FEARRINGTON HOMEOWNERS
SILVER ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION  
NEWSLETTER 

The FHA was born on November 23, 1980 The chairman of the Steering Committee, Steve Metelits, called the first meeting of the Board of Directors at the home of Bob Bailey. (See picture.)

CONTENTS
(Click on a headline to go directly to the article.)

The original board members were, from left, Yvonne Weimer, secretary; Carl Stromee, vice president; Eva Hoke, member; John Foxworth, president; Steve Metelits, member, and Bob Bailey, treasurer.

MESSAGES FROM THE FHA PRESIDENT AND R.B. FITCH

FROM THE FHA PRESIDENT

It is a real privilege to be serving as FHA President at the completion of 25 years of FHA history. We have moved from a small village to a well-established community. Our residents bring a diversity of background that is the envy of many other communities. Our system of governance has worked successfully and contributed to the overall quality of life for Fearrington residents. As you read through this commemorative newsletter, you can see the evolution of Fearrington Village through the eyes of many past board members.

The recurring theme is that Fearrington is made up of very interesting and interested people who are active in village life. Volunteerism runs rampant and is the lifeblood of the community. We have so many opportunities for residents to get involved. The ability to share expertise and contribute has never been greater.

As we move forward in 2006, some of the FHA activities that will be addressed in greater detail are: expanding the Neighborhood Watch Program, Road Safety educational programs for all residents, CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training for interested residents and resident security programs.

Enjoy the celebratory programs this year with this commemorative newsletter, exhibits in the Gathering Place and the parade with ice cream social on May 6. It’s wonderful to be living in Fearrington Village.

Drew Bratton, President

FROM R.B. FITCH

Congratulations on your 25th....

The FHA and the residents of Fearrington have done a wonderful job of transforming an old dairy farm into a wonderful village. I am especially pleased with the way transplants from all over the country have come and contributed so unselfishly to the well being of Chatham County. Best wishes and, now on to the 50th. — R.B.

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THANK YOU . . .

My thanks to those whose names appear on these pages for their articles and photos and to my fellow Anniversary Committee members — Evy Barrow, Drew Bratton, Gillian Cell, Mike Cotter, Carl Granath (who designed the graphic on the cover), Mary Hammond, and Marva Price — and Jim Hoke (for the cover photo) and Phoebe Lockley-Fox of Fitch Creations and Eddie Price for their encouragement and assistance. — Bob Comey

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RECOLLECTIONS OF PAST BOARD MEMBERS

JOHN FOXWORTH
(First President and Board Member, 1980-1982)

It was an interesting time. We had nice neighbors and we had a good time.

R.B. Fitch was a very accommodating person and turned over property to the residents. When he opened the restaurant (now The Fearrington House), he used some of us residents as guinea pigs.

I served on other homeowners boards after leaving Fearrington and retired last December from one in Atlanta.

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EVA HOKE
(Original Board Member, Vice President, President, 1980-83)

Fearrington was designed originally for young professional couples. We fit that description. My husband, Jim, had just taken a job at UNC School of Dentistry, and I worked in a research lab for the Department of Anesthesiology.

We loved living in Fearrington. It was in the woods, it was remote and there were several other couples and we knew it would grow. (We moved in in January 1977, 10 Matchwood, the third couple to occupy Fearrington).

Benchmark and Matchwood slowly populated, and we had a great time getting to know other young couples, but the closest grocery store was in Carrboro. There were no places to eat between Fearrington and Chapel Hill or Pittsboro, so it definitely was isolated.

We carpooled in our large van and had up to 10-12 people in the van for our journey to UNC each day.

When residents started having families, our community grew. We had wonderful activities for the kids at the playground. Thousands of picnic lunches were consumed at the playground between swinging and climbing on the structure.

We had Christmas parties in the Barn and Santa Claus came to visit. He was the only older resident (this was several years later, of course) who would agree to dress up in costume and let kids sit on his knee. We would have singing and hot chocolate and the kids played. It was a pretty rustic barn, no decorations, insulation or twinkling lights then. There were no market, shops or outside traffic.

Times changed, the focus changed and the average age of homeowners changed during the ‘80s. People asked why we chose to live in a “retirement community.” The rest is history.

The board met every month and discussed important issues — annual dues, lawn maintenance on the common property, what would happen to Fearrington if R.B. Fitch decided to leave. Would we ever incorporate? How big would it become? Could 15-501 be made into a four-lane road. Could we get a street light at the end of Village Way as it entered 15-501.

The phone numbers in Fearrington were half Chapel Hill and half Pittsboro. It was long-distance to call your neighbor next door or across the street. We helped push the idea along that we were not confined by a phone boundary made years ago. We had an approval committee that reviewed additions to property. Very small changes were made, maybe an occasional garage. We all wanted a garage, but those were not in the original plans, unsightly.

