"Moving into the future with an appreciation of the past"
| Volume 6, Number 2 |  (Previous Newsletters) |
Winter 2003 |
Volunteers are the foundation, the building blocks of our museum. They are unpaid, busy people who nevertheless find bits of time to further our programs. Some donate a few hours, others more; some you see, some you do not. Among those you see are the fifty people who in the last three months have spent time at the front desk. They have served as receptionists with welcoming smiles, as helpful sales clerks in the gift shop, as appreciative recipients of gifts to the museum, as low level office workers labeling and stuffing envelopes, as telephone operators, and as respondents to all sorts of questions. This newsletter was written, laid out, folded, sealed, and labeled by these volunteers. Such willingness to perform non-glamorous chores is an indication of their dedication to furthering the museum's mission. Their positive financial effect on our budget is significant because having to pay for their services would derail funds from other areas.
By lot, we have chosen two front desk volunteers to profile in this issue and will continue the practice in subsequent issues. A newcomer to the volunteer ranks is Gary Crutchfield, who was recruited within the past year by another volunteer with years of experience. Retired after years of working with the public and meeting a broad variety of people, Gary has transferred those abilities to our benefit He usually is at the front desk once per week either because he signed up or is filling in for a last-minute cancellation. This volunteer especially enjoys helping with museum tours and recently caught a cold from a young child whom he lifted up to enable the child to see inside the restored Model T in the Staunton River exhibit. Gary shows up at the museum in a snappy red BMW convertible sports car and enjoys restoring older cars, currently a 1982 Buick. His other hobbies are quilting and photography. 
Another volunteer is Juanita (Dee) Schart. At age 84, Dee volunteers once per week because she enjoys the people she works with as well as meeting the visitors. Dee lived in Ohio, retired to Florida, and then moved here in 2000 to be near her only close relative. After she got settled in, she visited the museum, decided to offer her services, and is now known as a "permanent volunteer" because she is there every Thursday afternoon. In addition to her museum duties, Dee spends a lot of time reading.
By chance, we have focused on two relatively new additions to the ranks of volunteers, both without roots in the area. However, they follow the pattern set since the museum's inception over twenty years ago by many others with longstanding ties to Halifax County and a lifetime spent here. Next month, we will feature those volunteers you do not see - the one with a hammer and saw, the computer whiz, the creative thinker, the one moving the display case, the cataloguer of the collection, and ... To one and all, thank you. 
Activities at your museum have continued at a dizzying pace since my election as President last October. School groups have been visiting our Life Along the Staunton River in record numbers. In a refreshing twist of fate, many of these students have told their parents about their museum experiences, prompting the adults to visit the museum to see for themselves. We don't mind how the good news of our exhibits gets around. 
The gift shop is now in its new location across the foyer from its old stand. While refinements of the arrangement and display equipment are still being worked out, the shop is impressive. The larger space and bright lights create an attractive place to shop. Drop by at your earliest convenience.
