A special exhibit of work by a talented and creative group of Botetourt County elementary

and middle school students is currently on display at the Botetourt County Historical Museum. “Footprints of Our Forefathers-From Jamestown to

Botetourt County” opened on Saturday, May 12, and

will continue on display through the end of July. The exhibit showcases the individual and group projects

of elementary and middle school gifted students from

Botetourt County Public Schools.

With the direction of resource specialists

Mary Lynne Leffel, Marsha Peters, Michelle Sears, and Lisa Moyer, the elementary “Young Scholars” and middle school “Seminar” students researched topics

of interest to them relating to Botetourt County’s early history. Their research included field trips, the use of internet and print resources, and presenta-

tions by local historians, all of which helped them to focus on their topics of interest. The projects on display at the museum include a replica Conestoga wagon and bateaux, both means of transportation

for early settlers of the western frontier of eight-eenth century Botetourt. Other projects include displays on colonial medicine and clothing, models of

the first courthouse, an historical timeline, power-point presentations, and others. Several of the stu-dents greeted visitors dressed in period costumes at

the exhibit opening on May 12.

The exhibit, which is one of the historical society’s projects as part of the Jamestown 2007

celebration, will be on display daily at the museum in

Fincastle.

Inside this issue:

From the President 2

Heritage Day in

Fincastle on July 28

3

A Life Well Lived:

Pleasant Richardson

4

New and Renewed

Memberships

6

“From Sea to Shining

Sea” Musical at Attic

Theatre

7

Third Annual Found-

ers Day Dinner on

October 26

7

Continued Member-

ship is Important

8

“Footprints of our Forefathers” Exhibit

on Display at Historical Museum

Dr. Warren Billings, Pro-

fessor Emeritus of Histo-

ry at the University of

New Orleans and a sev-

enteenth century Virginia

scholar and author will

keynote our third annual

Founders Day Dinner on

Friday, October 26,

2007, at the Fincastle

United Methodist Church

Family Life Center.

Volume 13 Issue 1

July, 2007

A Touch of History

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc

P.O. Box 468

Fincastle, Virginia 24090

First Annual Botetourt County Genealogy Fair to

be held Saturday, October 13, 2007

The first annual Botetourt County Genealogy Fair, “Start Exploring Your Roots”, is scheduled for Saturday,

October 13, 2007, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM at the Family Life Center of the Fincastle United Methodist Church, 137 South Church Street, in Fincastle, Virginia. This free to the public event is being planned and organized by The Bo-

tetourt Genealogy Club in cooperation with The Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc., the Botetourt County Of-

fice of Tourism and other community groups.

The fair will showcase vendors of books, software, forms, and other items of interest, including family histo-ries and photographs. Food will be available throughout the day for purchase, with proceeds going to the Friends of the

Fincastle Library.

Guest speakers have been scheduled throughout the day. Presentations will be made on resources available in the area for those doing genealogy research. One of the speakers will be Weldon Martin, executive director of The

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc., who will be making a presentation on the early history of Botetourt County.

Copy machines will be available and the genealogy room at the nearby Fincastle Library will be open for

visitation and research. A limited number of tables for family displays and/or vendor displays are still available for rent-

al.

For more information about this event, please contact Rena Worthen, of the Botetourt Genealogy Club at

(540)473-8339 or doreatr@rbnet.com

Message From the President Botetourt County Historical

Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 468 1 West Main Street

Fincastle, Virginia 24090-0468

Ph. (540)473-8394

Email: info@bothistsoc.org ,

Officers

John W. Rader, Jr., Pres. 345-1555

Sidney Hunter, Vice-Pres. 884-2433

Weldon Martin, Treas. 473-2636

Directors

Judith Barnett 473-2082

Cathy Benson 473-2762

Joseph Buhrman 884-2084

Loretta Caldwell 473-1299

Angela Coon 473-2871

Alice Crowder 992-3360

Patricia Ellis 473-2313

Jay Etzler 473-8272

Harry Gleason 254-1212

John Graham 580-7786

Katherine Harris 473-2337

Dr. Randall Hayes, Jr. 884-2275

Ann Layman 992-3333

Antonia McCoy 862-5229

Thomas Myers 884-2158

Nadine Rankin 473-8686

Janice Thompson 366-0161

Stephen Vest 977-3433

Mark Woodie 992-3509

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. is a charitable 501

C3 nonprofit organization. Dues and donations are tax-

deductible.

