The Muse: August 2009

Our Annual Meeting will be graced by a visit from former First Lady Abigail Adams at Winton Country Club on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Our meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. and a bountiful buffet will be served at noon, followed by Mrs. Adam’s presentation.

Mrs. Adams will be portrayed by Abigail Schumann from Colonial Williamsburg.

Please join us for this event! Remember 11:30 a.m. at Winton Country Club on September 26, 2008. Make reservations by calling the Museum, 946-9068, by Friday, September 5. Cost is $12 which includes meal, tax, tip and entertainment.

Abigail Schumann is a producer with Colonial Williamsburg productions. This group produces educational television programs on early American history for grades 4-8. These programs are broadcast nationally on PBS stations. Last year, they won four Emmy Awards for their programs.

In 2001, she began portraying Abigail Adams in the stage play “Jefferson and Adams” by Howard Ginsberg and has since developed her character portrayal of this fascinating woman.

Ms. Schumann, also, is a performer in Colonial Williamsburg’s 18th century play series. Abigail has been a historical interpreter for over 25 years, portraying a wide variety of characters. In 1997, she wrote a one woman show, “Our Common Passage”, in which she portrayed four women during the American Revolution.

Both plays are available on DVD from Colonial Williamsburg.

Also at the Annual Meeting: A silent auction including a framed Mort Kunstler print of The World Turned Upside Down and signed copies of two biographies of Abigail Adams.

Antiques day at the museum” turned the stylish historical society Headquarters into America’s attic on July 18 as some 70 people and their treasures packed the halls.

The items were unique: a turn-of-the-century “magic lantern set’’ (an early “slide projector”) with boxes of colored glass slides, pieces of ivory, gold and silver jewelry; a Madame Alexander doll; a variety of clocks…two of which were repaired on the spot, and fine china and silver pieces. Particularly unusual were a framed 1850’s membership certificate from a Philadelphia benevolent society for the widows and children of seafarers and two small gauge TRIX toy train sets made in Germany before World War II.

Door prizes included a framed reroute raised print, an antiques appraisal book and Queena Stovall stationery. Visitors also got a preview peek at a slide show being prepared from the turn-of-the-century black and white photographic glass plates of Amherst county that the museum is copying and preserving.

Many thanks to consultants Jim Harding of Harding’s Clocks and Music Boxes; Biff Bowen of Bowen Jewelry Company; Sam DeLaura, a railroading expert; and Libby Howell, antique doll consultant. Lyl Wray of Blue Moon Antiques chaired the event.

• Sorting Some of the Wrights of Southern Virginia, by Robert N. Grant, 7 volumes on four CDs, with a focus on Francis Wright of Amherst County, 1767, his wife Mary (Hawkins) Wright, and his descendants; includes charts. Also several bound volumes of Wright family records from both Amherst and Nelson counties—deeds, chancery court, death, cemetery, probate, Birth Records, Marriage Records, Census Records, Patent Deeds and Land Grants, Deed Records, Death Records, and Probate Records, Nelson County, Virginia; Wright Family Personal Property Tax Records, Nelson County, Virginia, and Wright Family Land Tax Records, Nelson County, Virginia.

• Chronicles of Wilkes County, Georgia from Washington’s Newspapers 1889-1898, articles of Eliza A Bowen, Rev. F.T. Simpson, S.A. Wooten, and others; transcribed and edited by Mary Bondurant Warren, Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA, 1978.

• War of 1812 Veteran Burials at St. John’s Episcopal Church Graveyard, Richmond, VA, published 2009 by the Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and Encounters with the British in Virginia During the War of 1812, by Myron E. Lyman, Sr. and William Hankins, copyright 2008-2009 by the Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Set also includes a CD of Burials of 3050 War of 1812 Veterans in Virginia.

In June our children had the opportunity to learn more about Amherst County’s part in the heritage of the bateau. Deanna Sweeney (above with bateau painting by Bill England) arrived in her Batteau Festival dress and answered questions about bateaux both old and new.

Sandi Esposito came to the Museum in July to teach the children about historic architecture. Afterwards, they practiced building with brick cookies and tried on some of the old fashioned clothes and hats.

In August, Miss Daisy Williams, portrayed by Olivia Claire Wittmann, visited Museum and helped children make an autograph book.

The Galts Mill Complex is a rural mill village located in southeast Amherst County at the mouth of Stovall Creek (now Beck Creek) at the James River. The mill and surrounding area were on land patented in the mid 18th century to George Stovall (1728-1782). The Stovall family also operated a ferry across the James River beginning in 1755.

In 1785, the Stovall family sold 340 acres along the river to William Galt. Galt acquired additional lands in the area and at his death, he held approximately 1800 acres of Amherst County land along the James River. The fact that the mill and village carry Galt’s name reflects his influence in the area. William Galt (1753-1825) came to Virginia from Scotland as an itinerant peddler who traveled up and down the James River. He became a successful merchant in the Commonwealth and held partnerships in many businesses throughout the state. He purchased much land along the James River and, at his death in 1825, was recognized as one of the wealthiest men in Virginia. He conducted business with his nephew, John Allen, and his adopted sons, William Galt, Jr. and James. He lived in Richmond, the center of his business operations. He had businesses in Albemarle, Campbell and Amherst Counties and his land holdings included plantations in Fluvanna and Amherst and other areas. (John Allan was the foster father of Edgar Allan Poe and was the business partner of Charles Ellis who was born at Red Hill in Amherst.)

