Volume 33, No. 3 Fall 2011
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Home of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
TAKING THE WATERS
A Spring-by-Spring Exploration
of Rockingham County’s
Wonderful Waters
By Dale McAllister,
Resident Historian
Our recent Jed Hotchkiss exhibit at the museum was
accompanied by programs and lectures about the life
of the famous educator, cartographer, and business-
man. One incident in the Hotchkiss family reminds us
of the importance of mineral springs resorts in nine-
teenth-century society. Jed Hotchkiss and his wife
Sara were the parents of two daughters, both born
while the family lived at Mossy Creek south of
Bridgewater. When the younger daughter was deliv-
ered, the birth was difficult and left the mother frail
and infirm. What could be done to restore Sara Hotch-
kiss to full health? Why, have her “take the waters” at
Stribling Springs. The family moved to Stribling
Springs, northwest of Churchville, where Mrs. Hotch-
kiss drank the invigorating mineral water and was re-
stored to health within a year. Stribling or Augusta
Springs, on the eastern slope of North Mountain, was
known for its healing, sulfurous waters.
Rockingham County, too, was the home of several
resort springs where one could stay in a cabin or hotel
and leave the rigors of harsh life and ill health behind.
The railroad would bring visitors to Harrisonburg and
private conveyances would take them the rest of the
way to their vacation destination. Here is a brief list-
ing of the more important resort springs:
Bear Lithia Springs, named for the pioneer Bear
family and located north of Elkton, had famous miner-
al waters and a hotel. Bear Lithia likely sold more of
its mineral water to retailers than any other springs in
the county. Adam Miller, pioneer settler in Rocking-
ham, had originally owned the springs.
Bloomer Springs was a few miles north of Rocking-
ham Springs to the east of Massanutten Mountain. It
was opened in the 1850s as a health resort. Lake’s At-
las indicates seven cabins there including one belong-
ing to Jacob Burner. The Bloomer name relates to the
iron industry nearby.
See page 6
These visitors to Sparkling Springs, south-west of Singers Glen, were just a few of the
tourists heading to the cool climes of the Shenandoah Valley for refreshment, enter-tainment and good health during the 19th century. Sparkling Springs was developed
between 1886 and 1890. The cabins, in their whitewashed Victorian décor, still exist and
are often occupied by families on holidays and over the summer.
Calendar Of Events
Through Jan. 15, 2012: ―Bernhart & Company: Shenandoah Valley Folk Art as Fraktur (1774-1850).‖ Featured exhibit.
Nov. 5: Fraktur Drawing Workshop, with local artist Joan Shaver. 10 am. $20 fee includes personal supplies for each participant.
Nov. 15: ―My Dearest Angel—A Story of a Victo-rian Marriage,‖ by Katie Letcher Lyle. 7 pm. Free. Donations welcome.
Nov. 20: Last Seasonal Sunday opening until Spring 2012.
Nov. 24-25: Museum, Library and Office closed. Take a break from football and cooking and bring your guests to visit on Saturday, Nov. 26th!
Dec. 11: Holiday Open House, Book Signing and Bookstore Sale. 1-5 pm.
Dec. 23-26: Museum, Library and Office closed.
Dec. 31– Jan. 1: Museum, Library and Office closed. Happy New Year!
Jan. 21: Folklife Society Program on Fraktur by Dale MacAllister. Refreshments.
Jan. 2-16: An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia, Temporary exhibit on loan from Virginia Historical Society.
Stay in touch for new listings— www.heritagecenter.com or find the Harrisonburg-
Rockingham Historical Society on Facebook!
Page 2 Volume 33, No. 3
The Heritage Museum Hours
Tuesday—Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Seasonal Sundays 1 p.m.—5 p.m.
