2009 Membership Drive -- We Need YOU!
Our Museum has become an example of what a small town museum can accomplish.  In order to continue the preservation and promotion of our local history, we need your help.  Please renew your membership today for 2009.  Even a $25 donation will help, but $50 will help twice as much.  Thank you again for your continuing, generous support.  You are our strength.  For additional membership information, visit Application (PDF).  (download Acrobat Reader)

Feedback from Museum Fans:
a) K. Edward Lay, Professor Emeritus of Architecture, University of Virginia: "On behalf of the Charlottesville Senior Center bus tour to Scottsville on Oct 16th, I would like to express our appreciation for opening the museum and having Bobby Spencer address the group.  His comments on history were enjoyed by all.  Please convey our thanks to him.  Scottsville is always a highlight of our field trips."
b) Alec Pandaleon, Millbrook, NY: "I recommend everyone visit the Scottsville Museum and the current display regarding World War II and how it affected your hometown.  It is a great program they have put together."
c) Dr. Eric Cohu, Lynchburg, VA: "I wanted to thank you so much for arranging the appointment last Friday with Mr. Spencer; it certainly was a pleasure.  I just received in the mail a digital reprint of Dr. Barclay's book on Jerusalem and am looking forward to reading it in the next few weeks.  It certainly was nice to get the opportunity to visit Scottsville and to see the Barclay house as well as the original book The City of the Great King.  What a fabulous job you've done with your museum!  Thank you again!"

Directions to the Church from Scottsville Museum:  Head West on Main Street.  Cross over Valley Street onto West Main Street and continue one block. Turn right on Harrison Street and go 2 1/2 blocks; the Scottsville Baptist Church is on your left.

Back from the Florence American Cemetery, Italy:
Dr. John Celin of Scottsville (shown at left) visited Scottsville Museum earlier this month with a fascinating story about his recent visit to Florence, Italy, and to the American Cemetery just 7.5 miles south of that city.  Over the past year, John visited our Museum's WWII exhibit, Small Town, Big War on multiple occasions and has been quite taken with the number of Scottsville soldiers who died in Italy during WWII. 

In 1944, John was a small boy living in Milan with his mother and grandparents as American soldiers fought the German Army in retreat through Italy.  From his research at the Museum, John knew that three soldiers from the Scottsville area were buried close to where they died in Italy, possibly at the American Cemetery.  Last May while conducting surgeries in Europe, John visited this cemetery in search of the graves of Arthur Wood, Forrest Butler, and Walter Murray.  He found the gravestone of Arthur Wood of Esmont and the cemetery record for Forrest Butler, who was briefly buried at the cemetery and disinterred for reburial at Scottsville Cemetery.  No gravestone of Walter Murray of Esmont was found, and John surmises that Mr. Murray may have been buried in an Italian civil cemetery near where he died.

This living history event exists to honor all those who have served in the past or present.  Most of all, this event promises to be fun – both for the participants and for event visitors.  The Elks location (389 Elk Drive) has water and bathroom facilities on the site.  Charlottesville stores and restaurants are within easy driving distances, and there are many motels located nearby.  Do plan to attend!

"I wanted to tell you right away what a joy it was to meet with A. Raymon Thacker on July 7 and to learn more about the Scottsville area.  He is absolutely amazing!  I have been reading the book that we bought at the museum, and as I read the years that our Thomas and his sons Beverly and Thomas lived in the area, I see each new happening through their eyes and hear their voices discussing the events of that time.  You all have truly helped make this point in our family's history more alive for us, and we have also been proud to come from Scottsville after reading all of the rich history of the area.  You are doing a marvelous job helping to preserve that history for future generations."

Independence Day at the Museum, 4 July:
The Fourth of July is a day for family fun, and Scottsville once again was the place to be.  By 9 AM on Friday, festive crowds began forming on the Museum's front lawn.  Lawn chairs, vivid colors, and happy voices were in abundance as spectators positioned themselves along Scottsville's July 4th parade route.  Visitors flocked up the Museum's staircase to visit our featured exhibit, Small Town, Big War. In the first three hours that the Museum was open, Docents Gwynne Daye and Connie Geary hosted 112 guests.

