Join Us at ShopForMuseums.com

There is a great website out there called ShopForMuseums.com who has made connections with hundreds of on-line retailers who make a donation on a museum's behalf each time you make a purchase through the ShopForMuseums website.

Here's how it works:

1. Go to www.shopformuseums.com
2. Register for a free account
   
3. Under "Search Stores" enter the name of the museum you'd like to support (which is, of course, "Giles County Historical Society")
4. You can then either "Search Stores" with the name of your favorite on-line store, or "View All Stores" to see what stores are available. There's everything there from 1-800-PetMeds to Advanced Auto Parts to Amazon.com to iTunes to JoAnn's Fabrics to OfficeMax.
5. The store listing shows how much each store will donate to the museum of your choice (which is, of course, Giles County Historical Society). Donations vary from 1% of the cost of your purchase to 25% depending on the store! A donation is made to the Virginia Association of Museums as well.

So this holiday season, ShopForMuseums.com and let your favorite retailers make a donation to your favorite museum (which is, of course, Giles County Historical Society!)

Come to Glen Alton for the Quarterly Meeting, October 10th at 3pm

All are invited to the Giles County Historical Society quarterly meeting on Sunday, October 10th at 3pm at Glen Alton. Glen Alton is a U.S. Forest Service property in Jefferson National Forest and is located up Big Stony Creek, off of Route 635. Signs from U.S. 460 lead directly to the site. The quarterly meeting will feature a tour and presentation about the newly renovated and restored Glen Alton property given by Forest Ranger, Sheryl Lyles. After the presentation, guests may explore the grounds and enjoy refreshments.

Glen Alton was owned by Mr. C. A. Lucas, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Giles County from 1933 to 1965. Mr. Lucas and his wife, Evangeline, lived in Pembroke and considered Glen Alton to be their summer place. The lodge, or main house that has recently been restored and furnished for the time period, is the original log structure that was on the site at the time Lucas purchased the property. A caretaker’s cottage, barns, sheds, a mill, a fish pond, and other structures were built on the site to accommodate Mr. Lucas’ interests in farming and growing grapes and apples.

This summer’s ribbon cutting at Glen Alton by Cong. Rick Boucher celebrated the completion of the restoration of the lodge and grounds. Come to the Giles County Historical Society’s quarterly meeting at Glen Alton on Sunday, October 10th at 3pm and see the restoration, explore the grounds, walk the trails, and enjoy the wildlife of this treasure in our own backyard.

Miracles on the Nars'

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, September 15, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society is fortunate to have Drs. Harvey Green Johnston I and II’s Doctor’s Office on the property to interpret the history of medicine in the county. Throughout the years, patients’ relationship with their doctors has changed nearly as much as medicine has. In earlier times, before telephones and ambulances if someone was ill, they would send a family member or friend to fetch the doctor who would come to the patient’s house, often on horseback or by horse and wagon, his medical bag in tow to treat the illness. The medical bag would be filled with different types of medicines (many of which are known to be highly toxic today), needles, a stethoscope, and other equipment that could be used for diagnosis and treatment. Doctors had different bags for different house calls – birthing a baby was different from treating pneumonia.

Dr. Richard M. Newton has written a book, Miracles on the Nars, about his father, Dr. Maury Newton, Sr.’s, experiences making house calls as a doctor in Narrows. Dr. Newton, Jr. reminisced about his father’s practice as the featured speaker at the Historical Society’s Annual Meeting in January with stories about driving the backroads in sometimes unreliable vehicles, payments in forms other than cash, and the many interesting cases he had over the years.

There are many in the county who remember Dr. Newton, Sr. fondly or were brought into the world by his caring hands. Dr. Newton's book is available at the Giles County Historical Society and the Narrows Gift Shop and Art Gallery at 302 Main Street in Narrows.

Caption: Dr. Maury Newton’s medical cabinet is on display in the Doctor’s Office at the Giles County Historical Society. Inside are doctor’s bags used by several of the early doctors in Giles County to treat patients at their homes when health care was much simpler than today.

School Days!

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, August 18, 2010

The lessons learned in classrooms of the past were far different than those of today. Children are prepared for a world filled with technology and transportation and often visit the foreign countries whose languages they learn. In 1883, Giles County had about 2,217 children enrolled in 54 schools with 54 teachers making a little over $20 per month. The multitude of schools reflected a smaller world. The widespread population of the county and the difficulty of travel from one area to another made it necessary to locate schools near the students.

