Browse Items (1533 total)

Captain Francis Marion McMullen and his wife Virginia Ann ran a school in Stanardsville after the Civil War. In August 1868 he bought the 10 acre Stanardsville property on which Forest Hill Academy stands, and built this school house. It is not known…

Normal schools provided training for teachers in the late 1880s and early 1900s. These schools lasted from six weeks to several months and provided a good overview of subjects to be taught in grammar schools. In addition, they provided teachers…

This is a stone road marker placed by General John Hartwell Cocke, the Fluvanna County Overseer of Roads, in 1828. This specific marker directed people from the Fluvanna County seat at Palmyra to the James River at New Canton. There were multiple…

This quilt was made to raise funds for the Red Cross during World War I. An article in the December 1917 issue of ‘Modern Priscilla’ provided a complete pattern and instructions for making such a quilt, down to yardage requirements and costs,…

This circa 1875 quilt measures 92 inches by 82 inches, and is made of red and green cottons on a white background. It is hand pieced, hand appliquéd and hand quilted, with 5 rows of 4 red and green baskets set straight on a white background, and a…

This metal sign hung outside Joseph Ham's shop on Main Street in Stanardsville in the mid-19th century. He was not only a tailor but sold other goods, from at least 1856; he became Stanardsville's postmaster in September 1865, a post he held for the…

Joseph Ham’s Daybook begins in January 1856 and ends in September 1871. It lists all the transactions occurring at his Tailor’s Shop in Stanardsville. The word ‘Paid’ in the left hand margin indicates the transaction was settled. Being a…

The Virginia Central Railroad was a vital link between the region just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Richmond. When vast mineral deposits were being mined in Mineral City in Louisa County, the railroad was vital for transporting shipments of…

Russell Wright with his grandfather A'lelard Watkins
in a tobacco field near Bells Crossroads, Louisa County.

Afton Railroad Station, east of Crozet tunnel circa 1950's

William Henry Brill and Mildred Anne Long Brill in front of the Greene County Courthouse and Jail. Date is uncertain but believed to be late 1800s.

This armband immediately identified the wearer as a member of this important civilian volunteer corp. This armband is from the collection of the Goochland County Historical Society. Spotters were stationed in every county and state across the…

Volunteers typically served only once per week, so clear reminders of protocols were vital for consistency of reporting and information.

This page gives a quick review of the instructions volunteers were to follow to send a "flash" report upon…

Narratives from Louisa County Aircraft Spotters

Norma Trainham Peers, Green Springs District, Louisa Co, VA

Norma said that she and her husband, Millard Filmore Peers, lived in the Green Springs. Fill's parents owned a large property on the…

On Friday, May 1, 1908 students from Palmyra High School boarded the train in North Palmyra on this momentous occasion. Here, they left Station 812 at 9:45 and traveled to the next station – Wildwood. Although this station had no memorable name,…

The Page mines were located on Long Island Creek. They werefirst eradicated in 1856 and an eight stamp mill was created to crush the ores of the veins running through the property. Although it is hard to find the origins of the property in county…

Early taverns of America were places where members of the community and travelers alike could eat, drink, gather, and sometimes even sleep. There were several taverns located in Columbia throughout the years since the town’s founding. This…

The PDF file to the right is based upon a powerpoint presentation funded by Dominion Virginia Power. The presentation uses photos, many from the Louisa County Historical Society archives, to tell the story of Civil Rights from the end of the Civil…

This handmade Valentine's Day card, addressed to Cousin Elizabeth, mixes rhyming poetry and a sense of humor.

Cousin Elizabeth

on the 14 day of February
it was our lots to be merry

lots was cast and tickets was drew
kind fortune said it…