Home of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society · 2014-02-06 · Volume 36, No. 1 Winter 2014 THE HERITAGE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical

Volume 36, No. 1 Winter 2014

THE HERITAGE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society

The Samuel & Magdalena Miller family of Lancaster Co., PA, York Co., PA,

Rockingham Co., VA, and Fairfield Co., OH - Part I

My direct ancestor and 7th great grandfather Samuel

Miller owned property at the head of Cooks Creek,

three miles West-Northwest of Harrisonburg in Rock-

ingham County,1 from approximately 1785 until his

death early in 1788.2,3 His wife Magdalena may have

never lived in Rockingham County at all, as she is not

listed as a beneficiary of Samuel’s estate, so we are

left to assume that she was deceased prior to 1788, and

possibly even prior to 1785 when Samuel and his fam-

ily moved from Manchester Township in York

County, Pennsylvania.

According to the Kenneth D. Miller book

Barnard-Miller and Allied Families, the author

recalls a 1927 visit to the Samuel Miller house,

west of Harrisonburg, which is now the “By the

Side of the Road Inn & Cottages,” a bed and

breakfast located at 491 Garbers Church Road

in Harrisonburg. A picture of the house is con-

tained in Kenneth Miller’s book, the appearance of

which confirms the connection to the present day es-

tablishment. The house and the cemetery where Samu-

el Miller is thought to have been buried are within

view of each other. The cemetery contains grave mark-

ers for Samuel’s son Michael and Michael’s wife Eliz-

abeth (Brenneman) Miller and is completely surround-

ed by a brick fence, itself surrounded by asphalt, all of

which is located in the middle of a modern day subur-

ban neighborhood.

Celebrity Descendants

This article will focus primarily on Samuel’s par-

ents and siblings, with further articles on his children,

grandchildren, and successive generations to be pub-

lished at a later time. But before getting into the early

history of the family, there are two celebrity descend-

ants that must be mentioned. First, Benjamin Russel

Hanby, writer of the songs Darling Nelly Gray, Who is

He in Yonder Stall, and the famous Christmas Song

Up on the Housetop. Benjamin was a great-grandson

of Samuel & Magdalena Miller. Benjamin’s father

William Hanby, a saddler by trade, was instrumental

in the underground railroad in central Ohio. Several

books have been written about the Hanby family in-

cluding the historically accurate Choose You This Day

by Dacia Custer Shoemaker, which outlines the lives

of the Miller and Hanby families. Author Rosslyn El-

liott penned three titles, Fairer Than Morning, Sweeter

Than Birdsong, and Lovelier Than Daylight, cumula-

tively referred to as The Saddler’s Legacy. The books

beautifully weave together fact and fiction as they

trace the steps of the

Hanby family in 19th

century Pennsylvania and Ohio. Having read all of

these books, my opinion is that they are a must read

for anyone even remotely interested in the Hanby and/

or Miller families.

Another Miller family descendant-celebrity whose

creations are also known throughout the world, is Mi-

chael Crichton, author of Twister, Jurassic Park, The

Andromeda Strain, and creator of the acclaimed TV

series ER. Michael’s untimely death came on Novem-

ber 4, 2008. His mother, Zula (Miller) Crichton was a

5th great-granddaughter of Samuel & Magdalena Mil-

ler, and she passed away March 2, 2011, in Connecti-

cut at the age of 91. Michael Crichton and I are

See Samuel Miller Family on page 7

By Jeffrey E. Mason

Editor’s Note: The Miller family is a challenge to

research with many family lines of both British and

German descent representing varied religions. Mr.

Mason’s extensive research is an inspiration to all

who are curious about family and history.

Signature of Samuel Miller, 1781

Calendar Of Events

Thursday, February 20, 7 pm: “Learning English

Through the Study of History,” with Dr. Nuray

Grove and Dr. Dan Roberts, Univ. of Richmond.

Saturday, February 22, 10 am - 4 pm: Quilt Doc-

umentation & Discovery Day. Snow date: March 1

Thursday, March 20, 7 pm: “For Dixie Children:

Teaching Students What it Meant to be Confeder-

ate Americans,” with Nathan Ryalls.

Saturday, April 12, Dayton Redbud Spring Arts

and Crafts Festival, 10 am - 4 pm with special

activities at The Heritage Museum.