Classrooms looked different, with rows of wooden desks holding each students books and supplies and a place for the ink well. The seat of one desk was attached to the desk of the student in front, so classrooms seldom deviated from the row format. A blackboard and pot-bellied stove often rounded out the room’s décor.

Old school books seem quaint today, but reflect the agricultural roots of the community and a different way of life. The following word problems were in an 1848 arithmetic book:
“In a pile of wood, 96 feet long, 5 feet high, and 4 feet wide, how many cords?”
“How many yards of cloth are there in 19 pieces; each piece containing 27 yd. 3qr. 2na.?”

An 1858 English grammar book conjugates the regular verb “to love” in the singular, second person, present tense as “thou lovest” and third person, present tense as “he loveth.” A 1920 geography book has 48 states and very different countries and borders in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa than those students learn about today. Old encyclopedia sets are much smaller than the world we can Google today.

Though a lot of the information in old books seems quaint today, we all could learn from the qualities on which a 1930s student was graded: trustworthiness, respect, careful use of materials, politeness, consideration, preparedness, and refraining from unnecessary talking.

No, We Aren't Selling the Collections

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, August 11, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society periodically receives questions about whether we are going to sell items that people have donated to us. These questions usually come when the news features a story about a prominent museum selling portions of their collections or the economy is bad. Because the Historical Society will be having a Rummage Sale on Saturday, August 14th from 8am to noon, now seemed an appropriate time to publically address this topic. Items sold will be those donated by Historical Society members specifically for the Rummage Sale. No items from the Historical Society’s collections will be sold.

The proposed sale of art from Randolph College’s Maier Museum of Art brought the issue of selling museum collections to the forefront. In this instance, it was proposed that the art be sold to help the financial situation of the college. Controversy ensued because the art was purchased with money donated for the purpose of furthering student’s art education. Sale of the pieces violated public trust and museum ethics, as well as the intent of the donation. Museum employees quit over the decision to sell the art, lawsuits were brought against the college, and alumni stopped donating. The proposed art sale became international news.

The flare up came because a museum holds its collections in trust for the public it serves and has the duty to preserve and protect these collections and use them for the good of the public. For a museum to remain an effective steward of its collections, it must maintain the confidence of the public. While it is legal to remove items from a museum’s collection for which the museum has clear title, such deaccessioning must be done ethically and professionally. Reasons for deacessioning include weeding duplicates from collections, eliminating items that do not match the museum’s collections plan, or removing items that are irrevocably damaged or too costly to preserve. An example of the latter is the recent auction held by the Town of Pulaski to sell items from the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum that were damaged by fire. No removal of items from collections should be done without extensive review and consideration. Efforts should be made to transfer items removed from the collections to another museum so that they are still available to the public. If that is not feasible, items should be auctioned in a transparent and public manner with proceeds going to acquisition or care of collections.

Though you may find some treasures at Saturday’s Rummage Sale, rest assured that the Giles County Historical Society is an ethical institution and will not be selling any items from its collections!

Drop Spindle Class - August 7 and 14

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 28, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society and the Giles Arts Council have sponsored needle arts classes for several years now. This year, the offerings have extended to other heritage arts. On Saturdays, August 7th and 14th, a Drop Spindle Class with Mary Orr is offered from 2:30-4:30pm. Mary has participated in events at the Historical Society for many years, demonstrating spinning and dying wool.

Spinning fibers into thread or yarn is an ancient art with archaeological evidence of spun fiber dating to 20,000 years ago. Early thread was made by rolling animal hair or plant fibers on a person’s thigh, adding fiber and continuing to roll until the length of thread reached the desired length. Later, the thread was tied to a rock which was hung and rotated until the thread was sufficiently twisted.

Spindles were an improvement on the rock method of spinning. A spindle is an 8 to 12 inch stick on which the thread was wound after twisting the fibers. The left hand holds the wool, while the right hand twists the fibers together. The spindle is dropped to let the natural forces twist the threads which are then wound onto the spindle. Since a spindle with yarn weighing the bottom of it spins better than just the stick, a spindle whorl or disk was added to the bottom of the spindle to help the spinning process, thus creating the drop spindle that is still used today.

