The Muse: April 2007

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week. This month a large number of volunteers will be helping the Museum. Our annual house tour requires more volunteers than any other activity we do--often as many as a hundred. We could never do this without volunteers willing to help us out. Our fundraisers and membership events would not be possible without volunteers. This is a good time to let our volunteers know that we THANK YOU!

But not everyone is able to be a volunteer. Our membership is full of people who do not have the time due to other obligations. Sometimes their situation changes, sometimes not. But their very membership is supportive of the Museum and our mission. These members are also very dear to us. Knowing that we have the support of members who are interested in their heritage and history is important to us.

Volunteering does not have to be at the Museum. Some data entry projects can be done on a home computer, cemetery searching and recording is a great project for those who like to hike the great outdoors, photographing court records is done at the courthouse, writing articles for our newsletter can be done from home, and of course, we always have projects here at the Museum.

If you have the time to make a difference volunteering, please let us know! If your obligations do not allow for time to volunteer, please know that your membership in itself is valued support.

With many thanks to all who support us!

Charles Hamble, President

April 21 - The Annual Museum House Tour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the town of Amherst. Tickets are available at the Museum or at Tom Jones Drug Store. The full tour is $15; $12 for seniors; individual houses are $4. See page 3 for details. Lunch is extra and should be reserved by calling the Museum (946-9068) in advance; you may pay at Ascension Church, $10. Watch for signs or call the Museum for more information.

April 27 - Be sure to stop by the Museum table at Amherst Live! in downtown (behind the Court House) Amherst. 6 to 9 p.m. Admission $3, under 12 are free.

April 28 - The Village Garden Club GardenFest 2007 will be held at the Museum from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Homegrown plants, baked goods, crafts, and garden books will be for sale, and there will be demonstrations you'll enjoy.

May 5 - Frank Padgett Day at the Madison Heights Library from 1 to 4 p.m.. Co-sponsored by the museum and library, this family fun event will feature stories, music, refreshments, crafts, games and more! Who was Frank Padgett? Click here for the answer. (free)

May 12-13 - Summer at the Springhouse Speed-the-Plough’s newly restored springhouse will be open for tours on selected Saturdays during the summer. See end of newsletter for more about Speed-the-Plough.

June 2 - Annual Yard Sale at the Museum. Come early!

Saturday, February 10 was a busy day at the Museum! The Museum and the Amherst County Public Library co-sponsored a make-your-own Valentines event for young and old alike. We took advantage of the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to Charlotte Kent and Dorothy Harvey (pictured above), sisters and dedicated volunteers at the Museum, and to make Valentines for family and friends. The children also made extra Valentines to take to Fairmount Crossing. Truly, a fun time was had by all!

Carolyn Feagans’ There Is A Season is now available in the Gift Shop. These copies are signed by the author and for sale at the standard retail price of $10.

We also have the latest of the Amherst Miniatures, Rebec Winetasting House.

Ann Whitley’s books about Sweet Briar are now available only in our Gift Shop. You can’t find these anywhere else!

• Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants. These volumes were edited by Dennis Ray Hudgins and were published by the Virginia Genealogical Society. Volumes VI, VII, and VII make our set of these reference books complete.
• Virginia 1850 Agricultural Census. This book was written by Linda L. Green and published by Willow Bend Books in 2006. The Museum has also acquired, by the same author and publisher, Virginia 1860 Agricultural Census.
• First Marriage Record of Augusta County Virginia: 1785-1813, compiled by the Col. Thomas Hughart Chapter, DAR, Augusta County, 2006 reprint of an 1962 edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Maryland.
• Heraldry-Coats of Arms, published by the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, 2003 (2006 reprint), color plates, well-written introduction, descriptions, list of colonial members, and glossary all make this a lovely and invaluable resource.
• Southside Virginia Genealogies, by John W. Pritchett, published by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. (CD)
• Adventures of Purse and Persons, volume 3, is now available for use in our research library! This long- awaited volume makes this set complete now. This is truly a wealth of information about early Virginia settlers.