Special treats for parade goers and museum visitors were the Veterans of Foreign Wars who rode on floats 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.  A special treat for Scottsville Museum was the annual bike arrival of the John S. Davis family from Charlottesville.  For more than 15 years, Dr. Davis, his sons, and grandchildren bike to Scottsville Museum to tour our exhibit and toll the Scottsville School bell in our collection.  Indeed, Scottsville Museum stays open until the Davis family has arrived, and our bell is tolled --another Scottsville 4th of July tradition we cherish.

Letterboxing in Scottsville:
Did you know that Letterboxing is a very popular activity in Scottsville?  Letterboxing is a type of treasure hunt that started accidentally in southern England in 1854.  According to legend, a Victorian gentleman put his “business card" in a bottle and hid it in a remote area of Dartmoor, England, to be found by curious visitors.  The idea caught on, and there are now reported to be over 10,000 letterboxes in Dartmoor alone. 

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.

Museum in a Trunk Visits Homeschoolers, 22 May 2008:
The Trunk enjoyed a wonderful study period with homeschooled students in Keene, VA, this week.  Gwynne Daye hosted a morning session of Civil War-based learning activities.  Shown at right are three students, who greatly enjoyed an opportunity to be exhibit curators with this display of Civil War artifacts.  These students arranged each artifact and photograph with descriptive information cards so their fellow students could tour the display and learn. 

The following is feedback from several parents, who attended the Trunk presentation with their children:
- Lisa Bittner - "Thanks so much for the wonderful presentation.  I learned a bunch, and we took a quick driving tour of Chester, Cliffside, and Old Hall.  It has stimulated some lively discussions about Scottsville during the war.  The kids really admire Billy Beal and the little girl, Molly Graham.  History is so accessible when we hear stories about real people to whom we can relate!  My daughter wrote about the Trunk in her diary."
- Andi Maxwell - "Thank you so much for taking the time with the girls!  The kids talked about it all the way to C'ville.  The day was great all the way around...thanks again."

Sarah Brummett Begins Internship at Museum, 23 May 2008
Sarah Brummett, an architectural history major at the University of Virginia (UVA), started her summer internship this past week at Scottsville Museum.  Sarah's assignment is to begin our research project, 'Scottsville's Houses and Their Families.'   Among the numerous historic Scottsville homes included in this project are Mt. Walla, Old Hall, Cliffside, Shadows,   Jefferies-Bruce, Blair (Tipton), Terrace, Thomas Staples, Riverview, Chester, and the Barclay House.  Sarah began her research on the Barclay house and family with great interest and is shown at right as she scanned an April 1857 letter from James Turner Barclay, written to his sister, Olivia Barclay Staples, in Scottsville.   Barclay, who was a missionary in Jerusalem at that time, told his sister that he had been visited by the secretary of a Turkish pasha who requested a copy of the Bible in Turkish.  Barclay described how the pasha lived near the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem and wrote that it was his fervent wish that the Pasha may convert to Christianity.  

Sarah's internship at Scottsville Museum is co-sponsored by UVA's Institute for Public HIstory.

Feedback from Ms. Scharer: "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  You are both awesome!  My students truly enjoyed the Museum in a Trunk.  Both Ms. Melton and Ms. Grant expressed their appreciation as well.  I sent the Trunk brochures in my pack to our 4th grade team leader, but I will also remind them near the end of next year about your wonderful lesson!"

"Small Town, Big War" Opening Reception, 06 April:

To see more photos of the Opening Day 2008 at Scottsville Museum, visit Opening.

Thomas Staples Martin: Senator, Leader, Virginian:
One Virginian who has unfortunately fallen through the historical cracks is Senator Thomas Staples Martin, a Scottsville-born, twenty-six year Senator, whose career only ended with his death in 1919.  Although changing political winds and accusations of corruption blemished his legacy, Martin proved to be a prominent political figure on the national scene, ultimately becoming the figurehead of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party during the early part of the twentieth century.  Despite their political differences, Martin worked harmoniously alongside Progressive Democratic President Woodrow Wilson during World War I to protect the Commonwealth and nation.

