Browse Items (415 total)

Lucille Holt, born in 1883, became an influential woman in early twentieth century Louisa County. Born with a light skin tone, she was sometimes seen as a white woman and other times as a black woman. In 1916, Lucille Holt was appointed the first…

Virginia (Taylor) Syndor's remembrances of Westend's farm and country in in the early 20th century

The car which Lucy Taylor likely took to the Trevilians train station to pick up boarders for their country inn.

Parke Taylor, a renowned horticulturalist for her knowledge and cultivation of boxwood hedges, sent box clippings around the US, and to several different countries around the world. In the 1930s, Parke ran her boxwood business at Westend, in…

The brochure for the country inn run by Nancy and Lucy: "The Misses Taylor" of Westend. Their mother, Mary Minor Watson Taylor, specified in her that her unmarried children should have a life interest in Westend.

The girls' mother and father,…

Dates in parentheses refer to the day the membership card was signed. All other words in brackets refer to anything written on the front or back of the card.

Names of the enrollees:

Neal. A. Hasher and Mrs. N. A. (Minnie) Hasher of Trevilians,…

In 1904, at the age of 43 and with her husband and seven children, Christian Guild left her homeland of Scotland to immigrate to the United States. When she reached Dabneys, Louisa County, Virginia, she became actively involved in an attempt to start…

These images are copies of original labor contracts from Louisa County after the Civil War. Notice the stamps on each document showing it was approved by the Freedmen's Bureau office at Louisa Courthouse.

Contracts are between Henry Taylor and the…

The institution of slavery system kept family connections obscure and few slaves had last names. Establishing the roots and identity that come from knowing one’s family heritage became important for freedmen in the generations after the war. …

Joe Tinsley and Bobby Gilliard, taken on the front porch of Westend. In February 28, 1931 issue of The Southern Churchmanis Mr. Tinsley's obituary: "Entered into eternal life, February 16, 1931, at the home of the late Mrs. Mary Watson Taylor,…

Martin and Martha Johnson appear in the Freedman’s Bureau marriage records for Louisa County – he is 42 and she is 39.

Barbara is listed as the daughter of Martin Johnson and Martha Johnson in a 1850 slave list.
In the 1900 census, Barbara…

Possibly Mourning with a son of Barbara and Joe Tinsley- could be Little Joe Tinsley, Felix or "Stiff Lad Johnny"

Perhaps during period of Country Inn

Hired help at Westend, 5 men in livery and a cook to staff the country inn. These suited men were likely taking guests' bags to their rooms, and bringing food to the dining room table.

While the time period is not certain, the shawl lapels that…

Man riding horse "Black Mama". The man is possibly George, husband to Mourning, or a Tinsley boy- "Little Joe", Felix, or "Stiff Lad Johnny".

Between 1913 and 1917 Dr. Robert Shelton received letters from other members of the socialist party concerning the distribution of pamphlets and the lining up of different speakers for the party. One of the letters mentions Shelton, himself, getting…

This certificate was rewarded to Julius Jones, a man who likely fought with the 369th infantry regiment referred to as the Harlem Hellfighters. His award for ten years of service was found alongside pictures of the regiment in a home about to be…

These images were found in a house about to be torn down across from the Zions Crossroads firestation on Poindexter Road and Route 250 in 2012. It is believed to be of the 369th Infantry Regiment, better known as the Harlem Hellfighters or the Black…

This image is of a flyer posted for a delinquent land sale in Louisa County found in the County Auditor's Reports in the Louisa County Historical Society Archives.

During the Great Depression, landowners were often unable to pay the property…