MARK YOUR CALENDARS - Sheridan's James River Campaign of 1865 through Central Virginia: 23 April 2012:
Scottsville Museum is pleased to invite the public to a book signing on Monday April 23 at 7 p.m.  The recently published book: "Sheridan's James River Campaign of 1865 through Central Virginia" will be presented by its author, Richard Nicholas.  This is the story of the Yankee cavalry raid led by Major General Philip H. Sheridan through Scottsville and the surrounding area during the last month of the Civil War.  Militarily, it was an insignificant event against almost no Confederate opposition, and the result had little, if any, impact on the outcome of the war.  But for the town of Scottsville and the thousands of people up and down the valley of the James River exposed to Sheridan's marauding cavalrymen, the raid had an enormous and unforgettable impact on their lives.  This book is an attempt to document the history of the campaign and to tell the story of some of those people who were caught in the path of war.

As a native of the Scottsville area and a retired geologist, Richard Nicholas writes with a passion rooted in the experiences of his ancestors who lived along the James River at the time of Sheridan's raid. In addition to the usual library and archival sources of information, he has incorporated a number of previously unpublished letters and diaries documenting the first-hand experiences of individuals who were either witnesses or victims of the raid. Richard has authored two books in the Virginia Regimental History Series, and writes a monthly column for the Albemarle-Charlottesville Civil War Roundtable newsletter.  In addition, he has published several articles in the Magazine of Albemarle County History about both Albemarle and Scottsville history.  All proceeds from the Sheridan book are dedicated to Historic Albemarle, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the County's heritage.  The Sheridan book will be available for sale and autographing by its author during his presentation at the Museum. 

Museum in a Trunk Visits Central Elementary School, 20 April 2012:
Gwynne Daye and Connie Geary presented the Museum in a Trunk to fourth grade classes at Central Elementary School in Palmyra, VA, on Friday, April 20. Ms. Maria Rodman hosted our visit in her classroom, and four of Central's fourth grade classes participated in separate Trunk presentations during the day.  Central fourth grade classes had recently toured Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg and were on top of their Civil War studies.  They were enthusiastic participants in each trunk activity involving our study of Union General Phillip Sheridan's raid on Scottsville in March 1865 with 10,000 soldiers.  Thank you, Ms. Rodman and your fellow 4th grade teachers, for letting us study Civil War history with you and your students!

Scottsville Museum's Spring Opening, 15 April 2012:

Docent Reception, 18 March 2012:

So, too, is the history of the town of Scottsville.  Scottsville finds itself upon the Horseshoe Bend, an isolated meander of the James River, bounded for many miles to the east and west by relatively straight stretches of river.  And while steep cliffs border the James River throughout much of the Piedmont, the Horseshoe Bend boasts gentle slopes on its northern and southern shores.  The town's placement on this geographical oddity is no coincidence.  Scottsville's early settlers, the Monacan Indians, were drawn to the area's fertile flood plains and the natural ford at the Horseshoe Bend.  And when Albemarle County was established in 1744, the area that would one day become Scottsville was chosen as the location of the county's courthouse, due to its position on this convenient ford of the river.

Visit by Piedmont Historical Societies, 27 January 2012:

Museum Sidewalk and Retaining Wall Complete!
Construction on Scottsville Museum's retaining wall and sidewalk completed in late November 2011.  This project extended the original brick walkway to provide a much-needed level walkway for visitors parking in the Methodist Church parking lot next door or walking to Canal Basin Square across Main Street.

Museum planning for this project began in 2010, and actual construction started in May 2011 under the leadership of Museum Trustee, Leanne Grove, with wonderful assistance from her colleagues, Bill Cooper and Callie Bowers.  David Herndon headed the construction team and battled some inclement weather to complete the needed excavation while avoiding the gas lines below this area and working with VDOT to move the Museum's historical highway marker located in the construction area.  Tommy Harris served as the project's brick mason and expertly matched its bricks and mortar to the Museum and its stairs.  To finish the project, Harold Pillar supplied boxwoods from his property and completed their planting in mid-November 2011.  In Spring 2012, these boxwoods will fill in and become a real hedge just behind the new wall.

This project would not have been possible without the generous donations by private donors and grants from the Merchants Fund and Perry Foundation.  Thank you very much to our donors for your support to this project to ensure our visitors' safety!

The turkey's bought and will soon be stuffed;
The guest room's ready, the pillows fluffed.
The closet's full of holiday gifts;
The snow is here, piled up in drifts.

Our plans are made for the coming New Year;
Now it's time to contemplate those who are dear.
We're thinking of you and how special you are;
Next to your name, we've put a star.

"Why?" you ask; well here's a clue:
We feel so blessed that we know YOU.