For the full feature article about Senator Martin by Rob Manoso, visit Thomas Staples Martin.

Feedback from Museum Fans:
a) Ann and Kirby Lloyd of Star Tannery, VA: "Our family is so appreciative of the work of the Scottsville Museum, especially as it pertains to World War II and all of the many young men and women, who served our country.  We feel very honored to have our family included -- Dad and his brothers would be proud!"
b) Don Brown of Rochester, NY: "Thank you for sharing the spring newsletter -- fascinating articles!  The 'e' communications are an excellent means to maintain a feeling of real connection with Scottsville -- KUDOS!!!  My anticipation is to have a return visit this summer.  I am anxious to see the changes and improvements!"
c) Keith and Mollie Anderson Van Allen of Richmond, VA: "We just got the newsletter about Senator Martin.  The newsletter is very well done, and we enjoy it very much.  The slick paper, color photography, and graphics are especially nice.  Scottsville deserves to be seen in color!"
d) Marv Baber of Colorado: "The things you have done for the community with keep the history of WWII and the community's contributions to the war alive for a long time.  I’m really surprised how a lot of the folks have no idea what took place in WWII.  Thanks again to you and your team for all you do."

For more information and a glimpse at the Museum's rich World War II offerings such as this 1943 photo at right of Ernie L. Baber, US Army Air Forces, visit WWIII on our website.

Docent Reception, March 16:
Gwynne Daye, Co-President of Scottsville Museum, will host an appreciation tea for Museum docents at Haven Daye Farm on Sunday, March 16th, at 3 p.m.  Each year over forty volunteers volunteer their time each month to serve as docents at the Museum.  Our docents' donation of time allows the Museum to continue our free admission policy for the public from April through October each year. 

If you would like to become a Museum docent, please call Scottsville Museum (434-286-2247) or contact us via e-mail at: smuseum@avenue.org

If you have information about Scottsville houses and their families that you would like to share with the Museum, or if you can participate in the oral history project, please call Scottsville Museum (434-286-2247) or contact us via e-mail at: smuseum@avenue.org

Museum in a Trunk Visits Agnor-Hurt Elementary School, February 26:
Gwynne Daye and Connie Geary presented our Museum in a Trunk to fifth-grade classes at Agnor-Hurt Elementary School in Charlottesville, VA.  Hosting our visit was B Maxwell, one of three fifth grade teachers at the school and their social studies team leader, who invited our museum team to support his students' study of the Civil War.  An exciting morning of history began as the students examined Civil War and 19th century artifacts, photographs, and replica items during a fun, engaging presentation.  We were most impressed by the enthusiastic, bright students at Agnor-Hurt, who engaged in each trunk activity with keen interest.  These students later wrote us thank-you notes with wonderful feedback:

--"I learned a whole lot, and the artifacts were really cool! I never knew so much about the Civil War. My favorite thing was the shot bag. I thought it was a bullet pouch, and the rest of my group didn't! I sure told them!"

--"Thank you for visiting our school. I learned a lot more about the Civil War than in a text book."

--"I enjoyed your presentation. I thought life in Scottsville during the Reconstruction Period was a very hard life.

--"Thank you for coming to our school and talking about the Civil War. I was really interested in the artifacts that you brought - I had never seen Confederate money. I love history!"

--"I enjoyed your presentation alot! My favorite part was when we went around and looked at all of the displays -- especially looking at the lady's jewelry and the Confederate coat."

--"It was neat to see the photo of the cuff links that General Sheridan gave the little girl for her kindness. I hope you can come back soon so that we can learn even more. I would really enjoy that!"

Thank you, Mr. Maxwell and your students and fellow fifth grade teachers for your hospitality and the opportunity to study Civil War history together!

