Our Story
The Story of Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm begins in 1950, when Morris Chisholm bought Adventure Farm in Albemarle County. There were only about twenty-six thousand citizens in the county and five thousand at the University of Virginia. There was no I-64, no airport and very little modern infrastructure. Morris brought his Kentucky bride, Mary Jane, to what she thought was the middle of nowhere. In those days the farm’s phone was on a “party line” with all the neighbors and Adventure Farm was remote and “in the country”. Almost 75 years later, the town of Charlottesville has grown, but Adventure Farm is still the bucolic paradise it’s always been. Morris and Mary Jane passed down a strong work ethic, moral compass and love of the land.
Mary Jane Chisholm passed away on March 17, 2024. She was 97 years old. Born on July 6, 1926, in Russell, Kentucky, she was the daughter of Robert Leedy Woolery and Inez Marie Hall Woolery. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edward Morris Chisholm, and her daughter Jane Ann Chisholm.
Mary Jane’s life was full and she readily shared her stories until the end. Her greatest stories ever told were about the love of her life, E. Morris Chisholm. In 1945, Morris, 23, was sent to Russell, Kentucky, from Louisa, Virginia, for a job on the largest privately owned railroad yard in the country. He worked for Haley, Chisholm & Morris (HCM), which was established in 1900 by his father, Louis P. Chisholm, Mr. Haley, and Mr. Morris. He boarded in “ole Mrs. Sutton’s house,” which just happened to be next door to the home of Mary Jane, then 19. Mrs. Sutton told Mary Jane that a nice young gentleman from Virginia was there but would go home if he didn’t meet anyone soon. With a sense of duty to welcome this poor young man, Mary Jane went over for lemonade on the porch, and their courtship began. Morris offered to “carry” Mary Jane to the movies, and she replied she would love to go but would not be carried! Mary Jane sang in a big band and loved to dance. Mary Jane invited Morris to the school prom. It turned out Morris was a fine dancer too. She loved his convertible and thought he was handsome.
Mary Jane’s senior yearbook describes her as “Janie… dark hair… grace and poise… sweet… which man will it be?” She was unlike the girls Morris knew back home in Virginia. She knew nothing of farming, gardening, or canning vegetables. Her father owned the Corner Grocery so she knew how to work, talk with customers, and manage the business. It was a full-service operation where Mary Jane learned the talents of tact and grace. Morris was the man. They married on November 24, 1945.
Mary Jane moved to Virginia with Morris. After a few years of traveling for work with HCM, Morris bought Adventure Farm, and it became her beloved home for the last 74 years. Mary Jane was a city girl who did not take to wandering piglets or milking cows. But she was resilient and learned how to be a farmer with a positive attitude. She was an excellent homemaker and took great care of Morris and their daughters, Jane Ann and Nancy. Mary Jane also took care of the farm and financial books while Morris worked long hours with HCM. Mary Jane loved to work. Morris used to always say, “Mary Jane, even a dog knows when to lie down.” They raised every type of farm product, but their mainstay was beef cattle. In 2005, with the help of Carl Tinder, Mary Jane planted a vineyard that now operates as Chisholm Vineyards and is managed by her granddaughter, Andrea Matheson.
Above all, Mary Jane valued her family. In the early years of Adventure Farm, daughters Jane Ann and Nancy spent time riding horses, fishing, and ice skating. The farm was a great place to host all of their friends’ birthday parties. Mary Jane earned the moniker of “Goggie” and Morris “Sweetie” when they became grandparents. Granddaughters Andrea and Cass grew up on the farm and had many joyful moments with their grandparents. Goggie’s granddaughter, Andrea, moved back to the farm in 1993. Great-grandchildren came along and “Goggie” morphed into “Gigi”. She loved having family on the farm and often lent a helping hand in taking care of her great-grandchildren. Gigi would make family meals and serve up her signature rolls, jello salads, raisin pie, deviled eggs, Virginia ham, spoon bread, and much more. Gigi was always available to those she loved. She enjoyed playing cards and games with the kids, keeping a whole cabinet of board games for children’s visits. She did everything willingly and with love and dedication to her husband and family.
Not a day went past that Gigi did not miss Sweetie after he passed away in 1993. She was always kind, giving, and loving. She was beautiful and elegant. Everyone who knew Gigi was a better person for having spent time with her. She will be deeply missed, but we will carry her stories and love in our hearts. Each day with Gigi has been a gift.
