Howardsville, VA
Growing Up at Dungannon
In 1931 a southern family refugeed from the north, seeking a
healthier climate, a rural atmosp
here
for their family and free rent! They were John and Mary Bryan Bruns. John’s
mother Kate Logan Bruns and her husband Dr. Henry D. Bruns had spent
vacations in their summer home near Howardsville, VA and it was here to
Dungannon–the Bruns’ summer home--that John, recovering from bad health,
brought his family. A unique old house of red sandstone with tower rooms,
Dungannon promised a garden, pigs, sheep, a cow, Dr. Bruns’ beagles needing
expert attention, and a raft of other country experiences.
Mary was a city girl. On her first adventure
with country living she went first to Macy’s and bought a set of appropriate
"country" style china, a dainty overall fruit pattern called Ceylon, and a pair
of "country" shoes and jodhpurs. She quickly learned to "live" in the country
and to enjoy it, but it was hard work. Ruth Jones (see drawing) was her prime
instructor. Mary was an artist by inclination, but did little in the way of
painting until much later. A few sketches seem to be all that survived the
country period of her life. Later in her 50’s and beyond, Mary became known for
her paintings of North Florida.
The eldest of John and Mary’s sons, Alan, absorbed Howardsville
as he grew up, appreciated the goodness and the badness, and told stories about
it to all who would listen. Now his stories and those of many others and
pictures by Howardsville residents Bill and Alice Giannini are being brought
together.
If you have memories, comments, photographs,
drawings, or anything you want to share about Howardsville, VA, please be in
touch with Alan Bruns,
alnanb@cox.net or Nancy
Bruns at brunsn@cox.net.
Alan below is on the side porch of Dungannon. He lived at the Little Green House
at Dungannon from the fifth grade through high school. -- Nancy Bruns
