Neighborhood news: The White Elephant is local treasure

Cynthia Beard, proprietor of The White Elephant antique shop and Book Nook bookstore, is proud of the progress the family business has made in spite of challenges.

Beard’s mother, Barbara Beard, who ran the shop for 48 years, passed away two years ago, and keeping up has been hard work.

Between Daddy and I, we run the shop now,” Cynthia Beard said.

But the Beards continue to bring in antiques and collectibles that have consistently captured the interest of residents — especially those who have time to stop in frequently.

“If it’s a housewife, I know them!” Beard said.

The house, built in 1818, offers two floors of historical and artistic artifacts, with more outside in the carriage house.

Furniture, candleholders, books, tools and quilts are just a few of the items Beard keeps out for sale. The rest furnishes the family’s home behind and above the shop where Barbara Beard and her husband, Daniel Carter Beard, used their combined talents to create one-of-a-kind décor, including an organ-top window valence, a sewing machine cupboard and a Victrola bar.

The Beard family has a history of talent. Barbara Beard was a model and antique connoisseur. Daniel Beard is a designer and artist. Cynthia Beard’s great-grandfather founded the Boy Scouts. Her other great-grandfather illustrated Boy’s Life magazine and some of Mark Twain’s books.

The first drawing one of Beard’s sisters ever did still sits in the shop. Beard said she and her three siblings were always in the shop with her mother and, like her mother, she wants everyone to know kids are welcome — a rather rare sentiment for an antique shop owner.

For more convenience, Beard also offers a layaway plan and now takes credit cards.

The White Elephant and Book Nook are at 10726 Bristow Road. Call 703-368-7651 for more information.

Friends Uniting Nokesville to hold yard and craft sale

You’ve been promising yourself to clean out your basement and have a yard sale.

Here’s an opportunity to keep that promise:

Friends Uniting Nokesville is sponsoring a community-wide yard and craft sale in conjunction with the Nokesville Farmers’ Market on Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bring your treasures and/or handiwork and earn some cash, knowing your house will be less cluttered when you return (so long as you don’t buy anything).
The event is open to the public at the market site, 13005 Fitzwater Drive. Sale space costs just $5 and space is limited.

The sale is being run by community volunteers and more are welcome.

All proceeds will be used to carry out Friends Uniting Nokesville’s nonprofit mission of strengthening the Nokesville community.

For more information, contact Cindy Abel at 571-230-7549 or at NokesvilleFM YardSale@hotmail.com.

She’ll get back to you

Readers, I will be hard to reach next week. Please continue to e-mail, but don’t be offended if I don’t get back to you right away! Enjoy your week!