Cromer-Trumbo House Tours

Used Book Sale (please donate now!)

Antique Car Show

Saturday, April 12, Brock’s Gap Heritage Day,

10 am - 4 pm at Fulks Run Elementary School.

Open to everyone with programs, photo displays,

Turner Ham sandwiches, and great conversation.

Thursday, April 17, 7 pm: “Life on the Frontier,”

with Patrick Murphy.

Thursday, May 15, 7 pm: “The Good Old Days:

They Were Terrible!” with Greg Owen.

Saturday, May 31, Court & Market Days Festival

in downtown Harrisonburg. Fun for the family with

performances, children’s activities, artisan demon-

strations, and more!

Page 2 Volume 36, No. 1

The Heritage Museum Hours

Tuesday—Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Seasonal Sundays 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Genealogy also on Mondays by appointment

Office closed on Saturday and Sunday Telephone: (540) 879-2616

Email: [email protected] www.heritagecenter.com

www.HeritageMuseumStore.com

Trustees

Chairman: Greg Owen

Vice-Chairman: Irvin Hess

Secretary: Monica Frackelton

Treasurer: L.J. Purcell

Resident Historian

Dale MacAllister

HRHS Staff

Executive Director: Penny Imeson

Administrator: Margaret Hotchner

Archivist: Laura Adams

Staff: Amy Kiracofe, Juanita Wysong

Museum Assistant: Tom Knight

2014 Newsletter Submission Deadlines

All articles are subject to editing. Ideas for feature articles

must be submitted in advance of the article. We reserve the

right not to use unsolicited feature articles. Genealogical que-

ries welcome.

Submissions can be emailed to

[email protected]

or mailed to HRHS

P.O. Box 716

Dayton VA 22821

Spring April 25

Summer July 25

Fall October 24

THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Charlie Collette Wes Graves

Michael Hill Nathan Miller

Lew Taylor David Wood

Paper or Digital?

Digital editions reduce costs.

Let Margaret know your preference at [email protected]

Our Wish List

Volume 36, No. 1 Page 3


Notes from the Executive Director

It’s interesting how the theme of

a newsletter can create itself. In this

issue you will find stories that relate

to genealogy (no pun intended). We are fortunate to

have several submissions from our own members in-

terested in sharing the research they have enjoyed.

Jeffrey E. Mason’s cover article is based on several

decades of research, including visits to nine states,

England, and innumerable historical societies, court

houses, and cemeteries. We always appreciate docu-

mentation to supplement the family files in the Gene-

alogy Library. Miller family descendants will surely

be interested and appreciative of the results of Mr.

Mason’s passion.

Genealogy is a popular interest today as evidenced

by the popularity of the Ancestry.com and Family-

Search.org websites. Advertisements for these sites

are everywhere, especially during the television show

Who Do You Think You Are?, which traces the family

lines of celebrities. If you enjoy pinning on Pinterest,

you will find boards on the subject, including research

tips, organization methods, and family tree jewelry

designs. The passion for family search is definitely

evident in the conversations between researchers. Ge-

nealogists are definitely dedicated, to put it lightly!

Online researching is convenient, but it does have

its pitfalls because not everything you read on the in-

ternet is factual! Our challenge at The Heritage Muse-

um is to encourage researchers to make use of our ex-

tensive collection of resources. For years our astute

volunteers have answered inquiries and expanded the

databases (see block on page 5). The income from re-

search requests supports operations and programming

at the Museum.

I have to admit that I have not yet begun my gene-

alogy research, but I do collect little snippets here and

there. It’s one of the perks of working at The Heritage

Museum. While promoting the Museum and Library

at Heritage Day in Winchester recently, I was inspired

by a Genealogy 101 session, so my quest may soon

begin. Perhaps you, too, will be inspired.

Encouraging Genealogy

There is a National Purple Heart Hall of Honor?

To enroll a Purple Heart recipient go to

www.thepurpleheart.com. Use the “Enroll in Roll

of Honor Database” link in the left sidebar to access

a printable form or call 1-877-28HONOR.

There is a World War II Memorial registry?

To register a name, go to www.wwiimemorial.com.

