• May 24, 2012: “150 Years Ago…On This Day” Tour – The Running Fight on the Valley Pike (Middletown) – Presented by Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
• May 25, 2012: “150 Years Ago…On This Day” Tour – The First Battle of Winchester (Winchester)
• May 25, 2012: “History at Sunset” – The First Battle of Winchester (Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester) – Presented by the MSV and Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
• May 27, 2012: Clarke County Memorial Day Service (Berryville)
• June 9-10, 2012: Reenactment of Cross Key and Port Republic (Cedar Creek Battlefield, Middletown) – Presented by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.

In addition, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s major regional event, “If This Valley is Lost”: Preserving the Legacy of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign, will be held in Cross Keys on June 9.

Visit Shenandoah at War for the full list of events related to Jackson’s Valley Campaign.

Visit the album on Picasa.

PHW is still accepting donations and volunteers for the program. Donations can be made at the PHW website via PayPal or via mail to PHW at 530 Amherst St. Winchester, VA 22601. Persons interested in volunteering, please contact Nancy Murphy at nvmurphy556@gmail.com.

This vintage postcard, along with several other Apple Blossom-themed cards from the Shenandoah Valley and beyond, is for sale at CardCow.com.

Last year for National Preservation Month, Preservation of Historic Winchester (PHW) and the Old Town Development Board (OTDB) sponsored an architectural treasure hunt challenging you to find interesting architectural features in our historic district. This year, it’s your turn to wow us with your architectural finds and maybe win a little something, too!

To get some further ideas and guidelines, please visit our 2012 contest page at www.phwi.org/contest12.php. Below are the core rules:

How to Play
1. Take a picture of an interesting architectural detail in your home or visible from a public right of way in Winchester or Frederick County. Anything is fair game — a mantel, staircase, lock set, a window, trim, or something else.
2. Give your photo a brief caption to describe what you found and where it is. No technical terminology required!
3. Fill out the contact information (name, address, telephone number, and optionally e-mail) and include it with your entry.
4. Send your complete entry (photo, caption, and contact information) to PHW at phwi@verizon.net or 530 Amherst St. Winchester, VA 22601.
5. The contest runs from May 1 to June 1, 2012.

How to Win
1. Every person who submits a photo with complete information will be entered into a random drawing for a chance at one of four prize bags from downtown Winchester businesses. (More prizes may be available.)
2. A panel of PHW judges will also pick a “PHW’s Choice” winner for an outstanding and eye-catching submission.
3. You may submit an unlimited number of entries, but your name will be entered just once for the random drawing.
4. Winners will be announced at the PHW Annual Meeting on June 10, 2012.

Legal information
1. This contest is open to the general public and all age categories. Minors, please have an adult help you with your submission!
2. PHW and OTDB employees, board members, and their immediate families are excluded from the prize drawings.
3. By submitting a complete entry to the contest, you consent to the use of your name and/or photograph in any educational materials, merchandise or publicity carried out or produced by PHW or OTDB without further notice or compensation. In turn, you still retain the rights to use and publish your photograph.

For any questions, please contact us at PHW, (540) 667-3577 or phwi@verizon.net. And remember: have fun!

Keep an eye out for the contest rules at the PHW blog and website, as well as our May edition of the PHW printed newsletter. We think you’re going to like it!

Download a nomination form at www.phwi.org/issues/award.pdf. Nominations are due at the PHW office, 530 Amherst St., Winchester, VA 22601 or via email at phwi@verizon.net by May 1, 2012.

To prepare for the event, the office will be closed promptly at 2 PM tomorrow, Friday the 13th. We will check in at the office on Saturday afternoon before the event for any last minute questions that arise.

Suggested parking map for Manhattan(s) in Winchester – click image to enlarge. On street parking is available on West Cork, South Washington, Wolfe, and South Braddock Streets. There are several nearby lots, including the Braddock Street United Methodist Church lot, the Valley Health Rehab Center lot, and the City-owned Cork, Palace, and Hable lots (map of City lots available here).

We’ll see you there on Saturday!

What wonderful and overdue news about the Taylor Hotel!

Many despaired anything — other than demolition — would be done with the Taylor. The grim shell greeted residents and visitors alike as a rebuke to a city that prides itself on its attention to its architectural heritage. A convoluted ownership and entangling financing agreements led to seemingly endless delays — all while the building continued to deteriorate.

This was not a “vision thing.” Everyone could see what the Taylor once was, and could imagine what it might yet be. What was needed was courage — political courage to do what had to be done — to save the centerpiece of Old Town. The city has met that challenge. Our congratulations to the City Council, the city staff, and the Economic Development Authority and its director for achieving what seemed was the impossible task of saving the Taylor Hotel.

I predict this achievement will be one of those council members will look back on and mark it as one of their finest accomplishments. I know it will be so viewed by the present and future residents of Winchester.

We realize this is merely the first step on a long journey, and many challenges lie ahead. But Preservation of Historic Winchester commits to helping the city and the property owners realize the full potential of the Old Taylor.

FRANKLIN WRIGHT President Preservation of Historic Winchester

Read more Open Forum letters at www.winchesterstar.com.