Harry Potter's World: Renassiance Science, Magic, and Medicine

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 21, 2010

Are you a Harry Potter fan? If so, be sure to check out the “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine” exhibit at Christiansburg Library until July 25th, Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine until August 8th, and Blacksburg Library until August 21st. The exhibit explores historical scientific theories that influenced J. K. Rowling’s writing of the Harry Potter books.

Along with the libraries, a number of the museums in the New River Valley are participating in a Harry Potter’s World Passport, where visitors to their Harry Potter-related exhibits and programs will receive a passport stamp and a removable tattoo. Those who receive 6 or more stamps will be eligible to win prizes at the exhibit’s closing event at Blacksburg Library on August 21st.

Giles County Historical Society is participating in the Harry Potter’s World Passport program. A tour of the Doctor’s Office earns a passport stamp and tattoo. In the 19th century Doctor’s Office visitors learn about Drs. Harvey Green Johnston I and II who practiced in the office for nearly a century from the 1850s to the 1940s and how the practice of medicine differs from today.

Stop by the Historical Society for your tour and Harry Potter’s World Passport. Visit Montgomery Floyd Regional Library for more information about the exhibit in the New River Valley or the National Library of Medicine for more information about the exhibit.

Virginia's Endangered Historic Family Cemeteries

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 14, 2010

Preservation Virginia recently announced their 2010 Most Endangered Historic Sites List. These are buildings and archaeological sites across the Commonwealth that face imminent or sustained threats to their integrity or survival. Included in the list are Historic Family Cemeteries Across the Commonwealth: “Cemeteries are among the most valuable of historic genealogical resources. Rural (and urban) family cemeteries can also provide an abundance of information through the study of gravestones and grave marker designs, cemetery landscapes and religious and mortuary practices and can provide information on rural Virginia settlement patterns and the ethnic character of the residents of an area. While much can be gained through the study of historic cemeteries, the major significance of these sites lies in the fact that they are sacred. The graves help to perpetuate the memories of the deceased and the remains of the people buried there should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Development and neglect continue to create an urgent threat to these sacred sites across the Commonwealth.”

For genealogists visiting the Giles County Historical Society, cemeteries provide an invaluable resource. Finding a long-sought grave marker for a family member often provides an integral piece to a family tree. The marker itself may provide birth, death, and marriage information. The location of the cemetery provides key information about where the family lived. Other grave markers in the cemetery may provide information about marriages, births, deaths, and unknown siblings, aunts, uncles, and other relatives.

Giles County has a number of family cemeteries, many of which are listed in the Giles County History – Families books. Undoubtedly, there are other family cemeteries in the County, today grown up with weeds or missing their grave markers that tell stories of earlier settlers to the county. Care of family cemeteries can help remove them from the Most Endangered List. The Pearis Cemetery and Chapman Cemetery are historic Giles County cemeteries that have recently been in the news for their restoration projects.

For more information about cemetery preservation in Virginia, contact Preservation Virginia (www.preservationvirginia.org) or the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (www.dhr.virginia.gov).

Historical Society Receives Celanese Coning Machine

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 7, 2010

The Celco plant in Narrows has been an important industry in Giles County since the plant opened on Christmas Day in 1939. Celanese Acetate has been an economic driver requiring housing, businesses, and amenities to be built for plant workers throughout the county. Production at the Celco plant has shifted over the years as markets have changed. One of the products that the plant no longer makes is acetate yarn for manufacturing fabrics.

In 1905, Swiss brothers, Camille and Henri Dreyfus, were the first to develop a commercial manufacturing process for cellulose acetate, which could be used to make films, fibers, molded objects, and toilet articles. In the 1920s, acetate fiber was first spun in Cumberland, Maryland and a weaving mill was built to turn the acetate yarn into cloth. The Celanese name first appeared at this time as well, a combination of the words “cellulose” and “ease” for the ease of wearing the acetate fabric. The name was a marketing tactic, as the silk market worked hard to discredit the new fabric.

Acetate had several qualities that were superior to silk, including the ability to hold permanent moiré designs and pleating. These qualities revolutionized the dress industry, influencing fashions of the time. Later acetate was woven with silk, cotton, wool, and other fibers to provide wrinkle-free, quick-drying clothing at a reasonable price.