Executive Director and Editor: Weldon Martin

Email: weldonm@bothistsoc.org

Botetourt County Historical Museum

1 West Main Street

Fincastle, Virginia 24090

Open Monday thru Saturday, 10 AM-2PM

Sunday, 2 PM-4PM

Website: bothistsoc.org

Volume 13 Issue 1 A Touch of History Page 2

Dear Fellow Members,

The Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. has been busy since the last

newsletter. Thanks to Botetourt County, the owner of our museum building,

we have a new roof to keep our collection dry. We would like to commend

their diligent attention to protecting our interior space and using a quality

metal roof that protects the character of our building and the surrounding

community.

Our Executive Director, Weldon Martin, has created a power point presenta-

tion on the history of Botetourt County and our Museum. He has presented

this to several groups and it has proved to be a popular topic. Please let us

know if your group would like a presentation.

The museum has hosted two book signings. The first, on April 2, was an in-

teresting and entertaining presentation in authentic costume by Michael Ce-

cere, author of Captain Thomas Posey and the 7th Virginia Regiment. Posey was

a Fincastle merchant who fought in the Revolutionary War while maintaining a

diary of his experiences. The second, on June 17, was by Debra Alderson

McClane who recently completed a photographic history of Botetourt County

entitled Images of America: Botetourt County. Debra is a native of Botetourt

and added insight to the process of completing her book. This book signing

took place under the trees in the front of the museum on a beautiful June

Sunday afternoon. I would like to thank the members who provided refresh-

ments for both of these events.

In March the board of directors gathered at the Museum to move our office to the back porch room. This provides more space for our books and helps

with the traffic flow for our visitors. The Museum Committee is in the pro-

cess of relocating some of the exhibit areas for better flow. The moving of

the old court house bell and its case proved to be a formidable project even

though it was only to the adjoining room. Unfortunately, the old doorway

would not accommodate the case which to be moved through two other

doors, over the back outside staircase and around the museum. Thanks to all

who helped that day. The work was much needed and the fellowship was

great. We have another work/moving date scheduled for August 11.

Please mark your calendars for several upcoming events. On July 28, the

Museum will be opened from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to participate in Historic Fin-

castle Inc.’s Heritage Day, a part of the Jamestown 2007 celebration. On

October 26 we will be holding our 3rd Founders Day Dinner with another

top notch guest speaker, Dr. Warren Billings, author, professor, and 17th

Century Virginia scholar.

In closing I would like to thank all of our members, volunteers, and staff for all

of your contributions of money and time. With your help we are furthering

our mission of protecting and presenting the history of Botetourt County.

Sincerely,

John Rader Jr.

President

July, 2007 A Touch of History Page 3

Bedford Genealogy Fair Scheduled for September 8, 2007

The Bedford Genealogical Society is hosting its third genealogy fair at the Central Virginia Community College

(Bedford Campus) on Saturday, September 8. The hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and you will not want to miss this. Last

year the Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. had a table at the event which saw over 550 people from 13 states in attend-

ance. They will be limiting their display tables to 40 this year, so if you are interested in having a table for displaying your family

history watch for information on their website (www.bgsociety.org). Further information, including registration information,

will be available at the website listed above.

A Life Well Lived: Pleasant Richardson

Editor’s Note: The following is another in our occasional series profiling prominent citizens of Botetourt County, Vir-ginia. The information below has come from several sources and was gathered by Edward W. Barnett of Fincastle. Information came from The FINCASTLE HERALD, the Department of the Interior and a letter from the West Vir-ginia Division of Culture and History.

Pleasant Richardson was born a slave in 1846 in Botetourt County, Virginia. The 1853 inventory of Edward

Johnston’s Estate shows Pleasant Richardson as one of his slaves. In the records of the Department of the Interior Bu-

reau of Pensions, dated October 7, 1903, he states that his owner, at the time of enlistment, was Henry Johnston. He

lived on the Johns(t)on plantation until the third year of the War Between the States, when he ran away from home

and enlisted in the U.S. Army and took part in Bank’s expedition up the Red River Valley in Texas. Pleasant Richard-

son served with the U. S. 45th Colored Troops. When he died on Memorial Day 1935, at the age of 89, he was one

of the area’s last surviving veterans of the Civil War. He was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox and was

mustered out of the Army at Philadelphia. A Civil War medal for Union Veterans authorized by the 1866 West Vir-

ginia legislature to honor Union soldiers who served in West Virginia military units has been presented as a “token of

respect” and belatedly bestowed upon Pleasant Richardson for the service he gave to West Virginia and the Union Ar-

my in defense of the nation and to the benefit of the formation of the state.