There is a “WWII Registry” button on the left side

menu. Follow the online instructions. To register a

name via mail, call 1-800-639-4992 and a form will

be sent to you with instructions.

Both sites are free of charge and offer a great way

to honor your loved ones. The sites also provide

search functions to verify or locate a name in the

registries.

A love note from the gallery

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Celebrate romance

with a visit to our

display of beautiful

Victorian Valentines

from the Archives.

Extravagant floral

designs accompany

sweet poems. The

darling cards made

by children of

Wampler School near

Timberville c.1900

are a reminder that

love is eternal.

Through February.

Did You Know . . . ?

http://www.thepurpleheart.com

http://www.wwiimemorial.com


Quilt Documentation & Discovery Day Coming!

“When people bring their quilts to Documentation

& Discovery Days, they aren’t just looking at the fab-

ric,” said quilt historian Neva Hart. “What they see is

the person who made the quilt. Those quilts are the

memories of people our hearts hold dear,” she ex-

plained.

On Saturday, February 22, 2014, Hart and other

volunteers for the Virginia Consortium of Quilters

will be documenting quilts at The Heritage Museum

from 10 am to 4 pm. Everyone is invited to bring up

to three undocumented quilts per person. Quilts will

be measured, dated, patterns identified, and photo-

graphed. Information gathered will be added to a state

-wide data base available for research and education

about Virginia’s quilts. The

data will be archived at the

Virginia Quilt Museum in

Harrisonburg. Researchers are

especially looking for quilts

made in the state prior to the

year 2000.

“And a few discoveries

may be made,” said Hart with

a smile. “Maybe the quilt was

NOT made during the Civil

War!” This is a continuation

of a previous survey done in

the late 1980s. Information

about quilts, their makers, and

the culture of the areas where

they were made was gathered from the first survey.

That effort resulted in a book, Quilts of Virginia 1607-

1899, published in 2006. Quilts from The Heritage

Museum collection are featured in the book. Hart not-

ed that the original project was conducted more than

25 years ago. “Now we are looking for quilts missed

in the original survey and quilts made in the 20th cen-

tury.”

Quilt historians across the country have conducted

similar documentations. From the background of the

quilt makers, researchers have learned about regional

customs, trade and marketing of goods, preferences

for patterns, and even how quilts were used to make

political statements. Hart said that quilts are material

evidence of people’s lives and how they lived. “In the

20th century, America participated in five major wars.

Availability of fabrics and time influenced quilt mak-

ing. We want to record this evidence before it’s gone

to auction or moved out of state.”

Everyone is encouraged to collect quilts from beds,

closets, trunks, and attics to support this important

statewide preservation project. Call your friends and

family to join you and help The Heritage Museum set

a record number of documentations on the day: Satur-

day, February 22 (Snow date: Saturday, March 1).

"BY THOSE OUR HEARTS HOLD DEAR"

Quilts Document Regional History & Culture


Neva Hart and volunteer at work during a previous docu-mentation and discovery day in Virginia.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for QUILT DAY!

PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP!

Quilting Experience is NOT Required

Volunteers work in 2-3 hour shifts in several task areas. Train-

ing is available on the day, February 22, 10-4.

1) welcome, hand out form, explain process

2) hang quilt on rack, photograph quilt, return quilt to owner

3) measure quilts, identify patterns, confirm dates

4) collect forms and money for requested copies

Let’s set a documentation day record!

For more information,

contact Neva Hart,

540-427-0184 or

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



I Wonder Who Made That?

I love learning about the early craftsmen and

tradesmen of the Shenandoah Valley. When I started

to explore the early records of the Valley Freedmen,

I soon discovered not just dozens but hundreds of

tradesmen. For example, with a quick glance at the

“Rockingham County Register of Free Negroes;

1807-1859,” (Library of Virginia microfilm no. 676)

in 1820, we find Ezekiel Lewis, 22, learning tanning

and Dennis Newman, 25, is described as “a Black

Smith by Trade.”