Celanese recently donated a coning machine and several bobbins of Celanese acetate yarn, including the last one to be spun at the Celco plant. According to John Kinney, Jr.: “Installed in the 1940s, coning machines manufactured a filling yarn, used between sheets of yarn from Celco bobbins. Some of the U.S. textile companies that purchased cones from Narrows were Satkin Mills, Burlington/New River Mills, Woodhall Mills, and National Velvet. Most U.S. textile manufacturers went out of business, beginning in the 1990s, due to foreign competition. This also led to ending coning production at Celco.”

Look for the Celco coning machine to be part of a new textile exhibit later this summer in the Historical Society’s Museum!

Wabash Band Drum Donation

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, June 30, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society received the donation of a snare drum used by Charles H. Habernigg in the Wabash Band at the annual Habernigg family reunion on June 19th in Pembroke. The Wabash Band was organized in 1884 and featured the talents of local community members who played marches and concert band music typical of the time. Before radio and television, concert bands were popular entertainment where people could socialize and hear the latest music.

The Wabash Band was well-known in Southwest Virginia and played at many county fairs, political affairs, and other events. Band members wore gold-trimmed green uniforms and traveled in a horse-drawn wagon, highly decorated with the Wabash Band name on the sides. The band was lead by J. S. Eaton for over 50 years and usually had about 12 members with local family names like Eaton, Stafford, Anderson, Hedrick, Brown, Jones, Peck, Robertson, Meadows, King, Dehart, Habernigg, Fanin, and Wright.

The drum used by Charles H. Habernigg was donated by his granddaughter, Betty Harless Lynch of Aldie, Virginia, in honor of her aunt, Mrs. Georgia H. Williams, the last living child of Mr. Habernigg. The presentation of the drum to the Historical Society was made at the annual Habernigg reunion where relatives ranging from Mr. Habernigg’s daughter through great great great grandchildren were present. The drum will complement other Wabash Band instruments and memorabilia already on display at the Historical Society. Look for an improved Wabash Band exhibit including the Habernigg drum in the Historical Society’s museum in August.

Virginia Association of Museum Fundamentals and Collections Forums

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, June 23, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society is a member of the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM). VAM (www.vamuseums.org) has over 1,000 members focused in the Virginia and Washington, DC area and brings together this museum community to further education and training, foster development, and provide support for museums and museum staff. For small museums with small budgets, like the Historical Society, the support of VAM and the expertise available to us through its many members and staff is invaluable.

Last week, VAM offered a 3-day Fundamentals Forum and Collections “Boot Camp” at Virginia Tech that Historical Society staff members were fortunate enough to attend. Classes were taught by Virginia museum professionals with many years of expertise as executive directors, curators, exhibit designers, grant writers, museum educators, and jacks-of-all-trades. Many were from small museums with small staffs and small budgets and were familiar with the many jobs each of us must perform everyday to keep a museum running. Topics in the Fundamentals Forum included daily museum operations, outreach and partnerships, annual fund and membership, school programs, technology and social media, financial management, volunteer management, and others. The Collections “Boot Camp” included hands-on exercises working with collection items including a trip to the Virginia Tech Museum of Geosciences, exhibit design, and less glamorous topics such as creating a collections policy, archives management, and deaccessioning.

The VAM Fundamentals Forum and Collections “Boot Camp” were made possible through a generous grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) and the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). Both of these organizations have been under increasing scrutiny as state and federal budgets are tightened. However, their support was crucial for making this program possible and affordable for small institutions like the Giles County Historical Society to attend and experience an unforgettable and intense educational and networking opportunity that will ultimately strengthen our organization and move us closer to our goal of creating a professional 21st century museum.

Virginia Time Travelers Program

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, June 16, 2010

Are you planning a summer vacation that includes visiting Virginia museums and historic sites? Come by the Giles County Historical Society to get your copy of the TimeTravelers Passport Guide. The TimeTravelers program of the Virginia Association of Museums encourages children and adults to visit the many historic and cultural resources that Virginia has to offer. Participating museums stamp the passports. Once the passport has 6 stamps, you can become an official Virginia TimeTraveler and receive a certificate and embroidered patch.

For 2010, the program features an expanded Passport Guide that is, in itself, a souvenir of travels throughout the state. Over 100 museums are represented in the 40 page glossy book with photographs, descriptions, contact information, and a place for the passport stamp. If your plans include visits to Mount Vernon, Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia Historical Society, or the Virginian State Capitol, you’ll be on your way to completing your passport. If you are venturing to Roanoke to visit the Taubman Museum of Art, the O. Winston Link Museum, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, or the History Museum of Western Virginia, they will stamp your passport as well.

Even if you already have your TimeTravelers Passport Guide and are looking for an extra stamp, stop by the Historical Society. We are listed under the New River Heritage Coalition (www.newriverheritage.org), a cooperative formed by the museums of the New River Valley to share expertise, create a cohesive picture of life in the New River Valley, and collaborate on marketing efforts. Make visiting Virginia museums and historic sites part of your summer vacation!

Quilt Documentation Day Grant

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, June 2, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society received a grant from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley at their annual meeting on May 18, 2010. The grant, from the Endowment for Giles County, funds the Giles County Quilt Documentation Project, specifically supplies and equipment to properly document quilts made within the current boundaries of Giles County from colonial times through 1999.

An offshoot of the Historical Society’s yearly Pride In Our Heritage Quilt Show, the Giles County Quilt Documentation Project is a new initiative begun by Melissa Barnhart to collect information for family members as well as provide a repository of information about the unique quilting history of the county. Quilts are photographed, oral history information recorded about the origins of the quilts, and technical data regarding patterns, stitching, cloth, and other details is collected. Quilts receive a label indicating their participation in the Giles County Quilt Documentation Project, quilt owners receive a copy of all information collected, and data is recorded in a database for access by quilt researchers. Thanks to Barnhart’s initiative, the project is currently spreading to other counties in Southwest Virginia. Giles County’s next Quilt Documentation Day will be October 23rd.

The mission of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley is to enhance the quality of life in Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties and the City of Radford by serving the charitable interests of donors; making creative, visionary and sensitive grants; devoting special emphasis to programs that enrich the spirit and life of our community; and acting as a catalyst and convenor for leadership and community development. The Community Foundation’s Endowment for Giles County is funded by your friends and neighbors to support nonprofit work in Giles County.

Smocking Class - June 11

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, May 26, 2010

Giles County Historical Society and Giles Arts Council present a smocking class with Beth Cross, a member of the Red Bud Chapter of the Smocking Guild of America, on Friday, June 11th from 1:30 to 4:00. This is the latest class in the Needle Arts Class series. Smocking is a form of utilitarian and decorative stitching that has been in use since the 13th century. Smocks were loose fitting blouses of linen worn by farm workers and other laborers. The loose fit provided protection and warmth, as well as freedom of movement. The linen was gathered into pleats at the yoke and sleeves. Smocking stitches secured the pleats creating stretch in the garment while also providing decoration and identification.

During the period of industrialization, smocks became dangerous for workers to wear because they were loose fitting and could get caught in machinery. Though smocking was no longer a necessity on work clothes, the embroidery stitches used became popular on women’s and children’s clothing as decoration.

What was once a rather laborious process of creating the pleats, has become easier with the use of a pleater which gathers the fabric. The focus of smocking today is on the embroidery stitching rather than the gathering of the fabric. Pleating creates a canvas on which to work with the pleats creating vertical lines and the threads holding the pleats in place creating horizontal lines. Simple outline, cable, trellis, and wave stitches can then be used to create intricate and beautiful patterns on the pleated cloth.

If you would like to learn a more about smocking before taking the class, stop by Living History Day on May 29th from 12-5pm and visit the smocking demonstration on the lawn of the Andrew Johnston House. Then join us on June 11th to learn smocking stitches that can embellish clothing or Christmas ornaments. Please contact the Historical Society to register for the class.

A Celebration of the Needle Arts Show - May 30th

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, May 19, 2010

For the last several years, the Giles County Historical Society and Giles Arts Council have been collaborating on a series of Needle Arts Classes. The classes have helped us learn of the many talented artists in the area who create beautiful works with the simplest of implements: a needle and thread. Are you one of those talented artists or do you have a collection of vintage needle arts such as appliqué, counted cross stitch, crewel embroidery, crochet, dressmaking, drawn work, embroidery, hand smocking, handmade dolls, huck weaving, knitting, lace making, needlepoint, plastic canvas, samplers, or tatting?

We are in search of exhibitors for A Celebration of the Needle Arts Show on May 30th from 1pm to 5pm in the Andrew Johnston House with a “sneak peek” on May 29th from 12pm to 5pm during Living History Day. Sorry, no quilts for this show. Registration forms are available on our website: www.gilescountyhistorical.org or at the Historical Society and are due May 21st.

A Celebration of the Needle Arts Show will feature the works of Betty Bales, a local needle artist who enjoys learning new skills and honing old ones. Betty is a self-taught artist who has been sewing since grade school. When she sees a technique she is unfamiliar with, she teaches herself. Her works show the breadth of her enjoyment of all things needle arts.

On Sunday, May 30th, the show will feature a presentation by Missy Barnhart on “Decluttering Your Fiber Arts Life” at 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Needle arts demonstrators will be located throughout the house showing bobbin lacing, embroidery, knitting, and crochet. The show’s youngest needle arts demonstrator is Casey Wilburn who will be working on her third Angel embroidery block. She makes these blocks as gifts for important people in her life. Like many 10-year-olds, Casey enjoys many sports, likes school, and is a straight A student.

If you don’t do needle arts yourself or haven’t in a while, plan to come to A Celebration of the Needle Arts Show and get inspired!

Have Tea With Us at the Palisades Restaurant on May 16th at 3pm

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, May 5, 2010

The Giles County Historical Society invites you to join us for tea and goodies (at your own expense) at The Palisades Restaurant in Eggleston on Sunday, May 16th at 3:00pm for our Quarterly Meeting. Guests will learn about the history of Eggleston while enjoying good company and good food in one of Eggleston’s historic buildings. Where Mary Draper Ingles was found on her return from Indian captivity and once home to a mineral springs resort and depots for the Virginian and Norfolk & Western Railways, Eggleston’s history is wide and varied.

The Palisades Restaurant is located in the C. C. Whittaker store, built in 1926. The general store sold all types of merchandise from fabric to dishes to animal feed to gasoline to shoes to meat and produce. Daley Stafford’s Chevrolet dealership was built next door in 1929 with an automobile showroom and garage. A doctor and the post office were located in the store, as well, providing a one-stop shopping experience. Known as the Q. M. Pyne Store since the 1930s, the store remained open until Gladys Dowdy’s death in 2000.

At one time, the building was one of 6 stores in Eggleston. Today, the building’s history is recognized by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Come to the Historical Society’s Quarterly Meeting on May 16th and enjoy a long-time Eggleston meeting place.

May Day!

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, April 28, 2010

May 1st is a traditional day of celebration throughout the world. Celebrations differ by country, but are related to the end of winter and the coming of summer. Many remember making May baskets as a traditional May Day activity. Someone would leave a brightly decorated May basket on a neighbor’s porch, ring the bell, and run away. If the basket receiver caught the basket giver, the giver owed the receiver a kiss.

Maypole dances were another way to celebrate the day. A tall pole was decorated with flowers, garlands, and brightly colored ribbons attached to the top of the pole. Dancers held the ribbons while they danced in a circle around the pole. The ribbons intertwined, creating a web around the pole.

May Day is also known as International Worker’s Day and is celebrated by labor organizations who used the day to fight for an 8-hour work day. The day is associated with the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago when over a dozen people were killed during a strike and ensuing riot. For these reasons, May Day has become a day for political and government protest for some.

Many also recognize mayday as an international distress signal like S.O.S. This meaning has nothing to do with May 1st, but instead comes from the French phrase, “venez m’aider”, meaning “come and help me.”

In the museum world, Heritage Preservation - the National Institute for Conservation (www.heritagepreservation.org), has combined May 1st May Day with venez m’aider mayday to highlight the need to save our collective heritage. Archives, libraries, museums, and arts and historic preservation organizations set aside May 1st as MayDay, an initiative to protect cultural heritage from disasters. Disasters can range from natural disasters to crimes and encompass anything that could potentially damage our collective history including buildings, archaeological sites, documents, books, artifacts, battlefields, and landscapes. Every day as we work at the Giles County Historical Society, we are mindful of the stewardship of our collections and mitigating risk to our collective heritage. The earthquake in Haiti, the hurricanes in New Orleans, and Giles County’s recent flooding are all examples of how fragile our heritage is and how important the observance of MayDay is to protect our cultural heritage.

Afghan Stitch Potholder Class

The Giles County Historical Society and Giles Arts Council present an Afghan Stitch Potholder Class taught by Evelyn Harris on April 9th and 16th from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. The Afghan stitch worked with a long Afghan crochet hook, creates a very dense fabric grid that can also be embellished with cross-stitch needlework. The Afghan stitch is created in a two-step process where during the first pass, called “forward,” the loops are created and gathered on the hook. During the second pass, called “return,” the loops are connected and dropped from the hook.

