"Moving into the future with an appreciation of the past"
| Volume 6, Number 1 |  |
Fall 2002 |
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Museum Collection Sited in New Publication
The museum's Abbyville Collection appears as part of a new publication by The Archeological Society of Virginia. This publication, ABBYVILLE: A Complex of Archeological Sites in John H. Kerr Reservoir, Halifax County, Virginia, written by John H. Wells and edited by Dr. R. R Stephen Davis of UNC-Chapel Hill, NC and Howard A. MacCord, Sr. of Richmond, Virginia is now available for purchase in the museum gift shop (cost $26.00). This soft-cover volume has 344 pages (1 97 illustrations). It reports on four years of intermittent field work and twentyfive years of study for sites being eroded by changes in the lake levels. Much new data on prehistory are presented, including some defining an unknown Contact Period group. This publication is a great addition to the museum's collection. Three years ago Mr. Wells and his wife donated to the museum a portion of his part of the Abbyville Collection and one year later they donated another portion. The museum is presently renovating a gallery that will permanently display its part of the Abbyville Collection. American Watch- Show and Tell Everyone enjoyed the evening with William McLean. Mr. McLean, a member of the museum, presented a program on July 11 which included a rare and vintage American watch exhibit. Members of the audience brought over eighty watches to be appraised. The evening ended with a 1907 Rockford Winnebago watch, 17 jewels, size 18, of which only 3012 are recorded, being raffled. Congratulations go to Mary Schreffler, the winner. The 2003 Calendar is Now Available! The calendar for 2003 features the museum's portion of the Abbyville Collection.  Third Quarter Memorials The following contributors gave a memorial or honor gift to the museum as a tribute of their love, sympathy and/or respect for a loved one or friend. We have mailed an appropriate card to the nearest relative or to the one honored giving the name of the donor. This list includes gifts from July 1, 2002, through September 30, 2002. Harold Brogden - Barbara and Walter Bass Willliam L. Lowe - Frank C. Chaffin Sidney W. Mason - Barbara G. Rowland Jean Holderbaum - Barbara G. Rowland Carter Owen - Martha B. Thompson Barbara L. Vaughan - Rebecca L. Vaughan & Family Bruce Peeny - Les and Jackie Powell George E. Bass - Louise Watkins Moore Mary Wilborn Puryear - Jack and Betty Caldwell Frances Ashby Chaffin - Clyde and Iris Hall Randal Owen - Louise Patterson Slayton Ronnie Vaughan - Rebecca L. Vaughan & Family Albert and Mary Vaughan - Rebecca L. Vaughan & Family Ruth Llewellyn - Myrtle Cassada Marvin and Julia Barker - Page and Bobbie Wilkerson Rebecca and Tyler Meece - Louise Patterson Slayton The Red-Tailed Hawk In the middle of March, On the second day of spring; Birds of many colors Proudly began to sing. While high above the tree tops Up in the sky so blue, A splendid red-tailed hawk Circled as he flew, I beckoned him to hurry back Upon another day, But the hawk in silence circled, Before he flew away. Ruthann Anderson Note: One line of the poem, The Red-Tailed Hawk, was accidentally omitted in the last newsletter. The museum is delighted to reprint the poem in its entirety and apologies for the error.
