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About two years ago I did a day trip to Berryville and decided to go back to see what may have changed. If any of you remember that last visit, it was when I had first bought the 1978 Fiat Spider and began the idea of “Day Trips.” On that first visit my rusty exhaust system decided to separate and the folks at one of the garages took the time to make a temporary fix…good enough until I could get a new exhaust system installed. This time it was just as exciting. While having lunch at the Berryville Grille someone managed to unbolt the left side of my front bumper and make off with it. If anyone in Berryville reads this and remembers the thief messing around the front bumper of a red Fiat Spider at 3:30 on the afternoon of July 22nd, please give me a call. 
That was just the beginnings of my Fiat problems. As the afternoon got hotter, my cooling system blew a heater hose and my brake reservoir went dry. We made it back and the car will be ready for next months “Day Trip” to Solomon’s, Maryland.
The drive to Berryville is a pleasant experience in itself. The back roads meander through some of Virginia’s prettiest horse country and near some of the state’s best wineries. Old estates, churches and gristmills dot the countryside as you glide down the roads past miles of stone fences. As most people know, the stones were cleared from the fields and stacked to create fences.
Some things have changed in Berryville since my last trip. The restaurant that we enjoyed on the first visit, the Light House, is now a coffee shop/café called House of Light, which is right next to Berryville Grille, a delightful restaurant that only opened at the end of last year. On this hot July day we stopped into Makenzies for a cold drink and had a great time talking with the owner. This restaurant is also new to the town as a troubled economy is causing change. One thing that hasn’t changed is the history of Berryville.
Berryville sits at the crossroads of the old Winchester Turnpike and the Charlestown Road. As a youth, Col. Daniel Morgan had frequented this intersection, where young “toughs” would congregate solely for the pleasure of engaging in combat. Soon the area received its’ first informal name, Battle Town, because of these engagements and the rowdy tavern nearby which I am sure helped to fuel the fire. In 1797, Major Smith’s son, John Smith, sold 20 acres of his inheritance to Benjamin Berry and Sarah Berry, who divided it into lots for a town. It was established as the town of Berryville on January 15, 1798.
Founded in 1950, the Holy Cross Abbey sits in the shelter of the Shenandoah Valley, this monastery is run by Trappist Monks who follow a life of strict prayer, discipline, and physical labor. See a more serene and contemplative side of life while visiting this abbey, which offers tours, meditation, and personal prayer from 3:15 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day. Visitors can also purchase one of the abbey's famous fruitcakes from the monastic bakery.
If your day trip to Berryville happens to be on a Saturday, be sure to catch the Clarke County Farmer’s Market. The market is a staple in the community each Saturday morning from 8am to Noon. You can find locally grown products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of meats: pork, chicken, lamb and beef. The market also carries fresh eggs, nursery stock, baked goods, fresh salsa, and BBQ cooked on site.
August 8th through August 14th the 54th Annual Clarke County Fair will be in full swing. The fair is a collection of livestock exhibits, carnival rides, farm, garden and other exhibits. There is a concert at the opening and closing ceremonies.
Like many rural Virginia towns, Berryville is coping with an influx of people looking for the country life while trying to maintain their small town charm and the recent economy troubles have made that situation a little harder to manage.
Note: Berryville is a short drive to Charles Town, West Virginia, where Charles Town Races and Slots have added gaming tables. Check out their ad in this issue and make a “side trip.”
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