QR NESTLED IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS,


THE 470-ACRE CLAYTOR NATURE STUDY CENTER IS A TESTAMENT TO PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION.


Through the vision and generosity of the late A. Boyd Claytor III, the eigh- teenth-century farm and plantation house were given to Lynchburg College to serve as an education and research center for environmental study and to preserve the land for future generations. Cloverlea, the plantation house, was


built circa 1790 and is blessed with spectacular mountain vistas as well as gardens and a pond that reflects the twin Peaks of Otter. With the grace and charm of earlier times, Cloverlea would be the perfect setting for weddings, retreats, business conferences, and numerous other group events. However, time has taken its toll, and the house is in need of extensive renovation. Cloverlea consists of four distinct


parts — the original plantation house and three additions — all constructed at different times and in different styles. The original plantation house was


built in the popular two-over-two style with two bedrooms up and two rooms down. What is now the main living room was originally constructed as two rooms with a staircase dividing the rooms. When the staircase was removed, the result was a large living room with two fireplaces. The first addition to the original


plantation house was a wing constructed in the 1880s or 1890s. This addition was called the “buttermilk house,” because it was said that the lady of the house made and sold buttermilk to pay for it. This wing included one bedroom and bath upstairs plus a parlor and entryway downstairs. The second addition was constructed


during the 1960s and included a kitchen, Boyd Claytor’s study, a staircase and hallway, and a half bath downstairs with a bedroom and two baths upstairs.


The final addition was built in the


1980s and included the dining room and an upstairs sun room that affords an ever changing view of the mountains. Beautiful heart pine floors, crown


molding, and baseboards highlight the rooms throughout the house. The liv- ing and dining rooms have been painted recently in soft earth tones to comple- ment white woodwork, and extensive work is underway on a staircase and hallway. Surrounding the plantation house


are the Virginia Claytor Memorial Gardens, created to honor the memory of Boyd Claytor’s late wife, an avid gardener and staunch preservationist, who fell in love with rural Virginia after moving here from Michigan. The gardens are a series of formal flower, herb, and shrub plantings. But Cloverlea’s beauty and appeal


are somewhat overshadowed by numer- ous challenges that, if not addressed, could seriously compromise the house and drastically limit its usability as a venue. These involve wear and tear on the structure, lack of handicapped accessibility, lack of accessible bath- rooms, limited air conditioning, and outdated wiring. To return Cloverlea to its original


glory and make necessary improvements, several major projects are needed: • Repairing the wood structure and applying a new coat of paint to return this treasure to its original luster;


• Adding insulation to the first wing resulting in significant energy savings;


• Converting the garage into enough bathrooms to handle a large crowd;


• Building ramps for handicapped access to entrances of the house;


• Converting Boyd Claytor’s study into a library/museum room to tell the story of Cloverlea, the Claytors, and their tie to Lynchburg College; and


• Refinishing the floors and rewiring the 1880s wing.


After the dedication of the McGhee


Bridge over the Big Otter River in fall 2010, President Kenneth Garren formed a restoration committee for Cloverlea. This committee has been charged with overseeing all restoration as well as do- nations including art, furniture, and other household gifts for Cloverlea. LC trustee Polly Flint ’71, ’73 M.Ed., who chairs the Claytor Initiative Committee, also heads up the restoration committee, which includes Claytor Nature Study Center director Dr. Greg Eaton; major gift officer John Stafford; Claytor Cen- ter groundskeeperMaggie Liell; art consultant Gay Tucker ’71; supporter of and adviser to several campus initia- tives Carolyn Polloway ’83; and chap- lain of the College Stephanie McLemore. Trustee Tucker Withers ’69 serves on the committee as a special consultant. By giving his land to Lynchburg Col-


lege, Boyd Claytor realized a lifelong dream. By renovating and preserving Cloverlea, Lynchburg College can keep that dream alive and provide a place where others may enjoy a little bit of Blue Ridge heaven for years to come.


To make a gift to the Cloverlea restoration, contact the Advancement Office at 434.544.8665 or wyland.d@lynchburg.edu.


R


WE B E X C L U S I V E For more information on the restoration, visit www.lynchburg.edu/spring2012 to see a video created by LC’s College Communications and Marketing Office


Spring 2012 LC MAGAZINE 31


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