Black History Month Program, 25 February 2008:

As part of Scottsville's Black History Month celebration, Southside Fellowship and Scottsville Museum co-sponsored a potluck dinner in the Fellowship Hall of Scottsville Methodist Church on Monday evening, 25 February.  Over 45 members of the community were in attendance.  Reverend Jeane Dunkum led grace for attendees, who sat down to a bountiful supper and wonderful camaraderie.  Shown at right are Dorothy Woody and Gwynne Daye of Scottsville, as they enjoyed dinner and conversation together.  Graham Paige (shown at right) introduced the evening's program and led attendees in a spirited singing of an old hymn, accompanied by Ruth Brooks on piano.  The Road to Freedom: The Vernon Johns Story, a film which dramatizes the life of Farmville native, Vernon Johns, a pioneer in the

civil rights movement, was shown.  Johns was born in 1892, one of seven children in a farm family, and he struggled to get an education.  Johns attended a local one-room school, the Bluestone Academy in Keysville, Virginia Seminary in Lynchburg, and Oberlin Theological Seminary.  He was pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, from 1947 to 1952.  The congregation found him too "radical," and Johns was eventually succeeded by Martin Luther King, Jr.  He served two stints as pastor of Court Street Baptist Church in Lynchburg and died in 1965.  A historical marker near his birthplace describes Johns as a "blunt-spoken opponent of segregation and a champion of civil rights.

"There is a terrific portion on communication displaying letters to home from soldiers, stamps of the day, censorship, and propaganda.  There is an amazing example of a German stamp forgery printed by the US government for distribution to Germany and Austria which shows Hitler with a skeleton superimposed on his profile.  Apparently propaganda letters stamped with these skillful forgeries were dropped amid the wreckage of bombed German mail trains with the idea that they would be picked up and distributed among the population to lower morale... it's estimated that several thousand of these creative messages made their way to the homes of Austrian and German families."

If you would like to arrange a special tour of Scottsville Museum for your students or family, please contact us via e-mail at smuseum@avenue.org.

What We're Reading Now:

Murder at Green Springs by J.K. Brandau tells the story of Victor Hall, a young railway depot master at Green Springs Depot in Louisa County, Virginia, who was shot dead in his store just hours after someone torched his competitor's business. Hall was married to Elizabeth, an older woman and the widow of Hall's former employer.  The sheriff, state investigator, and railroad detectives suspected Hall's business rival until strange circumstances, rumors of poisoning her first husband and of a freakish love interest fixed suspicion on the innocent widow. 

In a recent e-mail to us from the author, Ken Brandau wrote:
"I've enjoyed the Scottsville Museum's evolving website for years.  Your posted photographs fired my imagination during my long research of the 1914 Hall Murder Case in Louisa County."

"The Harrison murder of 1913 in Scottsville proved important to understanding the Hall Case.  The two crimes were similar, though unrelated, except for the shared involvement of an unscrupulous railway detective (Special Agent Myer S. Angle, Jr.), who helped frame Elizabeth Hall and, months earlier, tried to have an innocent drifter executed for the murder of Richard Wheat Harrison."

"Over the years, your web site posted period photographs of Scottsville, its depot, victim Richard Wheat Harrison, Mayor Beal, and Herbert Faulconer, who was the Scottsville telegrapher that discovered Harrison's body the next morning and was a witness as the trial.  There is also a picture of Alexina Harris and her son, Richard Wheat Harris, the victim's sister and her son who was the deceased brother's namesake.  Students of Scottsville history will be interested that Chapter 3 of my new book, Murder at Green Springs: The True True Story of the Hall Case, Firestorm of Prejudices covers in detail the mysterious shooting at the Scottsville Depot, the investigation, arrest, near lynching, and trial."

"Thanks for providing such valuable resources in preserving Virginia History." Ken (J.K. Brandau)

A Guide to Historic Charlottesville & Albemarle County, Virginia by Jean L. Cooper provides a useful guide to historic streets, buildings, and neighborhoods in Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County.  Pages 29-51 of Jean's guide provide walking and driving tours of 47 historic buildings and locations in Scottsville and also contains thirteen photos from the archives of Scottsville Museum.  Jean imparts a wealth of information, revealing fascinating details of our local history from the colonial era to the early twentieth century.