The Afghan stitch is known by different names in different parts of the world including Tunisian crochet, tricot crochet (France), hook knitting, Shepherd’s knitting, railroad knitting (England), and hakking (Norway). It is likely that the Afghan stitch was derived from hooked knitting in Africa and Central Asia where two hooked needles similar to crochet hooks were used to create fabrics and patterns. The stitch and simple tool and supplies may have been an easy way for sailors and shepherds to make clothing. As with many needle arts, Tunisian crochet became popular in the Victorian era and appears in publications of the times.

Come join us on April 9th and 16th and learn a new needle art! Class fee is $10. E-mail info@gilescountyhistorical.org or call 921-1050 to register.

Genealogy Workshop - April 10th

Did your ancestors live in Giles County? Are you searching for genealogical documentation on a southwest Virginia line? Thinking about forming a family assocation? Need to know the basics of internet research? Ever wonder if DNA testing can solve your brick wall? The George Pearis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Giles County Historical Society are hosting a Genealogy Workshop on April 10th from 9am to 4pm at the Giles County Historical Society to answer these questions and more. Pre-registration is required. Topics include:

Researching Giles County Court Records. Local historian Ruth Blevins, the driving force behind such publications as Giles County Virginia, History – Families, Volumes I and II will offer many practical research suggestions on the records of Giles County.

Family Associations, Connections To Past And Present. Mabel Peters, Past President of the Snidow Family Association, will share ideas on how one family organization works at preserving the past, and promoting family history as well as creating and maintaining connections to distant relatives.

How To Find Your Ancestors Online. Mary Jane Burn, will explain the ease of online research, and the simple tools necessary to get you started. Learn how to trace your family tree from the comforts of home. Review what documentation is available for free as well as through subscriber services.

DNA – Its Relevance In Today’s Genealogy. Pat McCracken will discuss the relevance of DNA testing in conjunction with the genealogical paper trail.

Registration of $15 includes lunch, genealogy exhibits, and tours of the Andrew Johnston House. To register, call 540-922-2527, 540-921-3510, or 540-921- 4496 prior to April 3rd. For more information or if you have questions about Giles County genealogy, contact the Giles County Historical Society at 540-921-1050, info@gilescountyhistorical.org, on the web at www.gilescountyhistorical.org, or on Facebook.

The Giles County Historical Society works to perpetuate interest in the history of Giles County; provides a repository for Giles County family histories, documents, and artifacts; assists those interested in genealogical research; and voices concerns and pursues the preservation of any and all endangered Giles County history including artifacts, sites, and records.

Victorian Hair Wreath - a little creepy by today's standards!

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, March 17, 2010

There are a number of items in the Giles County Historical Society’s Museum that really capture people’s curiosity. One such object is the Victorian hair wreath made from hair of the Hughes sisters of Wabash. Though a little creepy by today’s standards, making wreaths and jewelry of hair was quite common for middle- and upper-class women in the mid- to late-1800s.

Women typically had a container called a hair receiver on their dressing tables that they would fill with hair collected when they brushed their hair. The hair could then be wound around wires to form various types of flowers. Hair colors and flower textures created variety in the completed “fancy work.” The wreaths were usually made in a horseshoe shape with the most recently made flowers placed in the center at the bottom of the wreath and moved upward as new flowers were made. As hair wreaths were often made from the hair of deceased family members, it makes sense that the most recently deceased would be at the center of the wreath.

Rather than being a mourning wreath, it appears that the Hughes sisters made this wreath from their own exceptionally long hair - in the Historical Society’s collections is a photograph of Minnie Hughes with hair described as 4 feet 8 inches long. Minnie Hughes later married Dr. Frank Anderson, Wabash’s doctor and keeper of the community’s telephone switchboard. The Anderson’s granddaughter, Ernestine Boothe, donated the hair wreath to the Historical Society.

Behind the Scenes at the Museum

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, March 10, 2010

One of our goals at the Giles County Historical Society is to manage our collections like a 21st century museum. The impressive exhibits that you see when you visit larger museums like the Smithsonian or museums in Roanoke or Richmond are only half of the story. Behind the scenes, their collections not currently on display are all carefully stored in archival boxes on archival shelving in climate-controlled spaces. They have large staffs who are responsible for creating exhibits, maintaining collection records, accepting donations, and keeping all artifacts in the best possible condition.

