Get ready to field the spirits of Crozet

Back in the 1870s, a little town sprouted up around a railroad stop on Wayland’s farm.

They named it Crozet after a fellow who had built a tunnel through about 4,000-some feet of solid rock. Claudius Crozet’s tunnel allowed the town to thrive as trains toted their fruit-laden cargo through the Blue Ridge for almost 90 years.

Even old Claudius would be surprised to see the community these days.

But for the next two days — tonight and Saturday — members of our community will get a chance to see Claudius and some of the other famous and not-so-famous people who played a part in western Albemarle history.

This weekend, the Field School is hosting the first Crozet Spirit Walk.

“It was an idea that we had here at the school,” said Todd Barnett, who is head of the school for the 3-year-old middle school for boys. “We are going to have people come to the school, we will bus them to town and they will walk back here. It’s about a three-quarters-mile walk.”

Along the guided history tour, visitors will be greeted by 20-some local actors and musicians, all dressed in period costume.

Cindy Leal, who teaches drama at the Field School and the Village School, directed what is hoped to become an annual event in Crozet. She lined up her cast, including a couple of parents, who will be starring as famous faces from the past.

Look for Meriwether Lewis, one-half of Thomas Jefferson’s famed Lewis and Clark Expedition leaders. Lewis was born nearby in Ivy. Lady Nancy Astor, who rose to fame in the British Parliament, owned Mirador. Then there was Paul Goodloe McIntire, the UVa grad who came back to Charlottesville to spend his fortune. Part of his generosity spilled over to Crozet.

“He retired to Charlottesville and gave his money away very quickly,” Barnett said.

“We have some well-known figures, but we also have some unnamed. There are Civil War soldiers, apple pickers and the people who helped build the tunnel.”

The tours will begin at 6:30 tonight and Saturday and depart every 15 minutes through 8:30 p.m.

“We hope to make this an annual event for the community,” Barnett said. “But we also want to people to see our building.

“A lot of people went to school here. It was the Crozet Elementary School from the 1960s to the 1990s, and then it was the Waldorf School for a while. Now it is completely refurbished and gorgeous old hardwood floors.”

Barnett also hopes folks will come out Saturday to sample something else that western Albemarle is famous for … apple butter.

“We have a 60-gallon kettle,” he said. “We are picking the apples and plan to have it finished and dished up in time for Saturday’s tours.”

Tour tickets are $5 and are available at Mudhouse in Crozet. For more details, call 923-3435.

AT A GLANCE

Crozet Spirit Walk

6:30 tonight and Saturday

Park at Field School in Crozet; walks begin every 15 minutes until 8:30 p.m.

$5

923-3435