These two books by Brandau and Cooper are available for purchase online (Amazon.com) and at local bookstores in Charlottesville.  We highly recommend them to our readers as well-researched and fascinating reads.  Enjoy!

Across the street at Canal Basin Square, over forty reenactors of the All-American Honor Guard (AAHG) provided living history exhibits covering American military conflicts from the Civil War through the current Afghanistan-Iraq engagements.  On Saturday firing of weapons could be heard on Main Street as AAHG demonstrated firing of military weapons loaded with blanks.  The Monticello Guard (29th Division) conducted tactical exercises to demonstrate house search techniques currently employed by the U.S. Army in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Reenactors from the American Armoured Foundation reenacted WWII tank battles at the Canal Basin with 1/16 scale remote-controlled tanks.  And a host of military vehicles, including an Army ambulance, HumVee, and jeeps and a British Ferret (armored scout car) lined the road from the old Canal warehouse to the basin's pumping station.

Throughout the weekend, Scottsville Museum will feature its popular WWII exhibit, "Small Town, Big War."  This exhibit presents the story of our town during World War II and the contributions of our soldiers, who served during the war, and the sacrifices required of all the civilians on the home front.  The exhibit includes photographs of veterans and their stories, a WWII Army command post, a parlor and a kitchen from the war era, examples of veterans' letters sent home, an excellent collection of airplane models made by a boy during the war, and many other items reflecting this period in Scottsville's history.  On Saturday and Sunday, free doughnuts and cider will be served at the Museum to our visitors.

Across Main Street at Canal Basin Square (CBS), a living history program will feature AAHG re-enactors with period displays from almost every era in United States' military history from Jamestown through WWII.  These exhibits will be arranged about CBS grounds so that visitors may walk from one era to the next and engage the re-enactors in discussions about each U.S. military conflict.  Also included will be displays of military vehicles as well as tactical and weaponry demonstrations.  AAHG is a non-profit organization of military re-enactors whose mission is to "Honor Those Who Serve" through educating area residents about America's military past; they are all volunteers who personally research and finance the military characters they represent.

Do come to Scottsville on 27-28 October to salute all veterans, who have protected our American freedom since this country was born.  It's a great opportunity also to learn more about U.S. military history at Scottsville Museum and with the AAHG re-enactors at Canal Basin Square.  See you there!

"Bloody Omaha" Survivor Speaks at Canal Basin Square, 28 October 2007:
Bob Slaughter, noted author of Omaha Beach and Beyond, will speak about his WWII experiences at 2 p.m. on Sunday, 28 October, at Canal Basin Square.  Desperate for a paying job, Slaughter enlisted in the Virginia National Guard in early 1941 at the age of sixteen.  After Pearl Harbor, Slaughter was shipped as a member of the 116th Infantry to England.  Late in 1942, Slaughter volunteered for ranger and amphibious training as the Allies geared up for D-Day.  On June 6, 1944, Slaughter led a platoon of men as they landed on Omaha Beach under withering enemy fire.  At 6'5", Slaughter miraculously escaped the landing with only a bullet in his helmet; over 70 of his company were killed on D-Day. And that was only the beginning of combat for the men of the 116th Infantry as they fought the Germans across France, to Holland, the Bulge, and on into Germany. 

 "It is an honor to have Sgt. Bob Slaughter as a guest speaker on 28 October.  Anyone who has served in the military should find something of a common experience to share.  Sgt. Slaughter's story is an amazing telling of an amazing time in the world's history.  He does not glamorize the horror of war.  It is gritty."  Colonel John E. Bowers, US Army Retired, Scottsville, VA

Join us at Canal Basin Square (just across the street from Scottsville Museum on Main Street) at 2 p.m. to meet Sergeant Slaughter and hear his riveting account of D-Day.  Admission is free, and Sergeant Slaughter will be available after his presentation to sign copies of his book.  Copies of Omaha Beach and Beyond will be available on site for purchase from the author, too.