This past Sunday we celebrated the 80th birthday of Grandma. Many of you have met this stellar lady. Many of you have peed your pants laughing at her advice. Many of you have felt the pang of truth from this old fountain of youth. Here is what Worth and I read on Sunday...
In 1965, local businessmen Ernest Hudson and Jack Weaver opened a drive-in restaurant on South Main Street here in Culpeper, Virginia. They named the establishment “H & W Restaurant” which specialized in bar-b-que. The entrepreneurs thought “The Pig” was the perfect promotional item to attract customers.
Eventually, Mr. Hudson bought Mr. Weaver out of the endeavor and stated the “H & W” stood for “Hudson and Wife Restaurant”. Mr. Hudson’s wife, Gertrude, became instrumental in the success of the business. In his history of Culpeper, local author Donnie Johnson described Gertrude Hudson as a “tireless worker” in the restaurant, along with her children. Mrs. Hudson’s vision for the restaurant, business savvy, good home cooking skills, lovely Southern hospitality and hard work ethic made the enterprise a long-standing part of Culpeper’s dining environment. The team assembled by Mrs. Hudson still works today serving quality home cooking to good folks at the Country Café. In 1976, the Hudsons sold the business to local businessman and philanthropist Joe Daniel. The structure now houses a new restaurant and Mr. Daniel retired “The Pig” in the 1980s.
The Pig became a part of Culpeper lore and has been enjoyed by generations. Media coverage on The Pig, its history and its whereabouts has spanned decades.
On the occasion of her 80th Birthday, the Hudson children arranged to “buy back” The Pig through endowing the GERTRUDE YOWELL HUDSON YATES SCHOLARSHIP at Germanna Community College, a benefactor of Mr. Daniel’s generosity. This Scholarship is a loving tribute to their mother, Gertrude, and the hard work, education and intelligence she utilized to take care of her family in the Culpeper community she loves.
The Pig now resides at The Choice Initiatives here at 215 East Davis St. The Choice Initiatives houses a small business incubator and The Pig stands as a tribute to the success of small businesses throughout the country and its significant role in our nation’s economy. Entrepreneurial spirit is a keystone of American Democracy. Gertrude’s children were raised to value education as a key element in America’s success. The GERTRUDE YOWELL HUDSON YATES SCHOLARSHIP will be awarded for generations as a tribute to a wonderful citizen, effervescent lady, respected community leader and most importantly -- adored mother.
December, 2010
Here's a link to a newspaper article with the history of the pig.
Moral of the Story: Grams always told me "Anni, no can ever steal your education."
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