On October 7, 1903 Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions records, Pleasant Richardson lists Fincas-

tle as his residence since being discharged from the U.S. Army. His occupation is listed as House Man and he is de-

scribed as five feet six inches tall with dark brown skin. His birth place is listed as Lauderdale, Botetourt County, and

this is where he lived before he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Pleasant Richardson came home and married Henrietta Braxton. The marriage resulted in the birth of two

children. One of the children was Arena Richardson Preston, well known educator and citizen of Fincastle and Bo-

tetourt County. Pleasant Richardson was a consistent member of the First Baptist Church of Fincastle. After his first

wife died, he married Mrs. Nancy Callender who also proceeded him in death.

July, 2007 A Touch of History Page 4

Pleasant Richardson’s obituary was included in The Fincastle Herald, dated June

4, 1935, as shown in this copy. It stated:

Pleasant Richardson was born a slave 89 years ago. He lived on the Johnson plan-

tation until the third year of the War between the states, when he ran away from home and

enlisted in the U.S. army and took part in Bank’s expedition up the Red River Valley in

Texas. He was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox and was mustered out of the

army at Philadelphia. He came home and married Henrietta Braxton by whom he had two

children, one of whom, Mrs. Arena Preston is still living. Upon the death of his first wife he

married Mrs. Nancy Callender who also preceded him to the grave.

Besides his daughter and sister, Mrs. Alice Edwards of Vinton, he leaves a host of

relatives and friends to mourn his loss.

He was a consistent member of the First Baptist Church of Fincastle. He was a

soldier par excellence and next to his religion prided himself in this fact. It was very appro-

priate that he answered his last bugle call on Memorial Day.

He was the last of the “old guard”. All his Botetourt comrades, Robert Kidd

Turner, George Spurlock and Thomas Reynolds have taken the last stand. In the front line

trenches, while taps are being sounded over the remains of Pleasant Richardson.

On fames eternal camping ground

Their silent tents are spread

While glory guards with solemn round

The bivouac of the dead.

July, 2007 A Touch of History Page 5

New and Renewed Memberships

Volume 13, Issue 1 A Touch of History Page 6

Listed below are the new and renewed memberships received since the last newsletter and up to July 15, 2007. New and renewed mem-

berships received after that date will be listed in the next newsletter. Please accept our apology in advance if we have inadvertently left

anyone’s name off the list. We appreciate being notified if names have been listed incorrectly or misspelled.

Patrons ($100 and up)

Carper, Glenn & Shirley

Carter, Claude D.

Hamner, Allen & Patricia

Jones, Daniel R., MD

Jones, Wendy & Bob

Rader, Jack

Robertson, James

Towles, William (Ted)

Wiegandt, Pam & Ralph

Friends ($25-$99)

Barnette, Edmund

Beauchamp, Gwendolyn

Bishop, Frank E.

Bolton, N.M. Jr. (Corky)

Buhrman, Frank

Campbell, William and Rhonda

Carter, Rev. L. Clyde Jr.

Coon, Angela

Cox, James May

Elliott, Mary Vee

Farmer, Lois N.

Ferkler, William A. & Kay

Garst, John & Betty

Goodman, M. Jo & McClure, W.R.

Grindstaff, H.T. & Mary

Hagan, Lilian

Hanson, Joyce & Charles

Harvey, Jean F.

Hays, Randall

Hiett, Louis & Virginia

Hoffman, Robert H.

Jones, Brian

King, Kenneth C. Jr.

Lambert, Anita & Dick

Lanius, Ross M. Jr.

Mahone, Nancy Hopkins

Mosher, Patricia Chapman

Nelson, Lila D.

Newkirk, Dorothy Jane

Obenshain, Mary Anne

Paynter, Walker B.

Parker, Wanda F.

Preston, Jane D.

Reed, Don & Mary Jo

Reynolds, Gary W.

Scheevel, Janet S.

Spence, Charles R.

Troutman, Linda T.

Walker, Lee and Donita

Walker, Donna G.

Waller, Donna G.

Wampler, Rebecca

Weymouth, Peggy Walker

Wheeler, Edgar V.

