Shenandoah County
Historical Society
Shenandoah County
Historical Society
 




Edinburg VFW Post 2447 To Place Exhibit in Historic Courthouse Visitor Center, Opening on October 6th

The display will include items from their collection of memorabilia from it’s founding ,through the period just after World War I, and through the Global War on terrorism. Included in the display are German, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Iraqi helmets and other equipment, as well as their own from all the above conflicts. The exhibit will be on view at the Old Historic Court House at 103 N. Court St., every Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., running through the end of 2023.



“Shenandoah County Patriots Not Named Muhlenberg”

Shenandoah County’s best-known Revolutionary War hero is Peter Muhlenberg, but there are many others who have been overshadowed by his fame. Gabe Neville will tell stories of other local patriots whose service should be remembered.

Mr. Neville, who lives in Fairfax County, is the author of the 8th Virginia Regiment website and is writing a book on the 8th Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley in the Revolutionary War, which should be available in the coming year. Gabe is a former journalist and congressional staffer who now works as a business advisor at a Washington DC law firm.

The program will take place on Tuesday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Paul’s Heritage Center, at 106 North High Street in Edinburg, Va.

Ample parking is available in the Shentel lot across the street. Refreshments will be served following the program.



Historic Courthouse Chimney Repairs

We’ve all wished for rain this dry summer, but Friday, July 28th, 2023, brought more to Woodstock than bargained for.

A storm that included 2.25 inches of rain and strong winds felled a tree on West Court St. The tree, near the south side of the 1795 portion of the building, split in two and one half of it landed on the roof of the historic courthouse.

The tree limbs damaged the chimney, taking out the chimney cap and some of the limestones fell to the ground. Shenandoah County administrators made arrangements to have the chimney repaired by Dwayne Patton, whose family company has a long history of stonemasonry. Dwayne workekd on a 60-foot man lift as he repaired the chimney, using the original limestone blocks that fell, with some added materials saved from another historic property. They were able to repair and reuse the chimney cap as well. The work was completed on Sept 16th.

A tree on the side of the Courthouse suffered some unavoidable damages getting get the equipment next to the building. If it doesnt recover, it will be replaced.



A 2024 Heritage Day Invitation

Here’s an early announcement of Shenandoah County Heritage Day 2024! This countywide day of sharing our history is set for Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the New Market Fire Hall on South Congress St. in New Market.

The Fire Hall is a wonderful, large space and so were hoping that, in addition to our local history organizations, well have many individuals who will attend to bring and share their historical stories.

We invite you to come and exhibit family history, house history, church histories, cemetery histories, town and village histories and more. Many topics to choose from! There is no cost involved. We supply tables and chairs.

Heritage Day is hosted by SCHS and the Shenandoah County Library Archives. For more information, contact Zach Hottel, county archivist at 540-984-8200 or leave a message at the SCHS, 540-459-1795.






Edinburg VFW Post 2447 To Place Exhibit in Historic Courthouse Visitor Center, Opening on October 6th

The display will include items from their collection of memorabilia from it’s founding ,through the period just after World War I, and through the Global War on terrorism. Included in the display are German, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Iraqi helmets and other equipment, as well as their own from all the above conflicts. The exhibit will be on view at the Old Historic Court House at 103 N. Court St., every Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., running through the end of 2023.



“Shenandoah County Patriots Not Named Muhlenberg”

Shenandoah County’s best-known Revolutionary War hero is Peter Muhlenberg, but there are many others who have been overshadowed by his fame. Gabe Neville will tell stories of other local patriots whose service should be remembered.

Mr. Neville, who lives in Fairfax County, is the author of the 8th Virginia Regiment website and is writing a book on the 8th Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley in the Revolutionary War, which should be available in the coming year. Gabe is a former journalist and congressional staffer who now works as a business advisor at a Washington DC law firm.

The program will take place on Tuesday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Paul’s Heritage Center, at 106 North High Street in Edinburg, Va.

Ample parking is available in the Shentel lot across the street. Refreshments will be served following the program.



Historic Courthouse Chimney Repairs

We’ve all wished for rain this dry summer, but Friday, July 28th, 2023, brought more to Woodstock than bargained for.

A storm that included 2.25 inches of rain and strong winds felled a tree on West Court St. The tree, near the south side of the 1795 portion of the building, split in two and one half of it landed on the roof of the historic courthouse.

The tree limbs damaged the chimney, taking out the chimney cap and some of the limestones fell to the ground. Shenandoah County administrators made arrangements to have the chimney repaired by Dwayne Patton, whose family company has a long history of stonemasonry. Dwayne workekd on a 60-foot man lift as he repaired the chimney, using the original limestone blocks that fell, with some added materials saved from another historic property. They were able to repair and reuse the chimney cap as well. The work was completed on Sept 16th.

A tree on the side of the Courthouse suffered some unavoidable damages getting get the equipment next to the building. If it doesnt recover, it will be replaced.



A 2024 Heritage Day Invitation

Here’s an early announcement of Shenandoah County Heritage Day 2024! This countywide day of sharing our history is set for Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the New Market Fire Hall on South Congress St. in New Market.

The Fire Hall is a wonderful, large space and so were hoping that, in addition to our local history organizations, well have many individuals who will attend to bring and share their historical stories.

We invite you to come and exhibit family history, house history, church histories, cemetery histories, town and village histories and more. Many topics to choose from! There is no cost involved. We supply tables and chairs.

Heritage Day is hosted by SCHS and the Shenandoah County Library Archives. For more information, contact Zach Hottel, county archivist at 540-984-8200 or leave a message at the SCHS, 540-459-1795.