At the Giles County Historical Society, as in many museums in smaller communities, we have several part-time employees and volunteers trying to manage the collections in a similar manner, but on a much smaller scale with a much smaller budget. Collections management has been an ongoing project for the Historical Society. We’ve been the recipient of grants from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the American Association of Museums to purchase collections management software and hire consultants to help us understand how to improve our processes.

The first phase of our collections management project has been to organize over 10 years of collections paperwork and match the paperwork with the corresponding objects in the collection. Each object is then photographed and information about the objects entered into the computer. As we work through this process we will also be applying for grants for additional archival storage, updating our collections management policies and forms used for donations, and creating new exhibits. The collections management project is ongoing and likely will not be complete for several years. Remember, the next time you visit the Giles County Historical Society, that there is a lot going on behind the scenes!

New Board of Directors Sworn In

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, February 10, 2010

The 2010-2011 Giles County Historical Society Board of Directors was elected and installed at the Annual Meeting on January 10th at Anna’s Restaurant. Outgoing President John Hale presided over the meeting which included a presentation by Dr. Dick Newton of Roanoke about his father’s medical practice in Narrows.

The Historical Society’s new president, J. R. Peek, is a newcomer to Giles County. Born and raised in Florida, J. R. is a veteran of the Air Force and a graduate of Lake-Sumter Community College. He owned his own landscape company before working for, and ultimately retiring from, Sarasota City and County governments.

J. R. and his wife Joan moved to Pearisburg in 2006 when they fell in love with the area. J. R. says, “Two things struck me about this area when we first came here. First the people. The attitude here is relaxed and friendly. People are willing to help anyone who needs it. The next thing is the wonderful weather that the local natives take for granted. I am trying to keep it a secret so that a lot of retirees do not discover it and drive the prices up. It is a wonderful place to live."

J. R. spends much of his time volunteering in Pearisburg and Giles County. In addition to his volunteer activities at the Historical Society, J. R. is a member of the New River Valley Senior Services, Inc. Board of Directors, Board of Directors of the New River Valley Agency on Aging, the Giles County RSVP Advisory Council, and a member of the Giles County Rotary Club. He is also a volunteer for RSVP and assists New River Community Action when necessary.

J. R. looks forward to his term as President of the Giles County Historical Society Board of Directors and the chance to actively help preserve the history of Giles County for future generations and get more residents involved in Historical Society activities and support.

Winners of the Festival of Trees Christmas Tree Decorating Contest

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, December 16, 2009

Winners were announced December 5th for the Festival of Trees Christmas Tree Decorating Contest in the Andrew Johnston House. Judges Pete Ballard, Kay Baldwin, and Bonnie Butler chose three top prizes in the adult category. First prize went to the New River Red Hat Belles for their tree with purple and red decorations. The judges said that the tree represented having fun and clearly showed the enthusiasm of the group. The Pearisburg Garden Club won second place. The judges said the tree showed the heart of gardening in mountain areas and particularly liked the antique seed packets and the assorted gifts under the tree. Third place went to Pearisburg Junior Woman’s Club with the judges citing the importance of remembering our service men and women at Christmas time and all year around.

The judges were unanimous in awarding special recognition to Girl Scout Troops 2286, 767, and 110 with their tree representing the Girl Scouts of the United States. The tree features a gold star, lights, and ribbon representing the Girl Scout Gold Award; daisies representing Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts and namesake for the first level of Girl Scouts, the Daisies; white pearls representing the set of pearls Ms. Low sold in 1912 to start and finance the Girl Scouts; and ornaments of famous women in history. The thought and creativity in the Girl Scout’s tree make it eye catching and informative to all.

An exhibit of antique toys complements the tree exhibit. Toys have historically helped children to mimic the activities of adults. Trains, dolls, tea sets, trucks, and hobby horses all help children to pretend they are adults and learn how the larger world operates. While today’s toys are childproof and often imagination-free, the antique trucks and trains on display were made of cast iron, metal, and wood and dolls had porcelain heads and handmade clothing. Children learned to cherish the few toys they had and their vivid imaginations invented worlds of play. Bring the family to see the exhibit and share your childhood with them!