Changes to our physical plant are ongoing. Work on our Native American gallery is almost complete. Workmen should soon begin remodeling the front offices to create space for a genealogical library. A space set aside for a permanent history of Halifax County should be roughed in before winter's end. All of this work falls into phase III of the present five-year plan. Dedicated, working committees are essential to meeting the needs of our museum. I strongly advocate regular meetings of committees. I also advocate that the appropriate committee act on issues before taking issues to the Board of Directors. Such a plan will establish a chain of participation and responsibility and place the Board in its proper role as established in the by-laws - a well informed group that makes the ultimate decisions regarding our museum programs. My personal interest relates to our collection. Over recent years the collection has grown while storage, organization and record keeping have not. Our on-going construction project created storage space in phase I of the plan, but organization and record keeping were not addressed. I have appointed a committee to tackle this problem. If any one wishes to help with this effort, let me know. I look forward to the day when every item in the museum has a certain storage spot and full documentation as to its source and history. This will be a major undertaking. This museum could not operate without our volunteers. If you wish to join us in some capacity, call the museum at 572-9200 and let us know. You will work with some very interesting people. Gerald T. Gilliam The Blue and the Gray The Museum's next major exhibit, The Blue and the Gray will open on April 2. The display committee is busy assembling a broad collection of artifacts and memorabilia to portray this area's Civil War experience. The display will cover the events at a distance that affected Halifax County as well as the nearby Battle of Staunton River Bridge, the only military engagement to occur in the county. Featured will be arms, uniforms, diaries, Confederate money issued by Halifax County, letters from soldiers, Civil War maps, medical practices of the era, and photographs. Part of the focus will be on home life and the manner in which the war affected all segments of society. You will be able to proceed through the exhibit along a timeline that will portray both sides in this wrenching national tragedy and its far reaching consequences. Saving Historic Properties N. Gordon Lohr and Jack Zehmer share the same passion - that of saving historic properties in the state of Virginia. Lohr, director of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities Revolving Fund, spoke on Sunday, October 27, at the Halifax County Museum at a meeting jointly sponsored by the Halifax County Historical Society. Joining him in the presentation to approximately one hundred people was Jack Zehmer, director of the state's Department of Historic Resources Capital Regional Office. Their presentation focused on saving historic properties in Halifax County, which Lohr described as a "treasure trove" of historic buildings. From the humblest 18th century log cabin to elegant brick mansions, some of these properties have been saved. Many more are threatened, because preservation costs money. Thanks to a $1.5 million fund, Lohr's department is able to purchase and stabilize properties until a buyer can be found. His office also assists individuals interested in saving a historic property or nominating one to the state or national register. Zehmer's office is compiling a list of historic properties in the county. They began with a roadside assessment survey of structures 50 years old or older. After the survey, twenty properties will be chosen for intensive study, complete with photographs. Already, 651 sites are on file in Zehmer's office. The surveys are important as a planning tool, especially when federal or state funds are sought. Moreover, listings can help property owners seeking state or federal tax credits for major renovations of registered historic properties. For more information, contact , Lohr at 804-648-1889, extension 320, in Richmond. Information on state or federal tax credit may be found at the Department of Historic Resources website at www.dhr.state.va.us/tax-credits/tax_credit.htm. - Barbara Royster - Museum Notes Andrea Smith, the youthful and perky assistant to the director, expanded our public persona by her work at the Global Festival held by Danville Community College in October. She set up a table and introduced the students to our facility. The Staunton River Exhibit Committee donated funds to benefit local schoolchildren by underwriting the cost of Mahone's Forge Historic Productions visit to the museum. Mahone's Forge staff provided a hands-on demonstration of rope-making and pottery making for 150 young students. David and Barbara Haney, owners of the batteau in the Staunton River exhibit, also met with school groups and shared their knowledge of the manufacture, operation, and use of batteaux. Delta Kappa Gamma, an organization of female educators, held one of their recent meetings at the museum. Marge Holtman provided an introductory tour and presented a program on the museum's efforts to interface with the schools' goals. Via the hard work of Dan Shaw and the cooperation of Andrea Smith, we have a new and expanded web page. a VCR card tables  Volunteers are the heart and soul of our museum. We never are able to thank them enough. Starting in this newsletter, we will introduce them, one or two special volunteers at a time, in an attempt to express our appreciation. We extend thanks for the monetary support for our fall fundraiser. We collected $6,980 for the operating of our fine museum. Also, the Christmas "Tree of Bears" proceeds of $625 will help our budget. Come visit often and join our committees of dedicated volunteers. 
