Kinsale
This once was The Ice Cream Parlor - now a part of the Museum.
Kinsale is a town in Ireland, but faith and begorrah I didn't travel that far to find this little town nestled in the Northern Neck by the Yeocomico River. Now history has it that, during the War of 1812, when the Brits tried to retake the colonies, a Battalion of the Royal Marines, sailed up the entrance to the Yeocomico River, and raided the town. Their booty was the capture of four schooners from the town, but being nice lads I'd like to think they eventually gave them back.
This little town is a piece of Americana. I don't know if they have a sheriff, but if they do I wouldn't be surprised if his name was Andy Taylor, and he has a son named Opie. It’s just that kind of a place.
The Kinsale Motor Car Company was a grand place in its day.
Wayne Lawson wrote, “Know it well, worked there several years in the Parts Dept. with Millard Stevens.”
Bassboy Beauchamp Jr, “My Dad use to work there as a mechanic in his younger days.”
Jane Covington said they sold Chevrolet cars, and “Was owned by my great uncle, J. C. Moss.”
Robert Burgess added, “…in business till the middle to late 60's. Murphy Chevrolet of Montross was heavy competition for them.”
The most impressive building in most towns in the bank, and this certainly was.
Gary Jenkins wrote, “Thank you for your photos. This was the L. E. Mumford Banking Co. that was established in 1908. The undated photo is from a postcard.”
The Market Place
Anna Whiston Donaldson, “Lots of great options there! Fresh produce, gourmet meats, cheeses, and of course candy for the kids.”
Michelle Marie, “Best little market for 15 miles!”
This is the backside of the Market Place - really impressive.
The Town’s Museum.
JoRita Perry shared this memory about the museum, “My late husband, George L. Perry..a model boat builder, built the skipjack, The Rita Elizabeth,,donated it to this museum…is on display in the museum…he loved Kinsale…precious museum…”
The local Masonic Lodge.
The town gazebo.
Most of these bricks have an inscription with someone's name.
A plaque from that gazebo.
I didn’t know what the Gaelic “CeanntSaile, Erie” meant - but I soon found out. Gail Chatham Francis informed me, “If you look on an aerial map of the world Kinsale, VA is located a straight shot across the ocean and a bit NE of Kinsale, Ireland…Ceannt Saile is the Irish name for Galway railway station in Ireland. It is located in the city centre just off Eyre Square1. The station address is Iarnród Éireann Céannt Station Galway Eircode H91 T9CE1.”
Elaine Stonebraker helped me understand, “It's proununced similarly to the word Kinsale, so basically says, Kinsale, Ireland.”
This little town remembers and celebrates its citizens and families. This was rather poignant to me as I was born in 1954; he passed so young. Locals all spoke fondly of him as a “kind and gentle man,” “a friend to all,” “a wonderful man.”
We should all live in such a way so as to be remembered like that.