I found 108 Shenandoah Valley Freedmen with

trades listed in the 1850 Federal census. There were

blacksmiths, wagon makers, stone masons, shoe

makers, cake makers, coopers, and more. Jerry Hol-

ly is one of six men from Rockingham County. He

was a tanner and his Value of Real Estate Owned is

listed as $300.00. In Harrisonburg there are eight

men listed in the census, including William Peters,

whose father Joshua started the family saddlery

business in the early 1800s. In the 1850s William

Peters owned real estate valued at $2,000.00 and

employed several men. The saddlery business con-

tinued in Harrisonburg until after the Civil War. At

the same time in Harrisonburg are James Hite—

blacksmith; Jeremiah Gibson—wagon maker; John

Jones—cake baker and William Strother—well dig-

ger, all with real estate values of between $200.00

and $500.00.

As I look ahead through the 1860s census and

beyond, I see more tradesmen and additional skills,

plus women working as seamstresses, nurses, and

laundresses. I see some of the early families moving

away or separating following the death of the head

of the household, but some tradesmen stayed in

Rockingham County and Harrisonburg through and

after the Civil War. Their descendants are still living

and working here, making these families some of

the oldest in the area.

Now I am curious to know if that wagon wheel I

have leaning against that tree came from the Gibson

shop or if that old saddle I saw at auction was out of

the Peters Saddlery shop? I’ll probably never know,

but it sure is fun to think about!

By Robin Lyttle, Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project

founder and website editor.

New Research Resources! The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library computer now offers a huge new digital newspaper collection. Editions from seventeen newspapers provide over 500,000 pages! The earliest date to the early 1820s. The Library databases have long offered a surname search feature. Now place names are also searchable, both in the Library and online. While online, enjoy the history of the Electric Map too: HeritageCenter.com—Museum tab—Electric Map in dropdown—”How the Map Was Built” in right sidebar.

Shenandoah Valley

Black Heritage Project

Research Opportunities The mission of the Shenandoah Valley Black

Heritage Project is to share, centralize, and expand

the resources on the history and heritage of the

Freedmen and following generations of Black fami-

lies of the Shenandoah Valley through its website,

meetings, and programs. Plans for the future include

a Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Center.

The Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project

website http://www.valleyblackheritage.org is up-

dated monthly with the Project’s latest research and

links to many resources. Ancestry.com, fold3.com,

and the DNR online archives are available for public

use every second Wednesday of the month from

2:00 pm-7:00 pm in the computer room at the Lucy

F. Simms Continuing Education Center in Harrison-

burg. The SVBHP also has a growing library on lo-

cal black history as well as photo displays.

Photo courtesy of Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project.

http://www.valleyblackheritage.org

http://Ancestry.com

http://fold3.com



Notes from the Bookstore

Your purchases support HRHS! heritagemuseumstore.com Please note: not all gift shop items are available online. Thank you!

Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley

Campaign of 1864

by Daniel T. Davis and

Philip S. Greenwalt

A thorough look at the

campaign that ultimately

determined the balance of

power across the Eastern

Theater.

$12.95 softcover

1864: The Valley Aflame

Winner of 2 Virginia

Press Association

Awards. With articles,

photos, and maps. A

Sesquicentennial keep-

sake plus 100% of pro-

ceeds support Museum

programming!

$12.95 softcover

Harrisonburg and Rockingham,

Through The Daily News-Record Lens The DN-R newspaper has captured history

for 100 years. The commemorative book

is a photographic journey, with many

images from the Museum Archives!

$39.95 hardcover

The James Turner

III and Margaret

Fulk Turner Family

by Lois May Rhodes and

Pat Turner Ritchie

An update and revision of

Goldie Turner May’s

1977 volume—with an

additional 500+ pages!

$40 hardcover

January’s program on “The Legacy of Elder

John Kline” reminded us of less-remembered

yet powerful events of the Civil War—the trials

of the Brethren and Mennonite members of our

community.

The Olive Branch by S.F. Sanger and D. Hays

A testament to the moral courage of peaceful

people and a witness of Elder John Kline.

$12.95 paperback

Sales of The Olive Branch support historic preservation at The Heritage Museum and the

John Kline Homestead (JohnKlineHomestead.com).



“double” 3rd cousins once removed, as we share com-

mon ancestry among four of my 3rd great-grand-

parents. Michael is famous for his writing and

filmmaking skills and in 1994 became the first writer

to rank number one in books, film, and television all

at the same time. Since Michael earned an MD from

Harvard Medical School in the early years of his ca-

reer, it is unsurprising that his favorite genres were of

a medical nature.