Phase II developed and the Market area was being developed as a Village Center. The mail kiosk was to be moved from its present location to the market area. It was moved and was unpopular with many residents. It was subsequently moved back, as it stands today.

As you can see some things have changed, but many issues of today have been around for a while.

We still have friends and acquaintances in Fearrington. Many friends moved away but still keep in touch. It was a great place to have children grow up. They could ride their hot wheels all the way from the playground to #10 without stopping and they loved it.

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YVONNE WEIMER
(Secretary, 1980-82)

Everyone strolled in those days. On Sunday afternoons, we would take nature walks and check out the new houses. Part of Creekwood was unpaved then.

The board spent many minutes on how the houses looked and on loose dogs and there was a controversy over the location of the mail kiosk.

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STEVE METELITS
(Original Board Member; President, 1983)

When the Board of Directors elected me president (that's how we did it then), we still conducted board meetings in the homes of board members.

In 1983, Phase III was well under way, and R.B. Fitch had filled in the "dump" in that phase along the creek. Since the land was not suitable for building, we got the use of the lot for recreation and built a basketball half-court. We had hoped the field could be used for children's sports, but we never had enough children the right ages for organized sports.

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SANDY WOOD
(President, 1984)

There were no formal nominating procedures. I didn’t want to be treasurer, and secretary didn’t interest me. So I became president.

It was a nice job, not much to it.

I suggested that the job be alternated between a man and a woman. Ginny Sherman followed me. She did a superb job!

We needed a left-turn lane into Fearrington from southbound 15-501. There could have been a very bad accident there. One family’s car was rear-ended, but there were no serious injuries.

Ginny knew a woman at DOT and pretty soon there were traffic counters out there and then the lane. It was strictly Ginny Sherman. I give her credit for that.

I was a lightening rod for goofy calls. Late one evening, a man called me and said his water had been turned off. He called back the next day and apologized for the call. It turned out that his wife hadn’t paid the bill.

I remember a lot of wonderful people for what they did, like Bus and Simone Detweiler. They were wonderful with the neighborhood children, and he taught everyone bocce. I talked him into being Santa Claus at the playground. Later he played Santa for adults at a party in the Barn.

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BILL SAMUELS
(Board Member, 1984-1987)

I was in charge of maintenance all the time I was on the board. I spent the whole summer of 1985 painting signs all by myself. I went through Phases I through IV (that’s all we had then) carrying a ladder and a can of fluorescent paint.

Fearrington was growing at that time. Construction of the yellow townhouses was beginning.

Virginia Sherman was president of the FHA in 1985 and advocated installing streetlights in Fearrington. A lot of people didn’t like that idea, and it never came to pass.

B.A. Taylor was also on the board with me and was responsible for pet control. There were complaints about barking and a lot of noise at a home in Phase I where a resident trained dogs in her backyard. B.A. went to investigate. Three dogs greeted him at the door, and he couldn’t hear them. He thought, “My God, I’ve lost my hearing!” It turned out that the resident had had the dogs’ voice boxes removed after the neighbors complained.

I hired Tom Seaton to do mowing and general outdoor maintenance for the FHA. R.B. Fitch later hired him to do the same work for Fitch Creations.

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LILLIAN SAFFERMAN
(President, 1987)

During my term of office, I recall the following:

Negotiating with the telephone company regarding existing charges where many residents whose properties were adjacent to one another but yet were charged long-distance rates for local calls. Our negotiations were successful.

Continued negotiations (which were successful) with R.B. regarding the need for a suitable meeting place. I met with R.B. every week, finally convincing him “it would be put to good use.” He consented to put it on the back burner of his priority list. Toward the end of my term, the plan was moved to the front burner. It was completed during John Wait’s year.

All my messages in the Newsletter always closed with “Fearrington is a ‘Unique Community.” Twenty-five years later, the same applies. I miss it.

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JOHN WAIT
(President, 1989)

During my term as president, R.B. Fitch offered the swimming pool and the Gathering Place to the FHA.

Both proposals were accepted, although one member suggested that we look carefully at R.B.’s offer of the pool.

The efforts to get the FHA to agree to accept the Gathering Place (and name it) and raise dues to furnish and maintain it were other highlights.

Just to see the goodwill projects to help finance interior work, including decorations and furnishings, was heartwarming. My wife Jane bought 400 Beltie ornaments from Scotland. We sold these ornaments and memorial floor tiles to help finance the project.