The Annual Museum House Tour will be April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the town of Amherst. Tickets are available at the Museum or at Tom Jones Drug Store. The full tour is $15; $12 for seniors; individual houses are $4. Descriptions of houses are enclosed in this newsletter. Lunch should be reserved by calling the Museum (946-9068) in advance; you may pay at Ascension Church, $10. Watch for signs or call the Museum for more information.

The Museum's annual Yard Sale will be on Saturday, June 2. We welcome lightly used kitchen items, decorative pieces, linens, artwork, bric-or-brac, etc; no clothes, please. Baked items will also be welcomed. Bring your items during the week prior to Sale Day. Your donations help raise money to run the Museum, so please help! We need you!

Robert Barnes Ware, Jr., of Lynchburg recently donated several items of memorabilia relating to his father and grandfather. Included in the donation are Dr. Robert Barnes Ware, Sr.’s, Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Normandy Campaign medal. Dr. Robert Barnes was killed on D-Day, 1944, in service to his country. As we approach Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day and the Fourth of July, keep in mind that Amherst County servicemen have served in many wars and in many different ways. Men such as Dr. Ware are the pride of our county and country.

• Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Davis, Monroe, VA
• Jennifer Frazer, Sweet Briar, VA
• Mr. and Mrs. Michael Latham, Atlanta, GA.
• Linda Shank, Sweet Briar, VA

September 15 will be a GREAT DAY for you and the Museum. Reserve the date for our Annual Membership Meeting at Winton with a visit from a special actor who will portray an early president and transport us back in time to colonial days. Very special! You don't want to miss it!

We are flying new U.S. and Virginia flags at the Museum - thank you to Robbie Morris!

Thank you, Bob Wimer, for your interesting and informative lecture about Stonewall Jackson and Lynchburg!

Thank you to everyone who helped us find Florence Gayle Watts. Thanks to you we have been able to connect her with the recipients of her parents’ letters!

We note with honor and respect the death of Dick Pendleton, former President of the Museum Board.

By any other name, it’s still Madison Heights:

• In 1796, the Virginia General Assembly called it Madison.
• In 1864, a Confederate map called it Scuffletown.
• In 1888, Chataigne’s Virginia Gazetteer and Classified Business Directory called it James River.
• In 1911, the name for the post office was changed to Madison Heights.

On Wednesday, March 7, 2007, Amherst County’s historic farm, Speed-the-Plough was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register. Dr. and Mrs. Rowland Girling will be opening the farm for public tours of the newly restored springhouse on the farm as a celebration of the event. The dates of the springhouse tours will be Saturday and Sunday, May 12 & 13; Saturday 9 June; Saturday 7 July; and Saturday 18 August. The event is jointly sponsored by the Girlings and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Docents in period attired will lead the tours. From Elon, take 130 west to Ambrose Rucker Road to Fair Lea Road.

Speed-the-Plough was featured in the Museum’s 2005 Historic House Tour.

Also on March 7, the State Review Board approved a highway marker on Route 130 for recognizing the heroic efforts of Frank Padget. Frank was an Amherst County slave and considered a master bateauman. He volunteered to lead rescue efforts and saved many lives in January, 1854, when the towrope of the packet boat Clinton broke just above Balcony Falls on the Amherst County-Rockbridge County line. After having saved many lives during the storm, Frank himself was overcome by the rising waters and drowned in a last rescue attempt.

Dan French, Amherst County Service Authority, pursued the establishment of this highway marker, with the support of the Amherst County Board of Supervisors.

Frank Padget will be the primary focus of Frank Padget Day, an event jointly sponsored by the Amherst County Museum and the Amherst County Public Libraries. The event, scheduled for Saturday, May 5, will be held at the Madison Heights Library from 1 to 4 in the afternoon. Food, music, demonstrations, crafts and games will be featured.

Muse Archives