Genealogy 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: John Paul
Vice-Chair: Nancy Hess
Secretary: Michael G. Hill
Treasurer: Bonnie Paul
HRHS Staff
Interim Director: Penny Imeson
Office Assistant: Margaret Hotchner
Archivist: Laura Adams
Newsletter Editor: Lauren Jefferson
Staff: Amy Kiracofe, Cameron Hupp, Juanita Wysong
2011 - 2012 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 the editor
Or by calling (540) 879-2616
Lauren Jefferson, 5200 Singers Glen Rd.,
Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Winter January 30
Spring April 1
Summer July 1
Fall October 1
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Linda Bowers Wes Graves
William Kyger, Jr. Dale MacAllister
Nathan Miller Greg Owen
Harry Rawley
Greetings to New Staff Member—
Margaret Hotchner
Margaret, born in Missouri, has lived
in Virginia since 1971. In 2006, she
and her husband bought a home in
Harrisonburg to help curb her gene-
alogy addiction and to find out more
about her paternal ancestors who
lived in Harrisonburg from 1862 un-
til the early 1900s. She began volunteering in the
Genealogy Library earlier this year and now enjoys
the diverse nature of working as the Office Assistant
for The Heritage Museum. Margaret’s 35+ years
work experience is in the financial area where she
worked for The American Red Cross and Howard
Hughes Medical Institute.
Volume 33, No. 3 Page 3
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Correspondence From The Genealogy Library
On the Good and Stoner families
John McLuckie, from Jefferson, Md., visited The
Heritage Museum in April to conduct research on the
Good and Stoner families. After he sent a thank-you
note for his successful research, HRHS asked John if
he’d like to share more about his interests.
John related that his love of family history began in
his childhood, when his grandmother lived with his
family.
“She told me many stories of growing up in Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania,” he emailed. “These stories
made me want to learn more about my ancestors.”
He continues: I have been involved in family his-
tory for over 25 years… I have traveled to the
following places during my research: Frostburg
and Cumberland, Maryland; Washington, DC to
the Library of Congress and to the library of the
Daughters of American Revolution; Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Ten-
nessee; and Edinburg and Dayton, Virginia.
My wife's family is connected to Augus-
ta, Rockingham and Shenandoah counties
through the Good and Wolford families. When I
came to the HRHS, I was looking for the Good
family and my search was greatly rewarded. I
am planning on putting together the information
on the Wolford and Good families and giving it
to my wife, her sister, brother and extended fam-
ily. I am currently working on further infor-
mation on the Wolford/Woolford/Wolhfarth
family in Shenandoah County.
If you have any further questions please feel to
ask, I always like talking about family history.
Keep up the good work at your great library and
museum.
Genealogical inquiries are welcome for publication in the newsletter.
HRHS researchers are also available to assist. Cost is $20 per hour per
surname with a minimum two hours per surname ($40) to start. For
more information, call 540-879-2616 or visit the HRHS website at
www.heritagecenter.com, find Order Research under the Library tab.
Mary Elizabeth Good Wolford holds her two-year-old
great granddaughter, Pamela Wolford (McLuckie).
Mary Wolford was born Sept. 23, 1856 in Steele’s Tav-
ern, Virginia. According to family legend, she traveled
as an infant from Virginia to Tennessee in a covered
wagon. She died Feb. 8, 1955 in Bristol, Tennessee. Re-
searcher John McLuckie, who is married to Pamela,
says this is one of his favorite family pictures.
On the Stinespring family
Mary Ann Stinespring, of Bigfork, Montana, inquired
in the Spring 2010 newsletter about her husband’s ances-
tors, John Henry and Eleanor Stinespring, who lived in
Augusta and Rockingham counties in the early 1800s with
their two sons, William and John Adam.
She received one reply to her inquiry and is now trying
to find out if the family’s original surname was changed
when they entered the country.
Mary Ann has been involved in genealogy for 42 years;
she began researching with her mother after joining the
Church of Latter Day Saints, which encourages such re-
search.
To offer information, email [email protected]
or mail 865 Bear Creek Rd., Bigfork MT 59911.
