Previous Events
NCHS held its annual business meeting for members and guests on Saturday, July 29. The year 2023 was a special year for NCHS. The organization celebrated the 60th Anniversary of its founding in 1963 and the 45th anniversary of the dedication of its Heathsville facility, the Ball Memorial Library and Museum, on July 29, 1978.
As is customary, the meeting convened at 10:30 AM. Deborah Bingham, Clerk of the Northumberland County Circuit Court, made a presentation regarding the clerk’s role in the storage, preservation, and restoration of county records. Following a lunch break from noon until 1:30 PM Alva Jackson, owner of Ma Margaret’s House B & B spoke about the Hidden History Trail that is being planned to raise awareness of the contributions of the Black community to the county’s history.
On Sunday, October 22, photographer Michael Joseph Wade presented his work at the fall meeting. Mr. Wade is a semi-retired photographer who is preserving history by photographing the rapidly disappearing historic landmarks that are found along the rural roads of Virginia. He has an extensive portfolio of old houses, barns, stores, churches, schools, and other structures and a lot of interesting stories to go with them.
Michael Wade with the abandoned Odd Fellows Lodge building on Sunnybank Road near Reedville in the background.
The Northumberland County Historical Society presented its spring program in the Ball Memorial Library and Museum presentation room on Sunday, April 7, at 2:30 PM. Dr. Wallace Emory Lewis, Jr., a retired local physician, and lifelong resident of Northumberland County presented stories, pictures, and artifacts depicting different aspects of life in the county, especially the area’s Menhaden fishing industry. His presentation was titled “Reedville: The Town that Fish Built.”
“Emory,” as he is known to his many friends, was born in Fleeton, the son of Wallace Lewis, Sr., a well-known and successful Menhaden fishboat captain. Emory grew up totally immersed in the Northumberland County waterman’s culture. Emory developed an appreciation for “the old ways” in this tight-knit community and has spent his life collecting interesting pieces of a bygone culture.
There was standing-room-only at the event. Armed with a brilliant sense of humor, anecdotes from his personal experiences, and artifacts from his extensive collection Emory educated, entertained, and amused the audience.
Light refreshments were served in the Board Room following the presentation. Thank you to those who were able to attend and thank you to our members for their continued support.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The annual summer meeting at NCHS is tentatively scheduled for July 27. As is customary, there will be a short business meeting followed by a speaker, a lunch break with lunches available for purchase, and then an afternoon speaker. Details will be displayed here when plans are finalized.