Both Hanby and Crichton may have been interest-

ed to know the earliest domestic roots of their Miller

family date back to at least 1717 when Michael Miller

obtained land warrants for approximately 500 acres of

land in the area of the Conestoga and Pequea Creeks

in what was then Chester County, Pennsylvania. In

1729 this area split off from Chester County and be-

came part of the formation of Lancaster County. The

land was part of a larger tract of approximately 5,000

acres which were warranted to Martin Kendig and

Hans Herr during the same year, and which were

meant to be “settlements for several of their Country-

men that are lately arrived here.”4 This group of coun-

trymen, including the Miller family, were Mennonite

in faith and emigrated from the vicinity of Zurich,

Switzerland.5

Starburst Migration Patterns

After analyzing the migration patterns of the Miller

family following their arrival in America, I have been

surprised to discover that they were only one family

surname among several dozen others who seemed to

move and relocate together. They were no doubt con-

nected by strong religious ties that came from their

mother countries of Switzerland and Germany. This

cluster of families settled in Lancaster County, Penn-

sylvania, then moved either further east into York

County, Pennsylvania, or south into Maryland. From

there, many traveled to the Valley of Virginia into

what are now the counties of Rockingham and Shen-

andoah, and from there into southeastern Ohio. From

Ohio, many families jettisoned themselves into all

other parts of the country in a starburst fashion. Sur-

names of families that were part of this cluster include

Beery, Bibler, Brennemann, Brumbach, Cagey or

Kagey, Coffman or Kauffman, Culp, Graybill, Groff

or Grove, Heistand or Hiestand, Kemerer, Kneisley,

Landis, Leib, Radebaugh, Schenk, Seitz, Stemen, and

Strickler, among others. Of course, these surnames

often had variant spellings.

With respect to the Millers, it is nearly certain that

Michael emigrated with a very young son Jacob and

without a wife.6 His wife was presumed to have died

either in Switzerland or somewhere along their jour-

ney to Pennsylvania. Michael must have married Bar-

bara Kneisly very shortly after his arrival in Pennsyl-

vania, as their first child Elizabeth was born approxi-

mately in 1720. Michael predeceased Barbara, making

his will on 23 Mar 1736/1737 in Lancaster County.

The will was proven 20 Aug 1739 and Barbara was

appointed administratrix, as Michael’s will did not

name an executor.7 Shortly thereafter, an initial inven-

tory of his estate was taken.8 The will mentions his

wife Barbara and his children, but then mentions his

son Jacob separately. An examination of various doc-

uments created in the years following Michael’s death

and the coming of age of his children reveal that Jacob

was not Barbara’s son, as he was never referred to as

such.

The Legacy of Research

There are many books that have been written about

this Miller family, or which contain information about

them, and a debt is owed to these early authors who

compiled family information which might have other-

wise been lost forever. Among others, these books

include Forerunners: A History or Genealogy of the

Strickler Families, Their Kith and Kin by Harry M.

Strickler (1925), pages 183-187, the Genealogy and

History of the Descendants of Samuel Miller compiled

by J.C. Miller (1912), and also Barnard-Miller and

Allied Families researched by Kenneth Duane Miller

and eventually published by his wife and daughter in

1952 following his death on January 28, 1948.

The continuation of this article will review the in-

formation contained in these genealogies and examine

the underlying supporting documents in order to de-

termine their general accuracy and provide a general

refresher. Recognizing that earlier genealogists did

not enjoy the technological advances available to us

Samuel Miller Family

Continued from front page

See Samuel Miller Family on next page



Samuel Miller Family

today as they pursued family information, I am pleased to note that the information was generally accurate and

required only minor modifications. Accordingly, I am very grateful for the groundwork that was laid in their

writings.