Page 4 Volume 33, No. 3
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Annual Banquet 2011 More than 115 members and guests socialized, dined, shopped, voted, and enjoyed
history at the Annual Banquet & Silent Auction held at the Spotswood County Club on
Friday, October 7th. Program Chair Lisa Eppard greeted the attendees with an impas-
sioned welcome, saying “I am so impressed by all of you, the talented individuals who
have chosen to carry on the mission of the founders of this great organization who saw
the importance of preserving the stories of the past. It is through your generous support
that we are able to preserve and celebrate our area history."
Generous shoppers made the Silent Auction quite a success! Hot items included a
hand-turned walnut bowl by local artisan Phil Evans, a lustrous silk scarf courtesy of
Primrose House in Dayton, a hot air balloon ride, and a tour of Brock’s Gap with
Turner Ham luncheon courtesy of Pat Turner Ritchie. In addition, gift certificates to
local restaurants and free passes to tourist destinations across Virginia generated lively
activity at the bidding tables. Proceeds topped $3500. Big kudos to the Silent Auction
Team for their outstanding efforts.
Guest speaker, Robert Dalessandro, captivated the group first with lessons learned by
studying the Civil War. He then led an engaging question and answer session in which
he addressed U. S. military engagements up to the modern era and the role of his de-
partment in embedding military historians on the battlefield. Attendees took the oppor-
tunity to tap Mr. Dalessandro’s depth of knowledge and experience further as he enthu-
siastically continued the conversations even after the banquet concluded.
John Paul, Trustee Chairman, efficiently lead the business portion of the Annual Meet-
ing during which the Trustee Class of 2014 was elected: Lisa Eppard, Monica Frackel-
ton and Greg Owen officially start their terms in January 2012.
New Trustees Elected The Trustee Class of 2014 was elected by unanimous consent during the official business meet-
ing held at the Annual Banquet. Returning for a second term is Greg Owen, Rockingham County
native, historian, George C. Marshall Scholar, and author of two titles on the topic of World War
II. He is an active member of the Bridgewater Ruritans and Bridgewater Church of the Brethren.
Joining him are Program Chair, Lisa Eppard, and new recruit, Monica Frackelton. Lisa Harman
Eppard is a native of the Shenandoah Valley and resides in Harrisonburg with her husband Todd.
She earned an Associate’s Degree from Blue Ridge Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in
U.S. History from Mary Baldwin College, and a Master’s Degree with a concentration in U.S.
History from James Madison University. She teaches History for Liberty University’s College of
General Studies. Monica Kramer Frackelton has a love for the Valley and is committed to per-
petuating its beauty and history, as exhibited in her leadership of the Spotswood Garden Club and
now HRHS. She was born in Harrisonburg, where she and husband, David Gilmer Frackelton,
raised their three children. Monica’s strong belief in giving back to the community was inherited
by her daughter, Rebecca, who was a leader of the Silent Auction team.
One guest wrote: “Please extend my appreciation for such a lovely and interesting evening last
Friday. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and thought that the Speaker was incredi-
ble. Thanks so much for everyone's hard work to make this evening such an enjoyable event.”
Robert Dalessandro, U.S. Army
Chief of Military History
Page 5 Volume 33, No. 2
Volunteer of the Year: Allen Litten
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
At the Annual Banquet, longtime vol-
unteer Allen Litten was presented with
the Volunteer of the Year award for
his work on both the Exhibit and Col-
lections Committees. Presenter Peyton
Yancey introduced Litten with the fol-
lowing accolades:
As we go through life, we rarely have
the opportunity to meet an individual
such as our 2011 Volunteer of the
Year. When very young our nominee
began a career as a hobby. In order
to earn money to support the hobby, our volun-
teer washed cars at a local service station for fif-
ty cents a car. Other jobs were held and com-
pleted in an extraordinary fashion. Respect was
earned from those with whom contact was made.
It wasn’t long until it became evident that the
hobby was to become a vocation that developed
into an illustrious career giving our volunteer
many acknowledgements, recognition, and
awards.
