Rappahannock News Photo Roh Bavne

Rappahannock News Photo Roh Bavne

RUFUS AND CALVIN PENDLETON of Somarbeth in

Huntly.

Music Lovers Recall

Flatfootin’ At

The Flatwood

Rufus and Calvin Pendleton remember the nights when Mr. Hank Young used to serve as D. J. at the Flatwood Inn near Washington.

"Mr. Timbers set them up and bands came in from D. C.. Calvin said. - Everyone came. At first it was just black folks but then white folks started coming." Calvin was well qualified to judge the quality of Mr. Young's selections: she has a collection of thousands of 45 rpm records, including everything from Pat Boone to Credence Clearwater, from Bobby Blue Bland to Aretha Franklin.

"There used to be three record stores in Front Royal." Calvin said. "I saved up all my dimes, nickels and quarters to buy records. '

Rufus and Calvin live at Bethany House, soon to be a retreat center. Formerly, it belonged to the Dawson family, and before that to the Harrisses and before that to the Yeats.

Through all those changes, the Pendletons have been at Somarbeth doing farm work for the owners. As a child. Rufus lived in a cabin across the road and his mother worked in Somarbeth's kitchen to support her two sons and two daughters. Calvin s family had eight children and her father worked on the Dickey property nearby. "All those children, and no one born in the hospital." Calvin said. "We had grannies (midwives) to deliver them."

The Pendletons went to high school at George Washington Carver High School in Culpeper, now Piedmont Vocational Center, where all Rappahannock black children going on to high school were bused. It was a long trip for them; one bus to Sperryville and another to Culpeper

Besides music and dances, there was softball for fun. Rufus played on a softball team in Front Royal, playing teams fielded there.

Owners have come and gone at the Huntly estate, but the Pendletons will remain in their pretty home by the pond. "We re here to stay." they say.