydroelectric plant near Schuyler, Virginia.

In a news release, CVEC is classifying the 88 year-old hydroelectric power generation plant, situated on the Rockfish River in Nelson County, Virginia as a green energy source being added to its wholesale energy supply. The plant is one of the first electric power generation facilities in a largely rural county and was constructed to serve the needs of a nearby soapstone factory and the residents of Schuyler, Virginia. One of those residents was Earl Hamner, author and creator of the popular television show “The Waltons” that recounted the boyhood experiences of the author as he grew up in Schuyler.

Outside the power plant during the summer of 2009.

CVEC says, while the Harris Bridge Plant has a long history of service, it is also ready to meet future expectations of cleaner energy production, now that is has been rehabilitated by Blue Sky Power. The facility was certified in 2009 as having a low impact on the environment by the Low-Impact Hydropower Institute. The plant, as presently configured, will generate approximately 1,000,000 KWH’s of electricity and prevent about 500 tons of carbon emissions a year.

Concrete inscription on the old plant dating back to the early 1920's.

The plant went dormant for a number of years after the decline of the soapstone plant until it was repaired and restarted in the early 1980’s. Blue Sky Power, took on the project of renovating the plant in 2005, refurbishing the old generating equipment and installing new hydraulic control equipment. “Having completed the renovations and put this plant back in service, we are pleased to entrust it to CVEC because we know they will be good stewards of the project,” said Jack Eggleston, President of Blue Sky Power.

Blue Sky Power develops renewable power generation projects. Since its founding in 2005, Blue Sky has led and participated in over a dozen solar and hydroelectric projects with generation capacities from 0.5 to 10 MW.

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties.

Nelson Photographer, Ann Strober, has been selling a 2010 calendar with some of her best work. Part of the proceeds benefit The Rockfish Willdlife Sanctuary near Schuyler, Virginia

Nellysford/Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
Back in our September 2009 issue (#54 – page 25) we told you about The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary near Schuyler, Virginia. Since then local photographer and bird enthusiast, Ann Strober has been working on a 2010 calendar with some of her best work included in the calendar. She’s already sold out of the initial printing a few times. We bought ours just this past weekend! You’ve seen many of Ann’s great photos in our daily weather and many more archived in our online weather photo galleries here and here. Ann’s calendar does include some of her favorite bird shots, but there are plenty of other breathtaking scenes as well.

Our spread on The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary from the September 2009 issue. Click on photo to read the entire story..

The sanctuary was established in 2004 and is considered a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary providing care for orphaned and injured wildlife from anywhere in Virginia.

Some of the many photos in Ann's 2010 calendar which helps The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary.

The cover of Ann's calendar.

The January section of the 2010 calendar.

If you are interested in getting one of the calendars to help benefit The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, the cost is $20. You can contact Ann via email by clicking here Or by calling: 434.361.1891

Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Earl Hamner, Jr (right) walks with Carolyn Grinnell, President of The Waltons Int'l Fan Club, from his boyhood church Saturday morning in Schuyler. Virginia. : Click on any photos to enlarge.

Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia
Decades after leaving Nelson County, Earl Hamner, Jr. comes back as often as he can. He was born in Schuyler, Virginia in 1923. We first told you about Earl’s return last week when he made an appearance at The Hamner Theater in Afton. The theater was named in his honor in 2005. Earl is the creator of The Waltons, a highly popular television series based on his childhood growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Nelson County. Over the weekend in Schuyler as part of a Walton’s International Fan Club event, Earl along with actor, Jon Walmsley (he played Jason on the television series) accompanied Earl back to his birth town of Schuyler.

Hamner, Grinnell, and Walmsley sit on the front porch of the house in Schuyler where Earl grew up as a young man. The house was just renovated and opened for a tour Saturday.

A crowd of fans wait outside the Hamner home place in Schuyler on Saturday.

Fans gather near the porch of the Hamner house to chat with Earl and Jon.

Before heading over to the restored childhood home of Hamner, a special chruch service was held inside The Schuyler Baptist Church where Earl attended church as a young boy in the 30's

Earl clutches an old light fixture preserved from the original church, given to him Saturday as a memento. Jon Walmsley watches in the background from a piano where he played hymns for the crowd.

Hamner was greeted by a packed house at The Schuyler Baptist Church Saturday morning.

Jon Walmsley plays the piano at Saturday's event in Schuyler. His wife Marion is to his left.

Rev. Tom Fowler and Earl sing from a hymnal at Saturday morning's special service in Schuyler.

Earl poses on the porch of his childhood home in Schuyler with his remaining siblings, the fan club president and Jon Walmsley with his wife Marion on the far right.

Jon Walmsley (Jason) chats with a fan inside the old Hamner house in Schuyler.

Folks pile into The Waltons Mountain B & B Gift Shop Saturday during Earl's visit back to Schuyler.

After leaving Schuyler, Earl headed to the Nelson County Museum of History where a special display of memorabilia was on display honoring Earl for his work.

Earl looks over an emmy he received for his television work. It is on display at the museum. Woody Greenberg with the museum and a close personal friend of Earl's is in the background.

Earl along with his real life sister, Audrey and Paul Saunders look at a picture of Audrey she discovered in Paul's book, Heartbeats of Nelson.

After visiting the museum, it was back to Charlottesville for a reunion dinner at The Doubletree. From there Earl heads to New York where he met his wife Jane decades ago, and later married. They will be celebrating their anniversary before heading back home to California.