After years of providing service to help people to
understand what was happening in the city and
county, the idea of retirement was anticipated
and concluded. As events developed, this individ-
ual saw that there was a huge demand for special
assignments with organizations, and volunteering
to assist with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham His-
torical Society became a reality.
Many of us have had the great pleasure of work-
ing with this individual. There are times that we
stand in awe of the artistic professionalism exhib-
ited. Our volunteer is a person of the highest in-
tegrity and morality who strives for perfection in
the work that is assigned whether the project is
large or small, to be seen by many or only a few.
This individual is one who devotes extra time to
complete an exhibit or to help others with their
program or task in the most kind and friendly
way. When there is an event at the museum,
whether a program, a speaker, or the opening of
a new exhibit, you will always see our volunteer
in attendance.
I would like our volunteer to come forward when
his name is announced and accept this small to-
ken of our deepest appreciation for all that you
do. It gives me great pleasure to present to you
the 2011 Volunteer of the Year, Mr. Allen Litten.
Presenter Bonnie Paul shared the inscription on
Allen’s certificate:
This certificate is awarded to Allen Litten who
always generously shares his expertise and pro-
fessionalism in photography but who went above
and beyond by sharing his time to digitally pre-
serve the identity of fraktur and collections for
posterity every Tuesday and Thursday and times
in between as HRHS Head Photographer.
Congratulations, Allen! Keep up the good work!
Volunteer of the Year Allen Litten with co-presenters Peyton Yancey,
Collections Committee Chair, and Bonnie Paul, Exhibit Committee
Chair.
From page 1
Liberty Springs is on the eastern slope of
Second Mountain several miles northeast of
Rawley Springs and west of the Peak section.
The cabins built there before the Civil War
were burned during the conflict to prevent
those seeking to avoid military service from
hiding in this isolated sylvan retreat. In 1877,
B. D. Bowman, Michael Whitmer, John Long
and John Eversole began laying off lots for
new cabins. Four cabins had already been built
and their plans included room for about 20
additional ones.
Taylor Springs was an important site for local
camp meetings, especially Methodist, begin-
ning about 1816. The Madisons and the Mon-
roes were distinguished early guests at Taylor
Springs. When Dr. Burke Chrisman bought the
property in 1888, he changed its name to Mas-
sanetta Springs. The name was a combination
of Massanutten, the mountain, and Henrietta,
the name of Dr. Chrisman’s wife. The doctor
sold Massanetta bottled spring water in Wash-
ington, Philadelphia and New York City. It
was advertised as a cure for “malaria, nervous prostration, in-
somnia, diabetes, inflammation of the bladder, and venereal dis-
ease.”
In 1922, Massanetta was deeded to the Presbyterian Synod of
Virginia. That year was the beginning of an annual Bible Con-
ference that has drawn nationally known speakers through the
years.
Rawley Springs, located in the foothills of Shenandoah Moun-
tain west of Harrisonburg along U. S. 33, was among the more
successful resorts in the area. Guests could readily travel over
the Rawley Springs Turnpike to reach Blue Hole and the
springs. In the 1870s, the resort advertised that its waters were
“peculiarly efficient in the diseases of females.” Lake’s Atlas for
1885 includes a map of Rawley Springs that includes the follow-
ing buildings: Washington House, Virginia House, Baltimore
House, band stand, dining room, bar room, separate ten pin al-
leys for men and women, bath rooms, laundry room, spring
house, ice house, bottling house, stables and numerous cottages.
Its fine hotel and other buildings burned in June 1886 leaving
only the Baltimore House standing. A rebuilt, native-stone
spring house remains today.
Hopkins Springs, near the Massanutten Peak and northeast of
the Kettle, was later called Rockingham Springs. In the 1870s,
the resort advertised that its healing waters were good for
“diseases of the liver, kidneys, alimentary canal, scrofula, rheu-
matism, and bronchial lungs.” Rockingham Springs is best
known because Southern poet Sidney Lanier spent the summer
of 1879 here writing his Science of English Verse. The springs
are now part of Massanutten Resort.