                    

As the 2011 holiday season unfolds, Scottsville Museum also wishes to thank all of our volunteers for your support this year.  Your generosity and continued support makes it possible for the Museum to maintain our buildings, build new historical exhibits, and develop and implement educational projects for local area students.  We are most thankful to have you all on the Museum team.  And may you be blessed by the warmth of family and friends at this beautiful time of year.  Happy holidays to you, and we hope to see you at Scottsville Museum when we reopen in April 2011!

Feedback from Museum Fans:
a)  Marvin Wharton, Spanish Fork, UT:  "I accidentally got on your web site, and I really, really enjoyed your articles and pictures.  You've done a great job!  Thanks!  P.S. I was born near Middleburg, VA in a town called Unison.  I wish they had a web site like yours.
b)  Judy Mickelson, Palmyra, VA:  "Wonderful educational activities for kids on your web site!  You all do a great job of outreach!"
c)  Gayle Carlisle, Missoula, MT:  "I was impressed that your Museum is able to attract teachers and their classes to visit and let kids see how life was lived then, and about their general history.  Thanks!"

ACHS's Annual Membership Meeting will be taking place on Sunday, November 20th, at 2pm in the McIntire Room of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library.  As part of this meeting, Dr. Benjamin Ford of Rivanna Archaeological Services will be presenting "Recent Archaeological Findings at Totier Plantation: The First Albemarle County Court Seat".  Admission is free, no RSVP is necessary.  Please attend and learn more about the recent archaeological discoveries at the site of Albemarle County's first county seat.

We are most grateful to Rose Thornton, our e-mail correspondent, who shared this 1906 magazine article with the Museum.  Rose is an author of countless newspaper and magazine articles in addition to several books on Sears Homes.  She also has lectured at The Smithsonian on this topic and is considered the #1 authority in the U.S on kit homes.  To learn more about Sears homes, visit Rose's website at www.searshomes.org.

Museum Sidewalk and Retaining Wall Completed, 21 October 2011:
Work completed on the Museum's retaining wall and sidewalk this last week in October.  As this photo was taken, only the orange safety fence remained as evidence of this recent construction on the Museum's front lawn, which provides a safe walkway for visitors parking in the Methodist Parking lot or walking to/from Canal Basin Square across Main Street.  The Museum gratefully acknowledges the financial support for this project as provided by private donors, the Merchants Fund, and the Perry Foundation to improve safety for our visitors arriving at the Museum.  Kudos also to Museum Trustees Leanne Grove and William Cooper, whose thoughtful and dedicated management of this project on a daily basis ensured its success. 

Scottsville Museum to Close for 2011 Season, 31 October 2011:
At the end of October, Scottsville Museum closes for the 2011 season.  The Museum will reopen for the 2012 season in April 2011 with regular hours on Saturdays (9 am - 5 pm) and Sunday (1 - 5pm).  In the interim, Museum tours are available for groups of all ages by appointment.  For additional information, please contact the Museum at smuseum@avenue.org  or call 434-286-2247.

SVFD's 75th anniversary celebration runs from 10 am - 1 pm on Saturday.  According to Fire Chief Tim Cersley, volunteers will fingerprint any child who wants to be on record, sign up folks for free smoke detector installations, and perform a mock 'car extraction.'   Refreshments will be served, and Mayor Emeritus A. Raymon Thacker will be the keynote speaker.  All are welcome -- come join the fun and salute Scottsville's dedicated volunteer fire fighters!

On Sunday, 18 September, Anne and her sister, Luella Coleman of Appomatox, VA (shown above), visited the Museum to inspect the John Tyler Co. ledger.  They were very pleased to obtain photographs of the pages listing their ancestor's purchases.  A very exciting research session was enjoyed by Anne, Luella, and Museum staff!  Thank you, Anne, for helping us rediscover this ledger's historic contents!

Sidewalk and Sitting Wall Construction Progress, 21 August 2011:

Visit by Dr. Phyllis Leffler, Institute For Public History, 18 August 2011:
On Thursday, Connie Geary and Richard Nicholas hosted an on-site visit to Scottsville Museum by Dr. Phyllis Leffler, Director of UVA's Institute for Public History (IPH).  IPH's mission is to form partnerships with public history organizations such as Scottsville Museum that provide UVA student interns with opportunities to work and learn.  This summer, Adam Robinson accepted an IPH-sponsored internship at Scottsville Museum to research the geology of the Horseshoe Bend area of the James River and develop a display telling why the James River bends at Scottsville.  Adam is shown at right briefing Dr. Leffler on his research findings and the representative rock samples he collected in the Scottsville area.  Scottsville Museum wishes to thank Dr. Leffler, Lauren Turek, IPH, and Adam for continuing this most productive and exciting partnership with Scottsville Museum.