Current Exhibits Life Along the Staunton River is the new exhibit located in the Main Gallery. This exhibit includes historic highlights of people and events along the portion of the Staunton River that borders the counties of Halifax, Campbell, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, and Pittsylvania. Beginning with Native American culture and continuing through 1978, the exhibit offers significant vignettes of history such as community development, prominent citizens, structures, military and other historic events, transportation, and natural resources. The exhibit has been designed to create a newly found interest in the Staunton River and to instill an appreciation of the river as a vital, natural resource and historic waterway. The exhibit will continue through February 23, 2003. A reception for the membership and special guests was held on September 12 with over 150 in attendance. This is a great exhibit for schools and the museum encourages teachers to call for a tour. When possible a living history and/or workshop will be held for school groups. Thimbles, thimbles and more thimbles-over 600 are now being displayed. Complimenting the exhibit are hand made quilts and samplers. The courtyard brings a Native American exhibit of tools and game balls. There are hands-on items which demonstrate how Native Americans made a use for almost everything in their possession. Thoughtful Tributes ... Many People have found deep satisfaction in making memorial contributions to the South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History. Your gift pays thoughtful tribute to the memory of a friend, associate, or family member and at the same time provides support for the museum. Many others have found that special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and other events are most appropriately commemorated through gifts that provide assistance to the museum. Your gift to the museum helps to support the collection, exhibition and preservation of antiques, works of art, books and physical items that are historically significant to the past, present and future heritage of Halifax County and Southside Virginia. It further performs and encourages research, publishes, exhibits and preserves the results of such research. An Acknowledgment will be sent to the family of the person honored. Your name and the purpose of the gift will be designated, but the amount of the gift will not be disclosed. You, as a donor, will be sent an official receipt for your tax-exempt contribution. Historical Topic - Virgilina Not Always Virgilina Virgilina was not always called Virgilina. In the beginning the early town was known as Tuck's Crossroads. When the Atlantic and Danville Railroad passed through the area in 1889, the name was changed to Vicarol (This appears to be "Vi" for Virginia and "carol" for Carolina.) In 1895 Peyton Puryear built the first tobacco warehouse which was called Virgilina Warehouse. From this many businesses used the word Virgilina in their names. In 1900 locally elected members of the General Assembly, sponsored a bill to incorporate the post office of Virgilina. This gave the area a new name and this name remains in place today. This information has been taken from a brief history of Virgilina written in 1940 by Edwin Daniel. The booklet will be on sale shortly in the museum gift shop. 
Construction to Begin
Work will begin soon to provide a larger gift shop and a new research library. The museum received a grant in the amount of $50,000.00 this summer from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification Commission for this project. These funds are restricted and may only be used for this project. The museum is excited and looks forward to providing more and better services to its members and to the community at large. Indian Cultural Festival and PowWow The museum held its second Indian Cultural Festival and PowWow on August 24-25 at the local fairgrounds. Everyone enjoyed the event which was emceed by John Jeffries of the Occaneechee Band of the Saponi Tribe. Participants represented over twenty different tribes. Museum Needs: Card tables Volunteers VCR Iron Fax machine Museum Notes Congratulations to the winners of the racing raffle. First place went to Rice and Sons Auto Sales - an autographed hat from Richard Petty"; second place, a golf shirt autographed by Richard Petty went to Hazel Ricketts; third place, an autographed STP cap by Richard Petty went to Jeff Oakes. The musuem appreciates its patrons support during this raffle. All proceeds are being used to help support the operating budget. The museum hosted the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce After Hours on August 15. The museum gave two memberships as door prizes. Congratulations to Phil and Bunny Propst of South Boston and Lois F. Green of Nathalie. The museum participated in the South Boston Heritage Festival on September 28th and plans to participate in the Holiday Living Show November 9th and 10th at the local high school. Please stop by our booth. The gift shop will be open on Christmas eve for last minute shoppers. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Seeking Information- Industries of the Past The Exhibit committee is now working on its major display which begins in December showcasing industries from the past to the present. If you have information, photographs, or items from past industries that you would like to share with the community during this exhibit, please stop by or call the museum. Membership Tops Goal The museum goal of 600 memberships for the year 2002-2003 has been surpassed. The latest figures indicate 634 memberships which include over 1000 family members. The museum wishes to thank members of the community and all who support its efforts. "Partner" Support Program Aids the Museum 
Supporters have an opportunity to become "PARTNERS" in the day-to-day operation of the museum by becoming an "Inner Circle Partner" with a contribution of $500.00 or more or a "Roundtable Partner" with a contribution of $250.00 to $499.00. A reason to become a partner - the museum supports cultural enrichment in the county and is a facility open free to the public. Partners have a one-year membership, special recognition displayed in the museum, and special activities. "Partners" will be featured in the newsletter each quarter. For more information call 572-9200. Personal presentations are available.