Baxter Springs, along Little North Mountain southwest of Sing-
ers Glen, became known as Sparkling Springs when it opened
as a family resort. Twenty-nine cabins were built from 1886 to
1890. Those who did not own cabins could stay in the boarding
house built by J. W. Minnick. Its heyday at the turn of the twen-
tieth century is long gone, but its mountainside cabins remain, as
does a rebuilt spring house.
Union Springs is located northwest of Clover Hill beyond Nar-
rowback Mountain. The Misses Croushorn ran the boarding
house in the 1870s. Amazingly, that same decade, concerts were
held in the ballroom to raise money for a proposed narrow-
gauge railroad from Washington, D. C., to California that would
pass by Union Springs! There were at one time more than 30
cottages built around the springs. By 1900, the cabins had fallen
into disrepair and several had fallen down.
Yellow Massanutten Springs was located along the western
slopes of the Massanutten in Mountain Valley about four miles
east of Lacey Spring at Yellow Springs. This resort, owned by
Charles J. Brock, opened in 1874 and contained a large, three-
story hotel, ten pin alley, and bar. The original board costs were
$2 per day, $10 per week, and $35 for the month. The buildings
no longer exist and the grounds have been reclaimed by nature.
See page 7
Local spring water, resorts marketed nationally
Page 6 Volume 33, No. 3
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Rawley Springs, located in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountain west of Har-
risonburg, was a popular and successful resort until destruction by fire in 1886.
Volume 33, No. 3 Page 7
From page 6
What caused the decline in mineral springs as summer destina-
tions? There were certainly several factors. Transportation
shifted from the horse and carriage to automobiles making trav-
el easier. Advancements in medicine lessened reliance on the
“curative powers” of mineral water. People began looking for
more vacation entertainment than springs could provide. And
many came to believe that “taking the waters” was just plain
old fashioned.
Sources furnished upon request.
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Advances in medicine drew visitors away
By Rosemarie Palmer
The Civil War came to
Lynnwood plantation, near
Port Republic, on the evening
of June 7, 1862, when the es-
tate was taken over by Union
soldiers in pursuit of Major
Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall”
Jackson. His headquarters
were at Madison Hall in Port
Republic.
Charles Lewis’s daughter,
Anne Walton, owned
Lynnwood with her husband,
Robert, a Confederate army
chaplain. Her aunt and uncle,
Richard and Maggie Fletcher,
and two Fletcher cousins were
also staying in the house.
At dinner that night, Col.
Lewis P. Buckley of the 29th
Ohio told his hosts, “By sun-
down tomorrow night we will
have sent Jackson and his ar-
my to Hell.” Sue Fletcher, one
of Mrs. Walton’s cousins, re-
torted that he ought not to
speak too soon, since he might
be the first to get there.
The family fled the next day
across the Shenandoah River
to Bogota when hostilities at
Lynnwood became imminent,
according to historical ac-
counts of the battle. With them
were Anne Mayhew Fletcher,
who had given birth to a girl
the previous day, the Walton
children, and servants carrying
necessities in their aprons. As
the refugees watched the clash
of Jackson’s men with Union
troops from a second-story
porch at Bogota, Sue Fletcher
spotted the boastful Col.
Buckley falling mortally
wounded from his horse.
Yankees tore up beds in the
house, drove off livestock and
took clothing leaving the
home’s residents without a
change of clothes. The Union
invaders cut the throats of
sheep and ruined farm uten-
sils. As the residents returned
through the front yard, they
found a dead Union soldier
propped against a tree with the
family’s silver spoons sticking
from his pocket.
Richard Fletcher took
charge of caring for the
wounded at Lynnwood, aided
by family servants. The num-
ber of Confederate buttons un-
earthed near the house is evi-
dence that uniforms too
See page 11
Visitors to Rockingham Springs,
located on Massanutten Resort.
