|
‘Sweet Dreams’ Realized With Marker, Museum
By: F.C. Lowe The Winchester Star “Long-awaited” announcements will be made this weekend in Winchester. Not only will a highway marker be unveiled but also a museum site will be revealed for Winchester native and country music legend, Patsy Cline. “This is an exciting weekend,” Judy Sue Huyett-Kempf of Celebrating Patsy Cline said, especially with the much anticipated announcements.
The marker unveiling will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday at 608 S. Kent St., Winchester, Patsy’s home for several years. The Board of Historic Resources of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources approved the Cline highway marker in June. CPC funded the sign and the Virginia Department of Transportation erected it, according to Scott Arnold, manager of the Historical Highway Marker Programfor the state. The public is invited to the unveiling and asked to meet at the Braddock Street parking building in Winchester by 2:30 p.m. A trolley will make two trips to take spectators to the event site. Following the unveiling, a reception for donors will be held at the site of the future museum at 48 S. Loudoun St., Winchester. Theresa Shalaby of Nashville, Tenn. will show her collection of Patsy memorabilia, including a program from Patsy’s last concert before she died in a plane crash in 1963 in Camden, Tenn., said Huyett-Kempf. And with all these new announcements, a life-size bronze statue of Patsy is also in the works with a fund-raiser set from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles in Winchester. Coordinator of the dance, J. D. Dawson of Winchester, has a full slate of performers, including Sonny Lonas and Willie McKee of Nashville, Buddy Charlton, Danny McFarland, and more. This event is open to the public. A true Patsy fan, Dawson considers her unique and remembers playing at the same location as Patsy in the late ’50s in Purcellville. “A lot of people try to copy her,” he said. He admired her because she was down to earth. “She told people like it was.” Photos of Patsy in a cowgirl outfit will be raffled off during the evening. Tickets are $25 a couple or $15 for singles. Call 722-0700. No location has been decided for the statue, but Dawson said he thinks it should be placed in front of the museum planned on the Loudoun Street Mall. Other weekend events are listed below with some for the general public and others for the fan club only. Fan club reception and dinner — 6 p.m. Travelodge in Winchester, sit-down dinner and entertainment. CPC President Phillip Martin will present program on accomplishments of the group and future projects. This is open to the public. Tickets are $20. Call 535-1148. Moose Club benefit dance for the bell tower at Shenandoah Memorial Park, dedicated to Patsy, will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at the club in Winchester. Entertainers include Tommy Cash, Johnny Cash’s brother, and George Hamilton IV. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the door or in advance at the Moose lodge at 215 E. Cork St., Winchester. This is open to the public. The bell tower has been restored this past year, and the funds from the dance will be used to add lighting to the area, said Jim Kniceley who has spearheaded the restoration project. A special preview of the museum will be given for the fan club only at 10 a.m. Sunday at the site on the Loudoun Street Mall. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Shenandoah Memorial Park, U.S. 522, south of Winchester, and is open to the public. A picnic will follow the memorial service Sunday at the Troubadour in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., hosted by Jim McCoy. Bring a covered dish. There is no admission charge and it is open to the public. Music will include performances by Willie McKee and Sonny Lonas of Nashville. A goodbye breakfast will be held Monday at Golden Corral, beginning between 8 and 9 a.m. For information, call 535-1148. |
Originally Published In The Winchester Star On August 31, 2005
WLC © 2005. All Rights Reserved.