Chilhowie
Chilhowie, VA · Arts & Culture
Bertie Ledger-Advance
‘Every little detail tells a story’: Todd Hotel restoration honors family legacy
TODD — The Todd Hotel has been in John Baker’s family for seven generations, and he is now restoring it to its former glory. The property and hotel — an 1840s Appalachian farmhouse, built in the Greek Revival style and renovated in Victorian style — has been in the family since before the railroad came to Todd. The hotel’s first known mention in print came in 1885, when the Watauga Democrat called it a boarding house, Baker said. In 1909, his great-great-great-grandfather, Felix McGuire, purchased the hotel and farm. Baker said he believes his family bought it expecting prosperity would follow the railroad to the area. Felix’s son, T.A. McGuire, and T.A.’s wife, Mae McGuire, took over in 1912 — adding more guest rooms and renovating the hotel in the ornate Victorian style that survives today. “What was more of a simple farmhouse, they expanded into a really grand hotel — in a very optimistic way,” Baker said. “It’s really kind of based on things they saw — styles from New York — to make a really grand impression on visitors that would be coming from all over the world.” At its peak from the 1910s through the 1930s, the
The Rogersville Review
Hensley is back at Carter Fold this Saturday night
HILTONS, Va. — The Carter Family Fold is back in action after a week off for Halloween, and will welcome Trey Hensley & His Bluegrass Band back to the historic venue this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Trey Hensley is a Grammy-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Johnson City, Tennessee, whose musical journey has been intertwined with the Carter Family Fold since childhood. A true prodigy, Trey first stepped onto the Grand Ole Opry stage at just eleven years old, performing alongside Marty Stuart and Earl Scruggs. Not long after, he met Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash at the Fold, where he performed with members of the Carter Family and later played at June Carter Cash’s birthday celebration—an early milestone that helped shape his lifelong connection to traditional music. Raised in nearby Telford, Trey began singing gospel at age six before discovering bluegrass guitar, quickly developing the fiery flatpicking style that would become his signature. His early career included several acclaimed bluegrass recordings with his band Drivin’ Force, produced with guidance from Tom T. Hall. Over the years, Trey has shared the stage with icons including Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Daniels, The Oak Ridge Boys, J.D. Crowe, Peter Frampton, and