Individual/Family ($10-$24)

Allen County Pub. Library

Alves. Ann

Anderson, Leanna Depew

Atkinson, Esther N.

Barber, Hubert & Priscilla

Bearr, David W.C.

Brusseau, Barbara J.

Carty, Karen

Casey, Daniel H.

Chapman, Mary Lou

Charleson, D.J. & Laura

Clark, Junior L.

Cottrill, Karen Kessler

Cregger, Susan B.

Crowder, Alice

Donnally, Lillian F.

Dolph, Dr. Harry & Linda

Dowling, Billie S.

Dubois, Daniel H.

Erickson, Elba J.

Fisher, Carolyn

Foster, Paul & Janet

Fuller, Elizabeth

Garland, Paul G.

Graham, John

Graves, Jack & Nancy

Goad, Rosalie

Hammond, Raymond

Harris, Loraine

Hartless, Eleanor

Hayth, G. Lynne III & Angela

Hedrick, Deborah

Higgins, Frances-Douglas

Hopkins, Col. (Ret) Richard

Kegley, Sallie Ralston

Macoubrie, Bob

Mason, Virginia M.

Mays-Davis, Mary Frances

Mello, Jeanne A. Smith

Miller, Len Wohlford

Morlang, Florence B.

Morrison, Rebecca J.

Myers, Jane

Nielsen, Ethel

Oakes, Jane G.

O’Meara, Margaret H.

Park, Mary Bryant

Smith, Karen

Snider, Donald

Summerson, Marsha

Switzer, Ron & Kathleen

Sydnor, Shirley

Thompson, Nell C.

Toalson, Jeff

Willis, James M.

Wise, Rex & Judy

Wolfe, Loretta

Wyrick, Allen

Yochim, Marie

Corporate Members

Colonial Club ($100-$249)

NTelos Foundation

Oakey’s Funeral Service

Wiegandt and Doubles

Frontier Club ($50-$99)

Brughs Mill Country Store

Virginia Truck Center

July, 2007 A Touch of History Page 7

Third Annual Founders Day Dinner on October 26

Mark your calendars now for The Botetourt County Historical Society Inc.’s Third Annual Founders

Day Dinner. This year’s dinner is scheduled for Friday, October 26, 2007, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Family

Life Center of the Fincastle United Methodist Church. A fun evening is planned and our keynote speaker is Dr.

Warren Billings, Professor Emeritus of History at The University of New Orleans. A native Virginian, Dr. Billings lived on Jamestown Island and is a noted seventeenth century Virginia scholar. He has written or edited

numerous books on early Virginia history and is currently serving on the Federal Jamestown 400th Commemo-

ration Commission and is serving as the chairman of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities

(APVA) Jamestown Rediscovery Advisory Board and as a member of the APVA’s Board of Trustees. He is the

official historian for the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

Please plan to join us for this major celebratory and fundraising event for BCHS. More information re-

garding ticket sales will be forthcoming.

Michael Cecere, author of Captain Thomas Posey and the

7th Virginia Regiment presented an interesting and in-

formative talk and signed copies of his book at the mu-

seum on April 2, 2007

A beautiful Sunday afternoon in June saw author Debra

Alderson McClane talking to our guests on the lawn in

front of the museum at a book signing for her recently

published Images of America: Botetourt County.

Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 468

Fincastle, VA 24090

Non-Profit

Organization

U. S. Postage

PAID

Fincastle, VA 24090

Permit No. 47

Your Continued Membership and Support is Important To Us!!

Your membership status is noted on your newsletter mailing label. If any of the information is incorrect, we

would appreciate your letting us know. The date on your mailing label indicates when we last heard

from you with a membership renewal or a purchase from our museum store. If the date on your

membership label is July 2006 or earlier, we respectfully request that you send us a membership renewal as

soon as possible at one of the membership levels listed on the enclosed Membership/Order Form. It is vitally

important to the ongoing success of our society that you update your membership annually and that you con-

sider an additional gift to support the work of the historical society. Your membership dues and additional

financial support is used to help us operate the Botetourt County Historical Museum and to promote the his-tory of Botetourt County in other ways, including assisting with genealogy research, publishing this quarterly

newsletter, and operating a museum store and mail order business (we ship books all over the country).

We hope that you will want to continue to hear from us and support us in our goal to promote history and

genealogy.

PLEASE LET US HEAR FROM YOU!!!

Don’t forget to visit our website at www. bothistsoc.org.