Spotsylvania Sewing Circle During Great Depression In Todd's Tavern Community

Author: Sarah Dye | July 2026

It was a cold November day in 1935 in the rural farm community of Todd’s Tavern in Spotsylvania, Virginia. The scenery boasted of beautiful farm fields with rows of recently harvested corn. A lone two-story Virginia farmhouse is seen off in the distance with the smoke rising from the chimney. A covered front porch expanding the length of the house holds two rocking chairs watching the sunset on the fields. White-washed weatherboard siding shields like a protective blanket, and two chimneys on either side made with plaster and river rock halfway and finished off with red brick guard it from the cold. The nearest neighboring farm is several miles down the dirt road. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of livestock in the field, the rustling of leaves gently moving in the wind disturbing the patches of hickory trees along the field’s borderline. The air is cold, crisp, and fresh. The comforting silence of winter is felt where the sky is open, the moon illuminates the night, and one can count multiple star constellations. Cars were few in these parts and electrical poles would not be seen until the 1940s. This was Spotsylvania, Virginia, in the first quarter of the 20^th century. A small, self-sufficient community that survived on land, labor, friendship of their neighbors, the Gospel, and a desire to reach as many in need as they could.

Spotsylvania is the crossroads of the America Civil War (1861-1865) where the Battle of WildernesSs, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Court House were fought. The historic Todd’s Tavern, named for Charles Todd, was located where roads Brock Road and Catharpin (still named today) intersect. Charles Todd died around 1850 and by 1864, the tavern buildings had deteriorated and were no longer in business.

When the Union marched to Wilderness in April 1864, the remains of Todd’s Tavern witnessed fighting firsthand between the Union and Confederate calvaries as they marched from Wilderness to Spotsylvania. Oh, to hear the stories the walls of those remaining buildings at that time could have told if they could speak. The 1863 Map of Spotsylvania illustrated how densely populated the area of Todd’s Tavern was at that time and it was mostly unchanged after the 1960s.

The United States was in the middle of a Great Depression and the world was gearing up for a second World War. But on this day in November 1935, the community was gathered at Todd’s Tavern Community House. Amid the silence of winter, acetylene lamps’ light glowed through the windowpanes along with laughter, and music filled the air. The community was inside enjoying the annual fall Bazaar. This event started off with a turkey shoot in the afternoon to see which local man would end up with the turkey prize (and bragging rights). A patchwork quilt hung to be auctioned; each patch was lovingly created by individual women and finally sewn together to create a community heirloom. The intermingling sounds of a fiddle, guitar, and banjo were heard as folks sang, danced, and tapped their feet. Albert Haney or Charles “Brownie” Talley could be heard calling figures as the folks showed off their best square dance moves. Finally, a full supper consisting of turkey, gravy, peas, candied sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pickles, hot biscuits, fruit salad, and pies of coconut and apple for a mere $1.25 was enjoyed by all. This annual event–and many others–was held throughout the year to fundraise money for charity work. The success of the day (and food and auction items) was a direct result of the hard-working women of Todd’s Tavern Sewing Circle.

Todd's Tavern Community House, 1930's

 Todd’s Tavern Sewing Circle (1931-1972) started out as an opportunity for ladies to come together monthly to socialize and sew; however, it was so much more than that. It blossomed into an organization of giving through the passions, talents, and determination of these rural ladies. During a time of federal economic devastation, a second World War, food rations, and limited female opportunities, these resilient, industrial, self-sufficient women took on the cause to serve their community and their country.

Our story begin with the Finchville School House in 1915 off Catharpin Road. It’s now a residence next to the current Todd’s Tavern Community Center.  Several farm families pitched in for the construction of this two room wooden primitive schoolhouse with no indoor plumbing or electricity and it served several families in the Todd’s Taven community. With Whitewashed weatherboard siding covering its exterior and a bell set atop to ring in each school day. As funding became harder to raise, the school closed and became abandoned by 1931.

In the summer of 1931, several local women met at Oakley Farm on Catharpin Road and decided to start a sewing circle to provide social entertainment, a support system, and a charity to serve their community. After meeting several time, they voted in officers and drafted their constitution and bylaws. The Todd’s Tavern Sewing Circle was born! With an article of incorporation drafted, they began to raise money for a meeting location. In 1934, the circle procured the abandoned Finchville schoolhouse and began to breathe new life into it. After farming all day, the husbands worked in the evenings to renovate the building to prepare it for a community center. The circle held several events to continue raising money for the building fund. One particular outreach event was hosting the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In 1931, President Roosevelt established the CCC camps in order to employ men during the Depression to work building roads, visitor centers, timbering, etc. at the National Parks. The Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Battlefields were homes to the CCC. The sewing circle invited the men to the community center for food and entertainment. The men displayed their musical talents and it was an enjoyable time for all.

At the beginning of WWII, the residents of Spotsylvania were called upon to support in more ways than one. They not only gave up their husbands, sons, and brothers, but were required to navigate food rationings. They directly supported the war from home through Christmas cards to the local men abroad, preparing meals to support the community with food rationings, growing victory gardens and canning the harvest, and making cloth bandages sent to the Red Cross.

Victory Garden Poster

Over the next several decades, the women of the sewing circle continued to support one another, their community, and their country. Through the Depression, multiple wars, and changes within this rural community, they never forgot their motto: To Give & To Gain. This article is only a short highlight of the women and community center’s history.

To learn the whole story, pick up a copy of my book To Give & To Gain: The Women of Todd’s Tavern Sewing Circle on Amazon or locally at Tails and Tales Book Café.