Evening star., 1962-01-07
Meet virgi inia's
By JOHN w. STEPP
Star Staff Writer

rAwRENcEv1LLE, seat of Brunswick County
IL unpretentious southside Virgnias farm belt
Its $500 inhabitants friendly and easy-going Life
focuses on the courthouse street. the affairs Of
school, library and church. and the simple business OF
making a living.
The county seat is one those country towns that
never had particular attention It didn't that
is until Albertis Sydney Harrison. jr, came along.
AbertiS Harrison whitehaired S. takes the oath as
Virginia this Saturday His fellow ownSfok
could burst with pride that but they don't usually
gush about things Besides Harrisons have been part
of the countys backbone for ESQ and Abers r
AS of them say: I'VE always expected he'd be
Governor some day"
The people who feel this quiet confidence in their
leading citizen simply know their man. He was born
farm ten miles the road Alberta His home has
been Lawrencevile all his life His neghbors have his
stature rise from town and county to State Importance
In what must be something of phenomenon among
politicians Harrison has lost of his identity with
his home town He has remained the unpretentious
attorney Lawrencevlle has known since his
gt-ettered first appeared the obscure hoein
thewal office he still maintains directly across Main
street from the courthouse.
One who has known the Governor-elect since
born has this say after exhaustng his vocabulary of
praise kept right growing but he's
really changed Nothing will ever make him change"
The Harrison home gives reasonably accurate re-
Election of the unassumng nature of the Governor
and his family It's style colonial but consists of only
eight rooms including tiny library and made
porch. Mr. Harrison built it nearly 80 ago. after
his marriage to classmate of Lawrencevie Hgh the
former Lacey Virginia Barley whose family roots
also deep in Brunswick.
I'VE wanted something that would give us comfort
and room," he explains. ut is what wanted then
It's what want now"
Although in recent years. State Senator and State
Attorney General Mr. Harrison and his wife have had
to live much of the time in Richmond apartment. their
home has always been ready for them when they get back
to Lawrencevie Holidays especially sacred. You
find going in the opposite direction from the football
crowds" he says. Were heading home
The house on Church street. of the several
wicked highway that bsec the town. provides
than enough since neither of their children often
around to enjoy its dgnfed warmth Aberts II-"Syd"
they call him. because he can't stand "Albertisis
electrical engineer in missile work at Cape Canavera
Anoinette Barkley Harrisontheir vvacious daughter
"Tonf-iS senior at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton
When Toni home. the sound of classical music drifts
downstairs from her bedroom phonograph. When Sgd
teen-ager his characteristic sounds explosive
"He used to love to make explosives and build cars
and things like that his father recalls. Once he mined
the yard and set off the charge by remote control
Mr.. Harrison has knack for explosives mechanics
He is only mildly interested in music He shares only
specifically his wfes interest in antique furnishings
Like Lacey Virginia, enjoy antiques only If they