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Appomattox County Library and Historical Museum

The Appomattox County Library and Historical Museum is located in the Old Jail at 337 Court Street in Appomattox. The building served as the Appomattox County Jail beginning in 1897. It was the third jail built in Appomattox County and was used until May 1981 when the Appomattox County Historical Society began operating the building as a museum. The museum has many artifacts related to the Civil War and Appomattox County history. It also houses a genealogy and local history library.

On entering the door you are met by this gentleman.

The part of the museum related to the Civil War is on the first floor. To the right is a doctor’s office, straight ahead is the jail with exhibits both in and around the cells, and to the left is a room with some artifacts.

Doctor’s Office

In and around the jail cells

Early VMI uniform

Inside the cell is a large mural of the burning of High Bridge

On the outside of the cells is this unpainted roadside sign. There apparently is a similar sign near the bridge location on the James River detailing the burning of the Diuguidsville bridge. I was unaware of this incident, time for a new road trip.

The town of Diuguidsville established in 1792 by the Virginia General Assembly was named for William Diuguid 1717-1764 immigrant to Buckingham County in 1745 from Aberdeen, Scotland. He was a first cousin of Patrick Henry and father of Capt. William Diuguid, Revolutionary War soldier and one of the first trustees of the town. In March 1865 the townspeople of Diuguidsville burned the covered bridge here to prevent Gen. Philip Sheridan and troops from crossing the swollen river on their way to meet Gen. Grant. Diuguidsville was a flourishing town until the Civil War when it ceased to exist because of the decline of river transportation.

The artifact room

Captain George Abbitt
A Sharps carbine found at Sailors Creek

Paintings and prints

This is the last post in the Appomattox series.

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