Happy Agers Tour, 16 August 2011:
On Tuesday, 16 August, Scottsville Museum hosted the Happy Agers of Orange Baptist Church from Orange, VA, on a special tour of our current exhibit, "Where the River Bends: Scottsville on the James."  This group of 20 members visits historical sites and special programs throughout Virginia and the District of Columbia once a month under the leadership of Doris and Buddy Shumake.  Shown at right are three members of the Happy Agers after they watched a video on the James River and its historical relationship with Scottsville.  Following the Happy Agers' Museum tour, they headed to a local restaurant on Valley Street for lunch and then a ride across the James on the historic Hatton Ferry.  A wonderful time was had by all, and Scottsville Museum welcomes the Shumakes and the Happy Agers back at anytime. 

Tours are available for groups of all ages.  For additional information, please contact the Museum at  smuseum@avenue.org or call 434-286-2247.

Institute for Public History Discussions, 20 July 2011:
On Wednesday, Connie Geary and Richard Nicholas hosted an on-site visit to Scottsville Museum by Lauren Turek, Interim Director of UVA's Institute For Public History (IPH).  IPH's mission is to form partnerships with public history organizations such as Scottsville Museum that provide UVA student interns with opportunities to work and learn.  This summer, Adam Robinson accepted an IPH-sponsored internship at Scottsville Museum to develop a new exhibit on the geology and geography of the Horseshoe Bend region of the James River.  During the meeting, Adam briefed Lauren, Connie, and Richard on the results of his research at the Division of Geology and Mineral Resources (DGMR) office in Charlottesville as well as his extensive on site geological research in the Horseshoe Bend area around Scottsville.  As his internship product, Adam wrote a 98-page report on the history, geology, and geomorphology of Scottsville; designed an color poster about why a horseshoe bend in the James River formed; and amassed rock samples representative of Scottsville's geology.  Shown above at right, Lauren and Adam hold the 3-D model of the Horseshoe Bend which he cut with a laser for the Museum's geology exhibit.  This model as well as Adam's poster and rock samples will be on display at the Museum beginning in April 2012.

Thank you, Adam, for your exceptional internship products for the Museum.  We also want to thank David Spears, the Virginia State Geologist, who provided space and resources at the DGMR to assist Adam's geology research during his internship.

Educational Activities for Where the River Bends, 20 July 2011:
Rachel Gottlieb, shown at right, is another talented IPH intern at Scottsville Museum, who completed her Masters of Teaching in English Education at UVA in May 2011.  During her internship, Rachel developed educational activities for elementary grades 3-5 to accompany our exhibit, Where the River Bends.  Included in these educational materials are a teacher's guide, a "Journey Through Scottsville" board game, historical fact sheets for each display (Monacans, Community Begins, Canal and Batteau Eras, Nation at War, and Floods), and game question cards.  A particularly fun and creative activity Rachel developed is a card game that permits the child to move a canal boat through a lock by matching pictures on the cards with their descriptions and putting the cards in the correct order.  Thank you, Rachel, for your wonderful educational unit, and we wish you continued great success during your teaching assignment in Woodbridge, VA, beginning this fall.

Independence Day at the Museum, 4 July 2011:
The Fourth of July is a day for family fun, and Scottsville once again was the place to be.  By 9 AM on Monday, festive crowds began forming on our town's Valley and Main Streets.  Lawn chairs, vivid colors, and happy voices were in abundance as spectators positioned themselves along Scottsville's July 4th parade route.  Special treats for parade watchers and museum visitors were the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who rode on a float in the parade.  Also a big hit with the crowd were the historical reenactors, who marched in costumes and in character of the time period in American history that they were representing.  Shown at right is an War of 1812 reenactor standing on the Museum's front steps after the parade, outfitted in lavender linen coat, tri-corner hat, white breeches, and a long rifle used in early America by military and civilians.

Recording Gravestone Inscriptions at Staples Family Cemetery, 22 June 2011:
On Wednesday, Museum volunteers Sarah Robinson and Connie Geary outfitted themselves with boots, long sleeves, hand scythes, bug spray, pen and paper, and a camera as they headed out to record the gravestone inscriptions in the Staples Family Cemetery.  This cemetery is located on a private farm, Best of What's Around (formerly Church Hill Farm), near the intersections of Glendower and Coles Rolling Road in Keene, VA.  Sarah is shown at right, laden down with her tools but bolstered with a most positive attitude -- all needed items to record cemetery inscriptions in the summer's heat, humidity, and lush underbrush.

