Pictures of old-town Falmouth greet Wes Salvador and his daughter, Sheila Benzie, when they walk into a building below the U.S. 1 bridge.
But the early black-and-whites, featuring a busy village streetscape and the Lightner family behind the counter of their store, simply begin the tale of the one-time bustling river port.
The life captured in those images evaporated with the demise of the shipping-trade center. But a glimmer from those days is now reflected within the walls of the 17th-century building recently reborn as Amy's Cafe.
"You can tell this part of town went through a real depression," said Amy Johnson, the restaurant's owner. "We want people to come in and experience history."
Don Cook, general manager for the riverside eatery, leads Salvador and Benzie to a window booth. It overlooks a number of vacant buildings and a popular cut-through street for motorists bypassing traffic jams at the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17.
The view has illustrated Falmouth's last chapter for decades. But local officials and residents hope the new restaurant will inspire a sequel.
"It feels like this is the first little planted seed," said M.C. Moncure, Stafford tourism director. "If we can take what's here that's historic and preserved, but at the same time move forward with community development, that improves the quality feel for people here."
The county released a redevelopment vision for the Falmouth area yesterday. It includes a walking/bike trail from Belmont to Ferry Farm. A pedestrian crossing under the Falmouth Bridge would connect the path to the city. The village is marked as a preserved and enhanced river activity center.
Falmouth property owners, who've been waiting for economic opportunity to return, welcome the effort.
"Naturally, I'll do anything I could to enhance the Falmouth bottom and bring it back to its heyday," said former Supervisor Mark Osborn, who owns the old Lightner store and crab shop buildings there.
In the meantime, Johnson is incorporating customer suggestions in her home-cooking-style menu and trying to make the business work in a tough location. Many restaurants have failed there.
"We've been very busy for not advertising," Cook said. "We didn't want to do a lot of advertising until we got all the kinks out. Now we think we've worked them out and we're starting to advertise."
Falmouth, named for a British seaport in Cornwall, was established in 1728. Built on 50 acres off the Rappahannock River, many expected it to become a trade center for Stafford. Raw materials were initially shipped in, and goods--such as cotton, grain and tobacco--were sent out. At one time, a nail manufacturer and a pickle factory existed there, as well. But silt pockets caused by up-river tree cutting and farming kept seagoing vessels from navigating the shallow waters after 1840, and business slumped.
A number of historic buildings, including Temperance Tavern, a workman's cottage, a magistrate's office and the homes of early American millionaire Basil Gordon and well-known abolitionist Moncure Daniel Conway, still stand today. A crab dealer, an auto body shop, an art studio, a few residences and small businesses have established in other village buildings, as well.
Intentions of bringing the sleepy village back to life have grown in recent years. Here are some highlights:
Belmont: The estate of renowned American artist Gari Melchers, which dates to 1790. The University of Mary Washington administers the home and art gallery. About 12,000 to 15,000 people visit each year.
Barnes House: A 1780 gambrel-roofed home that once served as a school for black students and a former guest house for Belmont. Jay Holloway, a contractor with a background in historic preservation, bought the house last August. He intends to renovate it so he can live there.
Counting House: An 1800s warehouse that was later converted to a residence. Stafford County bought the building last summer in anticipation of revitalization efforts.
West Cambridge Inn: An 1820s building that has housed a general store, apartments, a night club and more recently a restaurant, Amy's Cafe.
Lightner's Store: A 1700s warehouse that later housed a country store, lunch room and ice cream parlor. Former Supervisor Mark Osborn bought the building in 1993. He stabilized the structure, which sits vacant today awaiting an opportunity for redevelopment.
Sources: "They called Stafford Home," by Jerrilyn Eby and "A History of Our Own: Stafford County, Virginia," by Albert Z. Conner
More maps and information about the Falmouth redevelopment plan can be found at fredericksburg.com