Keeping In Touch ... Many former residents of the South Boston-Halifax County area like to stay in touch with happenings in their former home county area through the museum. Scores of former residents have stopped by the museum while visiting here and shared with us how much they look forward to every issue of the museum newsletter. They are the ones that have visited with us and given us their names and addresses. There are many more that would be thrilled to receive the newsletter but we don't have their names and addresses. You can help a friend keep in touch. If you would give us the name and address of family members, former neighbors, friends or colleagues that now live outside the county within the state or in some other state, we will send them the next issue of the newsletter. You would be surprised how many former residents from all over the country are maintaining regular contact with the museum. We are all very proud of our museum and it is something special that we can share with others. Gerald Gilliam Presents History of Transportation Local resident, Gerald Gilliam presented a slide program illustrating the history of transportation in Halifax County on Thursday, September 26, 7 p.m. at the museum. Refreshments followed the program which was free to the public. Genealogy Column The museum has received requests for information on the following: Samuel Pointer who died January 19, 1799, married Elizabeth Ligon (inquiry is for the location of Pointer's grave); Cole Family history; Robert E. Owen. Please call the museum, if you can provide any assistance. Saving Halifax County's Historic Properties The museum and the Halifax County Historical Society are cosponsoring a lecture to be held at the museum on Sunday, October 27, at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. Halifax County's historic properties are among its most valuable resources. Two of the state's top historic preservation experts - Gordon Lohr and Jack Zehmer - will discuss strategies for saving, preserving and capitalizing on these assets at the museum. Gordon Lohr, a well-known Richmond realtor and antique appraiser, is director of the APVA Historic property Revolving Fund, which purchases publicly significant historic Virginia properties that are endangered and finds buyers who will preserve the historic nature of the houses. APVA is the oldest statewide historic preservation organization in the nation and has worked for over 100 years to save dozens of historic homes and buildings in Virginia that might otherwise have been destroyed. Jack Zehmer is director of the state Department of Historic Resources Capital Regional Office, which serves 30 counties in south central Virginia, including Halifax. Before joining DHR, Mr. Zehmer was executive director of the Historic Richmond Foundation, where he directed the real estate and advocacy programs. A native of Dinwiddie County, he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in architectural history from the University of Virginia. Local Poet, Ron Marshall, Publishes Work Ron Marshall, a resident of South Boston, is having his poetry published in a book entitled Visions of Love. Ron is Director of Public Works for the Town of South Boston. He wrote his first poetry as a tenth grader. His teacher encouraged him to continue which he did. Ron is looking forward to having the book available before Christmas and will have a book signing at the museum. Please watch the newspaper for further information. Below is a poem that Ron wrote recently in honor of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The eagle is ready, they have killed her young. Though many have died her anthems are sung. The eagle will fly with talons there bearing. Draped with the flag its mission now airing. The red, white and blue, the nation reflecting. There from the sky its victims selecting. With help from above, the mission is sounding. Our leaders have spoken, our hearts are now pounding. A vision of those who bravely have died. Now to bare arms the eagle has cried. A nation united, its blood ever speaking. Not out of hatred but justice we're seeking. It's time for the eagle to take to the sky. For the blood of our fallen our nation asks why. We mean what we say and we say what we mean. The President has spoken now our actions are seen. Our nation diverse but we stand hand in hand. The eagle will fly to protect our land. We fight for our freedom, our history known. Those who oppose us will surely be shown. You don't take a child from its mother I say. Or the eagle will fly and its victim will pay. Our nation is friendly, we extend our hand. But our freedom is sacred, and we'll fight for our land. You should not have come to disturb her nest. For the eagle will fly and you will not rest. Officers 2001-2002 Barbara Bass, President Ryland Harris, Vice President Myrtle Cassada, Secretary Bob McCullough, Treasurer Marjorie Holtman, Director Andrea Smith, Assist. to Director Louise Slayton, Receptionist Barbara Bass, Newsletter Gifts of Appreciated Securities The museum has established an agency account with Edward Jones Investments of South Boston for the convenience of contributors who wish to donate securities to the museum. There is an incentive to donate appreciated securities because the donor avoids the capital gains tax on the amount that the security has appreciated. Example: A security that cost only $100 but is now worth $1000 can be donated and the donor can show it as a $1000 donation. (Consult your tax advisor for individual applications.) For more information call 572-9200.  I am so excited about our new exhibit, "Life Along the Staunton River." Many thanks to a fearless group of volunteers who gave so much of their time and talent to create an educational, child as well as adult friendly, learning exhibit. The names of those involved are too many to list. But the list is posted with our appreciation for you to see when you visit the museum. Herman Ginther's Captain Staunton's River is for sale in the gift shop along with beautiful photographs of the Staunton River by Andrew Bohannon. Please take time and visit with us. |
Received from __________________ $5.00 to purchase a Christmas ornament for the Museum's Tree of Angels. Attached to the angel will be the name of your request. If you wish, you can pick up the ornament at the end of December. The tree will be located in the Museum lobby. |
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