Civil War in the Valley: Lynnwood Plantation
Page 8 Volume 33, No. 3
New In The HRHS Bookstore
Shop and support The Heritage Museum at our NEW web store:
www.heritagemuseumstore.com
or come in for a visit and see all we have to offer!
Questions? 540 879 2616
Shenandoah Valley Folk Art Fraktur (1774-1850)
Edited by Bonnie L. Paul, Exhibit Director
$24.99
A beautiful publication of the Bernhart & Company
exhibit now in the gallery. With color photographs and history of 78
fraktur full of Rockingham County heritage, it will be a keepsake!
Coming
Soon!
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Interested in making a donation to our collections or archives?
For artifacts unique to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, please schedule an appointment with our Collections
Review Committee. Artifacts must be reviewed before being accepted into the permanent collection. We are com-
pleting a full inventory of our archives and will not be taking new paper items until we complete this important task.
Thank you for allowing us to process your items with thoroughness and care.
1861: Life in the Shenandoah Valley
By Elsie Renalds Newcomer & Janet Renalds Ramsey
$20.00
Siram P. Henkel of Rockingham County kept a detailed journal of daily farm and
mill operations from the 1830s to the 1870s. His account of the first year of the Civil
War reveals how the transition from peace to war affected his community and the
Current Bestseller!
Thank
you!
Just in time for your holiday shopping!
Collectible ornaments and mugs to celebrate the
beautiful fraktur in the HRHS Collection.
Mugs $10, Ornaments $12
Volume 33, No. 3 Page 9
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
While much research is completed at the HRHS library, some
of it never sees the light of day. That’s not the case for William
B. Fetters, of Mitchellville, Maryland, who reports that his 266-
page volume titled “"Mathias Muench/Minnick (1776-1860) of
Rockingham County, Virginia: Ancestors and Descendants" was
published in April.
Fetters donated a copy to the library where much of his re-
search was completed in the 1980s, he said, adding that former
assistant Mary Nelson’s help was most appreciated.
“The Minnicks were an important family that settled in the
area between New Market and Timberville about 1800,” Fetters
said. “Part of the original farm still is owned and operated by a
Minnick descendant, Joseph F. Minnick.”
Seeking a better life in the New World, in 1737 (the year of
his 37th birthday), Johann Simon Münch left his home at Gom-
mersheim with his wife, Anna Maria Catarina Schenk, and chil-
dren. They were accompanied by his older brother Peter, who
also was married and had offspring. After traveling down the
Rhine to the port of Rotterdam, they engaged passage to Phila-
delphia on the ship Samuel.
Upon arrival on 30 Aug. 1737, Simon and Peter and other
adult males took oaths of allegiance to King George II of Great
Britain. Within the next several months, the two brothers moved
their families about 60 miles northwest to Tulpehocken, a large
and important German community in Pennsylvania.
Both men bought large tracts of land and seemed to have pros-
pered. Simon died in 1781, fifteen years after Peter had passed
away. Simon’s home tract was patented to his son, Johann
George Michael. In 1793, this son and his wife of 33 years
(Magdalena Wagner) sold their farm and moved west to the vi-
cinity of Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Some of
their twelve children accompanied them, but others remained in
Berks County or moved to scattered other places.
Mathias, one of the sons, apparently moved to and was mar-
ried in Cumberland County. In 1801, he and his wife, Catharine
Fertig, moved to Rockingham County, Virginia. About the same
time, several of Mathias’s siblings, including John, Anna Maria
and Catharine, also moved to this county in the Shenandoah Val-
ley. Most of this book is devoted to Mathias, his two wives, their
21 children, and many of the individuals in later generations.
The volume contains six chapters and three appendices includ-
ing 34 maps, 40 pictures, an extensive “notes and references”
section documenting all major findings, a bibliography, and an
all-name index. Only 100 copies will be available for sale.
Cost is $25 per book, plus $4 postage and handling for the
first book and $2 for each additional book. Send check or money
order to 10450 Lottsford Road, #5017, Mitchellville, MD 20721.