Footnotes 1 Rockingham County, Virginia, Real Estate Tax Records for 1817 lists a 205 acre parcel of land owned by Michael Miller, M84

above, who inherited it from his father’s estate, and its location is described therein. 2 The 1783 Property Tax Records for Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania, show Samuel Miller being taxed for 154

acres and some livestock. They also list the number of inhabitants as 13. In 1784, Samuel is still taxed, but by 1785, he disappears

from the York County tax rolls. However, he makes his first appearance on the 1785 Property Tax Records for Rockingham County,

Virginia. There is another Samuel Miller who purchased property in Rockingham County by 1782 and also in 1784. I believe this to

be an unrelated Samuel Miller, as the property continues to be owned by this Samuel well into the 1800s, which is past the date of

death for the Samuel Miller who is the subject of this article. 3 Rockingham County, Virginia, Minute Book, Page 748, meeting of 25 Feb 1788 lists Samuel Miller’s will as having been proven. 4 Minutes of the Board of Property of the Province of Pennsylvania edited by William Henry Egle, Minute Book “H” (1893), p. 622. 5 Barnard-Miller and Allied Families by Kenneth Duane Miller (1952), Pages 156-157; An Authentic History of Lancaster County, in

the State of Pennsylvania by J. I. Mombert (1869), Page 416; History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches

of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men by Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans (1883), Page 984. 6 Barnard-Miller and Allied Families by Kenneth Duane Miller (1952), Page 157. 7 Will Book A, Page 37, Lancaster County Archives, will of Michael Miller. 8 Lancaster County Historical Society, 1739 Estate Inventory of Michael Miller, Object ID# Inv. 1739 F004 M, Container #079. 9 Early Landowners of Pennsylvania: Scans of Lancaster County Township Warrantee Maps in the Pennsylvania Archives published

by Ancestor Tracks (2008), Map of East Hempfield Township, two tracts of land owned by Michael Miller, Tract #1 – 200 acres plus

allowances, Warranted 27 Jul 1717, Surveyed 14 Oct 1717, Patented 11 Mar 1733 to Daniel Ashelman; Tract #2 – 269 acres plus

allowances, Warranted 22 Nov 1717, Surveyed 13 Jan 1745/46, Patented 15 Jun 1747 by Michael Miller heirs. 10 Lancaster County Historical Society, 1733 Estate Inventory of Anthony Knissley, Object ID# Inv. 1733 F001 K, Container #064.

Continued from previous page

Celebrate your Harrisonburg-Rockingham Roots! Share your family stories with us!

This hand drawn pencil sketch was found behind another picture of a

little girl in a blue dress. A member of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham

Historical Society purchased the lovely little girl for her daughter’s

room sometime in the 1960s at Mrs. Saufley’s antique shop in Mt.

Crawford. Not long ago, our member was cleaning the painting and de-

cided to remove the backing. Surprise! This well-rendered, although

unknown, man was staring back at her.

Efforts by the Massanutten Regional Library to discover the true

identity of the gentleman have been unfruitful; however, the story is an

excellent cautionary tale. Please take the time to identify friends and

family members in photos and art, old and new, so that they will not be

lost to future generations.

Do please tell us if you can identify the mystery man!

A Mystery Man, A Cautionary Tale



A Warm Welcome To Our

New Members

Beverley Appleton, Harrisonburg, VA

Joseph Appleton, Dayton, VA

Randy & Laura Atkins, Harrisonburg, VA

Sharon Bell, Hilton Head Island, SC

Chris Brown, Blacksburg, VA

Janice Cannon, Paso Robles, CA

Philip & Sharon Constable, Mt. Crawford, VA

Edward Critzer, Richmond, VA

Gary & Jetta Earhart, Singers Glen, VA

David & Diane Ehrenpreis, Harrisonburg, VA

Carolyn Engleson, Charlotte, MD

Dana Fenner, Dayton, VA

Arlene Freeman, Harrisonburg, VA

Charlotte Greenfelder, Navarre, OH

Bill & Becky Hunter, Harrisonburg, VA

Steve & Joyce Krech, Harrisonburg, VA

Lee Lawrence, Middleburg, VA

Sharon Lowery, Southfield, MI

Courtland Meyer, Harrisonburg, VA

Beth Murray, Arlington, MA

William Randall, Tucson, AZ

Eydie Rymer, Opelousas, LA

Cynthia Suter, Harrisonburg, VA

Louisa Waltrous, Mystic, CT

Administrator Margaret Hotchner is ready to greet attendees at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Heritage Day, an annual event for genealogists, in Winchester, February 1st.

Do you belong to a local club or organization? Execu-

tive Director Penny Imeson would love to come speak

to your group about the many programs, activities, and

resources available at The Heritage Museum. Your

program coordinator will appreciate the suggestion!