Shenandoah County Historical Society Mission Statement

•   Foster a spirit of cooperation between existing organizations, writers, historians, genealogists, collectors, preservationists, and other members of the Shenandoah County community.

•   Aid in the collection and creation of materials and publications about the history of Shenandoah County and ensure that they are preserved and made available to the community.

•   Support efforts by citizens, organizations and government to preserve historic buildings and sites.

•   Share history through programs and exhibits.



Organizational Tax Status

The Shenandoah County Historical Society was founded in 1985 and is established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is completely volunteer driven. The Society is sustained by memberships, donations, grants and profits from book sales. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Shop for Books and More...

DOWNLOAD BOOK ORDER FORMS HERE

Christmas Ornament - Courthouse Weather Vane

Ornament replica of the weather vane atop the historic Shenandoah County Court House 1772-1972. Gold-tone.


Item# 101

Price: $19
Members: $18

Shenandoah County Commemorative Plate

Shenandoah County Bi-Centennial Commemorative Plate 1772-1972. Porcelain. Round, 9-inch diameter.


Item# 111

Price: $8
Members: $8

More books and other items...

Upcoming events...


54th Annual Page County Heritage Festival, in Luray, Va.
Oct. 7th and 8th, 2023, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Page Valley Fairgrounds, 15 Fairlane Drive, Luray, Va. Rain or Shine. For more information, call (540) 743-3915.

Historical lecture at Fort Valley Museum in Fort Valley, Va.
Saturday, October 14th, 2023, 2:00 pmCommon Ground of Botanists Francis Hunnewell II and Lena Artz by Andrea Weeks at the Fort Valley Museum’s Trinity Church building.Fort Valley was once home to a pioneering botanist of the Massanutten Mountains, Lena Clemmons Artz (1891 - 1976). A Woodstock native, high school biology teacher and owner of a cabin near Elizabeth Furnace, Lena dedicated her life outside of the classroom to documenting the unique plant communities of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties and advocating for their preservation. Until an archive of her field notebooks and personal papers was discovered at Lord Fairfax Community College herbarium, little was known about her remarkable life story and accomplishments. This presentation summarizes findings from this archive to illuminate her life’s work and how it unexpectedly intersects with that of another unsung local botanist, Francis W. Hunnewell, II, the last private owner of the Belle Grove Plantation. Free admission. More Info

Halloween Battlefield Tours at Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market, Va.
Saturday, Oct. 21st, 2023, 6:00 pm to 8 pm.Spirits of New Market. Explore the battlefield after hours and step back in time at the annual lantern tour program and celebrate the indomitable spirit of those whose lives were impacted by the Battle of New Market. Follow your guide on a lantern-lit tour of the Battlefield encountering living historians portraying the soldiers, townsfolk, and the Bushong family. You will be able to interact with the characters and ask questions. 

Upcoming events...

54th Annual Page County Heritage Festival, in Luray, Va.
Oct. 7th and 8th, 2023, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Page Valley Fairgrounds, 15 Fairlane Drive, Luray, Va. Rain or Shine. For more information, call (540) 743-3915.

Historical lecture at Fort Valley Museum in Fort Valley, Va.
Saturday, October 14th, 2023, 2:00 pmCommon Ground of Botanists Francis Hunnewell II and Lena Artz by Andrea Weeks at the Fort Valley Museum’s Trinity Church building.Fort Valley was once home to a pioneering botanist of the Massanutten Mountains, Lena Clemmons Artz (1891 - 1976). A Woodstock native, high school biology teacher and owner of a cabin near Elizabeth Furnace, Lena dedicated her life outside of the classroom to documenting the unique plant communities of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties and advocating for their preservation. Until an archive of her field notebooks and personal papers was discovered at Lord Fairfax Community College herbarium, little was known about her remarkable life story and accomplishments. This presentation summarizes findings from this archive to illuminate her life’s work and how it unexpectedly intersects with that of another unsung local botanist, Francis W. Hunnewell, II, the last private owner of the Belle Grove Plantation. Free admission. More Info


Shop for Books and More...

DOWNLOAD BOOK ORDER FORMS HERE

  • Shenandoah County Commemorative Plate   •   Shenandoah County Bi-Centennial Commemorative Plate 1772-1972. Porcelain. Round, 9-inch diameter.    •   Item #111  •   Price: $8   Members: $8
  • Marriage Certificate   •   Copy of a Marriage Certificate from an 1875 family Bible. (May be completed by purchaser). 8 1/2 x 11.    •   Item #104  •   Price: $4   Members: $4
  • 2022 Calendar: The Barns of Shenandoah County   •   Each month features a different barn in the county. 8½” x 11”.    •   Item #114  •   Price: $10 plus $2 shipping   Members: $10 plus $2 shipping
  • Christmas Ornament - Courthouse Weather Vane   •   Ornament replica of the weather vane atop the historic Shenandoah County Court House 1772-1972. Gold-tone.    •   Item #101  •   Price: $19   Members: $18
  • More books and other items...

    Shop for Books and More...

    DOWNLOAD BOOK ORDER FORMS HERE

    Christmas Ornament - Courthouse Weather Vane   •   Ornament replica of the weather vane atop the historic Shenandoah County Court House 1772-1972. Gold-tone.    •   Item #101  •   Price: $19   Members: $18
    Marriage Certificate   •   Copy of a Marriage Certificate from an 1875 family Bible. (May be completed by purchaser). 8 1/2 x 11.    •   Item #104  •   Price: $4   Members: $4

    More books...

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