Dear Santa, "Please bring me a doll"! We all know a doll is on a little girl's "wish list."Recently I visited in a home that included a collection of dolls from four generations - great- grandmother (Mrs. A. D. Moorefield, deceased), grandmother (Jean Fore), mother (Betty Carlton Devin), and daughter (Andrea Devin). Their eyes light up when you ask questions about the dolls. There are so many memories wrapped in love in their collection. Do you have a doll collection, doll houses, or miniatures you would like to display at the museum from June 4 - September 7? If so, please call the museum at 572-9200. The doll display is always one of the most popular because girls of all ages love them and have had dolls of their own at sometime in their lives. - Jean Watlington - Veterans During the months of March, April, and May, local members of Company F of the 29th Division who saw action in the Normandy invasion will be recalled. A salute to their service days will be featured in the courtyard of the museum. In the approaching months, we will showcase the works of a variety of groups. In February, the art wall will highlight photographs that were featured in a 1900 Paris exhibit illustrating the life of African-Americans in the United States. Permanent Exhibit The Board of Directors has accepted the proposal of the members of the Staunton River exhibit committee who have agreed to take on the responsibility to research, create, and implement a new permanent exhibit of the history of Halifax County and south side Virginia. Recent Acquisitions Collection of artifacts is a prime function of a museum. The collection committee will keep members informed of some of the materials received in past months. These gifts may inspire our members to offer items related to the county's history for preservation. Below are a few of the treasures that have been given in the last quarter: Miniature of Berryman Green, builder of Green's Folly (computerized print) 1895 Gospel Hymns (hymnal with words only) Three photographs: Grubby Road School 1902, News Ferry School 1908, USS Rhode Island with unidentified sailor's portrait attached Business items: Ideal Postal Scale (first-class rate of two cents) Accountant's Ink Stand (red and black ink sections) Kool Cigarette Advertisement (metal sign) Four boxes of Halifax County history research notes Oil Painting - Southwest Native Americans dancing by an adobe building Photo booklet of scenes at Clover School 1924-2002 Lynchburg-Durham R.R. Co. locomotive with tender - (computerized print) Cotton Mill Mathematics (textbook, copyrights 1927,1930) Sand collected on Omaha Beach, site of 1944 Normandy invasion Royal Staffordshire Pottery (cup and saucer, small bowl) - Collections Committee - Visitors The figures are in on visitors to our museum during 2002. A total of 8,680 people signed our guest register, with over 20 percent of the group coming from outside Halifax County. They came from seven other countries - from Arizona to New Hampshire, and from Alabama to Wisconsin. History Lesson Population centers in the county are Barksdale, Banister, Bennett's Store, Bentleysville, Black Walnut, Bloomsburgh, Brooklyn, Centreton, Meadsville, Mount Laurel, Republican Grove, Scottsburg, and Warren's Store. - Martin, A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer of Virginia, 1835. Freezing During the cold spell in December, our main furnace decided to quit, but we were equal to the situation with staff continuing their duties by dressing warmly and bringing in space heaters. We replaced the furnace and are grateful to a generous and anonymous donor who covered the considerable costs of purchasing a new furnace. This donor plugged what could have been a large hole in our budget. Following are museum supporters who made financial gifts as memorials or honorary tributes during October, November, and December 2002. We have sent an acknowledgement card to each supporter and other appropriate persons. Inez Nichols Chandler - Martha B. Thompson Ina Gravitt - Richard Long Lloyd Franklin - Barbara and Walter Bass - Louise P. Slayton Kyle Bowie - Barbara and Walter Bass Johnny Midkiff - Martha Coates Norma Reagan - Anne M. Sizemore Clarence Hudson - Martha Coates Louise Noblin Wilson - Iris W. Hall Frank Wayne Crews - Iris W. Hall Harold Ramsey, Jr. - Jerry T. and Gail M. Carter Dorothy R. S. Strickland - Barbara and Walter Bass Annie Mae Wright - Louise P. Slayton Mrs. Luke White - Louise P. Slayton Gladys P. Green - Louise P. Slayton Montine Pulliam - Louise P. Slayton Travis Monroe Abbitt from George & Peggy Abbitt Beale Chandler from Vivian C. Anderson Pecle & Mamie Whitt from Thomas Bailey Sheila Bass from Barbara Bass Amanda Day from Barbara Bass Gilmore Day from Barbara Bass Wilton C. Burgess from Mr. & Mrs. Jim Burgess Mary Wilbom Puryear from Betty Caldwell Mary Wilbom Puryear from Betty P. Caldwell Leonard 1. Cassada from Mary Eva Cassada Richard J. Fitz from Mary Eva Cassada Ruth Perkins from Beulah Chappell Cheryl Bailey from Sarah Chipps Charlie E. Clark from Susan P. Clark Philip Conner from Helen Conner B. H. Covington from Helen Covington Kenneth Cranford from Anne-Carlisle Cranford Mr. & Mrs. Frank W. Dance from Mr. & Mrs. Frank E. Dance John R. Doherty from Aelise Doherty Howell Duncan from Phyllis Duncan Mae Duncan from Phyllis Duncan June M. Glover from A. Boyd Glover Maggie D. Gordon from Parn Gordon Robert R. Gordon from Pain Gordon Richard 0. Harrell, Jr. from Frances Harrell Dr. William B. Harris from Lois Harris Helen L. Harris from Norris W. Harris Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Hedderly, Sr. from Charles & Eloise Hedderly Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Nichols, Sr. from Charles & Eloise Hedderly Jack Hupp, Jr. from Mary E. Hupp Jack Hupp, Sr. from Mary E. Hupp George A. Kilgore from Mary E. Hupp Marion S. Kilgore from Mary E. Hupp Ray Kilgore from Mary E. Hupp Patsy Cole from Hyco Ruritan Club Wesley Cole from Hyco Road Ruritan Club Jester Baca from Frieda Kipps Robert F. Knutti from Kathryn Knutti Barbara Wiltberger from Bob & Carolyn Krempl Grace Wiltberger from Bob & Carolyn Krempl All Veterans from the Ladies Aux. VFW Kenneth Cranford from Russell Lee Billy Lee from Mel & Carolyn Lee Debbie Lee from Mel & Carolyn Lee G. Carrington Powell from Mel & Carolyn Lee Virginia 0. Powell from Mel & Carolyn Lee Michele Limon/Berg from Jessie "Greywolf' Limon Mrs. Lightfoot Fourqurean from Garnett Lowe William L. Lowe from Garnett Lowe Mr. & Mrs. M. H. Richardson from Garnett Lowe Rev. Robert H. Steilberg from Garnett Lowe William T. Martin from Chrystine Martin Lois M. Stone from Chrystine Martin Vida R. Hodnett from Bob & Lois McCullough Ralph D. McCullough from Bob & Lois McCullough Mr. & Mrs. E. B. Roark, Sr. from Bob & Lois McCullough Elijah B. Roark, Jr. from Bob & Lois McCullough T. L. "Whitey" Roark from Bob & Lois McCullough Marilyn Bennett Mitchell from Mary C. Mitchell Kathryn Moorefield from June Moorefield Aunt Frances Chaffin from Sue Lawson Morgan Grandmother Mary Clardy Chaffin from Sue Lawson Morgan Aunt Jennie P. Lawson from Sue Lawson Morgan Grandmother Lundy Wyche Lawson from Sue Lawson Morgan George H. & Mary Sue Orrell from Eleanor Orrell Samuel W. Orrell from Eleanor Orrell Baby Johnson from Giola Osborne Ethan Stanley Johnson from Giola Osborne Jack W. Bane from Carol Owen Thomas W. Owen from Elizabeth Owen Mrs. Ruth Henderson Neal from Dr. Banyat & Sukie Panich Mr. & Mrs. D. Panich from Banyat & Sukie Panich Mrs. Hazel Walker from Banyat & Sukie Panich A. Willie Adams from Grayson Powell Lizzie N. Adams from Grayson Powell Pattie Adams from Grayson Powell Nathanael Greene from Grayson Powell Mr. & Mrs. John W. Palmer from Leslie & Jackie Powell Mr. & Mrs. L. W. Powell from Leslie & Jackie Powell Lawrence Puryear from Lucille Puryear Emma Leigh from Leigh & Alice Rhett "Hac" Hudson from Kenneth & Nancy Shelton John V. Simmons, Jr. ftom John Simmons Mary Carter Gilliland from Ruth Jean Slayton Travis Abbitt from Karen Smith Randy Crenshaw from Karen Smith David Mills from Karen Smith Kathy Diane Shelton from Karen Shelton Smith Floyd L. Smith from Ruth Smith Mrs. Gilmore C. Day from Larry & Sandra Sneed