For more information, email [email protected].
Member publishes book: Munch/Minnick (1776-1860)
Doctor Phillip Baker, of Topeka, Kansas, announces the
publication of a new volume of research on the Yankey/Yankie/
Yankee family: “Movers and Settlers: The Yankey Family.”
The book is 470 pages, including photographs, maps and
copied documents, and adds new information on the origin
of the family according to Baker’s research. “This book began
as a history of my family and expanded into a family history
of families all over the United States,” he writes in a press re-
lease.
For orders or questions, email [email protected] or
write to Phillip Baker, 3133 SW 15 St., Topeka,
KS 66604. The books cost $50.00 dollars including mailing
for the soft, spiral bound copy, and $75.00 for the hard bound
copy including mailing. Canada will cost more.
Yankey/Yankie/Yankee book available Whether you are just getting started
or a seasoned searcher . . .
Visit our extensive Genealogy Library
Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Seasonal Sundays 1 pm - 5 pm
and by appointment on
Mondays 10 am - 5 pm
We have one of the largest collections of
Rockingham County records.
Can’t come in? Hire our Researcher!
Genealogy Tips:
The 8870 Formula
“Using the 8870 formula to ascertain a birthdate can be a
tremendous help to the genealogist. If a tombstone or
death record shows that a person died at the age of 71
year, 7 months, 9 days and also shows the death date,
May 6, 1889, but no date of birth is listed, in order to ob-
tain the birth date one has only to use the 8870 formula.”
18890506 Died 1889, May 6
Subtract 710709 71 years, 7 months, 9 days
18179797
Subtract 8870 CONSTANT: 8870
18170927 Born 1817, Sept. 27
Compendium for Historical Resources by Robert A. Brenner as print-
ed in the Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library Newsletter, Win-
ter 2010, Issue 2.
Page 10 Volume 33, No. 3
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Robert & Linda Appel, Madison, VA Diane Clark, Kansas City, MO Edward Cunningham, Rockford, IL Lynn Cvechko, Charleston, WV Dennis Dutterer, Keswick, VA Diane Earman, Harrisonburg, VA Stewart Fox, Ithaca, NY David & Monica Frackelton, Harrisonburg, VA Karmen Harvill, Harrisonburg, VA Vern Herr, Norcross, GA Diane Holsinger, Timberville, VA David Charles Huffman, Harrisonburg, VA Kevin Lofftus, Fairport, NY John & Betsy Mauzy, Harrisonburg, VA Elaine McDorman, Dayton, VA
Sam Metz, Sparks, NV Virginia Minnich, Harrisonburg, VA Robert Rader Family, Mint Spring, VA Barbara Scott, Sunnyvale, CA Howard Spitzer, Scott City, KS George & Anastasia Swope, New Milford, NJ June Marie Toth, Garwood, NJ Ron Trissel, Lakeland, FL Lonnie M. Van Trump, Crossville, TN Frank & Tara Vetting, Bridgewater, VA Teresa Whitesell, Staunton, VA Leslie Wiemerslage, Fairview Heights, IL Maureen M. Wilburn, Dacula, GA We hope to see you soon in the galleries and library!
A Warm Welcome To Our New Members
It’s Membership Renewal Time! Why renew?
If you have already renewed, you know the answer to
that question! We thank you most sincerely and ask
that you drop us a line to let us know why you contin-
ue your support. We value your input into our ser-
vices and wish to use your member dollars wisely. In
addition, we are interested in your story and may find
it useful as we reach out to new members.
If you have yet to renew, please remember your mem-
bership benefits not only you, but the Harrisonburg-
Rockingham community. Your membership dollars
provide essential funding to continue our mission to
collect, preserve, and share the stories of the Central
Shenandoah Valley heritage.
Renewing now is important as we establish the 2012
Budget allowing us to provide our full program sched-
ule, to reach out to our community, to update and ex-
pand our exhibits and so much more!
