Blog

Ryan Pelton is back to perform his world famous Elvis Presley Tribute.

Ryan Pelton is a World Class Elvis Presley Tribute Artist

Ryan Pelton and his wonderful crew are here again to weave another magical tribute to Elvis. We had the pleasure of their staying here at Rockwood Manor and getting to know them on a somewhat personal basis. Their show tonight at the Pulaski Theater is almost sold out and I can see why. He is a true artist with a voice to match his looks and both are so close to the King’s it is scary. I see why he is so popular and traveling the world performing and yet so down to earth and humble. So many of the performers that have stayed with us are completely different from their stage persona and he is too. At this one of their last performances as a Tribute Band, Ryan told of his intentions of creating his own musical style and going for it. I know he has the talent to do so.

You GO Ryan.

60th Anniversary of Ann & Frank Magill

We were surprised and delighted to have Ann and Frank Magill visit us from their home in Keene, New Hampshire. They love to come back to Dublin Virginia and the home (Rockwood Manor) of his mother and grandparents. This time they brought Frank’s sister Becky Barnette from North Carolina with them. Her family had just celebrated Becky’s 90th Birthday here and Crystal Magill recently married Chris Jenkins here as well.. So wonderful to have this great group of cousins who so love our family home and to see them grow and prosper in it’s presence.

The Airshow Flying Circus Comes to Dublin VA

Celebrate the 5oth Anniversary of our great local New River Valley Airport in style. So many acts on the ground and in the air that will take you back to the good old days of barnstorming.

Our family has ties to those great days. My wife Rochelle’s father was a young man in Kansas who fell head over heals for aviation and even designed and built his own plane the Murray Sport.

He then went on to teach another young man (Mudhole Smith) to fly and that became his life story in Alaska.

My father engineered and built aircraft with Glenn L Martin in Baltimore during WWII and later sold missile systems to knock them down

and I too worked in the Army Air Defense with Nike Hercules missiles that now stand at the entrance to Radford Army Arsennal next door.

NRV Skyfest Airshow

Check out all they have to offer at www.nrvairshow.com and for a great place to stay while you visit the show try Rockwood Manor and all it has to offer.

The Magill Family returns to Rockwood Manor for a wedding 97 years later.

For over 135 years now this great old family home has been blessed with a variety of family weddings and events.

This weekend we are blessed to have the Magill Family return to the home of their Grandparents.

Crystal Magill will be wed today to Chris Jenkins on the same front lawn as her great grandmother Ellen Howe Bell married Orrin Magill in 1915.

Orrin and Ellen went to China with the YMCA and spent the majority of their early lives together there. Most of the children were born there and the family has grown up all over the world.

Her Grandfather Orrin Magill was born here at Rockwood on one of the families return trips from China.

We wish Crystal and Chris the very best in their future life together. Check out their wedding site . http://magillandjenkins.ourwedding.com/

Magill to wed at Rockwood Manor

Remembering Lieutenant Elliott Hampton Howe

On our basement wall is a scrolling signature of Elliott Hampton Howe in 1897. I always thought he was a cousin but did not know the ties.

Then I was able to read the book on the Howe Family “Listen to the Mockingbird by Col Daniel Dunbar Howe.
I was now able to put a tie to Elliott and learn of his storied fate. Elliott came from a family of soldiers and his duty to our country cost him his life.
He died for this wonderful country in France during the Meuse Argonne offensive of the First World War.
On October 11, 1918 this young cousins life ended so that our great Nation could continue.
We would like all to remember him on Memorial Day.
And now I can put a story to his signature and thank him for what he did.