Chester Sneed from Larry & Sandra Sneed Agnes Crews from B. Speece My mother Lena Tuck from Odell Straehl Carroll Headspeth from Jeannie Taylor Floyd L. Smith from Teddy & Ruthie Catherine H. Milam from Dru Thackston Tom Thaxton from Elizabeth Thaxton Lenwood L. Thomas from Mildred 0. Thomas Jo Schreffier from Randi Wade Mr. & Mrs. Keville Barbour from Jeanne Ware Arthur Ware from Jeanne Ware Etta Wilmouth from June W. Williams Frances C. Williams from Woodrow Williams Kenneth Cranford from Vicky Witko In Honor Of Nathaniel William Anderson from Grandpa & Grandma Anderson Mason C. Day, Sr. from Barbara Bass Aunt Nellie Horner from Sarah Chipps My Grandchildren Ellen, Kevin, & Austin from Carole Hollis Evelyn C. Hupp from Mary E. Hupp Wendy R. Hupp from Mary E. Hupp Catherine N. Ratliff from Mary E. Hupp Lauren Ratliff from Mary E. Hupp Matthew Ratliff from Mary E. Hupp Bobby L. Ratliff, Jr. from Mary E. Hupp All Veterans from the Ladies Aux. VFW Mrs. Martha R. Boone from Garnett Lowe Rev. Isabel F. Steilberg from Garnett Lowe Margaret S. McCullough from Bob & Lois McCullough The Midkiff Family from Amy Midkiff Victoria Mahalah Rowe from Carla Miles Aunt Mattie Kate Chaffin ftom Sue Lawson Morgan Dr. Rosalind & Dr. George Prattas from Banyat & Sukie Panich The Panich Family from Sukie Panich The marriage of Roger & Jenny Vestal from Earl & Shirley Powell Dr. & Mrs. L. G. Mathews from Carol Ray Hazel W. Saunders from Anne Saunders Barbara Bass from an SCSB employee Willie, Bo, & Llewellyn Slayton from Louise P. Slayton Dorothy Sneed from Larry & Sandra Sneed Mr. & Mrs. Lance Sneed from Larry & Sandra Sneed My parents Anne Marie & Jon Thackston from Dru Thackston Carroll Thackston from F. A. Thackston Grandson Dru from F. A. Thackston Mr. & Mrs. Carroll Thackston from Mark Thackston Bob Troy from Ginnie Troy Anne Latand Saunders from Jeanne Ware Catesby Saunders from Jeanne Ware Principals and Students Halifax County school principals and administrators held one of their monthly meetings at the museum, toured the facility, and took in the exhibits. For some of them, it was their first visit to our museum. Students also visited us - in droves. In the last quarter over 1600 youngsters visited with their school groups. Museum staff and volunteers provided tours appropriate to their grade levels. Everybody is trying to do well on their SOLS!! Questions. . . The museum has received the following queries from across the nation on local history and genealogy. If you can provide any answers, please let us know. Thomas Priddie and Dudley Glass and their ordinary Relatives or info on Mrs. Hayne Wesson North Staunton School Younger family - early 1700s Photograph of Sandy Creek area Location of home of Rev. Thornton Samuel Wilson Joseph Butler and ancestors Location of Flag Springs Parents of Josiah Wade Caldwell family Drean family Pike Powers School 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 March 23, 2003. Thoughtful Tributes ... Many People have found deep satisfaction in making memorial contributions to our museum as thoughtful tributes to the memories of the deceased. Others find that special occasions are most appropriately commemorated through honorary gifts that provide support to the museum. When you make a tribute, we will send an acknowledgement to the appropriate person with your name and the purpose of the gift indicated. The amount of the gift will not be disclosed. You, as a donor, will be sent an official receipt for your tax-exempt contribution. "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 by giving 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. Officers 2001-2002 Gerald T. Gilliam, President Leslie Powell, Vice President Myrtle Cassada, Secretary Bob McCullough, Treasurer Marjorie Holtman, Director Andrea Smith, Assist. to Director Louise Slayton, Receptionist 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. |
|
• About • Calendar • Exhibits • Newsletter • History |
|
1540 Wilborn Avenue South Boston, Virginia 434.572.9200 sbhcm@halifax.com |
|
• Archives • Gift Shop • Historical Society • Historic Sites |