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PATAWOMECK MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER
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638 Kings Highway
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
540-225-3900
CHIEF
Chief Charles "Bootsie" Bullock
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TREASURER
Price Jett
HISTORIAN / MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Patricia Reedy
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ADMINISTRATOR
Kimmie Payne
Tribal members have been working hard to
As we pass by the trees that align the drive, you can feel the wind pick up and rustle the leaves as though our ancestors are welcoming us home once more. Follow us on our journey to making our dreams a reality as we walk in the footsteps of our ancestors and rediscover our ancestral roots.
June 20, 2022 – We are beginning to enjoy the fruits or rather 'vegetables' of our labor. Pictured above is onions, squash, zucchini and cucumbers. Thank you to all the gardening volunteers whose hard work is paying off.
Garden Tiller Donated
June 3, 2022 – Thanks to Casey Mesimer for donating this small tiller to help keep up the garden.
Parking Lot
June 1, 2022 – Progress is being made on the Parking Lot.
Weeding & Staking Tomatoes
River View
May 29, 2022 – A rare view of the Tribal Center from the Rappahannock River. Thanks to Dr. Lauren McMillan for capturing this great view.
Gardening in the Rain
May 23, 2022 – Like the mailman, neither ran or mud will stop our Garden Workers! Thanks for such dedication to the Patawomeck Garden!
New Roof
May 21, 2022 – Installation of the new roof began and was completed this week.
Tree Removal
May 18, 2022 – Such a beautiful tree. The tree beside the garage, although it was hollow with very brittle limbs, was removed to make way for the parking lot. Thankfully it was the only tree that needed to be removed for the parking lot.
New Entrance
May 12, 2022 – Progress is being made on the new entrance to the Tribal Center. This access road will allow visitors to enter from the Duff Green Park Entrance off Kings Highway.
Three Sisters
May 1, 2022 – Our Children's Youth Group planted corn today which is the first step of "Three Sisters" (corn, squash, and beans). The corn provides a stalk for beans to climb and squash is ground cover to keep weeds out.
April 30, 2022 – Our yearly gardening has just begun. 134 tomoto plants, 48 squash, 48 cucumbers, 15 zuchhini, 3 egg plant, 8 mounds of cantaloupe, indigenous Kalahri melon, 48 peppers (green and red), 6 banana peppers, beans, corn, onions, and watermelons. Indigenous watermelons will go in tomorrow and 3 rows of sunflowers across the back of the garden. All the hard work will pay off soon when we have a beautiful and bountiful garden.
DAR Visit
April 14, 2022 – Today we were visited by the Mine Run DAR to present the Tribe with a check for grant for audio and visual equipment for our Multimedia Center! The State Regent presented the check to Chief Emeritus John Lightner.
New Road
April 12, 2022 - See those surveyor stakes? That means work on the access road has begun which also means the parking lot won't be far behind.
Our Quilted Logo
Our quilted logo was created by the talented Carla Patton. This beautiful piece now hangs on the walls of the Patawomeck Tribal Library above the fireplace.
Multimedia Center
This picture shows the detached garage, which currently has been gutted. Soon this space will be transformed into our Multimedia Center. But there is still a great deal of work that is left to be done.
Library
The picture show how bad the paint was peeling off the walls. There was a great deal of ceiling damange as well that required major repairs. The paint and room decor sure gives this Library a very cozy feel.
Upstairs Porch
Major improvements have been made on the upstairs porch. The screens had to be removed, repaired, and rehung. Repairs were made to various wood elements in the room before a fresh coat of paint was spread on the floor and ceiling.
Museum Floors
The Museum floors went from dingy and dull to shiny brand-new looking hardwood floors.
Bathroom
The first picture shows what the bathroom looked like before all of the improvements were made. A great job was done by our volunteers for this impressive transformation.
Storm Damage
July 29, 2021 – A storm (possible tornado) tore through the property not only damaging trees, but also wrecking the barn. The house was not damaged. Thankfully all the members working on the trees when the storm hit, were able to find shelter during the storm and make it safely home.
Tree Trimming
July 29, 2021 – Tribal Members prepared for our upcoming events by trimming the trees that line the drive.
Largest Ginkgo Tree in Virginia
July 6, 2021 – At the end of the tree-lined drive towers a large Ginkgo Biloba Tree greeting all visitors to the Tribal Center. This majestic tree provides dramatically vibrant autumn foliage in the fall and shade from the sweltering heat in the summer. As of May 2021, the Ginkgo Biloba Tree has been added to the state registry as the largest Ginkgo tree in Virginia thanks to tribal member, Jeannette Cadwallender.
Among the world's oldest species, the long evolution of the Ginkgo Biloba Tree has meager beginnings as a fern. Also known as the Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo trees can reach 65 feet to 115 feet with the largest in China measuring over 165 feet. Its branches span out erratically from the trunk and the tree is hailed to be resistant to disease and the elements. With all of its unique qualities, it isn't a wonder why the Ginkgo tree is so special.
