Giles County Historical Society

Historical Society lecture series: “Mystery at Mountain Lake” revisited

2012-02-16T03:30:00.001-05:00

Our 2012 lecture series will kick off with a talk by Giles County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Mark Skidmore, at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 1st at the Pearisburg Town Hall. Last October Investigator Skidmore gave a talk at Mountain Lake Hotel about the mysterious remains found in Mountain Lake in 2008. The presentation was so popular that we’ve decided to bring him back for an encore! The event is free and open to the public.

Using photographs from the scene, Skidmore will describe the discovery, excavation and identification of the human remains and artifacts found at the bottom of the dried lakebed. After the talk, visitors will be able to view the artifacts, including clothing, an elegant monogrammed cigarette case, coins, a pocket watch and a college ring. The exhibit will then move to the Historical Society museum, where it will remain on display until April 22.

Black History Month:Giles County’s African American Community in the 19th Century

2012-02-15T14:56:00.003-05:00

Tracing the history of the African American community in Giles County is proving to be a formidable challenge for researchers at the Giles County Historical Society. Last year we
began a research project to draw a picture of life in the 19th century for Giles County’s black residents. Records are sketchy, especially for slaves, whose names were usually not recorded in official documents.

What kinds of documents have provided us with information? From the county’s first decade we have in the 1810 federal census a list of slaveholders, who owned a total of 240 slaves. Slave names, age and sex are not given.

During the first half of the century, names of slaves were rarely noted, except in the personal papers of slaveholders. A few names, however, can be gleaned from probate and other records in the Giles County courthouse. For instance, an estate inventory from 1813 lists “1 old milk cow, 1 copper still, 1 rifle, an old saddle, 1 tomahawk, glass bottles, a Bible, a big coat, three hats, black girl Jinny, black woman Silvy, black man Jack.”

The “Giles County Register of Free Negroes” for the years 1816, 1817, 1818, and 1825 provide us with surnames. The most frequent are Holland, Viney or Vinia, Lewis, and Hendrick or Hendricks. The numbers of free blacks range from around 20 to 40 in a given year.

In 1850 and 1860 the U.S. Government published comprehensive “Slave Schedules”, listing every slaveholder in Giles County and the age, sex, and “color” (black or mulatto) of each slave they possessed. The Federal Censuses for those years also lists individual names of Giles County’s free blacks. By this time the Holland, Lewis and Hendrick names have mostly disappeared, and few Vineys remain.

In these same records new names become prominent, including the families of Samuel Callender, blacksmith; William Scott, shoemaker; Francis Harman, farmer; Daniel Moss, blacksmith; as well as the Collins, the Shavers, and Thomas Beasley, a Staffordsville farmer whose property was worth the considerable sum (at the time) of nearly $2000. Up to the time of the Civil War, the population of African Americans, both enslaved and free, came to nearly 12% of the county’s total population. Today’s figure is a little over 2%.

Last year Historical Society researchers unearth a gold mine of information at the National Archives in Washington, DC. – the Freedmen’s Bureau Census. The Freedmen’s Bureau was
created by the government in 1865 to assist freed slaves with housing, medical care, education, and legal and security threats. In 1865 they conducted a census of freed slaves in the South, and the Giles County list has fortunately survived. For the first time we have the first and last names of former slaves, their ages and the names of their former masters.

We are now looking at the 1870 and 1880 Federal Census records and have noted a rapid drop in the county’s black population. Court records from the time of the Civil War mention large numbers of runaway slaves fleeing the county in the wake of two Union invasions. Enlistment records of the U.S. Colored Troops indicate that several Giles County men joined the Union
Army, and their families may have followed them North during or after the war.

We are still in the preliminary stages of piecing together a picture early Giles’ African American community. The records are now being gathered, transcribed and analyzed, and will eventually be published on our website. But we need help – we are few and the records are many! Perhaps a retired teacher or history buff with spare time would like to help? Contact Kate Delaney at 921-3999, or 921-1050.

Share Your Historic Photographs

2012-02-04T01:11:00.004-05:00

TOP- Car show and race track near the present location of the Pearisburg Community Center. The former Linda Lorraine Bed & Breakfast house can be seen at the upper left.

BOTTOM- A 1946 view of Pearisburg High School (now the Pearisburg Community Center) before the development of Fort Branch

Share Your Historic Photographs

“A picture is worth a thousand words” means that many complex thoughts and ideas can be conveyed by a single still image. This old adage is especially true at the Giles County Historical
Society.

Each year, approximately 2000 people visit the museum complex. While all are aware of our collection of artifacts and archives, few are aware of our photographic collection spanning the history of Giles County.

Old photographs capture more than a moment in time chronicling the past. For adults, old photos trigger forgotten memories . . . which lead to interesting stories . . . which leads to research . . . resulting in new discoveries about Giles County!

Old photographs not only teach children about the past, but help them develop important skills for the future. When showing photos to children, encourage them to think about how people lived during that time. By taking on the perspective of others, children develop understanding, compassion, and empathy for others.

The Giles County Historical Society encourages the public to share their old photographs for its collection. For those who do not want to part with their cherished mementos, photographs can be scanned by the Historical Society with the originals safely returned to their owner. We are currently in the process of making our photographic images available on line. So, if a picture is worth a thousand words, just consider what your photographs could add to Giles County history!

The Giles County Historical Society works to preserve, interpret and exhibit Giles County’s rich historical and cultural heritage. It provides a repository for Giles County family histories, documents and artifacts, assists genealogical researchers, and supports the preservation
of endangered Giles County artifacts, sites and records. The Giles County Historical Society, Museum and Gift Shop (921-1050) are closed during February and will reopen on March 1. For more information, visit www.gilescountyhistorical.org.

Farewell To A Great Lady

2012-02-03T13:36:00.003-05:00

Giles County Historical Society Loses Charter Member

When the Historical Society board of directors met on February 2nd there was an empty seat at the table. Estelle Woodbury, charter member and ardent supporter, passed away on January 25, 2012. She was a unique lady who did not just recognize a need or a problem, she had the focus to envision the solution and the strength of personality to persuade others to join her and turn the vision into reality. She shared this talent with the Pearisburg Women’s Club, the Garden Club, Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Historical Society. She was a working member of each one and whatever the current project, Estelle was right there – arranging for fried apple pies for a fundraiser, arriving at the Andrew Johnston House with a car full of her lovely flower arrangements to decorate for an event – always encouraging, always looking for ways to make things better.

Estelle loved Giles County history and enjoyed sharing her memories of local places and people. She would talk about her childhood in Eggleston and her admiration and pride in her mother who, as a young widow during the Great Depression, raised and educated four children. You
have to wonder if Estelle realized that same strength and dedication to others in herself, because it was surely there.

All of us at the Historical Society offer our heartfelt condolences to Estelle’s family and to her beloved Harold. She was a great friend and we miss her.

A Taste of some of the events for 2012

2012-01-25T05:01:00.003-05:00

The Andrew Johnston House and Giles County Historical Museum are closed during the months of January and February. What are we doing during that time?

This quiet period gives us the opportunity to thoroughly clean and inspect our historic properties, check for mold, insect and weather damage, inventory and re-stock our gift shop, and train ourselves in new equipment and software. Most important – we’re busily planning events for the coming year. Here is a taste of what we’ll offer our members and visitors in 2012:

Civil War Weekend & the Battle of Giles Court House (June 9-10} will include a memorial
service, military parade, living history encampment, BBQ dinner, period music and dance, a Civil War hospital, topped off by a thrilling reenactment of the Battle of Giles Court House.

1st Thursdays Lecture Series – a new program that will feature a variety of topics, including
writing and publishing your story, the Battle of Giles Court House, The art of Appalachian storytelling, “Mystery at Mountain Lake”, eugenics in Appalachia, Negro spirituals, how to use historic records in the courthouse, and brick architecture in southwest Virginia.

Happy Birthday Andrew Johnston! – July 15 marks the birthday of our “founding father”, and we’ll celebrate with something special for the kids.

Heritage Arts Workshops –you can learn clogging, the art of the silhouette, making a
Civil War-era dress, glassblowing, traditional country dancing, and basket making, among other skills to add to your resume.

Summer History Camp for Kids - another exciting new program for kids age 8-11 will feature a week of archaeology, traditional music and storytelling, genealogy research, preparing Native American and Colonial food, old-time games and crafts, and a day in the life of a Civil War soldier.

Victorian High Tea –Participants will be able to sample scones and pastries, jams and Devonshire cream, cucumber and salmon sandwiches, and a delicious assortment of select
teas, served by Edwardian waitresses in the elegant rooms of the Andrew Johnston House.

Holiday Open House – “A German Christmas at the Andrew Johnston House,” Celebrate Giles County’s German heritage with advent wreaths, an Old World Christmas tree, traditional carols, an oom-pah band, nutcrackers galore, fruit bread and marzipan cookies, and a gingerbread
house contest.

We will also continue popular programs such as the Antiques Appraisal Fair and weekly Needle Arts Classes. Stay tuned to our website for further details: www.gilescountyhistorical.org. Or call us at 540-921-3999. As always, we welcome your ideas and suggestions too enhance these and other programs!

Historical Society Welcomes New Executive Director

2012-01-19T06:00:00.007-05:00

Historical Society Welcomes
New Executive Director

In December the Giles County Historical Society welcomed a new Executive Director, Patricia Jacobs. Jacobs brings impressive academic credentials to the job, including a BS in Education from the University of Virginia and a BS in Anthropology from Radford University. She earned an M.Ed in Communications Disorders from UVa and is currently working on a Masters in Public Health at Virginia Tech. Jacobs also attended a summer Field School in Archaeology sponsored by Radford University, was awarded a Certificate in Leadership and Nonprofit Management
from Radford.

Jacobs has lived in Giles County since 1988, and her mother’s family, the Thompsons, settled in the county in the early 1800’s. She has always been deeply interested in local history and Appalachian cultural in general. During her academic career she studied Appalachian folk medicine, public health in the region during the Great Depression, and migration in Floyd County, among other subjects.

Jacobs is not a newcomer to the Historical Society. From 2003 to 2006 she worked as a grant
writer, and she returned this past summer to organize an archaeology dig for 5th graders at Eastern Elementary School. When asked what she hopes to achieve in her new position she replied, “We have a real gem here with the 1829 Andrew Johnston House and the Historical Museum, as well as our research office. The society board members and previous Directors have worked hard for the past 25 years to create perhaps the best center for history, education and research among Historical Societies in the region.

“My hope is to raise our profile in Giles County. There are too many people who say they have
never visited the museum complex. For a number of years we’ve offered tours for the county’s elementary students. One of my goals is to ensure that every schoolchild in Giles County visits the museum -- and that they come back with their parents!

“We’ve also started a lecture series that will offer something for everyone: genealogy, local Civil War history, Appalachian storytelling, memoir writing and self publishing, local architectural history – there’s an unlimited number of subjects and many people in the area who can speak about them.”

Jacobs also wants to expand the exhibits in the museum. A new exhibit on the Civil War in Giles
County has just opened, and a recent donation of rare Paleolithic fossils found in the county will soon become another exhibit.

“All of these ideas require help from our community to become reality. We need volunteers in
many areas, including museum tours, exhibit creation, programming, education and outreach. We especially seek former teachers and other who’ve worked in educating the public. I’ll be spending a lot of time on the phone in the coming weeks to round up a great team!”

The Giles County Historical Society works to preserve, interpret and exhibit Giles County’s rich historical and cultural heritage. It provides a repository for Giles County family histories, documents and artifacts, assists genealogical researchers, and supports the preservation
of endangered Giles County artifacts, sites and records. The Giles County Historical Society and
Museum (540-921-1050) is closed during January and February. Regular opening hours will resume on March 1:Wed-Fri from 12-5 PM and Sat-Sun from 2-5 PM. Admission is free. The Research Office is open on Thursday from 12–5 PM. For more information, visit www.gilescountyhistorical.org

You never know who will show up at the Museum

2012-01-03T21:31:00.002-05:00

On December 21st, nineteenth-century gunfighter Luke Short and his wife Hettie arrived for a tour of the Andrew Johnston House and museum. They told stories of the Old West and about the Pinkerton Detectives in Princeton, who may have passed through Giles County. The Shorts were visiting Princeton, and our friends at the Mercer County Historical Society sent them to us. After a very interesting chat we in turn sent them along to a well-known local eating establishment where they were hospitably entertained.

The Historical Society will be closed January and February. During that time we will planning our events for 2012, including exhibits, lectures, classes and a Civil War weekend. We welcome any ideas and suggestions. Check our website at http://www.gilescountyhistorical.org/ for further information.

Local Historians Awarded Virginia Volunteer Award By The VGS

2011-12-19T10:12:00.004-05:00

Virginia Volunteer Award

Temple Lawrence(left) and Ruth Blevins are pictured in the Giles County Historical Society Research Library. They will jointly receive the Virginia Volunteer Award for 2012, sponsored by the Virginia Genealogical Society.

The Virginia Genealogical Society (VGS) has announced that Giles County Historical Society members Ruth Blevins and Temple Lawrence have been selected as the recipients of the Virginia Volunteer Award for the 2012. VGS stated "Is is the work of outstanding volunteers such as Mrs. Blevins and Mrs. Lawrence who contribute not only to their immediate organization, but also in ways that benefit the greater genealogical and historical community." The Virginia Volunteer Award will be presented at the VGS Spring Conference on April 21, 2012.

Mrs. Blevins and Mrs. Lawrence were nominated by the Giles County Historical Society for their hard work and dedication in establishing and expanding the Research Office at the museum complex. The Historical Society cited the countless hours given by both these local genealogists/historians helping the citizens of Giles County understand more about their family histories and heritage. This is an important service because many of the founding families of Giles County who settled here two centuries ago still have decendents in the area.

Both Mrs. Blevins and Mrs. Lawrence are natives of Giles County. Their institutional knowledge of the county, as well as its local families, has been an invaluable resource to the Historical Society and to the people of Giles County.

Ruth Blevins, one of the founding members of the Historical Society, helped established the Research Office to assist the public in conducting research in genealogy and local history. Along with a number of dedicated volunteers, Mrs. Blevins researched and published two large volumes on Giles County families. These vloumes serve as a foundation for those beginning their genealogical journey.

Temple Lawrence, a current board member for the Historical Society, expanded the holdings of the Research Library which now has over 600 volumes and 750 vertical files on genealogy and local history. For over ten years Mrs. Lawrence has served as the genealogist for the Historical Society assisting the public with family research. In that capacity she has established on-line access to genealogical and local history records, and initiated a program to provide on-line genealogical research for the public.

The Research Office is open Thursday afternoons from noon to 5 p.m. Genealogy questions can also be addressed via emailed at research@gilescountyhistorical.org There is a fee for on-line queries which require extensive research.

Every Time A Bell Rings, A Giles County Volunteer Gets Wings

2011-12-16T20:27:00.002-05:00

It's the end of the year, and the Giles County Historical Society Museum complex will soon be closing from January 1st to March 1st. The Historical Society would like to take the opportunity
to thank all those who volunteered throughout the year providing much-needed support for our organization and activities. Volunteers perform a variety of tasks: greeting visitors and giving tours, assisting with genealogical and historical research, helping to mount exhibits and decorate our beautiful historic house, and providing refreshments for events. Volunteer parents have helped us manage large groups of children for our school outreach activities, and re-enactors and artisans truly transform our cultural heritage into "living" history.

Volunteers, however, are not only vital to the Historical Society, but to many organizations in
Giles County. So, in our take on "It's A Wonderful Life", thank you to all those who volunteer throughtout the year. An essay by the late humorist Erma Bombeck says it perfectly:

So Long, Volunteers

I had a dream the other night that every volunteer in this land had set sail for another country. I stood smiling on the pier, shouting, "Goodbye phone committees. Goodbye disease of the month. No more getting out the vote. No more playground duty, bake sales, rummage sales, thrift shops, and three-hour meetings."

As the boat got smaller, I reflected, "Serves them right, that bunch of yes people. All they had to do was put their tongues firmly against the roofs of their mouths and make an "O" sound-no. It was certainly have spared them a lot of grief. Oh, well, who needs them?"

The hospital was quiet as I passed it. The reception desk was vacant. Rooms were devoid of
books, flowers, and voices. The children's wing held no clowns, no laughter. The house for the
aged was like a tomb. The blind listened for a voice that never came. The infirmed were imprisoned in wheelchairs that never moved. Food grew cold on trays that never reached the hungry.

The social agencies had closed their doors-unable to implement their programs of scouting, recreation, drug control; unable to help to retarded, handicapped, lonely and abandoned. Health agencies had signs in their windows: "Cures for cancer, birth defects, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, etc. have been cancelled because of lack of interest."

The schools were strangely quiet with no field trips and no volunteer classroom aides. Symphony halls and the museums that had been built and stocked by volunteers were dark and would remain that way. The flowers in churches and synagogues withered and died. Children in day nurseries lifted their arms, but there was no one to hol them in love.

Alcoholics cried out in despair, but no one answered. The poor had no recourse for health care or legal aid. I fought in my sleep to regain a glimpse of the ship of volunteers, just one more time. It was my last glimpse of a decent civilization.

--Erma Bombeck

Giles County Historical Society Receives Grant for Oral History Project

2011-12-13T18:10:00.003-05:00

The Community Foundation of the New River Valley has selected the Giles County Historical Society as one of its 2012 fall grant recipients. The grant, totaling $826.39, will provide recording, transcribing and storage equipment for the Historical Society's Oral History Project. The Community Foundation funds a variety of projects across the New River Valley, believing the modest grants like this can have tremendous impact on local communities. This fall the foundation awarded over $45,000 to local non-profits. The grant to the Historical Society comes from the CFNRV's Giles Fund - resources raised by Giles citizens to be shared with Giles communities.

The Historical Society has three oral history projects planned for the coming year: Giles County Quilt Documentation, Public School Desegregation, and "Voices from Giles County." Quilt documentation is an on-going project to photograph, measure, and record quilts made in the locality before 1999.

The Public School Desegregation project will be the first time this historic period has been examined in Giles County. In 1954, the US Supreme Court ruled that state law mandating separate schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, paving the way for desegregation of the public schools. Unlike many other Virginia counties which followed the course of "massive resistance," the Giles County school board voted to voluntarily end racial segregation in the county schools. Historical Society volunteers are now conducting background research and identifying interviewees for this project. Tentative informants include members of the local African American community, former students at the segregated high school at Bluff City, students enrolled in Giles High School in 1964-5, and former teachers and administrators in the school system.

For the "Voices from Giles County" project, county residents will be interviewed about growing up and living in Giles County. The project will initially focus on older residents, and areas of interest will include childhood and family life on the farm and in town, education, employment (particularly at the Celanese plant), and historic events affecting county residents, such as the Great Depression, World War II, desegregation/civil rights, and Vietnam. "Voices" will be an
on-going oral history project for the Historical Society

"Christmas by Candlelight" group picture.

2011-12-12T00:44:00.001-05:00

"Christmas by Candlelight" held at Andrew Johnston house pictures

2011-12-12T00:20:00.007-05:00

Entering the Johnston house
Ladies dressed in Civil War period clothing enter the Andrew Johnston house as part of the "Christmas by Candlelight" event hosted by the Giles Historical Society.

Christmas Carols

Members of the Giles Symphonic Chorale sang Christmas carols during the "Christmas by Candlelight" event hosted by the Giles Historical Society.

Decorated Table

This table was decorated as part of the "Christmas by Candlelight" festivities hosted by the Giles Historical Society at the Andrew Johnston house.

Posing

Period clothes from the Civil War era were worn during the "Christmas by Candlelight" event held at the Andrew Johnston house. Featured is Amy Buchanan of Narrows, VA.

Canon with cannon

Canon Tabor, along with his father Bob Tabor, poses with an 1861 civil war cannon that was on display during the "Christmas by Candlelight" event hosted by the Giles Historical Society Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011.

Christmas by Candlelight hosted by Giles Historical Society December 3rd

2011-12-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

We would like to thank everyone who came out to see The Civil War Christmas by Candlelight. It was a great success. We would like to thank all the ladies who fixed all the wonderful refreshments. Also, we would like to thank the Giles High School Choral Ensemble who sang all those wonderful christmas songs. We also want to thank the ladies of the Jubal Early Chapter of the UDC for helping out. Tha...nk you to Bob Tabor for bringing the canon to the event and Melinda and son for being in the house celebrating. We also want to thank all the ladies who helped out in the gift shop and the museum. Thank you so much for Joseph Yost who also was in the house. We had a great turn out and we really appreciate all the support. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!!!!

Christmas by Candlelight hosted by Giles Historical Society December 3rd

2011-11-30T21:39:00.005-05:00

Early portrayal of Santa Claus

In this Harper's Weekly illustration of Christmas, 1862, cartoonist Thomas Nast presents one of the earliest portrayals of Santa Claus. Santa visits a Union encampment bringing boxes of gifts for the troops. In the background soldiers amuse themselves by climbing a greased pole, chasing a greased pig and playing football.

Christmas Eve, 1862

In this magazine engraving entitled"Christmas Eve, 1862" a young mother kneels by her sleeping children and prays for her husband's safety, while he sits by a campfire and gazes at their photographs. on the upper left is an early portrayal of Santa Claus, preparing to climb down a chimney; on the upper right he visits a military camp, tossing boxes of gifts from his sleigh.

Christmas by Candlelight, 1861

It's a chilly evening on Chrismas Eve, 1861: flurries of snow whip down Pearisburg's Main Street. Dr. Harvey Green Johnston is home on leave from his duties as surgeon of the 86th Virginia Militia. His young wife Annie and their two small children, William and Carrie, have decorated the house for the special occasion, and have invited several friends to celebrate the holiday and recent Confederate victories. The beautiful brick house, built by Harvey's father Andrew in 1829, glows with candlelight and it filled with the aroma of pine, lemon teacakes, mulled cider and eggnog. Carolers from the neighborhood have stopped by to offer and extra measure of good cheer.

This Saturday, December 3, 2011, the Giles County Historical Society invites you to join the Johnstons as they gather to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Ladies of the Jubal Early chapter of the UDC will greet you at the door and invite you into the house decorated with all the mid-nineteenth century. Members of the Giles High School Choral Ensemble, dressed in period costume, will entertain visitors with traditional carols.

The Johnston home, located at 208 North Main Street in Pearisburg, will be open from 3:00- 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Visitors can also view the new exhibit "The Civil Was in Giles County" in the adjacent Historical Museum. The displays describe the course and impact of the war in the county, and includes artifacts recovered in the area, as well as personal stories and memorabilia of Giles County soldiers.

By 1861, the celebration of Christmas had taken on the look and customs of the holiday we celebrate today. Forty years earlier the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" appeared in a New York newspaper and introduced us to our modern idea of Santa Claus: a jolly, chubby "old elf" who ddrives a sleigh pulled by reindeer. With a sack loaded with presents he drops down the chimney and fills the stockings hung by the fireplace. Two decades later Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert popularized the candle-lit Christmas tree, a custom from his native Germany. In 1850, an illustration of the royal family gathered around a decorated Christmas tree appeared in an American magazine and the custom was euthusiastically adopted here. Trees were usually decorated with garlands of dried berries, popcorn or paper chains, and hung with fruit, toys, and paper ornaments.

During the Civil War Christmas was a bittersweet holiday. Many sons, husbands, and fathers were far from home, often living in primitive conditions in cold, damp winter camps. In the early years of the war families were able to maintain many of the old customs, and to provide "care packages" for their loved ones in the military. As the war dragged on and the Union blockade of Confederate ports strangled Southern commerce, most Southerners had neither the means nor the heart to participate in elaborate festivities. Many years later a Southern woman remembered the 1864 holiday: "Christmas loomed darkly ahead. No daddy, no trip to "Grampys", no shoes, no clothes hardly, no picture books, no dolls, no candy, and no just "nuthin". Her one gift was a homemade wool petticoat-carded, spun and woven by an aunt- that was so scratchy it was unwearable.

During that same Christmas holiday a Northern magazine featured an elaborate engraving of President Lincoln welcoming rebels who are willing to lay down their arms, to "The Union Christmas Dinner". The illustration, on view at the Johnston house, foreshadows the sentiments of Lincoln's second inaugural address the following March, where he spoke of peace and reconciliation: "With malice towards none: with charity for all...let us strive ... to bind up the nation's wounds ... to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace.... Lincoln was assassinated less than a month later.

The Giles County Historical Society works to preserve, interpret and exhibit Giles County's rich historical and cultural heritage.

It provides a repository for Giles County family histories, documents, and artifacts, assists genealogical researchers, and supports the preservation of endangered the Giles County artifacts, sites, and records.

The Giles County Historical Society and Museum (921-1050) are open Wed-Fri from 12-5 PM and Sat-Sun from 2-5 PM. The Research Office is open on Thurs. from 12-5 PM. For more information please visit http://www.gilescountyhistorical.org/

"A Civil War Christmas by Candlelight"

2011-11-19T00:53:00.006-05:00

Please come by and join us on December 3rd, 2011 from 3-6 p.m. We are having "A Civil War Christmas by Candlelight" at the Andrew Johnston House. We would love for you to stop in to meet Dr. Harvey Green Johnston, his lovely young wife Annie, and their friends as they gather together on Christmas Eve in 1861. Come and enjoy the period music, refreshments, the Victorian Christmas decorations, and the wonderful Christmas carols from the Giles High School Choral Ensemble. We will also have our new exhibit "The Civil War in Giles County" that is displayed in the museum that is available to be viewed. If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to call the historical society at (540)921-1050.

Terri Fisher is first speaker in lecture series at the Historical Society

2011-11-18T23:50:00.004-05:00

The Giles County Historical Society is launching evening lecture series, to be held once a month at the Giles County Historical Museum, 208 North Main Street, Pearisburg. Each month a featured speaker will discuss a topic relating to local history, genealogy research, historic preservation, personal memoir writing and other subjects.

The inaugural lecture will be given by the Historical Society's former Executive Director, Terri Fisher, on Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. Terri will discuss her recently published book Lost Commununities of Virginia, now in its second printing. The book is a project of Virginia Tech's Community Design Assistance Center where Terri is Outreach and Programs Coordinator.

Lost Communities of Virginia casts a spotlight on 30 small communities located throughout the state. These once-thriving towns, villages and gathering places provide quiet reminders of rural Virginia's past when trains or steamboats stopped several times a day, coal miners frequented the company store, stagecoaches delivered passengers and their many trunks to the mountain springs resorts, and traveling entertainers brought excitement on a summer evening. The book's contemporary photographs, the words of long-time residents, historical information and maps bring these "lost communities" alive to the reader's imagination.

Among other topics, the author will discuss the Victorian heyday of Eggleston Springs resort, and the once-bustling transportation hub of Newport, which in earlier days was so rowdy that it was dubbed "Hell's Half Acre." Other nearby towns in the book include Paint Bank, Riner and Pocahontas.

Terri holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science fro the University of New Hampshire and is nearing completion of a Masters of Architecture at Virginia Tech. Her interests are in the area of preservation and sustainable design and she is also the author of two pictorial histories of Giles County: Pearisburg and Giles County: Then and Now.

The Giles County Historical Society works to preserve, interpret and exhibit Giles County's rich historical and cultural heritage. It provides a repository for Giles County family histories, documents and artifacts, assists, genealogical researchers, and supports the preservation of endangered Giles County artifacts, sites and records.

Terri Fisher, Outreach and Programs Coordinator of Virginia Tech's Community Design Assistance Center is the author of this recently-published book that document's once-booming communities that lost their original function and now seek a new purpose.

Giles County Historical Society and Museum Admission: Free

Wed. -Fri. 12-5

Sat. - Sun. 2-5

Research Office Open only Thurs. 12-5

http://www.gilescountyhistorical.org/ (540)921-1050

Glass Blowing 101

2011-10-30T17:31:00.003-04:00

November 6, 2011 2 P.M.

Glass Blowing 101: Make Your Own Ornament Ball
With the Giles Art Council. Taught by glass artist, Parker Stafford. Class will be held at Stafford Art Glass in Newport Virginia.

"Lost Communities of Virginia" By Terri Fisher

2011-10-30T17:20:00.003-04:00

November 3, 2011 7 P.M.
"Lost Communities of Virginia"
This is a talk by Terri Fisher, co-author of the same book of the same name. Virginia's rural areas are dotted with traces of once- thriving communities. Learn about how these communities- including several in Giles County-- are struggling to survive or rebuilding themselves in a new and different way.

Camp Success Civil War Confederate Encampment

2011-10-18T22:26:00.003-04:00

Camp Success is named for the civil war confederate army encampment that was located near the grounds from 1862 to 1865. Confederate forces, some garrisoned at this site, successfully guarded the narrows of the New River from incursion by the union army forces until early 1865. However, this camp won its name after a major skirmish that occurred near the site on May 10, 1862 when confederate forces under Brig. General Henry Heth that held off the retreating union forces under Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes (later became president of the United States). Heth had prevented Hayes' troops from passing through the Town of Narrows on their retreat to Princeton from the "Battle Of Giles Court House" in nearby Pearisburg.

Wool Rug Hooking Workshop

2011-10-12T22:35:00.002-04:00

October 28-29, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wool Rug Hooking Workshop, with the Giles Art Council. Class is taught by Linda Woodbury. Students will create a 14" x 14" hooked piece similiar to a Rose of Sharon quilt square from colors of their choosing. Cost of $95.00 including linen, wool, and 2 days of instruction. Students must provide their own 14" quilting hoop and a beginner medium size rug hook with handle. Class will be held at the historical society. Pre-registration required. If you have any questions please feel free to call the historical society 921-1050.

High Praise From A Yankee Officer

2011-10-12T22:20:00.002-04:00

In May 1862, the doctor's office was used as a headquarters by the 23rd Ohio Regiment, which included future presidents Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes and Sgt. William McKinley. During his stay in Pearisburg, Hayes remarked that "This is a lovely spot, a fine clean village, most beautiful country, polite and well educated people"-- This is a high praise From a yankee officer.

"The Battle Of Giles Court House"

2011-10-09T20:12:00.003-04:00

We are planning on "The Battle Of Giles Court House" for June 9th & 10th, 2012. This commemorates the 150th anniversary of the battle. Our theme is "The Yankees Are Coming!" Planning is well underway by the Giles County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee for a fun filled weekend. The events will be listed at a later date.

While waiting for that momentous day, the historical society has other events planned to mark the sesquecentennial. On December 3, 2011, we will be hosting a "Civil War Christmas By Candlemark" at the Andrew Johnston House. You are invited to join Dr. Harvey Green Johnston, his young wife Annie, their children and their friends as they celebrate Christmas in 1864.

In April 2012, "Gone With The Wind" comes to town with an exhibit of six Scarlett O'Hara and Mammy costume dolls that is created by costume historian and conservator Pete Ballard. You'll see Scarlett O'Hara's famouse gown that was made from the draperies at Tara, and catch a glimpse of Mammy's saucy red satin petticoat.

Please feel free to stop by to see the wonderful artifacts, documents, and genealogical researchers. If you have any questions please call (540)921-1050. The hours Wed-Fri from 12-5 p.m. and Sat-Sun from 2-5 p.m. Our Web site is www.gilescountyhistorical.org We are also on facebook and twitter.

Join Us at ShopForMuseums.com

2010-10-08T14:27:00.004-04:00

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:

Go to www.shopformuseums.com
Register for a free account
Under "Search Stores" enter the name of the museum you'd like to support (which is, of course, "Giles County Historical Society")
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.
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

2010-10-06T15:55:00.000-04:00

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'

2010-09-24T16:44:00.004-04:00

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!

2010-09-24T15:24:00.001-04:00

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

2010-09-24T15:19:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-04T13:41:00.003-04:00

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

2010-08-04T13:37:00.004-04:00

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

2010-07-23T12:40:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-23T12:37:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-21T15:56:00.002-04:00

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

2010-07-02T15:15:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-02T15:09:00.003-04:00

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

2010-06-04T14:36:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-04T14:09:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-20T15:25:00.004-04:00

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

2010-05-15T12:23:00.003-04:00

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!

2010-05-07T14:28:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-07T13:26:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-01T11:53:00.001-04:00

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!

2010-03-25T15:06:00.001-04:00

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

2010-03-12T13:13:00.001-05:00

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

2010-02-19T11:23:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-29T15:58:00.003-05:00

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!

Our New Cookbook is Here!

2009-12-02T16:46:00.003-05:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, November 25, 2009

Though it seems that Christmas is thrust upon us earlier and earlier each year, Thanksgiving is the traditional start of the holiday season. Family, friends, festivities, and food are all front and foremost this time of year. What would Thanksgiving be without turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and any number of other family favorites? And Thanksgiving leads into Christmas cookie season: gingerbread men (and women), sugar cookies, linzer, shortbread, molasses – oh my!

By all accounts, the last family member to live in the Andrew Johnston House, Dr. Harvey Green Johnston II’s wife, Marjorie Johnston, was a wonderful cook. The kitchen that you see in the house today is the kitchen she expanded in the 1940s to provide more space for cooking, baking, and visiting with friends and family. Many of the cabinets and drawers are still filled with Mrs. Johnston’s dishes, cookware, and utensils. There is even a junk drawer! Fortunately for us, her cookbooks and recipe boxes are in one of the cabinets as well so we can try some of her favorite recipes.

Just in time for Christmas, the cookbook, A Taste of History: Favorite Recipes from the Giles County Historical Society, will tempt your taste buds with recipes from Mrs. Johnston and current and past members of the Historical Society. Historical Society board member, Ellen Woodyard, the driving force behind the cookbook project, included a number of Mrs. Johnston’s recipes in the book. With over 280 recipes, there is sure to be a recipe that can become a new holiday tradition in your house this year!

Stop by our Museum Shop to purchase your copy or use the order form at our website.

Museum Assessment Program Collections Assessment

2009-12-02T16:41:00.002-05:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, November 18, 2009

Earlier this year, Giles County Historical Society was the recipient of a Museum Assessment Program (MAP) grant from the American Association of Museums (AAM) and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). The focus of the MAP grant has been on a Collections Management Assessment. The Historical Society contains a variety of collections representing different facets of Giles County history. From books, letters, and tax records to furnishings, clothing, and a hearse, the collections of the Historical Society are widely varied in size, shape, and other characteristics. Each provides a different challenge for care, exhibits, and management. The Collections Management Assessment focuses on collections policies, planning, access, documentation, and care within the context of the Historical Society’s total operations.

The first step of the MAP process was a self study. The Historical Society completed this very thorough 60-page study in August which included questions about how the collections are used, how items are accepted into the collection, collections care, and institutional governance. The questions were thought-provoking and helped identify strengths and weaknesses in our current collections management policies.

The second step of the MAP process is a peer review. Ms. Lee Langston-Harrison, the Executive Director of the Museum of Culpeper History will visit the Giles County Historical Society on November 18th and 19th critically review the Historical Society’s operations from a fresh perspective. She has reviewed the Historical Society’s self assessment and other documents and will visit all four buildings – the Andrew Johnston House, Doctor’s Office, Research Office, and Museum – and interview staff and volunteers about collections issues. Once Langston-Harrison’s review is complete, she will write an Assessment Report which summarizes the visit and makes recommendations for change.

The third step of the MAP process will be for the Historical Society to incorporate the self assessment and peer assessment information into our planning process. The information will help the Historical Society to formulate goals and strategies to improve its collections management and focus grant writing and fundraising activities for several years to come.

Pearisburg Garden Club and Boy Scouts Plant Trees

2009-12-02T16:33:00.004-05:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, November 11, 2009

While visitors typically come to the Historical Society to discover the historical treasures hidden inside of the buildings, one of the things that lures them to the site are the grounds and landscaping. The Andrew Johnston House sits in the shade of old maple trees, its front walkway flanked by boxwoods like those that surround the Doctor’s Office. The dogwood trees between the house and museum show their flowers in spring and red leaves in fall. Flower gardens bloom with bulbs in spring and fall and annual and perennial flowers in summer. Love and Alex Witten’s Rose Garden provides an explosion of color in spring and fall.

One particular corner of the Historical Society’s grounds between the parking lot and the Doctor’s Office could not be described with such superlatives. Members of Pearisburg Boy Scout Troop 34 earned community service hours and learned a valuable life lesson by volunteering their time and energy on November 5 to plant trees, shrubs and perennial flowers at the Giles County Historical Society. “Part of being a Boy Scout is giving back to the community,” explains troop committee chair Brian Squibb. The new greenery was donated to the Historical Society by the Pearisburg Garden Club to help landscape an unsightly hillside at the edge of the Society’s property. Next Spring will bear witness to the scouts’ hard work, with a profusion of rhododendron, daffodil and iris blossoms.

Fresh Cider!

2009-11-11T13:43:00.002-05:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, November 4, 2009

Apple and pumpkin are ingredients in many of the comfort foods of fall. Apple pie, pumpkin bread, apple streusel, pumpkin pie, apple sauce, pumpkin butter, and apple butter are all fall flavors that most of us look forward to. Apple cider is another distinctly fall flavor - not the apple cider found in today’s grocery stores that has been pasteurized to within an inch of its life, but the good, old fashioned apple cider that retains the flavors of the apples, the outdoors, and the cider mill itself.

At the Historical Society, there is an old-fashioned cider mill on display that once belonged to C. A. Lucas’ father, James C. Lucas, and was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Winston. To make cider with the mill, apples were placed whole or cored into the wooden hopper at the top of the mill. The mill’s crank was turned by hand to grind the apples. Apple pulp including the skin and seeds, dropped from the bottom of the mill into a slatted, bottomless tub. When the tub was full, it was moved to the other side of the mill where a disk fitted with a large screw mechanism was placed on the tub. As the screw was turned by a crank, the disk pressed the juice out of the apple pulp. The resulting cider escaped through a hole in the bottom of the mill into jugs or other containers. Two people could work the mill at once with one making the apple pulp and the other squeezing the juice from the pulp.

The flavor of the cider varied depending on the type of apples used and the length of time that the cider aged after milling. Unfortunately, today there are concerns about bacteria in apple cider so it is pasteurized to make it safe for general consumption and inhibit fermentation caused by bacteria growth which removes some of the intensity of the apple flavoring. Apple cider is filtered to make apple juice, removing any of the remaining pulp and creating a sweeter, and further reducing the intensity of the apple flavoring.

Enter the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest!

2009-11-06T16:23:00.002-05:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, October 28, 2009

The leaves are turning, the air is getting chillier, and its time to start thinking about Christmas! This year’s Christmas at the Johnston House will be a true community event. The Giles County Historical Society, Olde Towne Pearisburg, and the Giles Arts Council would like to invite your organization or civic, community, or church group to decorate a tree in our Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. Trees will be judged on creativity and imagination and first, second, and third place will be awarded. There will be a junior award for schools and youth organizations.

All trees will be on display in the Andrew Johnston House from December 6th through 31st during regular operating hours. Because space is limited to 16 trees in the House, we ask that you return an entry form indicating your intentions to decorate a tree. Entry forms are available on our website, by e-mail, or by stopping by the Historical Society. Contest rules and set up procedures are on the entry form.

The Historical Society is planning an exhibit of antique toys in the Johnston House to complement the Christmas trees. Please contact us if you have a toy that is at least 50 years old that you would like to loan for the month of December.

We look forward to the community helping us make this a memorable holiday event!

Bobbin Shuttle Tatting Class - November 6 and 13

2009-10-30T13:16:00.002-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, October 21, 2009

Did your grandmother tat, but you never learned? Have you seen tatting kits in stores and been intrigued? Is tatting something you’ve heard of, but aren’t quite sure what it is? Now is your chance to learn the art of tatting! The next offering in the Giles Arts Council and Giles County Historical Society Needle Arts Class series is Shuttle Tatting, taught by Bernie Cossell on November 6th and 13th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at the Historical Society.

Like other crafts based around knotting, tatting began with fishermen’s knots: large shuttles were used to weave heavy rope into fishing nets 2,000 years ago. Other knots were used in the rigging of sails and to secure anchors. Later, the same ideas were translated to yarns then finer threads to create fine lace used to embellish the clothing of royalty. During the Victorian period and into the mid-20th century, tatting was used to edge linens and to make table covers and chair linens.

A tatting shuttle is used to make tiny knots around a central thread. Loops are connected to loops and picots in various ways to make a heavy lace that is often used as an edging or an overlay on fabric. Tatting shuttles today are often plastic, but in the past were made from wood, hand-carved ivory, or precious metals. The shuttle and thread are small enough that tatting can be done anywhere, making it a very portable craft.

Call or e-mail the Historical Society to register for the Shuttle Tatting Class and learn this decorative craft!

Experimenting with Social Media...

2009-10-21T16:32:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, October 14, 2009

Traditionally, companies have used the media outlets such as newspapers, radio, and television to make others aware of their services. Today, there are a host of other media and publicity options. It may seem obvious for computer firms and software companies to use the internet for publicity, but it also makes sense for non-profit organizations and museums to use the internet as well. Many non-profits are concerned that they aren’t attracting the younger generation as volunteers, donors, visitors, and board members. By using social media on the internet, non-profits can reach a younger crowd and more people than they can locally.

Social media provides an opportunity for people to quickly share information with others who have a shared interest. It is an internet communication medium where people can be both authors and audiences. Examples are Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and blogs, where people can read and comment on your input. Because the internet is international, your audience becomes much larger than the local newspaper market, listening area, or cable system. When you find an organization of interest on a social media site, often you’ll find other organizations or people that you would like to connect with also, quickly expanding your social network.

Like many museums throughout the country, the Giles County Historical Society is experimenting with social media to attract a larger audience of people who are potentially interested in our programs. We are using social media to advertise our events as well as let people know about interesting things that happen on the site. You can follow us on Twitter for short, 140 word updates about events and daily happenings; become our fan on Facebook and link with other people who have similar interests; read our Virginian Leader articles on our blog; or check out Flickr for photographs of our recent events. All of these sites are accessible from our website: www.gilescountyhistorical.org. We’ll look for you on the internet!

(If you're paying attention, you'll notice that we missed a week. Despite the ease of using the computer for social networking and publicity, the computer is only as smart as its user - if you don't attach the newspaper article to your e-mail, it won't get into the paper! Figures it would happen with this article too!)

New Genealogical Research Donations

2009-10-02T16:43:00.003-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, September 30, 2009

The Research Office at the Giles County Historical Society contains books, family files, and county records pertinent to the families and communities of Giles County. We receive many genealogists throughout the year from many different parts of the country who are researching their family history. Often we can trace the path of settlement of Giles County’s families, by looking at our guest book. After leaving Giles County, early settlers headed west through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky, Ohio, and other places in the Midwest – many of our genealogy visitors now live in these states.

When genealogists with roots in Giles County finish their family histories, they often send them to the Historical Society for inclusion in the Research Office and use by other visitors. This year has apparently been especially productive for Giles County genealogists as we have received a number of new books including: Little Walker’s Creek by Rebecca Cox Sowers and donated by Peggy Hollar; “Doty/Niday Family History” by Carol Niday Doty; “William Cephas Lucas and Birdie Mae Collins Lucas Family” by Hilda McCoy Walker; “Encounters with the British in Virginia During the War of 1812,” “War of 1812 Veteran Burials at St. John’s Episcopal Church Graveyard, Richmond, VA,” and “War of 1812 Burials in Virginia” from the Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia; “Cleveland Lucas Family History” by Mary Peare; and “Kinfolk – the Stevers Family History – 1752-2008” by Heather Reynolds.

Stop by the Historical Society to look at these books and learn more about your own family history!

Knitting Class - October 2 and 9, 1:30-3pm

2009-09-25T15:17:00.003-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, September 23, 2009

Are knitting and purling mysteries to you? Have you always wanted to knit a sweater or a pair of cozy wool socks, but haven’t known where to begin? Do all those letters and numbers in knitting patterns look like gobbledygook to you? The Giles County Historical Society and the Giles Arts Council present a Beginning Knitting Class as the next class in their Needle Arts Class series. Ellen Woodyard will teach the class on October 2nd and 9th from 1:30 – 3:00pm at the Historical Society (registration is required). You will learn to knit and purl and combine those stitches in a pattern using the garter and stockinette stitches to create a dish cloth.

At its most basic, knitting uses 2 needles to create fabric from a single strand of yarn. The earliest example of true knitting using 2 needles was a pair of socks found in Egypt dating to 1100AD. Historians believe that knitting was spread to Europe by sailors and merchants traveling in the Mediterranean. Knitting was originally a male-only occupation with knitting guilds formed in Europe to control the quality and price of knitted material sold. Socks and stockings were among the first knitted items because of the ease of molding the knitted fabric to shape of the foot. Legend says that sailors wore sweaters with family patterns knitted into them so that the sailor could be identified if he was lost at sea.

While knitting began with just the knit stitch, the introduction of the purl stitch and colors greatly expanded the patterns that could be created. Different parts of the world created their own patterns: Scandinavian knitters created elaborate and now familiar patterns with color, while the Irish are known for the elaborate cabled patterns of fisherman knit sweaters. Today, with the many different yarns and patterns available, your knitting is limited only by your imagination.

Come learn to knit and learn the fundamentals for making knitted heirlooms of your own! Shown above are a pair of knitted slipper socks for the Veteran's Slipper Sock project that you will be able to knit upon completion of the class!

Pride In Our Heritage Quilt Show III - People's Choice Award Winner

2009-09-23T16:21:00.003-04:00

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

Visitors to Giles County Historical Society’s and Giles Arts Council’s Pride In Our Heritage Quilt Show III on September 5 and 6 were asked to vote for their favorite quilt from among the contemporary quilts on display. The winner of the People’s Choice Award, a paper foundation pattern designed and donated by Missy Barnhart called Roses in the Sunshine and the fabric to complete the project donated by Ella Page and Teresa Adams of Quilt Essentials in Peterstown, WV, was Tammy Muchler of Pearisburg.

Tammy’s quilt is called “Timeless Treasure” and was made for her 11-year-old son Grant. The quilt has 140 blocks with 22 pieces in each block making a total of 3080 pieces, hand-quilted in 5 different colors. In Tammy’s words: “I wanted to make a traditional quilt that had a bit of quirkiness to it. If you look closely, you will see a variety of ‘hidden’ things. Look for the money – dollars and pennies, cowboy hats, boots, chicken and eggs, turtles, feathers, ropes, millennium fabric…To offset the squares, I hand-quilted circles in variegated silk thread. I chose to do a thick thread so the circles would stand out event more.

“We had a lot of fun making this quilt. I am so proud of my son and so very glad that I got to make him a quilt he loves. He not only willingly went to quilt shops and shows to pick out almost every piece of fabric, but he also helped me machine piece it and hand quilt it.”

Stories like Tammy’s make each quilt a personal and unique experience for the quilter. Quilters were encouraged to share the stories of their quilts so that visitors could better appreciate the work and love of needlework that went into each piece displayed. Speaker Paula Golden, who presented “Quilts of Virginia” on Saturday, emphasized the importance of including these stories with each quilt so that future owners will know the quilt maker and history.

If you missed this year’s show, be sure to join the Giles County Historical Society and the Giles Arts Council next fall for Pride In Our Heritage Quilt Show IV!

Pete Ballard Speaks at Quarterly Meeting

2009-09-18T13:59:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, September 9, 2009

Arthur J. “Pete” Ballard was the speaker at Giles County Historical Society’s Quarterly Meeting on Sunday, September 13th. A native of West Virginia, Ballard has had a fascinating career in the arts and traveled extensively including stays in Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam, and China where he taught English as a second language. He later taught at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, North Carolina. While in Winston-Salem, he was asked to curate and conserve the costume collection of the Reynolda House Museum, former home of the R. J. Reynolds family. Ballard’s expertise in museum costume curation and conservation came from his work with the costume collections of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Museum of American Art in Winston Salem, and many other museums in the southeast as well as his experiences working with the late Stella Blum, curator of the costume institute for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The topic of Ballard’s presentation to the Historical Society came from his period of museum work in North Carolina. He showed slides and discussed the costume restoration of a wedding gown that survived the Johnstown Flood of 1889. The Pennsylvania flood caused by a dam burst killed 2,209 people and flattened the town. What was left, including the wedding gown, was covered in mud. The gown provides a fascinating example of the loving and painstaking work required to restore and intricate costume and its fragile fabric. Ballard also showed slides of other costumes that he worked with over the years.

During his career in the museum profession, Ballard amassed quite a collection of leftover fabric scraps from completed conservation projects. The scraps became the inspiration for the next phase of Ballard’s career of making fashion dolls that are extensively researched, authentic examples of period fashions from the 18th century through the early 20th century. The dolls have been donated to museums across the United States including the Giles County Historical Society where they populate the Andrew Johnston House. At the conclusion of his presentation, Ballard showed slides of some of the over 200 fashion dolls he has created.

Visit the Andrew Johnston House to see our collection of fashion dolls created by Pete Ballard, a true artist and recent recipient of the Arts and Historical Letters Award from the West Virginia History and Archives Commission. He is shown with the Martha Washington doll he donated to the Giles County Historical Society in 2007.

School Days

2009-09-18T13:53:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, September 2, 2009:

The first day of school brings back memories for many people of their own school days: the promise of a new school year and time with friends, one-room school houses with pot-bellied stoves, strictly disciplined teachers, walking several miles to school (uphill both ways!), pigtails in inkwells, ringing the school bell, Friday night football games, long curvy bouncy bus rides, clouds of chalk dust, and the smell of new textbooks. For many in Giles County, the memory is of school buildings long gone or now being used for other things. Before the days of school consolidation, there were schools in each community.

In the early days, before buses and automobiles became the norm, most people walked to their local school, often several miles from their home. A single teacher in a one-room school house taught all grades, often in a building with a pot-bellied stove for heat and no indoor plumbing. Children wrote their lessons on slates and strict discipline was maintained.

The bigger towns like Pearisburg, Narrows, Pembroke, Eggleston, Newport, and Rich Creek had many small schools and later became the location of the larger elementary and high schools in the county. As transportation became easier, many of the one-room schools closed, but smaller, more remote, communities like Penvir, Kimballton, White Gate, and Bane still had their own schools. The schools often were one of the centers of their communities with residents cheering their hometown sports teams and attending pageants and graduations.

As people became more mobile and educational demands grew, the smaller schools were gradually closed and the children bussed to larger schools in larger towns. Today, Giles County has just 5 public schools creating memories for a new generation of students. Look closely though as you travel through the County and you will see that many of the old schools still exist and are being reused, often maintaining their status as a center of the community and keeping memories alive for former students.

Pride In Our Heritage Quilt Show III - September 5 & 6

2009-09-03T15:13:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, August 26, 2009:

The Pride in Our Heritage Quilt Show III will take place at the historic Andrew Johnston House, 208 North Main Street, Pearisburg, Virginia on September 5th and 6th from 1pm to 5pm. The Giles County Historical Society and Giles Arts Council are sponsoring the event which will feature contemporary and antique hand-made, hand- and machine-quilted, bed- and crib-sized quilts and wall hangings. Admission is $3.00.

Certified quilt appraiser Neva Hart will be on hand both days to provide verbal or written appraisals of your quilts for insurance or donation purposes. Verbal appraisals are $15 per quilt or 3 quilts for $30. Written appraisals are $50.

Quilt expert Paula C. Golden will present a slide show and lecture entitled “Quilts of Virginia” on Saturday. Golden co-authored the book Quilts of Virginia 1607-1899: The Birth of America Through the Eye of a Needle.

Antique quilts from the collection of Tony Williams will be featured in an antique bed turning both days of the show. The quilts are placed on a bed then one by one they are turned and held up for the audience while a narrator describes the quilt, its date, and its story. The antique bed turning is a fun and informative event for the whole family!

Local quilters will be on hand throughout the house demonstrating various quilting techniques. A viewers’ choice award will be given to the contemporary quilt most admired by visitors. Refreshments will be served.

The Giles County Historical Society (www.gilescountyhistorical.org) 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. The newly-formed Giles Arts Council (www.gilesartscouncil.org) is a non profit organization dedicated to the encouragement, nurturing and promotion of the visual, performing and needle arts in Giles County.

Smocking Class, August 29th, 2:30-4:30pm

2009-08-24T20:31:00.002-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, August 19, 2009:

Beth Cross, a member of the Red Bud Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America, will teach Smocking on Saturday, August 29th from 2:30 to 4:30 in the latest class in the Giles County Historical Society’s and the Giles Arts Council’s 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 used to be 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.

Join us on August 29th to learn smocking stitches that can embellish clothing or Christmas ornaments. Please contact the Historical Society to register for the class.

Questions About Pearisburg's Civil War Hospital

2009-08-09T12:11:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, August 5, 2009:

Throughout the year, Giles County Historical Society receives many requests for information via telephone, e-mail, and postal mail. Many are genealogical questions or questions about communities or the location of cemeteries. Occasionally, we receive questions that are obviously directed to the wrong place like those about President Andrew Johnson or Giles County, Tennessee.

Some questions are just puzzling. One Civil War question was about a family member who was in the Pearisburg hospital in October 1862. We knew that there was a hospital here during the Battle of Pearisburg in May 1862, but assumed the hospital had been closed when troops left town and thought that maybe the letter writer meant the Petersburg hospital instead.

As Kate Delaney has researched the Civil War in Giles County to update our exhibits, she found additional references to a hospital in Pearisburg. During a visit to the National Archives in Washington, DC this summer, Delaney was able to verify the existence of a hospital in Pearisburg through monthly records from 1863 to 1865. The records clearly indicate Pearisburg hospital in Giles County, Virginia had patients numbering from 30 to 180. The records also show the number of surgeons, nurses, cooks, laundresses, and other personnel on staff.

A report of the sick and wounded from the week of June 4th, 1864 found at the National Archives clearly shows that there was a large hospital in Pearisburg during the Civil War. During that week there were 77 patients in the hospital, 13 in private quarters, and 15 medical officers and attendants present.

Now, of course, we have additional questions! Was the hospital in the Courthouse for the duration of the War or was it somewhere else? Where did all of the sick and wounded come from to fill the hospital? Where were the deceased buried? If you have any information that can help us solve the mystery of Pearisburg’s Civil War hospital, please contact us.

Giles County Confederate Memorial 100th Anniversary Celebration

2009-08-04T19:12:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 29, 2009:

A parade of Civil War re-enactors, a Civil War encampment, Gen. Robert E. Lee and his staff, and an antebellum fashion show will be included in the festivities surrounding the 100th anniversary of Giles County's Civil War Memorial on August 8th in Pearisburg. The McComas Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and the Giles County Historical Society have organized the day's events.

The parade begins at 11am following a route from the Andrew Johnston House to the Giles County Courthouse where the UDC will present a program honoring the monument which was dedicated by the UDC on August 9, 1909. The marble and bronze memorial stands on the courthouse lawn as a memorial to Giles County's Confederate soldiers.

From 12-5pm, re-enactors will be camped on the lawn of the Andrew Johnston House at the Giles County Historical Society for the public to learn more about a soldier's life during the Civil War. The 1829 Andrew Johnston House and 1857 Doctor's Office will be open for visitors, the Research Office will welcome people seeking Giles County genealogical information, and a Civil War exhibit will be on display in the Museum. The afternoon program will include a duel and a desertion trial skit, infantry and artillery drills, a fashion show featuring women's clothing of the period, and a talk with Gen. Robert E. Lee and his staff. Gen. Lee is portrayed by Al Stone who has portrayed the General for several History Channel specials and is well-regarded nationally for is accurate impression.

About the McComas Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy
The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) is a lineage society organized in 1894 to preserve and protect the history of the Civil War and those who served the Confederate States of America, including the role of Southern women during the war and the reconstruction of the South. The McComas Chapter of the UDC was formed in Pearisburg in 1896 and named for Capt. William Wirt McComas, a Giles County soldier killing in battle in North Carolina in 1862.

About the Giles County Historical Society
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.

This Place Matters!

2009-07-28T23:14:00.006-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 22, 2009:

For many of us, there is a place that evokes pleasant memories of childhood, an important milestone in life, or that is a landmark in the community. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is gathering photographs of these places through their This Place Matters campaign. Everyone is encouraged to download a “This Place Matters” sign and photograph themselves holding the sign at a place that is important to them. The photographs are being assembled into a mosaic of the National Trust’s headquarters building in Washington, DC.

The Andrew Johnston House is a Pearisburg landmark as well as a place that evokes memories in many people’s lives. During Living History Day in May, we took a photograph for inclusion on the This Place Matters website to support this initiative. The Giles County Historical Society recognizes the importance of historic buildings as a resource in our community for business, tourism, and residential uses that contribute to the character and uniqueness of Giles County.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities. The need for the National Trust for Historic Preservation has increased since its founding in 1949. When historic buildings and neighborhoods are torn down or allowed to deteriorate, a part of our past disappears forever. When that happens, we lose history that helps us know who we are, and we lose opportunities to live and work in the kinds of interesting and attractive surroundings that older buildings can provide.

We're rearranging our Civil War exhibits - you can help!

2009-07-21T20:18:00.002-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 15, 2009:

The infantry was the backbone of the military during the Civil War. The infantry men were foot soldiers carrying small arms who were responsible for most of the fighting during the war. The smallest fighting unit in the infantry was the company usually consisting of about 100 men. Infantry companies came together as battalions or regiments with 8 companies per battalion or 10 companies per regiment. Regiments, generally from the same state, came together to make brigades, several brigades became a division, and several divisions became a corps. The entire organization, formed of several corps, became a division led by a general. A local example of this hierarchy from Giles County was the 24^th Virginia Infantry Regiment Company F, a part of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia most famously commanded by General Robert E. Lee.

The Civil War Sesquicentennial is approaching in 2011. Virginia has appointed a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission to plan the commemoration which will last until 2015. Here at the Giles County Historical Society, we are reorganizing our Civil War exhibit to provide a more comprehensive picture of life in Giles County between 1861 and 1865. The exhibit will include information about the skirmishes fought in the area, encampments, and life on the home front. A display of items found in Giles, Pulaski, and Monroe Counties by Thomas Francis. include the "I" buttons shown where the "I" signifies that they were from an infantry uniform.

If you have any interesting stories – preferably with documents/photos – about your Civil War-era ancestors (men and women), please contact Kate Delaney on Thursday afternoons at the Historical Society, 540-921-1050.

To learn more about the 24^th Virginia Infantry, attend the Giles County Confederate Memorial 100^th Anniversary Celebration on August 8^th.

Meissen porcelain

2009-07-15T10:17:00.004-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 8, 2009:

The first exhibit that many people see upon entering the Historical Society’s Museum are the large porcelain urns displayed directly in front of them. While this exhibit might seem unusual for Giles County, these urns are part of a collection of Meissen porcelain left to the Historical Society by their owner, Fowler Johnston. Mr. Johnston was Andrew Johnston’s great grandson and the reason that the Giles County Historical Society has the extensive Complex that it does today. The Meissen porcelain is beautiful, but it becomes even more spectacular when visitors look at it more closely and understand the amount of time and hand work that went into each piece.

Meissen porcelain has been made in Germany since 1710. Each piece is hand-formed and hand-painted in a time-consuming process that creates exquisitely formed pieces. The process begins with a white porcelain paste made from kaolin, a white clay. When an object, such as an urn, is made for the first time, a full-size model is created of the object so that plaster molds can be made from the model. Some symmetrical objects, like an urn, are created on a potter’s wheel with the mold being used to provide external contours that match the model. Other objects, such as the urn’s handles, are cast by pouring liquefied porcelain paste into the mold, pressing the two halves of the mold together, and waiting for it to cure. Smaller details are formed by hand and attached with the porcelain paste.

The porcelain is biscuit-fired at over 1,600 degrees to strengthen the piece. Underglaze designs are painted with cobalt blue or chromium green on the biscuit-fired piece, the object is dipped in glaze, then glost-fired at over 2,600 degrees which creates the intense white of the Meissen porcelain. Overglaze painting then completes the design on the object. Artists us models and references are used to ensure that the art on each object matches the others of its type. Once completed, the object is decoration-fired at over 1,600 degrees to fuse the paint to the glaze.

One Woman and Her Crazy Quilt - July 10th, 1:30pm

2009-07-05T13:50:00.003-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, July 1, 2009:

Crazy quilts became popular during Victorian times. Each block of a crazy quilt is made from asymmetrical pieces of fabric arranged abstractly. Fabrics used in early crazy quilts were usually silks, velvets, and brocades with decorative stitching on each seam. Embroidery was added to the crazy quilts with motifs such as flowers and animals. A spider was often embroidered into the crazy quilt for good luck. Because of all of the hand work and expensive fabrics, these quilts were often used as decoration rather than for their functional value. Later crazy quilts were made with more common fabrics and personalized with embroidery or remembered clothing scraps.

Today’s crazy quilters abide by the original premise of abstractly arranging asymmetrical pieces of fabric and including embroidery in the blocks, but also take advantage of the many different fabrics and motifs that are available today. Karla Upton, a Marie, West Virginia quilter and art teacher, will present nine modern examples of crazy quilt blocks at the Giles County Historical Society on Friday, July 10th beginning at 1:30pm. Each block has stories and memories to enjoy along with their beauty.

Upton enjoyed working in pastels and acrylics prior to catching the crazy quilting bug and her expertise is apparent in the blocks she will show. “Embroidery thread is my paint,” Upton said when discussing the depth of color within her embroidered motifs. “I had a rule, that if I used a printed fabric, I had to do something to it.” said Upton. The results are embroidered paisleys, cats, deer, flowers, and, in one case, a bee alight on a flower in a print. The embroidery colors often closely match the colors of the original print, though sometimes the colors are changed slightly to improve the colors or hide an oddity in an original fabric. For example, a cloud is added to cover a portion of a repeating motif that looked odd out of context.

Upton’s crazy quilt blocks exhibit a wide range of colors and textures created by the fabric and embroidery. Included are the more typical satins and velvets as well as neck ties and a piece of her mother’s handkerchief. Smooth satin stitches and groups of bumpy French knots or bullion stitches create greatly varied textures. Applique is also used.

The Giles County Historical Society and the Giles Arts Council invite you to attend Karla Upton’s presentation to enjoy her beautiful work and get some inspiration for your own projects!

How were old postcards made?

2009-07-02T17:52:00.000-04:00

Discover Giles County Historical Society column from the Virginian Leader, June 24, 2009:

Today, anyone can create a postcard and have it mass-produced. Just take a photograph with your digital camera and go to a printer or one of many internet postcard printing sites, order 200 postcards, and – viola! – you have created a small piece of history that you can mail or sell as a postcard. However, have you thought about how postcards were made in the early 1900s before cameras were so popular and developing photographs so easy?

Most early postcards were actually prints made from engravings. The Giles County Historical Society has five examples early copper engravings used to create postcards of the buildings of Pearisburg on display. These copper engravings, loaned by the McComas Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, were made by E. S. Dennis in 1907. (Shown is the old Pearisburg Presbyterian Church and Manse)

By looking very closely at the resulting postcards, one can see that the grays of the picture are made with tiny black dots, similar to today’s digital pixels, that are closer together to create dark grays and farther apart to create light grays. This would indicate that the process used to create the copper engravings was half-tone engraving, a rather complex chemical process of transferring the photograph to the copper block through a glass screen and etching the image on the copper. Once complete, the copper plate is then covered with ink and wiped clean with the ink being forced into the etching crevices. A press is used to force the paper into the crevices to create the image. When the paper is peeled from the press, a postcard is born.

Postcards are invaluable for people looking for information about a place. Most every small community had postcards made of the town or special events like parades, homecomings, or even bad storms. The postcards can tell a historian where buildings and streets used to be and how the town used to look. For those studying history or revitalizing a community, postcards provide a public record of a time now lost.

Traditional Needle Turn Applique Class a hit!

2009-06-27T17:13:00.000-04:00

Through an unexpected turn of events, I was able to join the Traditional Needle Turn Applique class at the Historical Society this afternoon. For those of you who don't know, the Giles County Historical Society and the Giles Arts Council have partnered to present a series of Needle Arts Classes. They are offered about once a month at the Historical Society and have included various quilting and embroidery classes, crochet, tatting, and other crafts. Different local crafters teach the classes and participants are well on their way to a completed project when the class is over. For the Historical Society, it has been a great way to get new people to the site. For the Arts Council, it helps them meet their mission which is to encourage, nurture, and promote visual, performing, and needle arts.

Today, there were 7 of us, taught by the wonderful and enthusiastic Vickie Green. She showed us beautiful examples of applique that we can all inspire to and very ably taught us how to make a heart with rounded corners and sharp points with just a needle, thread, and fabric. Now she says we can do anything!

My attempt is shown and considering I'm not a quilter (and its not quite done yet!), I think I did a pretty good job with my curves and corners. Vickie may be right!

Here we go a-blogging!

2009-06-26T19:30:00.001-04:00

The Giles County Historical Society might seem like a stodgy old institution with lots of old stuff dating back to the 18th century, but that doesn't mean we can't live it up a bit in the 21st century! We got a new website earlier this spring (that still isn't quite complete!) and now we're moving into the world of Web 2.0. We're blogging, tweeting, and facebooking so far. It's an experiment in marketing and we'll be interested to see how this increases our exposure to different demographic groups! Hang on and enjoy the ride with us!