by Larry Chowning –
Oh, if only that old piano could play back the songs and tunes that were once belted out on her keyboard long ago — just like if those old walls could talk.
If an old piano could play back in time its old music, Jane Birchard’s upright Estey piano that came from the old Nelson Hotel would provide a glimpse into Urbanna’s historical entertainment, long before radios and record players were household items.
Alfred and L.M. Carlton, who grew up next door to the Nelson Hotel on Lord Mott Road, recall that the piano was located in “section four” of the hotel in the public area used as a sitting room.
Entertainment came whenever someone sat down on the seat and played a tune. A good piano player filled up the sitting room and drew standing room only in the halls and dining room.
The Nelson Hotel was located on Lord Mott Road, just outside of Urbanna. West Urbanna (steamboat) Wharf was founded in 1871 when William H. Purkins sold acreage on Robinson Creek to the Baltimore and Susquehanna Steam Company. This was eventually purchased by Virginia Railway Company, which built the wharf.
Captain Lang Nelson purchased the land in front of the wharf and built the Victorian architectural style hotel building that became Nelson Hotel. The hotel was home to Dew Post Office (named after a Judge Dew from King and Queen County) and was later named Remlik Post Office, said L.M. Carlton.
During the main hotel season, Captain Lang’s family lived in the attic of one of the hotel buildings. But when the season was over and cold weather months came, they moved downstairs.
Over Christmas, the hotel took on more of a family purpose and was decorated with evergreens as running cedar, princess pine, holly and pine were wrapped inside the decor of the hotel.
The Nelson family and friends entertained by playing and singing Christmas carols on the old Estey piano.
The hotel business waned after the August Storm of 1933 that took away West Urbanna Wharf and brought an end to the steamboat transportation era on Chesapeake Bay. Into the 1940s, the buildings at Hotel Nelson were in major disrepair.
Birchard recalls that her father Frank Brown brought the piano home from the hotel when she was in fourth grade at Urbanna Graded School.
“I took piano lessons on that piano from Helen Richardson, but I didn’t learn much,” she said. “My mother thought all of us should know how to play a piano and my father could play the piano by ear. I don’t know that he could read a note, but he was a good piano player.
“I’m sure that old piano has been well played,” said Birchard. “I don’t remember much about the Nelson Hotel, but my parents and grandparents talked about it. It must have been quite a place in its time.”
Albert Carlton recalls a man from Richmond driving down Lord Mott Road in the 1950s and stopping to ask for directions to Nelson Hotel. When he was informed there was no longer a Nelson Hotel, the man could hardly believe it.
Time changes everything said Birchard. Her daughter is moving in with her in the coming months. She has to make room and find a new home for the Hotel Nelson piano. Anyone interested in purchasing a piece of Urbanna steamboat history can contact her at 804- 758-2962.
What a grand Christmas present it would make!
