by Linda Salisbury

During its more than 150 years of incorporation, the town of Louisa has celebrated many technological and transportation advances. However, the September 2023 celebration was one to remember.

“We started with the courthouse and a mini recreation of ‘Court Days’ at the opening ceremonies,” recalled Louisa Town Manager Liz Nelson. “We had a parade that focused on Louisa ‘Then and Now.’ The vendors/food trucks at the fairgrounds were mostly local businesses within the town and county, with music and fireworks. 

“The Arts Center and Historical Society had entertainment for all ages with the ‘Then and Now’ theme. Children did art on the Arts Bus; the Historical Society did turn-of-the-century cooking and candy making. There were two slide shows, ‘Then and Now,’ of the town and town’s municipal building that served as a school for many years. They even did a reunion photo of anyone who attended the school.” And there is more of the “then” to talk about now. According to town history, the first train came through in 1833. And in 1906, cement sidewalks replaced boards. In 1925, there was enough electric power for private homes and street lights. Imagine the excitement! In 2024, Louisa has something “now” to rave about. It will be one of the first rural Virginia locales to continue the march of progress by adding charging stations for electric vehicles. In March, the town planned to open charging stations in two locations – a major accomplishment for this proud downtown community.

The project has been a joint effort by Tracy Clark of the Louisa Forward Foundation and the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce; Casey Hollins, managing director for communications and public relations at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC); and Town Manager Liz Nelson and Mayor Garland Nuckols of Louisa,. The excitement is electrifying not only among those involved with the project but also with local businesses such as the historic Boxley Place Inn (owned by Breese Glennon) and Turn Up the Color Studio (owned by Yvonne Agee).

Charge Up Louisa, led by REC, now provides two EV charging stations in the community. One is at the town hall complex, and the other is at the town’s gravel parking lot at 301 Main Street near Frosties Rail Stop. Clark said Charge Up Louisa should draw visitors to the town and attract residents of surrounding areas. This is just one of the new ventures supported by the Main Street Louisa Initiative to help revitalize and boost the local economy.

In the roughly two hours it will take to charge most EVs, drivers will be able to attend events in the town, shop, eat, go to the historical society’s museum, or attend church functions. Employees will also be able to take advantage of the stations to charge their vehicles while they are at work. Nelson said that the parking lot in the town hall campus includes 100 spaces along with the new EV charging station. The campus is surrounded by the Louisa Town Hall, the Louisa Arts Center, and the Sargeant Museum and is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and baseball fields.

Hollins explained that REC is paying the cost of the installation and will buy power for operating the charging stations from Dominion Energy. Hollins added that REC is committed to work with communities, and its “Vividly Brighter” project aims to assist them in becoming more energy efficient.

There are about 100 electric vehicles in Louisa and an unknown number at Lake Anna, where residents and renters often commute to jobs elsewhere or visit Louisa, Hollins stated.

The development of the Louisa Arts Center (LAC) has been a case study in Louisa honoring the “then” while celebrating the “now.” The 1907 school building in which the LAC is housed was modified several times through the years but was left vacant from 1987 to 2002. Vines were growing inside when the mayor and a group of townspeople formed the Louisa Downtown Development Corporation to purchase the building to become the town hall and arts center. The organization raised money to make repairs and upgrades.

In 2004, the building was ready for use as a town hall. With more work and building additions, the Purcell Gallery was opened in 2007. The 205-seat Cooke-Haley theater is in the former school’s auditorium, renovated to include excellent acoustics, sound system, comfortable seating, and a green room.

The theater stages outstanding theatrical and musical groups, both local (including children’s productions) and touring shows. Louisa Players Live held their first “Louisa’s Got Talent” this winter, and the Barter Players (sponsored by the Louisa Rotary Club) recently returned with “The Velveteen Rabbit.”

In the building’s second floor, there are rooms for art classes and after-school programs for children and adults. Karen Welch, the center’s director for the past five years, explained that activities for youngsters and involvement with area schools have been very important to their mission. Welch worked for the British Embassy in Washington D.C. before she and her husband moved to Lake Anna. After the move and change from big city life, she looked for an opportunity to volunteer her business skills to her new community. The arts center had a great appeal and came with a special challenge during the pandemic. This meant dealing with closures of the theater and programs while developing new ways to reach the community.

One successful new Louisa Arts Center program is the colorful Mobile Arts Bus that travels to areas around the community and allows children and adults to participate in arts and crafts programs. The bus was reconfigured to have tables for craft programs. It also coordinates with the school system to provide free meals during the summer to children in rural areas, Welch added.

Of course, the Louisa County Historical Society (LCHS) works everyday to help Louisa residents remember the “then” right “now.” Katelyn Coughlan accepted the role as its executive director two and a half years ago. She brings to the position her background as an archeologist and work at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

The Sargeant Museum at 214 Fredericksburg Avenue offers a treasure trove of exhibits, speakers, genealogic research, historic records, and photographs. Information in the museum touches on all periods of the county’s history from Native Americans through the present day.

Breese Glennon, now in her last term as board president for the LCHS, said that one of their goals is to digitize their massive collection of documents and photographs to make the material more accessible to the public. Some 4,000 documents have already been scanned.

Another goal of the historical society is to increase the number of oral histories being recorded. Glennon added that interest in Louisa’s historical offerings is not just from area residents. Visitors may be referred by other historical groups to come to the museum, so the charging stations can prove to be a benefit for EV drivers coming from other areas.

Behind the Sargeant Museum are historic buildings that have been moved to the site, including the Trevillians School House, the Michie House, the Smoke House, and the Heritage Garden Farm, which the society describes as living history. The LCHS website notes that “the structures on the property help us achieve our mission to bring the history of Louisa County to life! We use them for special programming such as our open-hearth cooking workshops and free family days.”

Glennon owns the 1860 Boxley Place Inn, which has been family-owned for generations. She has fond memories of her grandmother and others living there. The inn is a popular place for tourists to stay and enjoy what the town and area have to offer. The nearby charging stations will be a convenience for EV users. Glennon said much is changing on Main Street with the addition of more retail stores and restaurants.

The new charging stations are for the public, but others have already been in use by the school district thanks to a Dominion Energy Electric School Bus Program. According to information from Virginia Clean Cities, “Since early 2021, Louisa County Public Schools has been operating two electric school buses (ESBs) as part of their fleet. These buses were two of the first electric school buses deployed in the Commonwealth and have since served as an example of how ESBs can serve a variety of school districts and their needs.”

Yvonne Agee, an artist in addition to being a business owner, summed up her excitement about new projects around the community. “We at Turn Up the Color Studio are thrilled that Louisa will soon be equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations,” she said. “This exciting addition not only supports sustainable transportation but also invites you to visit our charming town.”

Agee encourages people planning a visit to Louisa to experience “the perfect blend of sustainable travel, artistic exploration, and small-town charm.”

Although the 150th year celebration focused on “then” and “now,” the new projects go further: then, now, and a charged-up future.