A place that loses its history loses its soul
Central Rappahannock Heritage Center Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 1
January 2014
In This Issue
Message from the Chairman
The Weather Outside is Frightful
Civil War Slave Requisitions

 
Can you help us identify
these photos?
(click on photo for closer view)


Amanda Kennedy Payne (R) & Unidentified
From the Pat Sullivan/Colvin Collection
Spotsylvania Memory


1935 Fredericksburg High School Basketball Team. Unidentified. From the Helen McKenney Collection.



Jere Malcolm Harris Willis. Others unidentified. From the Willis Family Collection.





The Circle Unbroken: Civil War Letters of the Knox Family of Fredericksburg is for sale now at the Heritage Center - only $29.70 for members, $33.00 for non-members. You can purchase the book at the CRHC or order online from the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation.

(click on image to order online)

 


 

  

 
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The Center gladly provides research services.  Please contact the Center for rates.

 

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900 Barton Street #111 Fredericksburg, VA  22401.

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Message from the Chairman
 

The Heritage Center is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors responsible for fulfilling the Center's mission.  Directors serve 3-year terms, and some begin their terms this month. Let me introduce all these talented, dedicated people and, when appropriate, position held. Many thanks to each of you for your contributions!

 

Lee Artman-Volunteer Coordinator and Secretary

 

Diane Ballman-Technology Coordinator

 

William Beck-Vice-Chair

 

Daniel Bender-Treasurer

 

Kim Campbell

 

Ranny Corbin

 

Elizabeth Daly-researcher and volunteer

 

Cooky Harpold-Outreach Coordinator

 

Wayne Harman

 

Chip Massey, M.D.

 

Wallace Morton

 

Beverley Newlin 

 

Ann Reamy-Newsletter Coordinator

 

George Snead

 

Sue Stone-Collections Manager

 

Jon Van Zandt

  

Barbara Barrett

CRHC Chairman
The Weather Outside is Frightful
1972 at Mary Washington College. From the Dr. Edward Alvey, Jr. Collection.
 

Winter weather in Virginia can be hazardous. Even though we think we are prepared, one big storm can keep us inside for days.

 

But this is not a new phenomenon.  The files at the Heritage Center tell a different story.  A letter from the Stearns collection to Elizabeth Stearns on December 11, 1933 says it all:  "I saw the first snow in eight years and it goes without saying twas not a welcome sight.  I could do nothing but shiver and pull the covering over my head to shut out the sight of it."

 

How about the storm of December 30, 1935?  Eight inches of snow were recorded in a 35 hour period, according to the Free Lance-Star.  But officials reported that... "traffic was maintained, few accidents were reported in the City or nearby, low temperatures recorded but no records broken."

 

March 22, 1973 brought another blast of nasty weather.  Icy conditions led to a two-car collision on the Chatham Bridge.  A westbound Chevy lost control, spun completely around and hit an eastbound Volkswagen.  The Free Lance-Star reported that road crews were out after the accident to spread sand on the bridges.

 

Perusing the files at the Center can also highlight the lighter side of winter in our region.  A story written by Dr. Edward Alvey, Jr. provides a glimpse at the long-ago winter of 1934-35.  Snow blanketed the region for several days.  Outside was a "winter wonderland."   Dr. Alvey's six-year-old daughter wanted to enjoy the day and asked for a sleigh ride. A horse-drawn sleigh was found at the livery and taxi service of R. G. Hilldrup.  The family picked up the sleigh at the Fairgrounds and spent the afternoon riding through Fredericksburg.  According to Dr. Alvey, "We became part of the Currier and Ives setting as we glided along that winter afternoon.  Adults looked on with nostalgia; some children shouted to us, while other stared incredulously to see a real horse-drawn sleigh."

 

These and other fascinating stories can be found in the archives of the Heritage Center.  Come down and discover unique snippets of our past.

 

Kathy Habel

CRHC Archivist

Civil War Slave Requisitions


The Virginia Works Progress Administration (WPA) Historical Inventory Project was sponsored by the Virginia Conservation Commission under the direction of its Division of History in the 1930's. The researchers visited older homes across Virginia and wrote the histories, including location of the house, dimensions, and historic significance.

 

In 1937 a WPA worker named Selma Farmer wrote reports on Port Royal houses in Caroline County. While researching at the Clerk's Office in Bowling Green, she discovered a document regarding slave requisitions "during the period of the War Between the States":

 

On December 28, 1864, the Governor requisitioned 100 male slaves ages 18 to 55 to work on Caroline County fortifications. The County Justices of the Peace ordered that "it be represented to the Governor that the citizens" had already lost more than three-fourths of their slave labor, leaving not more than 220 male slaves in the County. Also there "are very few male free negroes" between said ages, many having gone to the "public enemy" or already in the army or doing public works, and "all of the white daily laborers are in the army." Furthermore, "in November last this county had furnished 30 able-bodied slaves for 12 months" for fortification service. "From the evidence of this court, it believes" that should this requisition take place, the nearness of the county to the enemy lines "would produce a stampede of the slaves" and would result in a "requisition of slaves for the enemy" rather than to the Confederate Government."

 

Barb Davidson

CRHC Archivist

 
Welcome new members:  Ms. Viola Lawrence and Dovetail Cultural Resource Group.
 
Our memberships support the important work done by the Center, including the purchase of archival boxes, folders, etc.

  

If you are able to become a CRHC member, please help us in our efforts to preserve our area's history.  Just click on the Membership link under Quick Links on the left.

  

If you would like to order CRHC apparel, click here:  CRHC Apparel

 

Thank you for your support,
 

  

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center