If you like what you see and enjoy what you hear as a
member, please consider sharing your experience with
others through a gift membership. Our visitors are
consistently impressed with the quality of our facili-
ties, exhibits, and library and growing our membership
base will create a firmer foundation for the hopes and
dreams we have for the future, which is a goal we can
all be proud to support.
With much appreciation! Linda Bowers, Membership Chair
Lost your Membership form? Find another on our
website or renew over the phone at 540 879 2616
Jim Britt, Frank Wilt, and Amy Kiracofe on air during WSVA remote broadcast from the
HRHS Bookstore to promote membership drive and upcoming events on Sept. 20, 2011.
Volume 33, No. 3 Page 11
Thanks To Our Business Sponsors For Their Proud Support Of HRHS
LDA Creations
2328 Silver Lake Road, Dayton, VA 22821
540-879-2800
If your business would like to become
a supporter of THE HERITAGE MUSEUM,
contact Penny at 540-879-2616.
Our Wish List
Task light for Genealogy Data Entry
Small Radio Metal Bookkends
Acrylic Display Stands for Brochures
Large Magnifier Desk Lamp for Archives
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BONNIE L. PAUL, P.C.
Attorney at Law
4159 QUARLES COURT TELEPHONE: 540.433.0990
HARRISONBURG, VA 22801 FACSIMILE: 540.433.2691
EMAIL: [email protected]
Lynnwood Plantation
From page 7
bloody and tattered to save
were torn from the injured and
thrown in piles outside. Nu-
merous Mini balls and more
than 60 Confederate uniform
buttons have since been re-
moved from the estate, and
damage from a cannon ball
that crashed through an upper
bedroom window and other
hits from the raging battle
have been repaired over time.
One button found on the prop-
erty in recent years bore the
inscription of a VMI officer.
The stately Federal
“Lynwood” was built south of
Port Republic in 1813 by
Charles Lewis. Lewis inherit-
ed the property from his fa-
ther, Thomas, a Rockingham
County surveyor and ac-
quaintance of George Wash-
ington, who visited several
times at Lynnwood.
Thomas Lewis surveyed
the Fairfax line with Joshua
Fry and Thomas Jefferson’s
father, Peter Jefferson. John
Francis Lewis, a son of
Charles Lewis was the only
member of the Virginia House
of Delegates to vote against
secession. He reported being
shunned on the streets of
Richmond before the war. He
served two terms as lieutenant
governor of the state of Vir-
ginia.
Source: “Buttons, Bullets Left
from War,” Betty Skeens, Daily
New-Record, March 21, 1992.
Harrisonburg - Rockingham Historical Society
P.O. Box 716
Dayton, Virginia 22821
Non-Profit
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 19
Harrisonburg/Rockingham
OR CURRENT ADDRESS
Fall 2011 From the desk of the Interim Director: Once again we find ourselves in a season of change. As one may expect on an October Valley day the fall colors are floating on a chilly breeze outside the office window. Inside, we, too, are adjusting after the unexpected resignation of our Executive Director, Ann-marie Alford Latchum, in August. After a year spent laying a new foun-dation for growth and renewal at HRHS, Ann-marie accepted a position she couldn’t refuse at James Madison University. For those of you who met and worked with Ann-marie you know we miss her warm and welcoming smile and gener-ous spirit. In the past month we have raised community awareness through an early morning radio broadcast, hosted two programs and one group tour dinner, participated in Dayton Days, cele-brated at the HRHS Annual Banquet & Silent
Auction, kicked off the 2012 Membership Drive, greeted new visitors and volunteers, and extermi-nated a large community of yellow jackets. A lively discussion about tracing Revolutionary War ancestors in the Genealogy Library has re-searchers sharing tips and a dozen visitors are watching our renowned Electric Map as I finalize this note and begin preparing for upcoming events and outreach opportunities. I am happy to confirm “There is Always Some-thing Happening at The Heritage Museum!” With much appreciation to all of our members, volunteers, and donors who help to make The Heritage Museum a vibrant place to visit and work,
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY