Quilt Documentation Day Grant

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

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

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

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

Smocking Class - June 11

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

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

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

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

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

A Celebration of the Needle Arts Show - May 30th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May Day!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Afghan Stitch Potholder Class

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

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

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

Genealogy Workshop - April 10th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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