The Staples cemetery sits in a grove of trees overlooking green pastures and the mountains to the west.  It contains 28 standing gravestones and approximately 5 stones that have fallen forward on their faces in the moist cemetery soil.  Buried here are at least four children of Thomas and Ann (Tompkins) Staples.  Thomas Staples (1795-1862) once owned much of the land in close proximity of this cemetery and became a leading merchant in Scottsville before his death.  Several years ago a descendant of Thomas Staples reported to the Museum that Thomas was buried in this family cemetery near his wife and children.  It is possible that two of the three large gravestones, which have fallen inscription-side down, are those of Thomas and Ann Staples.  Unfortunately, Sarah and Connie could not budge these fallen gravestones to confirm that theory.  If any of our readers has an earlier photograph of Thomas' gravestone, the Museum would love to hear from you; please contact us via e-mail at smuseum@avenue.org.

Batteau Night in Scottsville, 22 June 2011:
The 26th Annual James River Batteau Festival begins on Saturday, June 18, and runs through Saturday, June 25th.  This festival features authentic replicas of the sleek, shallow-draft merchant boats which were used during the late 1700's to transport tobacco, grain, and other goods on the James River from areas of central Virginia.  Each year a small fleet of batteau travel 120 miles from Lynchburg to Richmond, stopping mid-way in Scottsville for music, fun, and festivities.  Batteau will begin arriving in Scottsville in mid-afternoon on Wednesday, 22 June, and tie up at Scottsville's Ferry Street public boat landing. 

Stoney Creek Lunch Bunch Visits Museum, 14 June 2011:

Scottsville Memorial Day Ceremony, 29 May 2011:
Scottsville VFW Post 8169 invites the community to attend the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Ceremony on Sunday, May 29, at 3 p.m.  The ceremony will be held at Dorrier Park in Scottsville and features keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Shannon Hubacher, USMC.  This Memorial Day program also features readings, participation by the Girl and Boy Scout Troops, wreath-laying by local organizations, and singing of the Star Spangled Banner.  Please come and honor our veterans and their many contributions to our country and its freedom.

The Scottsville Museum will be open this Memorial Day weekend on Saturday (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.), Sunday (1-5 p.m.), and Monday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.).  Come visit and learn more about Scottsville history!

Red Hill Second Grade Visit, 18 May 2011:
Twelve second graders from Red Hill Elementary School in Charlottesville visited Scottsville Museum on Wednesday, 18 May, to see our exhibit, "Where the River Bends: Scottsville on the James."  Accompanied by their teacher, Nancy Koenig, and four parents, these students enjoyed an informative discussion with Evelyn Edson about the Monacans, who lived along the James River before colonists came to the Scottsville area.  Evelyn taught the group about how Monacans made arrowheads by chipping stones into sharp points and created bow-string from dried animal muscle.  In the photo at right, Evelyn showed students how Monacans decorated their pottery by pressing cord or natural materials into the wet clay to create a textured design.

The Red Hill students asked great questions, and after seeing photographs of flood damage to Scottsville during the hurricanes of 1969 and 1972, one young man asked. "If the James River was always flooding, why did the Monacans live along the river?" Answer: When the Monacans lived along the James, the floods were not nearly as severe as the ones shown in our photographs because the land was better able to absorb excess water back then.  Today, the runoff has nowhere to go due to paved roads, fewer trees, and more soil erosion. Consequently today's flood waters rise higher than during Monacan times.

The project has been funded by private donations, the Merchants Fund, and the Perry Foundation.  Thank you very much to our donors for your support to this effort to ensure our visitors' safety!  We also are very proud of the efforts by Museum Trustees Leanne Grove and Bill Cooper, who have spent many hours of their volunteer time to plan, secure funding, and implement this project.  Thanks so much to all!

Feedback from Museum Fans:
a)  Ruth Forster, Florham Park, NJ:  "I was really impressed with your web site and its coverage of Scottsville Cemetery and how it was indexed!  I found my ancestors, Joseph Anthony Hanlon and Kate Collins Hanlon, too!"
b)  Emily Quick, Scottsville, VA:  "I learned alot -- Scottsville Museum is really cool!"
c)  Rachel Gottlieb, Leesburg, VA:  "I wanted to thank you for making my internship experience with the Scottsville Museum such a positive one.  I am very impressed by all of the hard work that your volunteers have done to preserve and share the history of this fascinating town!  I hope that the materials I created will help young people to think about getting involved in similar endeavors. Thanks again!"

The idea came to the United States in 1998 when the Smithsonian Magazine published an article on the Dartmoor letterboxes.  Letterboxes began to be placed in interesting places all over the U.S.  They are hidden on public land in places that will not upset the natural features of the area.  They are hidden well enough so that common passersby will not discover the box.