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WINSTON KIRBY
(Board Member, 1990)

Fearrington and I are both on the threshold of achieving our 25th anniversary – Fearrington as a major residential community, and I, as a survivor of 25 years of retirement – 7 in Florida, 10 in Fearrington, and now over 8 in Carolina Meadows.

Although my memory has dimmed more than somewhat (an inevitable corollary of aging), a few recollections occasionally emerge to vitiate the abrasive reminders of “moving on. Our arrival day from Florida to Fearrington in '88 was one of being enveloped by a major snowstorm, greeted by our two Florida movers (a young woman who had never seen snow, and her fiancé). Fortunately, we were able to recruit several of R.B. Fitch's staff, who, though able, willing and cheerful, were inexperienced in the nuances of hauling furniture.

As we were the first, and for a while the only residents of Spindlewood in The Woods, June and I responded to curious non-Fearrington residents that we lived in The Woods. They, thinking of The Woods as the generic “woods,” not a specific section of Fearrington, would iterate, "Yes, but we all live in the woods, don't we?" And so the absurdity continued.

My service on Fearrington's board took place in 1990. Regardless of the majority vote against incorporation, there emerged a disproportionate amount of animus and hostility between the pros and the cons, which continued too long.

At the same time, there also emerged another artery of discord, i.e., the lack of courtesy of some dog owners and those perhaps overly sensitive to the behavior of our neighbors' pets.

Strange, that I recall these two concurrent levels of interest more emphatically than the development of thought leading to the creation of The Gathering Place.

My own appeal for reason to moderate discord at a heavily attended Fearrington meeting, was, I felt appropriate and justified. This was also the period in which much rumor and discussion took place about the development of a retirement center, which ultimately led to Galloway Ridge.

A year or so later, prior to moving to Carolina Meadows late in 1997, we negotiated to move from Spindlewood to a new home in West Camden Park. At the same time we received word from Carolina Meadows that we were eligible to move there.

A major regret, still extant after eight years, is leaving behind so many good people. Fortunately many of them are now here and to accommodate my memory loss, please remind me of your name as we encounter each other.

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DICK KOSIBA
(President, 1991)

Among the activities of interest that I remember from my term as president were:

The return of civility to the Fearrington community after the eruption of bad feelings and bad behavior surrounding the issue of incorporation during the previous presidency.

Discussions with the Tennis Association and the Swim & Croquet Club to confirm they were independent of FHA.

The Gathering Place.

There was considerable discussion about the Gathering Place at the January meeting. One resident said that a license plate sale raised over $1,000 and hoped that the money would go toward the flooring. Fire extinguishers were installed. An anonymous donor gave a 55-cup coffeemaker, and the Dance Club donated two 30-cup coffeemakers and a CD player. More than 600 people used the Gathering Place in December.

Its first year of operation was celebrated on February 17. Fundraisers provided the money to purchase parquet flooring at about half price.

A quilt, primarily designed and made by Fearrington Quilters with help from the Village Quilters, was unveiled in February at the Gathering Place. R.B. Fitch agreed to pay half the fee for its installation.

The kitchen floor was installed, thanks to an anonymous donor.

Generous donations were received from a number of organizations, including Hospice, Arts & Crafts (window treatments), Women's Club (wallpaper, tile floor and painting in bathrooms), Stay Put for Now and the Exercise Group.

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EUGENE MORIARTY
(President, 1992)

I assumed the presidency of the FHA Board immediately following the first attempt to persuade the Fearrington residents to consider incorporation. You may recall the community was significantly divided and there was a great deal of contention over the entire issue. There was serious dissension and name calling with neighbors not speaking to one another because of their position, either pro or con.

Needless to say, it took a period of time for the wounds to heal and I am told some of the scars are still evident after all these years. Because of this divisive issue, the incoming board was careful not to bring up any new contentious items until tempers subsided. There were few new initiatives proposed and the 1992 board spent most of its time smoothing over hurt feelings.

The community was still growing and the Woods was expanding. The Village had some changes.

The usual problem of "dog doo" was a constant complaint by the residents of Phase V.

There was a disagreement concerning the walking path along Village Way to the Village Center. Some felt it should be paved or graveled; others thought it should stay as it was. At a later date, the residents of Phase V had the path paved from Beechmast to Lassiter Road.

I cannot think of any major accomplishments or disappointments except, like all things in life, we tend to resist change and there is no doubt we continued to grow in 1992, and those who came earlier regretted the changes.

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ARMIN HAGEN
(Secretary, 1993)

Chatham County proposed a countywide renumbering of homes and businesses to help implement the enhanced 911 (E-911) system. The new numbers would correspond to the approximate mileage along each road to facilitate fast location, in an emergency, by the Fire Department and EMS. This renumbering would be impractical in a dense community, and therefore the FHA sought and successfully obtained an exemption to this global renumbering for Fearrington. Nineteen homes did get renumbered in order to conform to the new regulations .

Combining the data from Fitch Creations, FHA treasurer Bob Shock’s list and the 1993 telephone directory, a database was set up for Fearrington and kept up-to-date by the secretary.

The Bylaws Committee recommended that the board be increased to nine members from the existing seven members. This was approved at the Annual Meeting of the association.

Permission was granted, for a one-year trial period, to let the Gathering Place be used as a polling place for a new voting precinct. This new precinct encompassed Fearrington (85% of the voters) and a small portion of the surrounding area (15% of the voters.)

Ongoing problems that had to be addressed periodically were pet control and the algae on Beaver Pond. There was an incident of a loose dog biting someone. County regulations require that dogs be leashed.

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DALE SMITH
(President, 1994)

In 1994 Fearrington was in its 25th year, but only the 13th year for the Homeowners Association. The board’s efforts were similar to those of present boards, providing community services that we tend to take for granted, but that require active work and management and the help of many volunteers recruited by the board.

Changes in the bylaws, made in the previous year, when I was treasurer and Ed Anderson was president, increased the board to nine members and brought about direct election of officers. Previously a smaller board chose from among themselves who would be officers, and nominations for the next election of directors were also made by the board.

The 1993 bylaw changes also established an elected Nominating Committee that subsequently has wrestled with finding the nominees for board positions.

At that time the Gathering Place and Swim Pool had recently been given by R.B. Fitch to the community, with the Swim Club established as a separate entity, and the Gathering Place accepted by the FHA Board as its facility. It had no office facilities. Board records were kept in people’s homes and directory and newsletter copies were made in town.

A major development in 1994 was an agreement with R.B. for him to expand the Gathering Place by adding an office for the FHA and one for the Home Care Connection, a predecessor of Fearrington Cares. The Home Care Connection, strongly supported by R.B., was quite new at that time and needed space for its work. That development, completed the following year, allowed not only the consolidation of records and in-house copying, but added other services to the community.

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JOHN BOWLER
(President, 1995)

There were constant complaints about having to leash dogs. These complaints were hard to understand. What’s the problem with putting on a leash? Leashes were the rule. One resident who objected to the rule informed he had hired a lawyer and would charge me with harassment.

Although I did not bring up the subject, incorporation kept coming up at meetings. The question of hiring a professional manager came up at several meetings.

We had quite a problem with traffic from Village Way into 15-501. There was no traffic light, and some residents were uneasy. I think they had a right to be. We contacted the state police and explained the importance of a traffic light. A trooper conducted a daily count of vehicles, and then we got a letter authorizing installation of a light. We thought we had accomplished something.

There were also complaints about speed limits. Some people felt 25 mph was unreasonably low. One resident stood up at a meeting and said, “I have a very fine car. I don’t intend to insult that machine with 25 mph!”

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BOB COMEY
(Secretary, 1996)

The major event in Fearrington in 1996 was Hurricane Fran. It slammed into North Carolina's southern coast on September 5 and struck Fearrington early the next morning. Damage was extensive, and neighbors quickly helped neighbors. Many residents opened their homes to those whose homes had been damaged by fallen trees or were without power or were housebound.

The FHA Board met on September 9, and President Don Jones reported that the FHA had no insurance to cover hurricane damage and was not in a position to do a lot of major work. He introduced R.B. Fitch, who said that Robert Flynn, Tom Seaton and the state had done considerable clearing of trees and other storm debris in the past several days.

Robert said that Fitch Creations had engaged Robert Cecil, a sawmill operator, to remove damaged and fallen trees from its property. He was expected to work in Fearrington for about three weeks but was still clearing trees in 1997.

Fitch Creations' grinding costs were $28,000 in September and $40,000 in the first 10 days of October.

The year also saw:

The beginning of the FHA Office. Short-term plans included furnishing the room in the Gathering Place. Longer-term goals included staffing and acquiring a computer and an answering machine.

Formation of a Long-Range Planning Committee.

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CAROL HAY
(President, 1997)

My memories of the FHA in 1997 are of a good year working with fine people.

Hurricane Fran brought cleanup activity in 1997. The creek beds and runoff areas were cleared by a federal environmental agency. The FHA rebuilt the damaged Creekwood mail kiosk.

A long-range planning committee led by Lovick Miller worked hard throughout the year. With help from many volunteers, a 21-item survey including factual and attitudinal questions was distributed to 830 households. After analysis, a 65- page booklet, Village 21 was written by Bill Snyder and published. For residents interested in the Village, it is still most interesting reading and copies are in the office.

The FHA enlarged its office in the Gathering Place and joined the computer age.

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LOVICK MILLER
(President, 1998, 1999)

During my two years as president, the board was very active. I wrote a column each month in the Newsletter. We also set guidelines for our monthly meetings.

Our first major task was to develop a working office. Additional tables and chairs and basic equipment such as bulletin boards, storage shelves and writing materials were purchased. Volunteers were trained to man the telephone, operate the machines, provide information about FHA and the Village, collect copier and fax fees and keep usage accounts. We recruited and trained volunteers to publish and assemble the Newsletter. Volunteers entered all board minutes and other official FHA documents into the computer.

The office was now functional with copying and fax machines available at reasonable cost. The office has been a great boon to residents and is very popular.

Each member of the board was in charge of a specific area important to the FHA as a whole. The results of these efforts are too numerous to cite, but one illustrates them all. We had had several close calls at the Gathering Place kiosk since all cars had to back into oncoming cars. After an accident occurred, Henry Castner designed the current parking system in which cars keep moving forward. Volunteers painted the new lines, which met with universal acclaim. In addition, his volunteers installed "cat's eyes" along most of Village Way.

Many other such problems and solutions were found, too numerous to mention.

While all the routine work of the board progressed, we appointed a number of ad hoc committees to address special issues outside the standing committees' assignments. Much of the board’s energy, time and accomplishments evolved out of the issues assigned to these ad hoc committees.

These committees had special tasks in a number of areas, one of which was property boundaries. Since Carol Hay had spent hours in the courthouse to locate deeds on all FHA property, the board decided to walk all of the property, some of which was quite rough. Every member was truly surprised at the extent and location of much of the property and found few residents who actually knew the boundaries of their properties that bordered on FHA's. Henry Castner then constructed a large map based on U.S. government surveys. It still hangs in the Gathering Place.

Other areas included finance, sewage and water, legal, insurance and conflict resolution of property issues (including Lassiter Lane, paths and walkways, Turtle Run, Beaver Pond access and sediment, house colors, Gathering Place parking lot ownership and landscaping and tag sales).

We also dealt with a number of non-property issues, including:

Speed Limit. Some residents were upset about speeding; others were not interested. One resident got DOT to install 25 mph limit signs on Village Way. Many residents became upset since this was not a community decision. The board resolved to establish a 25 mph limit throughout the Village.

Gathering Place Expansion. R.B. Fitch decided to add space for the Home Care Connection (which later merged with Stay Put for Now to form Fearrington Cares). This addition provided space for a nurse with no FHA charge for the space.

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EVELYN BARROW
(President, 2000)

The new century greeted us with a record January snowfall. We awoke to 20-plus inches and realized we would all be at home for the indefinite future. Anyone owning boots or shovels was suddenly very popular. Some of FHA’s emergency planning worked well, some of it did not. When we returned to normal, we focused on what role FHA can and should play at times of emergency.

We installed a street light at the intersection of Swim & Croquet and Village Way, illuminating the path to the Gathering Place at night. Office services expanded to include faxes, sent and received.

The Market Café reopened for dinner at night, to the delight of most residents, but it was a short-lived opportunity, yet again.

DILR sponsored one semester class here and promised to try it again.

Playground equipment upgrade was started. The Ad Hoc Planning Research Committee led to the creation of the Long-Range Planning Committee, still an important unit functioning today.

Lebonee Price (85 Shagbark), the first resident to live her entire life to adulthood in Fearrington, was praised as she graduated from Wake Forest University. (Lebonee is now studying for an MBA at Northwestern).

The beavers in Beechmast Pond were a concern then, as now, because they were doing what beavers do, leading to plugged drains and downed trees. Much more welcome were new ducks – five Indian Runners, six Black Cayugas and two Khaki Campbells, to the Camden ponds. By June they had produced several offspring but their abode here was short-lived as they succumbed to illness, ducknapping (?) or flights to greener pastures. We have John Shillito’s beautiful photographs to remember them by.

FHA continued to keep the Gathering Place gracious, the office occupied, Newsletter noteworthy, directory dynamic, crab grass cut, pond pure, kiosks clean, playground pretty, street lamps lit.

And is still doing it!

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BOB EBY
(President, 2001)

Fearrington Village had been in the middle of what might be called “telephone hell.” With three different phone companies operating in the Triangle, almost any call seemed to be a toll call. In the early ’90s, R.B. Fitch finally got the toll charge between Sprint (nee Carolina Telephone) and BellSouth eliminated. Thus, it no longer required a toll call to phone from one side of Fearrington to the other. In the late ’90s, the toll charge from Fearrington to Raleigh and Cary was eliminated.

In 2001, the FHA Board decided to try to get the last remaining toll charge, between most of Fearrington and Durham knocked down. Under the leadership of Al Lebeau, the board’s Chatham County Liaison Director, this goal was achieved. Some 700 signatures were obtained on a petition, support was generated from the Chatham County Commissioners, Duke Medical School (with its interest in Galloway Ridge) and businesses and agencies in Pittsboro. Most importantly, a contact was established with an employee of the North Carolina Utility Commission, who agreed that toll charges within the Triangle were inappropriate. A formal request was submitted in late spring. While the process moved slowly, by the end of 2001 Fearringtonians could call anywhere in the Triangle via a local call.

Thinking that this would be the board’s major accomplishment for the year, however, was a big mistake. In June, Newland Communities rented the Barn to give us our first view of what has become Briar Chapel. With what was proposed to be Chatham’s largest development (2,790 homes + 800,000 square feet of commercial space) suddenly at our doorstep, including 60 acres abutting some 27 lots in Fearrington, the FHA Board decided to take an historic step. After numerous meetings with residents and the developer, the board concluded that, for the first time in its 20-year history, it would take a public stance on a political issue.

During the public hearing held by the County Commissioners in Pittsboro, Fearrington residents helped fill the courtroom to overflowing, as the FHA Board formally asked the commissioners to turn down Newland’s proposal. Newland continued to meet with the FHA Board, both in 2001 and 2002 (along with other opponents) and eventually added an additional school impact fee contribution of $2,000 per living unit, included affordable housing in its proposal, provided for more public service facilities and downsized its proposal to 2,200 living units plus 100,000 square feet of commercial area. Despite these concessions, in May 2002, the commissioners unanimously rejected the proposal.

Developers have deep pockets, considerable patience and political skills. Using all of these attributes to support their case, Newland finally won approval for Briar Chapel in 2005, from a Board of Commissioners that changed radically in its makeup in the election of 2002.

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ED FARNAN
(President, 2002)

Chatham County was in transition and on the verge of explosive commercial and residential development as evidenced by the widening of U.S. 15-501 and the proposed Briar Chapel development. Although Fearrington was sure to be caught up in this change, the FHA very much wanted to retain the “country village” character of the community with its neighborliness, volunteerism, charity and low-key lifestyle. Numerous attempts were made to convey to Chatham County the benefit of reasonable, controlled growth, but little was achieved.

In the first week of January, the Village was severely challenged with a 13-inch snowfall that virtually paralyzed the community. Many people generously volunteered their time and equipment to ease the situation. However, we were really unprepared. When the power and telephone lines are down, the only effective communication is people going door-to-door and checking on neighbors. In mid-December, an ice storm had an even greater impact.

Fearrington’s neighborliness and charity were demonstrated when the community raised $2,600 over a weekend to help a nearby family whose little boy was killed while running to his school bus. The funds were used to defray funeral expenses.

The board, supported by numerous volunteers, kept the day-to-day operations of the FHA functioning smoothly throughout the year. Several infrastructure projects were completed, such as refurbishing the mail kiosks, modernizing the playground and enhancing the roadsides and FHA land parcels. The FHA website was launched. These were just some examples of the volunteer contributions. Personally, I give every credit to a harmonious and productive board that made the job a pleasure.

Interpretation and enforcement of covenant issues occupied an extraordinary amount of time.

One issue in particular, a covenant restricting deer fences, led to a proposal to cull the deer herd that routinely denuded residents’ shrubbery and flower gardens. After much heated controversy, the deer problem was relegated to a committee for ongoing study.

Unfortunately, the community’s prerogative to vote became a victim of the controversy and no further action was taken. This undermining of the FHA’s democratic process was a great disappointment.

Frequent attempts were made to emphasize the value residents receive for their FHA annual dues such as the Gathering Place and its associated activities, the Directory, Newsletter, web site and many others. Those values continue today, although the “country village’’ character is fading due to internal growth and the suburbanization of northeastern Chatham County.

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NANCY KERN
(President, 2003)

The Deer Committee was formed under the leadership of Dik Van Iten. At my suggestion, he chose members that represented both sides of the argument but not at the extremes, so as to insure some compromises would occur. He brought in several outside experts on the matter to better inform the committee members. After a long year of meetings, the committee finalized its report, which was presented to the public at the first board meeting in 2004.

For the most part, I was lucky to work with a great board. John Custer was a pleasure to watch as he elicited volunteers on two of his pet projects — clearing out brush, kudzu, etc. from various FHA properties in the Village and planting and weeding the four flower beds at the Gathering Place.

Unfortunately, these projects have not continued.

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JERRY GAUDET
(President, 2004)

The year began with an update from Dik Van Iten on the last stages of work of the FHA Deer Committee. His committee prepared a manual for living in peace with wildlife.

The incorporation issue of the early 1990s resurfaced at the February board meeting. Fran Sherwin of the FHA Long-Range Planning Committee reported that the committee was studying the pros and cons of incorporation and taking a careful look at the economic consequences to residents. Dale Smith, another member, emphasized that no decisions had been made.

The critical concern was that Fearrington might be annexed against residents’ wishes, particularly in light of the Briar Chapel project, and the only way to avoid that reality is to incorporate. I thanked the committee for their work and promised that the pros and cons would be presented so that residents could decide what position to take.

The year also saw the opening of the lending library at the Smokehouse Kiosk, R.B. Fitch’s offer to build a new office for Fearrington Cares, the installation of a new copier in the office and major repairs and renovations at the Gathering Place.

A major accomplishment was the repaving of roads throughout the Village.

But all was not well elsewhere on the road front. Widening of U.S. 15-501 fell even further behind schedule, and there were serious visibility problems at the Village Way intersection and continual delays in both directions on the highway.

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TOM HAUCK
(President, 2005)

The 2005 FHA Board was very active during the year and among the activities were:

Establishing an inventory of FHA assets, including land parcels.

Modifying procedures to increase financial accountability.

Increasing the fees for renting the Gathering Place as well as some fees for FHA office services.

Welcoming Galloway Ridge into the Fearrington family.

Presenting a $36,000 claim to DOT to re pair the Beaver Creek and Pond (matter still ongoing).

Beginning a Community Watch program and a very active Road Safety Committee.

Presenting proposals to the residents for their vote.

Modifying the bylaws.

Considering a Contract Postal Unit at the Gathering Place.

Studying incorporation.

Each of the above activities required many hours, and I am particularly grateful to Drew Bratton, Vice President; Bill Sommers, Intergovernmental Liaison, and Bob Flower, Treasurer. Those three board members gave up their 2005 personal freedom to work on behalf of the residents.

In addition, various committees were active, including in the Computer Committee under Richard Bird, which turned the Gathering Place into a WiFi zone. They also set up a computerized database for easy input and retrieval of volunteer and emergency information.

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FEARRINGTON AND THE FHA OVER THE YEARS

1960

Fitch Creations, Inc. is established in Carrboro as a remodeling and landscaping business.

1974

Fitch Creations agrees to buy 650 acres of farmland from Jesse Fearrington and later adds approximately 450 acres from the Gust and Moore families.

1975

Fearrington Village becomes Chatham County’s first planned unit community. Phase I of the plan provides for 74 lots.

Tennis courts are built.

1976

The first house (11 Matchwood) is completed. Fearrington consists of 25 houses by the end of the year.

1977

R.B. Fitch publishes the first of “a series of occasional newsletters.” Eight issues are published through 1979.

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1978

Playground opens.

1979

Jon Condoret designs, Jenny Fitch decorates and Fitch Creations builds a Solar Dream House for Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and for the next few years that trio creates homes that are featured in Family Circle, Good Housekeeping and Southern Living magazines, to name a few.

R.B. suggests that residents form a homeowners association.

1980

R.B. asks for nominations for an FHA Board of Directors.

The FHA holds its first organizational meetings.

By the end of the year, there are 126 houses in Phases I and II and 31 in Phase III.

1981

The FHA commences its activities.

The first FHA Newsletter is published, with Steve Metelits as editor.

Community Watch signs erected on Village Way.

R.B. designates the field at Windstone and Turtle Run as a recreation area.

The FHA forms a Recreation Committee.

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1982

A basketball court is built at the recreation area.

R.B. and Jenny Fitch announce plans to create the Village Center.

The Fearrington House Restaurant opens. Decor and menus by Jenny. Entrees start at $5.95.

1983

The Market and Paperback Book Exchange open.

Volleyball and badminton courts are added to the recreation area.

R.B. and Robert Flynn visit a herd of Belted Galloways in Wintergreen, Va., and purchase a bull (Albert) and five cows. Some of their grandkids are still in the pastures.

1984

The Swim & Croquet Club opens.

The Market is established in the old granary. Dovecote is created from the milk parlor.

1987

A 14-room Country Inn is added to the Village Center.

1988

CCB opens its Fearrington branch.

The FHA forms a Planning Committee to analyze the needs and develop projects to add to the concept of country living in Fearrington.

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1989

R.B. donates the Swim & Croquet Club to its members.

The FHA board accepts R.B.’s offer to build the Gathering Place on 2-plus acres.

Fearrington “adopts” 2.85 miles of U.S. 15-501 as part of the state’s Adopt-A-Highway anti-litter program.

