Women in History Month, March 2022
March is designated as National Women in History month. For the sixth year, the Caroline Historical Society honors outstanding Caroline women who have become successful individuals in their careers. Over the years, members and the public have recommended names of women they believe worthy of consideration. Members of the Society then research the individuals and write articles for publication in the CHS Newsletter, the CHS Webpage and the CHS Facebook page.
The newsletter is sent to members four times a year. One honoree will be highlighted in each publication. The organization encourages the public to check out the CHS website and Facebook pages. An honoree will be spotlighted each week during the month of March.
CHS is proud to announce the first honoree for Women in History Month 2022.
Audrey Borkey Torrance
An informed conversationalist and community activist, Audrey Borkey Torrance served her county and country well. Audrey, the daughter of Cecil and Clarice Borkey of Bowling Green, attended Lee Maury High School, graduated in 1940 and immediately found an office position following commencement. The United States was gearing up to enter the “Big” War, and Audrey was employed in the Land Acquisition Office for properties in the soon-to-be Camp A.P. Hill. She remained an office clerk there for 5 years, until the small office, which was located where the old Kidwell’s grocery store used to be on Main Street in Bowling Green, closed in 1945.
During the War Years, Audrey volunteered as a “Plane Spotter”. The spotting tower was located in Bowling Green behind Billy Grey’s Store. In the late afternoons and evenings, she and another volunteer, climbed the steps of the tower and using binoculars viewed and recorded each plane that flew over Bowling Green. Audrey wasn’t the only Borkey to serve during war time. Her brother Cecil served in the U.S. Navy. He was born in Richlands, VA. Cecil was stationed at the American embassy in Turkey during the war. Audrey “lived” to drive Cecil’s Packard in “overdrive” while he was away.
Bowling Green, Virginia
The United Service Organization (USO) was a big part of the life for the men who served in the armed services and trained at Camp A. P. Hill, now Fort A. P. Hill, during WWII. Caroline County was fortunate to have two USO buildings. The largest and most active was on Butler Street in Bowling Green. The building still stands today and has been used as town offices since the end of World War II. As a USO facility, the building housed a library, shower facilities, relaxation area, snack bar and dance floor.
On Wednesday and Saturday nights “The Jess Pine” Band of Fredericksburg entertained the troops and their guests. School buses picked up girls from Ladysmith, Milford, and Bowling Green. Mothers also drove their young daughters to the dances which began at 8:00 p.m. and ended by 11:00 p.m. Mothers were hosts at the dances and most guests were high school students.
Audrey remembers, “We had good times.” Songs could be suggested. She had a twinkle in her eye when she said “we had to fight for the good dancers.” “A lieutenant played the piano. He was wonderful. He came from Connecticut, I think.” “I remember the band playing, “The Paul Jones”, a dance done in a circle. When the music stopped and you were not opposite a partner, you found yourself disqualified and had to sit down.” When the guests left at 11:00 o’clock many, who lived in Bowling Green, chose to walk home. “We were a bunch of girls having an enjoyable time,” she mused. “Five of the girls served as “Donut Dollies”. I remember Theo Boland, Nancy Hanson, Julia Lumpkin, and Margaret White and I were the five persons who served as hosts. “Audrey also served on the USO Steering Committee. The committee organized weekly dances, arranged for special events such as birthday parties, and arranged accommodations for visiting families. The USO director lived in an apartment upstairs in the Borkey home on Milford Street which is now owned by Lynn and Mike Lenahan.
According to Joyce Goforth, a good friend and bridge partner of Audrey’s, “she and I are the only two remaining club members left in our Bridge Club. Nancy Hanson, and Anne Garland Green, met their husbands at the USO dances. I remember Audrey worked the voting polls for years on end.” Audrey recalls working with one of the poll book operators when the earthquake struck in May 2014. A nerve-wracking experience! “Joyce also mentioned Audrey donated an enormous amount of blood during the Red Cross Drives. The house on Maury Avenue, in which the Lenahan family live, belonged to Audrey’s family (Borkey). She knows the ends and outs of all the original town’s people.”
2nd in “Miss Highway Department” 1952
For over forty years, Audrey was employed with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). She was the original girl who opened the office in Bowling Green which was housed in her mother’s kitchen on the corner of Lafayette Avenue. The office was later moved to the basement of the Old Hotel on Main Street and then moved again to the top of the town’s drug store, and their final was to the new offices located at Farmer’s Store. Audrey remembers working for J. R. Ford Contracting out of Lynchburg who constructed Route 301 when it became a dual road.
Audrey placed second in the Fredericksburg “Miss Highway Department” Contest in 1952. The contest was sponsored by the Employees Benefit Association. Contestants came from fourteen counties. Audrey was selected “Miss Fredericksburg District”. A banquet was given to honor all of the contestants.
During her time with VDOT, she married Gordon Torrance and they had one son who lives in Fredericksburg. Gordon and Audrey met on a blind date and spent the day on a picnic with friends across the river. Gordon’s family lived in Concord, Virginia outside of Lynchburg. They often visited Lynchburg and were there in 1955 when the fire devastated the town of Bowling Green. Gordon was the one man who helped with the cleanup after the fire. Gordon was a contractor and performed work with his bulldozer and other equipment.
Audrey loves to cook, especially cakes. and continues to stay in good physical condition by working out the last nineteen years in her basement three days a week with friends Kathryn Burruss and Barbara Lanford. She was one of the original “Curves” girls in Bowling Green.
with one of her Needlepoint chairs
Loving attention has been paid to her needlepoint chair covers. Several living room and dining chairs are decoratively covered with floral designs, many set-in black backgrounds Stunning workmanship. Her needles are kept close by so work may begin when she has a bit of time to resume her passion. Her 99th birthday is coming up this year.
We pray she continues to enjoy a long and prosperous life. I certainly enjoyed my conversation with Audrey in January and believe Audrey Borkey Torrance is truly worthy of being named one of this year’s “CHS Women in History.”
Dale Brittle, Secretary, Caroline Historical Society, March 2022