September 20 5:30pm at Historic Village
Archives for March 2012
Historic Buckingham, Inc invites you to: Annual Spring Meeting
March 8, 2012 by
April 29th 2:30pm at Rocky Mt. Church. Speaker: David Spears, Geologist State of Va.
New County Administration Building Almost complete
March 8, 2012 by
The new, 15,150 sq. ft. county administration building is almost complete, and will house the Board of Supervisor’s meeting room, Treasurer’s office, Commissioner of Revenues office, Administration staff and support space, Animal Control, Recreation Department, Technology Department,
Solid Waste, Zoning and Building Inspection, public restrooms and a mechanical room. This represents a gain of about 4,000 sq. ft. from the “old” location.
The County staff will be moving into their new headquarters later this year. Upon relocation to the new building, renovation of the existing building, which was built in 1984, will take place. This will provide more space to be available for the existing VA Dept. of Health, Social Services and Voters Registrar. The Social Services and Health Department will rent the space from the County, thus providing income for payment on the Facilities.
According to County officials, “the new and renovated spaces will give residents more personable, flexible, and comfortable atmosphere to conduct business with staff.” It will also take care of public “flow” problems, fire protection concerns, assurance of adhering to the HIPA regulations, and provide sufficient space for confidential interviews and public health records for the Health Department and for the Social Services. The total price tag, for new building, renovations and all associated costs, is about $5.6 million.
2012 BCC Annual Awards Dinner
March 8, 2012 by
The Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, in 2003, began honoring county residents who have unselfishly contributed their time and talents to the greater community.
At the annual Chamber dinner each January, two awards are presented, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Volunteer of the Year awards.
If you know of someone deserving of either of the awards below, please send your letter to the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 951, Dillwyn VA 23936
NOMINATION LETTER OF WILBERT DEAN FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
by Hank Hagenau
I am nominating Mr. Wilbert M. Dean for the Lifetime Achievement Award, for bringing Buckingham Training School back from a vague, distant memory to a new reality. Ellis Acres Memorial Park is more than just a place for fun and recreation. It is also a valued asset to the community and unique piece of history.
Ellis Acres Memorial Park was once the site of the Buckingham Training School, a place on the edge of town most people in Dillwyn or Buckingham County had no knowledge of until just recently. It was just a trash dump, but this trash dump was once the site of the Buckingham Training School and later the Stephen J. Ellis Elementary School. Now is has been brought back to life again to serve future generations as it did before.
Mr. Dean did not do this by himself. It has taken many people from Dillwyn, Buckingham County and even from across Virginia. Young and old alike have worked hard to accomplish this dream. But without Mr. Wilbert Dean’s vision, drive and energy, I believe that Ellis Acres Memorial Park would not have happened. Whatever else Mr. Dean has accomplished in his lifetime, I believe this achievement, Ellis Acres Memorial Park, should stand at the top of that list of accomplishments.
Julius Rosenwald and Stephen J. Ellis are names important to the history of the Buckingham Training School. Wilbert M. Dean’s name should be added to that list. Therefore, I take great pride in nominating Mr. Wilbert M. Dean for the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
NOMINATION LETTER FOR MARY STEARRETT AS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
by Sue Miles
If you attended Buckingham County High School anytime in the past 33 years, then you, like thousands (I estimate over 16,000) have been impacted by the dedication of Mary Stearrett. Her long time involvement as sponsor of the school’s Student Council Association (SCA) and the activities put on by its student members has impacted generations of people while creating future leaders of our society.
Over the past 33 years, as sponsor of the SCA, Mary has trained and influenced over 2300 students who served as the organization’s members. She has worked to teach future leaders of our county, state, and country by being the adult sponsor of 660 students who, over the years, served on the school’s SCA Executive Board. Many of those board members have also served at the state level of SCA and some, the national level. The principles of SCA develop students
into leaders. These students learn about the democratic system while assisting in the running of the school. Mary’s sponsorship of this important school organization and her influence on the members has produced lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, soldiers and public service workers who now run our county, state, and country.
Mary’s leadership has taught students to understand the value of giving to others as she teaches SCA members to consider those in need. She has been instrumental in canned food drives, stews, sports tournaments, motorcycle runs, and other fundraising projects for individuals and families in need. Her famous December penny roll project has resulted in over $25,000.00 being raised during her tenure; money that has bought much needed food, clothing, and toys for needy family in the county. Her insistence that her SCA members participate in community service has resulted in teenagers learning the value of giving to others. Those teens have become adults who continue that practice of giving. Mary has taken her future leaders on 30 regional conferences, 33 state conferences, and 10 national. That in itself is a sacrifice; think about chaperoning a group of teenagers requiring a one or two night overnight stay in a hotel. That takes dedication, belief in young people, patience, and whole lot of duct tape to put on the doors. Because of this dedication to the youth who become our future leaders, Mary has been recognized as Virginia SCA Advisor of the Year for two years, and a Region 3 national SCA Advisor of the Year.
Now, let’s talk about football and basketball games, homecoming ceremonies and homecoming dances. For many, some of their best memories of high school are attending such events. For over 33 years, Mary Stearrett has been the person, with her SCA students, who has made the dances and ceremonies a part of our high school memories. If you were ever hungry and wanted a hot dog or some hot chocolate at a game, Mary and her SCA students were running the concession stand. If you or your grandchild were part of the homecoming program, Mary and her SCA students were responsible for organizing the homecoming court ceremonies and setting up those wonderful homecoming dances. Personally, I believe that we, all of us, take for granted that all of these events and services will just take place; we rarely think about who is in the background making it happen. Mary is. And over the past 33 years everything that has been mentioned above has provided thousands of people wonderful memories of a special time in school.
