Chatham Chatter, 1st Quarter, January - March 2026

Friends of Chatham
Jan 1
6 min read

President's Message

Dear Friends,

This quarter’s newsletter reflects the warmth, energy, and shared purpose that continue to define the Friends of Chatham community. From the joyful camaraderie of our recent member mingles and holiday gatherings to the meaningful work taking place in the gardens, these pages celebrate the people, traditions, and partnerships that sustain Chatham. Looking ahead, we are excited to share details about upcoming concerts, our January “Funraiser” at Ristorante Renato, and a full calendar of gatherings and events stretching well into 2026—each one an opportunity to connect in friendship, enjoy Chatham’s beautiful grounds, and support its living history.

Recent weeks have been especially full. In early December, volunteers gathered to carry on our beloved holiday wreath-making tradition, crafting greenery from the property and adorning the doors and gates across the estate. That same spirit of care and continuity was evident during the planting of young Catalpa and Sycamore trees propagated by our gardener, Scott Blake—living descendants of Chatham’s historic witness trees. These plantings, completed in partnership with the National Park Service and with careful archaeological oversight, remind us that stewardship is both hands-on and forward-looking. We also came together for music and fellowship at the Fredericksburg Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert, enjoying a festive evening and reserved Friends of Chatham seating that has quickly become a cherished tradition.

As always, I extend my deepest gratitude to our volunteers—especially our dedicated Wednesday morning crew guided by Scott Blake—whose steady work of weeding, planting, mulching, clearing brush, and seasonal preparation keeps the gardens thriving year-round. Their efforts not only support special projects like wreath-making but also ensure that hundreds of visitors each month, and thousands each year, can experience the beauty and tranquility of Chatham’s grounds. As winter settles in, I hope you’ll take time to visit and enjoy the gardens’ quieter seasonal charm, knowing that spring preparations are already underway behind the scenes.

On behalf of the Friends of Chatham, thank you for your continued support—whether through volunteering, attending events, renewing memberships, or contributing to our endowment and projects. May the sense of community and shared history we nurture at Chatham continue to inspire you as we move into the new year.

With warmest regards and a gardener’s love,

All the Best,

Carol Hyland, President

Recent Events

Holiday Wreath Making at Chatham on 4 December 2025

Carrying forward a tradition first started in 2018, a small group of Friends of Chatham gathered in early December to craft holiday wreaths using fresh greenery collected from the estate’s grounds. Once completed, wreaths were made by volunteers and hung on the doors of the main house, (front and back), laundry house and kitchen house, and also the gates by Diana. A big thank you to all involved who helped to keep this tradition going.

Tree Planting at Chatham in November/December 2025

Chatham’s gardener, Scott Blake, successfully propagated the historic Catalpa trees along the riverside and the Sycamore on the garden side, ensuring these pre–Civil War witness trees could be preserved for future generations. Working together, the National Park Service and Friends of Chatham planted the first of these young trees, a process that required careful excavation by an archaeologist and several hours of coordinated effort for each planting. It was a meaningful milestone for everyone involved, knowing that the legacy of these iconic trees will continue. Additional plantings are planned as restoration efforts across the property move forward.

Holiday Pops Concert at JMHSon 17 December 2025

Building on a tradition started in 2024, Friends of Chatham members once again gathered in their own reserved seating area for the Fredericksburg Symphony’s “Holiday Pops” concert. It was an evening filled with warm fellowship and cheerful conversation with 24 attendees; all set against a superb seasonal performance showcasing the exceptional talents of our community’s musicians.

Upcoming Events

26 January 2026: Ristorante Renato

(422 William St)

Annual “Funraiser”

We will be returning to this fabulous local restaurant for this important annual “funraising” event. Members and guests will enjoy fine dining in a festive atmosphere with the opportunity to win donated baskets full of wonderfully decorated gifts and treats. Social Hour and Cash Bar at 6 PM: Dinner at 7 PM

Fredericksburg Symphony Concerts at the James Monroe

High School (7:30 PM)

on 14 February 2026 (Valentine's Special)

on 23 May 2026 (Summon the Heroes: The Memorial Concert)

Please join us in our special-reserved Friends of Chatham seating section at this season’s remaining Fredericksburg Symphony Concerts. More details with specific reservation due dates will be sent out by email prior to the concerts.

6 March 2026: St. Patrick’s Day Member Mingle

Park Lane Tavern

Continuing a longstanding tradition, Friends of Chatham members will join together for a special luncheon to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The venue is famous for its fish and chips, which will undoubtedly be a popular choice!

19 April 2026: Photographer’s Meet and Greet at Chatham

A Meet and Greet for local photography (camera and cell phone) enthusiasts will be held at Chatham. More detailed information will be sent via email closer to the event.

Friends of Chatham Annual Meeting

Central Rappahannock Regional Library

at 1201 Caroline St on 9 June 2026 (5:30-7:30 PM)

Our annual meeting will be held at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library – Fredericksburg Branch, at 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Members will join together in celebrating this past year’s accomplishments and learning about plans for the upcoming year.

From the Garden

Another successful growing season has come to an end at Chatham. The volunteers have been clearing annuals and preparing the beds for winter by weeding and mulching. Spring will be here before we know it, and soon we will be ordering seeds and plant plugs to start the germination process all over again in the greenhouses. In addition to maintaining the gardens, the volunteers helped to gather greenery from the property for the annual wreath making event.

As 2025 comes to a close, we would like to thank each volunteer that has offered their time at Chatham. The gardens would not be able to exist without their generous time and hard work each week.

Membership

It is not too late to join or renew your FOC membership for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Become a member of a community organization that strives to support projects that help preserve and maintain Chatham, a treasured historical site. To join or renew, visit the Friends of Chatham website or mail a check to Friends of Chatham, PO Box 36, Fredericksburg, VA 22404. Memberships: Individual $25; Family $50; Sustaining $100; Contributing $250. Contributions over $25 are tax deductible.

Honoring Our Donors

The update to the Donor Walls of Honor is complete!

Have you ever paused in the Summer House—just beyond the fish pond—to cool off in the shade while walking through Chatham’s gardens? If so, you may have noticed the wooden display boards flanking the entrance. These boards were created nearly ten years ago from the manor’s original shutters, removed in 2014 before the current shutters were installed.

At the time, the Friends of Chatham (FOC)—established in 2012 through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service and Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park—was still in its early years. The Summer House restoration had just been completed in early 2015 by Habalis Construction, followed by FOC’s partnership with Olde Towne Windows & Doors on the manor’s window and door restoration from 2016 to 2017.

Those early efforts were made possible by generous community support from dedicated members, local families such as the Langs, Baers, and Fitzhughs, and organizations including Dovetail Cultural Resource Group and the Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund. Over the years, the Friends of Chatham Endowment Fund has also benefited from many thoughtful gifts, including those from Donald and Beverly Newlin, Mary Jane Pitts O’Neill, and Beverley King in honor of Liz Thompson.

In 2025, we undertook a major update of the Endowment Fund and project donor boards, and we’re pleased to share that they have now been fully refinished with new and updated plaques. Several spaces remain open, ready to recognize the next generation of Friends whose generosity will help carry Chatham’s story forward.

Website and Social Media Update

We encourage everyone to visit our Friends of Chatham website at www.friendsofchatham.org and see the terrific design and content improvements that have been made with the help of our website manager, Deborah Newman at arts@petitetaway.com. For membership and donations, payment acceptance is provided via Paypal.

Our Facebook page, Friends of Chatham, Inc., is very active with beautiful photos and news related to Chatham being posted and shared on a daily basis. We encourage you to follow our Facebook page, if you are on social media, so you can automatically view our content.