Call the office to request more information or to sched-

ule a date!

HRHS Trustee Chairman Greg Owen welcomes the volunteers and shares his appreciation for their generous service.

Over 60 attendees enjoyed lunch, gifts, and holiday cheer at the Annual Volunteer Luncheon on December 10th. There is always room for more—come join us next year!

Volunteer Luncheon 2013

Genealogy displays at MSV Heritage Day



2013 Annual Report Notes

Our Educational Programming is Growing

Three new exhibits brought the

stories of Mary Caples Morrison:

Harrisonburg Artist, The Apple in

Rockingham, and Big Bits of Dayton

History to the public. Interns and

recent graduates from area schools

and universities assisted. Involving

young history enthusiasts is another

educational outreach program which

the Museum is developing.

More Schoolchildren Visit the Museum.

Classes from five public and private

schools arrived to enhance their social

studies curriculum. A new lesson about

mapmaker Jedediah Hotchkiss and sur-

veying techniques provided a STEM*

activity which resulted in a lot of energy

in the Museum as students worked togeth-

er to measure and map the galleries!

*Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Math

Publications support preservation mission.

Back in Print! Lake’s 1885 Atlas of Rocking-

ham County with revised index, an achieve-

ment of our volunteers. The Atlas is an invalu-

able tool for researchers since it provides not

only the names of roads and places in the late

19th century, but also a mapping of the resi-

dents in the local towns and countryside. Ge-

nealogists share enthusiasm for this resource

with researchers, homeowners, and history

buffs.

Fundraising Gets A Focus:

The Replica Raffle

For nearly a year, Trustees and other

volunteers polished their sales skills

in an effort to sell 1000 tickets.

Three locally crafted replica items

were given away to three lucky win-

ners at the Annual Banquet in Octo-

ber: an Alexander McGilvray Vir-

ginia Longrifle by gunstocker and

engraver Mark Thomas, an Apple

Core Quilt by quilter Bonnie Spoon,

and a Tiger Maple Sugar Chest by

woodworker Charles Neil. Volun-

teers attended gun shows, antique

shows, and several local fairs and

events to promote the raffle and The

Heritage Museum. Additional sales

took place through Museum visita-

tion and advertising. The effort

raised over $18,000.

Beyond the Galleries

Court & Market Days Festival is Fun for

All. The Heritage Museum took over the

administration of the Court & Market Days

Festival from Harrisonburg Downtown

Renaissance in 2013. The event on June 1st

was a great success with artisan demonstra-

tions, children’s activities, music, dancing,

performances, and good cheer. This effort

brings Harrisonburg-Rockingham heritage

and history to a new audience through en-

gaging and fun experiences. The Heritage

Museum is eager to encourage local tour-

ism and economic development. Plans for

2014 include returning to the original Court

Square venue.

Rockingham County Fair Booth Attracts

Visitors. For a beautiful week in August,

volunteers staffed an exhibit booth at the

Rockingham County Fairgrounds decorated

with Museum brochures and Replica Raffle

prizes. The prizes were great conversation

starters which allowed us to make many

new friends. In addition, the Museum in-

stalled a mini exhibit on old schools in

Rockingham to enhance the History Build-

ing displays. Although it is not possible to

calculate a return on the hard work invested,

with record-breaking Fair attendance of over

88,000 people, the event was certainly re-

warding and fun.

Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Sponsor

Over 100 members of the Chamber networked in the galleries and most had never before

visited! Remembering Downtown Harrisonburg” Facebook Group Reunion Sponsor

This group really recognizes the importance of (and entertainment in) preserving history!

We met new members and donors—and received nice recognition! WSVA Radio Morning

Show Broadcast WSVA announcers Jim Britt and Frank Wilt set up a small radio station in

the bookstore for a three hour broadcast of conversations with volunteers and staff.

Collections Committee Enters the Archives

The Collections Committee works tirelessly on

Tuesdays to document, organize, and preserve

our wonderful collections. After concentrating

on a thorough inventory of artifacts, the Com-

mittee began working with our part-time Archi-

vist to create new order in the Archives. As a

result the public will soon have easier access to

many more research resources.