The Stay Put for Now Core Group forms.

1990

The Gathering Place opens in February.

Stay Put for Now membership grows to 100-plus families.

Alice Huston, FHA president, asks residents to consider a 25-mph speed limit.

Stay Put for Now, R.B. and UNC discuss establishing a medical clinic in Fearrington.

The FHA Planning Committee suggests a study of incorporation. A preliminary study is conducted, but further study is rejected by 88% of 450 residents who voted at the annual meeting in November.

1991

A celebration in February marks the first year of the Gathering Place.

1993

The FHA Board expands from 7 to 9 members.

Fearrington now totals 744+ units.

1995

Jenny Fitch dies.

East Camden and Weathersfield townhomes completed.

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1996

Back-to-back snow and ice storms hit Fearrington.

Hurricane Fran strikes in early September. Robert Flynn estimates that 100-plus homes were damaged.

More than 900 units exist at year-end.

1997

Camden Park created as a memorial for Jenny with her favorite plants and trees.

Village 21 study of Fearrington’s future begins. Residents are surveyed in March, and study is published in the fall.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation announces that the beginning of the 15-501 widening project has been postponed from 1999 to 2000.

Special Olympics announces that Fearrington will be the site of the world bocce competition.

1998

The FHA office opens.

Newsletter publication is shifted to the office from a commercial printer.

Fitch Creations and the FHA announce that two mail kiosks – Smokehouse and Camden – will be built.

The FHA Board unanimously endorses a 25-mph speed limit throughout the Village.

Traffic patterns are improved at the Gathering Place kiosk.

Freezing rain and sleet arrive just in time for the holidays and cause power outages in Fearrington.

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1999

Home Care Connection and Stay Put for Now propose a merger.

The Special Olympics bocce matches attract athletes and spectators from all over the world and many volunteers from Fearrington.

The FHA forms a Y2K Countdown Committee and sets up a Y2K reference library in the office.

Master Plan amended by Chatham County to allow for the construction of Galloway Ridge.

2000

The year has barely begun when a surprise snowstorm blankets Fearrington with 20+ inches. Two other storms follow within a week.

Home Care Connection and Stay Put for Now merge into Fearrington Cares.

The FHA polls residents to determine if there is interest in a web site.

2001

Widening of U.S.15-501 begins with an expected completion date of 2003.

R.B. purchases the Whitaker Ridge site for 13 future homes.

The board unanimously opposes the Briar Chapel project, the first time it has taken a position on an issue.

The board votes to spend $11,000 to upgrade the playground and make it safer.

2002

The year has a stormy beginning and end. A 13-inch snowfall in January and a December ice storm paralyze Fearrington. Some areas are without power.

The FHA board declares a moratorium on deer restraints.

The FHA Web Site opens.

Tolls are eliminated on phone calls to Durham.

Some 200 residents hear the pros and cons of the FHA’s proposed deer herd management plan. A vote is scheduled for the November annual meeting.

R.B. withdraws permission to hunt deer on his land, ending consideration of herd management.

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2003

Creekwood kiosk renovation completed.

DOT again predicts 15-501 widening will be completed by the year-end and that the entrance to Fearrington will be restored by June.

The FHA forms a Deer Project Committee.

Fearrington Cares announces it will publish a cookbook, Flavors of Fearrington.

Fitch Creations buys several Tennessee Fainting goats. The Beltie-like animals find a home in a fenced-in wooded area on Weathersfield between East and West Camden.

Ground is broken for Galloway Ridge.

A deer census begins.

The Smokehouse Library opens.

2004

The deer census determines there are 131 in Fearrington.

The Long-Range Planning Committee begins a preliminary incorporation study.

The FHA Board announces it cannot cull the deer herd because of high costs and land limitations.

The Gathering Place is refurbished. The kitchen and restrooms are renovated, and ceiling and floor tiles are replaced.

The Smokehouse Kiosk lot is paved; the Gathering Place Kiosk lot is repaved.

The FHA will offer CERT (Community Emergency Response Training).

R.B. offers to build and donate a new office for Fearrington Cares behind the Gathering Place.

State-maintained Village roads are repaved.

2005

An Annexation-Incorporation Committee forms.

Overflow crowds hear and debate the pros and cons of incorporation. Residents reject further study of incorporation 52%-48% at the November annual meeting.

The new Fearrington Cares office, Galloway Ridge and the Duke Center for Living open.

A Central Postal Unit is proposed for the Gathering Place, but the idea is abandoned because of restrictions on commercial activities in the Gathering Place.

Widening of 15-501 is finally completed.


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FEARRINGTON MONTHLY CALENDAR