Another Green Family Visit
June 23, 2021 – The Green family visited the Patawomeck Tribal Center today. They are the former property owners of the Little Falls property. It was so good to have them visit again.
John Zullo Visit
June 23, 2021 – John Zullo, a tribal member from California visited the Patawomeck Tribal Center today. He surprised us with a donation of Stainless Steel Water Bottles to sell in the store. He was also responsible for the donation of the Stainless Steel Tumblers. We really appreciate his generosity to the Tribe.
Bathrooms
May 17, 2021 – A great deal of work went into converting the Tenant House in into outdoor bathrooms for the Tribal Center. Plumbing, HVAC, electric, framing, siding, pouring concrete, building a ramp, and so much more was involved. None of this would have been possible without the time, materials, and equipment donated as well as the grant from the Duff Green Foundation.
North Stafford Rotary Club Visit
October 3, 2020 – The North Stafford Rotary Club visited the Tribal Center today.
"Firmly Rooted in Stafford County- Pass in between cornfields down a tree-lined drive to arrive at a majestic ginkgo tree facing the new home of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia. The North Stafford Rotary Club and friends took a field trip to visit what will become an important site of local culture and history. On October 3, Chief Emeritus John Lightner and Minnie Lightner, Administrative Assistant to the Tribal Council, shared their vision for the cultural center and museum that the Tribe is building off of Kings Highway. In cooperation with Stafford County, the Tribe is in the initial phase of constructing a permanent living village and pavilions to host events with school groups and visitors who want to learn more about native heritage. They are converting the large home on the property into a museum with space for classrooms, a library and a gift shop. Visitors will be able to see traditional life in action, do genealogical research, learn the Algonquin language or just soak up the beautiful site overlooking the Rappahannock River." written by Rotarian Lena Berrios.
Painting Museum Rooms
August 22, 2020 – This is Museum Room # 1 – The museum rooms are getting a fresh coat of paint. Paint makes all the difference!
Donated Museum Display Cases
August 10, 2020 – Thanks to the Virginia History and Culture Museumfor their generous donation of museum display cases.
Microburst
July 27, 2020 – A microburst tore through the back of the property. The back screen door was ripped completely off, chairs on the back patio were slammed into the side yard and wrecked, a big limb broke off the Ginko tree and limbs off the tree by the garage, and the porta potty was blown over. Thankfully, there was only minimal damage considering how much damage it could have done. And after the rain, a beautiful rainbow stretched across the property.
Indigenous Crookneck Watermelon
July & August 2020 – The 1600 crookneck watermelon was planted on the property. The one pictured above is the very first one harvested at the Tribal Center. It has a great texture and is very sweet. As for its name, it is called a crookneck, because in the initial growing process it is a round watermelon that is tapered at the end into a handle (crookneck). Mid-way through its growth cycle, it turns into the oval, more traditional shape of a watermelon. It also has distinct red colored seeds which were not consumed, but saved for replanting.
Harvesting The Crops
June - August 2020 – Harvesting the crops is probably the most gratifying part of the growing process because it is a tangible reward for all the months of hard work from plowing the fields to the harvesting the crops. Due to COVID-19, we could not plant our indigenous garden, but our garden was bountiful: Squash, Cucumbers, Corn, Tomatoes, Peppers, Zucchini, and Beans.
Watering The Gardens
June & July 2020 – There is a lot of work that goes into growing crops. Many crops need to be watered daily in order to reap the rewards of the labor that goes into tilling the soil, planting the seeds, and harvesting the crops.
Pump & Haul Sewer Tanks
June 30, 2020 – A great number of people and heavy machinery were involved in setting up the pump and haul sewer tanks from digging that massive hole in the ground and lowering the enormous pipes to filling the hole in and packing the dirt snugly around the tanks. These tanks will hold the waste from the outside bathrooms.
Electricity & Water
June 2020 – Electricity was added to the Patawomeck Village and water was added to the village and garden. The meter base and the breaker panel for the public restrooms were also installed.
Painting The Future Tribal Store
May 31, 2020 – The Tribal Store will toward the back of the tribal center. It is surrounded on three sides by windows with a picturesque view of the Rappahannock River. Our vision for this space will be a Tribal Store, and perhaps once day a café for coffee, drinks, and light foods. The picture above shows the Tribal Store before and the one below shows the results after it was painted.
Brick Removal & Repairs
May 27 & 30, 2020 – Some of the tribal members lend their skills to remove and repair bricks around the property.
