Tim Daniels and Alley Brundage made their way to Franklin County, VA over half a decade ago and found it to be one of the best places to live and raise a family. Alley came to Franklin County from Kentucky by way of Chicago and is the store manager and buyer for 310 Rosemont, a men’s and women’s boutique in downtown Roanoke. Tim is a history professor and division chair for humanities and performing arts at Ferrum College. Originally from Pennsylvania, he spent time in Hampden-Sydney, Richmond, Alabama, California, and Utah. They are happily settled in Callaway along with their 7-month-old son (and proud native Callawegian), Owain.

What part of Franklin County do you live in? How long have you lived there?

The short answer is Callaway. The longer answer depends on who is asking. If it’s someone not so familiar with the county, we’d say the Northwest bit of the county due west of Boones Mill. If it’s someone from the area, the answer might sound something like, “off the North Fork of the Blackwater in the Monte Vista section of Dillons Mill Road, just past the old Cannaday’s store before you hit Adney Gap.” We’ve been here for 2.5 years and were in Rocky Mount for a few years before that.

What’s your favorite part about living in Franklin County?

Alley: I love the views, the welcoming people, and the fact that there are all sorts of wild and domestic animals everywhere.

Tim: The history and the great geographic variety of the county is fascinating. I also enjoy the fact that I can take 4 different routes to work and the most traffic I hit is a rafter of turkeys. 

What do you do for fun outside of work?

We love to spend time on our property gardening and exploring, especially during chanterelle [a type of mushroom] season. From May-August we’re often floating the Pigg River or Blackwater River. Franklin County has a killer music scene, so you might also find us taking in some music from the likes of the Harwell Grice Band, Five Mile Mountain Road, or Colby Helms and the Virginia Creepers.

What’s your favorite place in Franklin County?

Easy. Our property/house. We can watch our dogs, cats, and (50!) chickens explore while the sun sets over the Blue Ridge and we listen to the Blackwater River from our deck.

Where is your favorite place to hang out/workout/eat out?

Where to start!? We’ve already mentioned the rivers in summer. We also really enjoy the great breweries here including Chaos Mountain (where Tim pours beers) and Hammer & Forge in Boones Mill. Hitting up Twin Creeks Distillery before a show at the Harvester is hard to beat. We haven’t been to the Coves Amphitheater but are keen to go if anyone wants to babysit. El Rio and Franks are go-tos for food, and we’ve got some amazing food trucks circulating around the country. Ferrum College regularly has great theater, music, and D3 sporting events, and the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum has something to interest every child and adult. And it kind of goes without saying: what would Franklin County be without Bowling’s?

Franklin County Shines is a series about the people and places that make Franklin County one of the best places to live, work, and play. #FranklinCountyShines