The Inn at Foster Falls at New River Trail State Park was recently visited by a woman whose life blossomed within its walls. Doris Bralley, the eldest living orphan from the Abingdon Presbyterian Children's Home (now the Presbyterian Children's Home of the Highlands), revisited the place she once called home. While her words were often short and quiet, the emotion she felt was evident and the tears joyful. Newspapers, park employees, inn staff and family joined together to hear the beautiful story of Doris and the life she led in the home as well as the life she built after.

History in Foster Falls

Doris Bralley moved into the children’s home when she was around 11 years of age. She had lost her father, mother and stepfather by this time. This led Doris to a foster home while she waited on admission to the children’s home. Doris traveled by bus to Jackson’s Ferry near the shot tower and was then transported to Foster Falls. She remained at the home until she graduated from Jackson Memorial High School. In the years between, she built a life at the home. Every story ever told to her children, friends and family was always joyful, pleasant and thankful.

The girls were assigned chores every month and given privileges like going to town or the movies. Doris claimed that one month it was her duty to make the biscuits at breakfast time. She would use four quarts of flour every time. The family said at one point the home had nearly 50 girls living there.

Once or twice each summer the girls would venture to Hungry Mother State Park to swim at the beach. The communities surrounding the children’s home were always kind towards the girls. Doris was sponsored by Mrs. Preston who would send her clothes and always threw in a pack of bubblegum or perfume. One of Doris’s favorite memories that she passed on to her children was when a train engineer named George would roll through, he would throw toys and candy to the girls. They would wait anxiously near the tracks for him to come by. Other people would donate clothes that went to a room for special occasions. Doris was able to pick out this dress for her Junior/Senior Formal.

When a girl first moved into the home, she was assigned to a room that had up to five girls; as time passed, each moved to a double, and then finally a single room. Doris’s room was situated in the area that is now the Austinville room. The windows in this room overlook the depot and where the train tracks would have run. Doris spent a lot of time on the weekends by this window, awaiting her future husband, Doug. He would walk along the train tracks from Austinville to see her. They married the August after she graduated and settled in Austinville. For the room to be named Austinville, without knowing the history it truly held, was meant to be.

From there she became a nurse, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Doris’s granddaughter Chef Jennifer Grubb works for The Village Table located inside the Draper Mercantile. The Village Table does a lot of catering to the Inn that's led by Jennifer and her crew. If you're eating at the Inn you're almost certain to have something made by her granddaughter. The history of the children’s home continues to be passed down throughout Doris’s generations through the Inn and surrounding communities.

Protecting the future of Foster Falls

The building has served as many things in the past, but one that will always ring truest is home.

Since the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has taken ownership of this building, it has not only protected and conserved lands, but also history. The history of entire communities, history of our state and the histories of individual families can be cherished here.

Find the The Inn at Foster Falls at New River Trail State Park to start making your own memories!