The Long House
May 23, 2020 – Preparations for the Long House have begun. The construction of the long house will be built in the same manner as it would have been built by our ancestors. Before the wood can be used for the structure, the bark is stripped off the cedar samplings with hand tools. The samplings are connected by wire and bent between metal poles for several weeks. This method will ensure the saplings remain strong and rounded. The long house will be placed in the village along with all the work stations..
Red Tenant House
May 2020 – The existing Red Tenant House will be converted into outdoor bathrooms. Thanks to a grant from the Duff Green Foundation, this building will be remodeled for handicapped, family bathrooms. Before any work could begin on the conversion, first the building had to be cleared out and repaired.
Growing Crops
February - May 2020 – There is a lot of work that goes into growing crops. The ground needs to be leveled and graded before it is seeded and strawed. Tilling the soil is next which means breaking up and turning over the soil which brings nutrients to the surface. This processes removes roots and weeds from the soil so when the crops are planted, they have the best chance of taking roots and sprouting. Our crops consist of tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, beans, and peppers. A large plot was reserved for the indigenous crookneck watermelon and in the lower fields by the river we planted more corn, beans, and a pumpkin patch.
Red Barn & Milking House
March 15, 2020 – The dirt pile by the red barn was leveled and the cinder block milking house was cleared of trash.
Repairs & Remodeling Inside The House
September 2019 - March 2020 – The house was cleaned and cleared of debris. Tribal members dusted, wet wiped walls, cleaned windows, vacuumed, and mopped and waxed the floors. The toilets and faucets were replaced in the bathrooms and kitchen. A pipe from the kitchen sink to the drain pipe was replaced. The ceiling in one of the museum rooms was repaired as well as the plaster in the foyer and the dining room.
Green Family Visit
March 9, 2020 – The Green family visited the Patawomeck Tribal Center today. They are the former property owners of the Little Falls property.
Bees
February 2020 – Our bees and their nests were moved to the property and fenced in. The bees pollinate the garden and fruit trees. We also planted Chestnut and Walnut trees that will benefit from the bees. We have already extracted delicious honey from their bee hive over the years.
Patawomeck Village
November 2019 - February 2020 – Work on the Patawomack Village. This Native American Village will be circa 1600. For the Patawomeck Village Circle, tribal members disc the ground to start the village process. The top soil was excavated in preparation to place the sub base. The sub base has been placed, compacted, and final graded. The outside walkways were layered and ready for the top coat - oyster or clam shells.
Office Complete
February 15, 2020 – We finally have a complete office setup at the Patawomeck Tribal Center and moving on to the foyer and museum rooms!
Open House
November 23 & 24, 2019 – The Open House held by the Tribe attracted approximately 150 members each day. The tribal members knew that it was still a work in progress, but everyone seemed to be pleased with the progress that has been made.
Thad Green's Visit
November 20, 2019 – Thad Green, Duff Green's brother visited the Patawomeck Tribal Center today. The Green family are the former property owners of the Little Falls property. Thad came to see what we were doing at the home place. He was very pleased with what we were doing and plans to visit again.
Cleanup
November 10, 2019 – Lots of work went into clearing the land and cutting back overgrowth. Several half dead or dead trees were removed from around the Tribal Center. The remaining tree limbs were trimmed and the outside village area was bush hogged. The old chicken coop was also taken down. We can almost see the river.
Future Pump House?
November 7, 2019 – This building was discovered during our clearing of the 17 acres. Could this be the future home of our Pump House?
Ivy Removed
September 11, 2019 – All the ivy was removed from the house. Shrubs were cut and the ivy was taken off the trees lining the driveway. The driveway was leveled and gravel added.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
September 8, 2019 – Chief Charles "Bootsie" Bullock, Chief Emeritus John Lightner, and Assistant Chief Dennis Harding were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony for our new home.
It's Official - Leased Signed & Keys In Hand
August 29, 2019 – We have been working with Stafford County for a number of years to get a lease of the Duff Green House and 17 acres for our Tribal Home, Museum, Cultural and Outdoor Village. Now it's official. The lease is completed, signed by both parties, and the keys are in our possession.
Stafford County Board of Supervisor's Vote
June 4, 2019 – Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to lease to the Patawomeck Indian Tribe the house known as the Duff Green house and 17 acres. Their vote gave us our first HOME in 300 plus years! It has been a long journey to get to where we are, but there is so much more left to be done. This is only the beginning.
This will be the site of our Museum and Cultural Center. We plan to construct a village on the property. The vote allowed us to lease the house and the 17 acre property for a 10-year lease, with up to four 10-year lease renewals. The house is 3,000 square feet with a great view of the Rappahannock River.
The House At Little Falls Farm
June 4, 2019– A view of 638 Kings Highway, before any work began. This house is at Little Falls Farm, also formerly known as the Duff McDuff Green property. If you would like to learn more about the history, prior to the Green family owning the property, and its connection to the Patawomeck Tribe, click here.
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