But, Mary doesn’t stop with school activities. She has coached in the youth league, served as secretary of of the Buckingham County Youth League for years, and is a member of the Dillwyn Ladies Auxiliary. She is also a member of the First Baptist Church where she is a choir member and a member of their Helping Hands Committee. She serves as treasurer of Delta Kappa Gamma, serves on the Virginia Council of teachers of Mathematics, has been math department chair for 30 years, serves on the school’s scholarship committee, and has been n the Virginia SCA Advisory Committee for 31 years. This lady does not know how to say no.
What needs to be noted about this incredible lady and the strength and courage she has is a personal issue that impacted her life last year. Mary’s daughter, Krissy, who teaches at the high school, learned that she had Non Hotchkins Burkitts Lymphoma the summer of 2010. For 12 months, Krissy went through many medical procedures, including a long and very difficult series of chemotherapy. It was a very emotional and trying time for Mary and for anyone who loves Krissy and her family. Throughout this difficult time, Mary continued to teach and lead the SCA members in their service to the school, while she served in her best role-as a caring mother to a daughter who needed her very badly. The story has ended well as Krissy is cancer-free and Mary continues to do what she does best; serve the children and citizens of Buckingham County. She is an amazing woman who just gives and gives and gives. She, indeed, represents the best that Buckingham has to offer. She is a true Volunteer of the Year.
If time and logistics (allow), I feel certain I could produce literally hundreds of letters of support for the nomination of Mary Stearrett. She is loved and respected by many. I ask that you accept the four attached letters of support for this nomination. As former principal, Claude Morris, so aptly said, Mary Stearrett has had “a positive influence on many individuals that are now the backbone of our community.”
She is indeed an exceptional lady and worthy of recognition!
Dillwyn Turns 100
March 8, 2012 by
Much of the recorded history of the Dillwyn area (once known as White Hall) has been lost over the years. But at least four accounts of this area can be found in the following: A History of Buckingham County by Eugene A. Maloney. A Pictorial History of the Town of Dillwyn, VA by Jeanne Stinson.
Buckingham County (Black America Series) by Charles White & E. Renee Ingram. The Courthouse Burned by Margaret Pennington & Lorna Scott. All of the above can be found in the Buckingham County Library in Dillwyn, and A Pictorial History of the Town of Dillwyn, VA can be purchased at the Dillwyn Town Hall. The following drawings were done by Margaret Pennington (deceased).
Some Events of the 1800s
• 1835 -Booker Gold Mine established January 10th. According to Historical Marker F55, “This was the most notable gold-mining region in the country before the California Gold Rush of 1849. The Morrow mine here, opened before 1835, was one of the earliest gold mines in which underground mining was employed. Profitably worked for a number of years, it was finally closed. Many other unworked mines are near by.”
• 1871 – Morrow Mine chartered, and on March 28th, the General Assembly passed a bill to incorporate the Buckingham Branch Railroad Co.
• 1881 – the first post office is established on November 11th on the Joshua Davis Farm
• 1883 – General Assembly passes a second bill focused on the Buckingham Railroad directing that it must start building in one year and complete the project in 5 years.
• 1884 – Buckingham Branch Railroad, having sold stock to raise funds for its building project, finds its largest shareholder, also a rival railroad, makes continuing impossible; the Buckingham Railroad declares bankruptcy.
• 1892 – The first train rolled into the C & O Railway Dillwyn Station May 31.
• 1895 – The new S.B. Pearson Store opens, offering groceries and hardware.
Dillwyn Railway Station – The first train arrived at the station 5/31/1892. The original building burned down, but the building pictured stands today. The Buckingham Branch extends from Bremo Bluff to Dillwyn and is less than 15 miles long. Stations like Arvonia, Penlan, Dutch Gap, Alpha, and Johnson’s Station, among others, are along the track. Many products have been hauled , but the most consistent have been wood products and slate. From The Courthouse Burned by Margaret Pennington & Lorna Scott.
Some Events of the 1900s
1912 – The Virginia General Assembly grants a full charter for the new Town of Dillwyn March 12.
1914 – the following is noted as Dillwyn’s preparation for the WWI war effort, accounted for in A HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAM COUNTY by Eugene A. Maloney:
“According to the official records used in preparing a history of the state in war-time, “BuckinghamCounty affords an excellent illustration, if one were needed, of the loyal spirit of war-time Virginia. The Buckingham Guard, organized in Dillwyn by Mr. E.L. Fortney, contained 64 men, although the population of the town was only about two hundred. While waiting to be taken into state service , these men met Friday nights and drilled in the streets of Dillwyn until an old mill was restored to usable condition. The
Buckingham Guard was evaluated as being “… well organized, properly officered and capable of rendering effective service.”
1920’s and ‘30s For the first time in the county’s history, two rival newspapers were published in Dillwyn. The Buckingham News became the town’s newest newspaper when it printed its first issue on January 5, 1925, in direct competition with the Virginia Union Farmer which had been operating for a decade.
As late as 1955, a Canadian company, operating under the name of the Virginia Mining Corporation , was surveying an area north of Dillwyn, including the site of the old London and Virginia mine, testing to see if zinc and copper could be mined profitably there. Although this company’s survey indicated almost one million tons of saleable ore, the problems in obtaining options to the land the ore was on and the high cost of mining it have prevented any operations from taking place. From A HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAM COUNTY by Eugene A. Maloney.
The publisher of this Buckingham County Guidebook is especially grateful for assistance from Martha Louis, of Historic Buckingham Inc., and Joyce Nelson, Buckingham County Library manager, in producing this brief account. Everyone is invited to join Historic Buckingham, Inc. “Preserving the Past for the Future”