Page 1 - July 05, 2017 Magazine Style Full page issue

JULY 5, 2017 XIX NO.46

Village News

Bigger

facility,

better

training

BY DANIELLE OZBAT
The Chesterfield County Department
of Fire and EMS celebrated the opening
of their state-of-the-art fire training tower
at the Enon Fire Training Center last
Thursday. The seven-story training tower
capable of simulating live fire using a
computer-controlled, propane-fueled
training system and will provide firefighters
with different training opportunities, such
as fighting live fire in multi-story buildings
and simulating emergencies in hotels,
office buildings, garden apartments, and
industrial complexes.
Firefighters will also be able to train
in ladder and elevator rescues and in
high-rise and confined-space rescues,
and local law enforcement officers House of Lace, Labor of Love
will be able to conduct tactical training
operations and K-9 training.
Edward L. Senter Jr., Fire and EMS BY L. FAUSZ Scott McCracken. and repainting over the years that will
chief for Chesterfield County, said the he “Lace House,” a legacy “I remember playing in the Lace maintain the life of the structure.
training tower has been in the works piece of the former owners of House as a kid when it was in Church On-site, brick was laid, lights
and was needed for many years, as they Meadowbrook, has returned Hill,” said Chris McCracken, a historical installed, and the garden house
have not been able to train or fight fires Tto the gardens of its current restoration contractor. The brothers’ constructed. Fourteen gallons of paint
in in multi-level buildings since their owner, Meadowbrook Country Club. grandmother was Waller Jeffress and primer were used to complete the
past training tower was condemned five Known as a summer house, a replica Roberts. “Gardening was her passion,” project.
years ago. Senter noted nearly half of now watches over the reflecting pool and He said about his grandmother and The garden’s restoration includes
their personnel had less than a decade the restored Charles Gillette gardens, as noted by his great-grandmother the installation of an irrigation system,
of experience and that they have new thanks to the vision and seven-year and great-great grandmother. “It is a lights throughout the gardens, clearing
people coming into the organization effort that included lots of work, lots beautiful addition, and Leon [Reynolds] paths, and planting. Visitors may now
and they need to focus a lot of time of hours, and lots of fundraising by the did a wonderful job. It is truly an walk through two tea gardens named the
and effort on training them in ways of Women’s Club of Meadowbrook and identical match.” “tea trail.” A cutting garden with flowers
effectively fighting fires. committee members of the Gillette Scott McCracken, an architect, is identified by signage, and a plaque
“There’s always been a challenge to Gardens at Meadowbrook Inc., a public said. “It has been a labor of love, and with a brief history of the Meadowbrook
train the next generation of firefighters charity. Committee members, invited we enjoyed every minute of it. It is an gardens has been installed.
and it’s going to become even more guests, and descendants of the original embodiment of our own history.” The Meadowbrook mansion and
challenging in the future. Our department creators of the gardens dedicated the Leon Reynolds’ company, Reynolds its 687-acre estate was owned by Mr.
workforce continues to evolve over time Lace House and gardens with a ribbon- Architecture Woodworking, had a huge and Mrs. Thomas Fox Jeffress. Twenty
as the more tenured and experienced cutting ceremony and champagne toast challenge ahead of them when they took acres were devoted to a garden full of
firefighters retire and begin a new chapter last Wednesday. on the project. “Chris and Scott were the surprises, said her daughter-in-law, Mrs.
in their life and are being replaced by Diane Murdock-Thorp, president brains behind it,” Reynolds said. The Robert Jeffress, in a 1969 article in the
younger, less experienced members. of the foundation, welcomed guests and first process was to acquire the software Richmond News Leader. “Many little
Today, over 45% of our uniformed gave a brief history of the Lace House, to be able to program the design into the vistas would open to the eye as one
members have less than 10 years of the original and the construction of the machine after many measurements were walked the grounds.”
experience,” Senter said. “Regular replica, and a thank-you to all parties taken. Accoya was the type of wood used, The original Lace House was
quality training will be essential in filling involved in bringing the project to and it has a guaranteed lifespan of 50 constructed in 1800 by silversmith
the gap created by this tremendous realization. years. “I didn’t think it would look this Samuel Myers and was purchased by the
loss of experience and institutional Integral parts of the process of good,” Reynolds said. “It was one of the Jeffresses for $10 in 1900 for their
knowledge. In addition, these new getting the replica off the ground were most challenging projects we have done.”
descendants and brothers Chris and Scott McCracken said it is the paint Read more on page 3
Read more on page 3

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