CSS Hampton Flag Returns Home

The Heritage Museum transferred ownership of a naval flag captured off the

confederate gunboat, CSS Hampton, to the United States Naval History and

Heritage Command. After conservation, the flag will be maintained and dis-

played at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, located near the Norfolk Naval

Shipyard where the gunboat it once flew over was built. The Trustees deci-

sion was based on an exhaustive sleuthing effort by a volunteer and is an ex-

ceptional example of The Heritage Museum’s commitment to the stewardship

of precious artifacts and history.

Collect

Preserve

Share



Collections

Susan Corbin donated two photos of the Whitmer family. One photo includes a woven coverlet

with the same pattern as a coverlet in the Museum's collection. The coverlet pattern was a

Whitmer specialty.

Kathleen Gardner donated advertising souvenirs - Rockingham National Bank ash trays and Shen-

andoah’s Pride 75th Anniversary letter openers, plus books: Forty Years of Shenandoah's Pride

1922-1962, 100 Years of the Virginia State Dairy Industry 1907-2007, and Virginia Cattle Story,

The First Four Centuries.

Holly Heath Mullin donated various clothing items, jewelry, table cloths, napkins, tea towels, a

wooden conductor box, two pairs of old eye glasses, miscellaneous tourist souvenir plates and

ashtrays, various advertising items – a scraper and pencil and pen set.

Margie Moore, Maralee Reeves and Sandra Shull donated a quilt, various clothes, a piece of jew-

elry, newspapers, postcards, and other papers.

Al and Phyllis Saufley donated S&W Green and Top Value trading stamps, collector books, and a

Top Value Gift Catalog (rewards book).

Nancy H. Hess donated small print block from the Dayton Press.

Ann Tew donated various old school books, maps, deeds and plats belonging to various families,

a wooden flute, and a photo of the Funk family gathering of 1923.

Library

Lois Emswiler provided numerous obituaries and funeral cards for the Genealogy Library.

John Mann donated his compilation, Rockingham County Civil War Pensioners.

Harry E. Pontius, III, provided a copy of his book, The Samuels Family (1650-2013).

Jody Meyerhoeffer donated his short history about the Meyerhoeffers’ Store.

Mary Nelson donated maps of some Civil War battles and copies of the book, Harrisonburg and

Rockingham Through the Daily News-Record Lens.

Raymond Rhodes provided copies of Volume 34, #2, and Volume 36, #1-4, of the Pennsylvania

Mennonite Heritage newsletters.

Helen Reese donated genealogical related materials about the Denton family.

Nancy Nelson Seidel donated information about her Nelson ancestry.

L.C. Taylor, Jr., donated a collection of papers regarding the descendants of Jeremiah Taylor.

Ann Tew donated various genealogical related materials regarding the Ralston, Beery, Heatwole,

Bible, and other Valley names.

Office

Jane Smootz provided notebooks for the office and Library – a never ending need!

Ralph and Chris Bolgiano donated a desktop computer.

Dale MacAllister donated a desktop computer.

The computers will be used by our volunteer bookkeeper and the photo archives committee.

—Compiled by Margaret Hotchner

Acquisitions

Your treasures may rest at HRHS!

Please consider donating artifacts and papers unique to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Items must be

reviewed before being accepted into the permanent collection. We request that you make an appointment with

the Collections Committee. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call (540) 879-2616.

Harrisonburg - Rockingham Historical Society

P.O. Box 716

Dayton, Virginia 22821

OR CURRENT ADDRESS


Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 19 Harrisonburg/Rockingham

Winter 2014, Vol. 36, No. 1

QUILT DOCUMENTATION & DISCOVERY DAY! FEBRUARY 22, 2014, 10AM –4PM (SNOW DATE MARCH 1), SEE PAGE 4.

Check your mailing label. If it’s blue, it’s time to renew!

Announcing

A Snapshot of History Photography Contest

Judging May 31, 2014

Pull out your cameras

and get ready to click!

Details available in March.

The Heritage Museum continues to collect used books to sell. When you finish a title or just need more room on your shelf, please consider donating your books to the Museum. It’s an easy way to help raise funds for educational programming. Volunteers will be under The Heritage Museum yel-low tent at the Dayton Redbud Spring Arts & Crafts Festival on April 12th.

Documents

Home of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society · 2014-02-06 · Volume 36, No. 1 Winter 2014 THE HERITAGE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical