Mary Hardy Roberts arrived in Scottsville in 1994 toting over 100 stringed instruments. She set up her music studio in the living room of the house with the wrap around porch across from the bank on James River Road. “The Family Players” music program met with immediate success as Mary became known as the “music lady” to the general public and “Miss Tudala” to her students. Through the years the “Family Players” teaching program has been a rich multi-media experience for children and adults. Students entered through the back door and after an hour or two or three, would leave with music, poetry or games running through their minds. The teachings of Mary Hardy Roberts has always been about more than music--it is a transforming creative experience.

Clark Bustard, of the then Richmond News Leader, dubbed Mary as “The Pied Piper of Music.” Wherever she went, music followed. Shortly after moving to Scottsville, the house on the corner was filled with music. Anywhere from seven to fifteen area musicians gathered on Friday nights to play Classical music. Wednesdays were reserved for the adult beginners who played mostly Irish and Celtic with some Classical thrown in. The “Family Players Ensemble Group” played at weddings, did the Christmas program at Ash Lawn Highlands for several years and were invited to perform in private homes. During the spring and summer months the front porch became a regular stop for area old time and bluegrass musicians. Over the years they became known as the “Porch Players” and today several come out for the monthly acoustic jam at Victory Hall Theatre.

One day, Maria Miller and Edie Newcombe,representatives of Rainbow Bridges, showed up at the back door of the Scottsville house. They had heard about Mary’s music adventures and wanted to meet her. Friendships were struck up and Maria became an ardent supporter of Mary’s music program. Music and Movement Explorations, an introduction to music for three to six year olds based on Jacque Dalcroze’ methed, piqued Maria’s interest. Both she and Mary were trained Dalcrozians. Mary received her training in New York and Maria in Europe. It was apparent to Maria that the Scottsville house was becoming too small to carry on the work and the two women spent afternoons driving around the countryside trying to find a place for a community music school in which Mary’s “Family Players” program could be expanded.

Almost ten years to the day, the property was located. In 2004, Robert K. “Bobby” Spencer agreed to donate thirteen acres for the future home of the Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature. In December of that year representatives from Rainbow Bridges, a Charlottesville organization that supported people with creative ideas and had identified Mary as an artist to sponsor, met with individuals from the Scottsville community. Everyone agreed that Mary’s lifelong work needed a home and this community oriented music and art center was a wonderful legacy for her and Bobby Spencer to leave the area.

Bobby’s parents had purchased the property on Hardware Road, which he referred to as Sunnyside Farm, as a place to grow vegetables and raise pigs and cattle. He stipulated that the parcel be kept as close to its natural appearance as possible. With this request came the nature element of the project. An indigenous nature park with walking trails, demonstration gardens and environmental studies became a part of the master plan.

Within four months the Center was incorporated and the application process for nonprofit status was undertaken and achieved. Jay Dalgleish, a Charlottesville architect, provided the conceptual drawings which reflect the Shaker round barn prevalent during the late 1800s. He presented Maria with the drawings precisely one week prior to her leaving us at the age of 97. She approved.

The concept and primary goal of the Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature is to provide arts and nature educational programs for individuals and families. Music, drama, dance and environmental classes and workshops comprise the main focus of the offerings.

In the short term, walking trails, gardens for indigenous plants and environmental classes will be on the property. Classes and other offerings will be held at the Victory Hall Theatre which the Center has leased from the Town of Scottsville while programs are added and the capital campaign get underway. Victory Hall is now more than a theatre. It is a multi-purpose space which the Center is using for showing movies, music and dance entertainment, teaching music, dance and drama classes.

The organizers of the Scottsville Center for Arts and Nature have an ambitious plan and realize that they cannot go about fulfilling it without the help of others. Knowing this, Bobby Spencer contacted Bob Bloxom, a longtime friend who happens to be the Commonweath’s secretary of the Agriculture and Forestry Department. On Saturday, May 3rd, Secretary Bloxom, with Delegate Rob Bell and Brian Wood, from Virgil Goode’s office met with the Center’s Board of Directors and Town Council members for a presentation on the history and accomplishments to date. Board members were pleased with the meeting with Bloxom who lauded the efforts we have made so far and offered suggestions and contacts on how best to proceed with the project. He felt the project was something that would benefit the local area and had the potential of spreading out to Central Virginia.