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LIFE
Hard work transformed land into picturesque property
Rick and Tonya Hagley have worked long and hard to bring about the feeling of quiet respite to their Chesapeake home.
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CHESAPEAKE -- A visitor approaching the home of Rick and Tonya Hagley is met with a view of a timbered meadow surrounding a well-manicured log house.
There is a wraparound porch with swings and comfy chairs that seem to beckon visitors to come, sit and enjoy a peaceful evening. The Hagleys have worked long and hard to bring about the feeling of quiet respite to their Chesapeake home.
When they first bought the property in 1995 the conditions were far from picturesque. Tonya remembers their first view of what is now their little piece of heaven.
"There was an abandoned house with two feet of standing water in the basement. It was fed by an out-of-control spring that caused the land to look more like a swamp than a building lot," she said. "There was also a 1950s-era mobile home and a vintage blue school bus used for storage."
Though Tonya originally had doubts about buying the property, she and Rick decided to take the plunge. The first thing they did was to lay tile around the property to reroute the spring water and dry-up the land. Next they tore down the abandoned house and hired a contractor to build what they wanted.
"We knew we wanted a log house and an open floorplan," she said.
The contractor had never attempted a "turn key" project prior to the Hagley house. Even so contractor, Will Fry was able to take a picture from a book and create just the house the Hagleys wanted.
Tonya, who works for a local law firm, was out of town during much of the construction so it was left primarily to Rick to make most of the choices when it came to details like faucets. Tonya has been pleased with the choices made and loves their home.
Once the house was complete and the Hagleys were settled, they turned their attention to cleaning up the rest of the property.
"During the next five years we worked on adding the barn, removing the mobile home and the old blue school bus," Tanya said.
Landscaping the property was also on their agenda. They planted more than 30 pine trees, added shrubbery, flowers and a vegetable garden.
"It's a peaceful retreat from hectic work days to come here," said Rick, who works at Armstrong Cable.
Though the home and property is now a quiet get away, it is also a center for entertainment. Their new barn allows them to invite large numbers of friends and family over for picnics and gatherings. They open up the barn and rain or shine and the party proceeds. Often friends ask how they can leave such a peaceful place and go to work.
"I offer them the lawnmower keys and they seem to change their minds," said Tonya, laughing.
The Hagleys have one special gathering that's always a treat -- family apple butter days. Tonya's great aunt at one time made apple butter for the family. Once she passed away Tonya and her cousin decided to use the old recipe and continue the tradition.
"It's a week-long event, and the whole extended family gets involved coming to stir the big pot," she said.
Though the Hagleys didn't anticipate needing so much time to get their home, they're happy with the result. The water-laden house, the blue school bus and the 1950s mobile home are distant memories. A peaceful home, serene landscape and new family traditions are now in their place.
1940s Radio Hour 
J. Chris Newberg 
First Friday and Second Look Saturday 
Lions Arts and Crafts Show 
"The Nutcracker" 
Christmas Tour of Homes 
2nd annual Holiday Candlelight Tour 
Marshall Artists Series: "Wizard of Oz" 
16th annual Joy to the World Holiday Concert 
"Cowboy" Bill Martin 