Galt’s Mill operated from 1813 to 1956 and may be one of the oldest masonry mills in Amherst County. It was the most productive in terms of the value of goods -- $20,800 --manufactured for the year. The entire village area constitutes one of the best collections of buildings and structures associated with a 19th to mid-20th century mill in Amherst County. There were 18 documented gristmills and many other plantation mills known to have existed through the 19th century. The 1880 Agricultural Census listed 13 manufacture gristmills in Amherst County. Only four 19th-century mill buildings remain: Galt’s Mill (1813), Amherst Mill (c. 1813), Sandidge’s Mill (c. 1840) and Brightwell’s Mill (c. 1878, rebuilt c. 1942).

The village complex is one of the remaining mill villages that served the James River and Kanawha Canal as well as the succeeding Richmond and Allegheny Railroad line. In 1838, the James River and Kanawha Canal Company erected the aqueduct at Galts Mill. Galts Mill was a stop along the canal, the first downriver from Lynchburg. Travel and shipping on the canal encouraged growth around the mill. The Civil War interrupted the operations of both the canal and railroad that went through the central portion of the county (built in the 1850s). In 1878, the canal lands were purchased by the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad and today, the dedicated freight rail is owned by CSX and still operates along this line.

Descriptions of the area include the letter Jedediah Hotchkiss published from a visitor to the area in 1880 while promoting the mining industry in Virginia and West Virginia. The author wrote, “the trade from most of these mines [iron ore mines located in the Galts Mill area] centres at Galt’s Mills, where our friend Mr. Turner [Samuel J. Turner] keeps a wellstocked suppley store.” He added further that he thought the area would develop into a thriving community due to the mines. In the 1888-1889 Chataigne’s Business Directory, Galt’s Mill is known to have a post office, general merchant, corn and flourmill, saw mill and several prominent farms.

The Warwick family purchased the mill and village area from the Galt estate and sold the mill to David Staples in 1850. David Staples (1787-1860) was the owner of the nearby Stapleton mill and part of the family for whom the nearby village of Stapleton was named. Staples may have bought Galts Mill, in 1850, to operate as a companion mill. Stapleton was the only other mill village in Amherst County from which goods were transported along the canal and later on the railroad. Staples sold the mill and surrounding complex in 1859 to the partnership of Turner and Kent. Samuel J. Turner (1815-1896) was Staples’s son-in-law and William Kent was Turner’s brother-in-law.

Edgar J. Turner (1862-1943), son of Samuel, purchased the partnership of Turner and Kent in 1890. He became sole owner of the complex and the surrounding property. He was the village postmaster from 1881 and he also worked as a miller and grocer until his death in 1943. Edgar Turner modernized and improved the area. He constructed a new miller’s house across from Home House, the earliest miller’s house. He encased the millrace in concrete, constructed a new store addition on the mill, and installed a battery-operated generator for back-up power when the creek level was low.

The descendants of David Staples, and Samuel and Edgar Turner continue to own the mill complex and surrounding farmland. After Edgar’s death, mill operation was leased and continued until 1956. The Galts Mill complex passed from Edgar to his daughter Epps Turner Perrow. Today, her son, E.J.T. Perrow and his wife, Florence, own the village.

This article is an abridged version of the National Register Nomination found online from www.dhr.virginia.gov.

There are many ways that the Amherst County Museum can benefit from your shopping—without costing you an extra cent! You may remember that the Museum is listed with Food Lion’s Shop & Share program which donates to the Museum whenever you shop with an MVP card registered at www.foodlion.com/IntheCommunity/ShopAndShare/

But did you know that whenever you shop online the Museum can benefit as well? If you start your shopping at Shop for Museums (at www.ShopforMuseums.com), you can select the Amherst County Museum to be your benefit museum and go on to shop from hundreds of online stores and services—Amazon.com, Sears, Target, Snapfish photography, Delta Airlines and Carnival Cruiselines are just a few of the possibilities. Check out this site when you shop online, and select Amherst County Museum to be your favorite museum!

Suggested readings for the Annual Meeting

Recommended reading for students (3rd-5th grade) is Remember the Ladies, by Jeri Chase Ferris. Carolrhoda Books, 2001.

John & Abigail Adams, by Ruth Ashby, is aimed at higher grades, yet still suitable for advanced readers in younger grades. It is a slim volume in the World Almanac Library's presidents and first ladies series.

Other recommended books: Dearest Friend: A life of Abigail Adams by Lynne Withey and My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams, edited M.A. Hogan and C.J. Taylor

F.Y.I, flowers galore

Now is a great time to visit one of the prettiest gardens in Amherst…and it’s at our museum. Long-time Village Garden Club member Sue Piepho and her committee have created and cared for a huge colorful display of annuals and perennials, which are in full and fragrant bloom now along the walkways.

We thank you!

Our Election Day Cake Event will be held (surprise!) on Election Day, November 3. Donations to the Museum will be accepted at polling locations all over Amherst County. We’ll be giving away cakes at the end of the day!

On Saturday evening, June 27, the Museum and AGAR (Amherst Glebe Arts Response) sponsored a delightful concert by classical guitarist Phillippe Bertaud. Mr. Bertaud enchanted the audience with both charm and talent by playing pieces by lively and sentimental.

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