The series of newspaper articles below covers the Civil War Centennial Observance in Fluvanna County, Virginia, from its planning, through the observance to the establishment of a museum. Fluvanna like many other counties in Virginia used the observance process to collect a variety of Civil War artifacts and documents that are now housed by the Fluvanna County Historical Society at Maggie’s House and the Old Stone Jail Museum in Palmyra (link).
The series begins with the appointment of Mrs. Snead as temporary chairperson of the Fluvanna County Civil War Centennial Committee. Her appointment was temporary because the county had not yet formally decided that it wanted to participate in the observance. On this day she was attending a meeting in Richmond of the Virginia Civil War Centennial Commission and was to report back to the Board of Supervisors.
Mrs. Snead reports back to the committee and resigns as temporary chair. The board would like to participate but will need to find someone to serve as the centennial chairperson for the required four year period, 1861-1865. Mrs. Snead had several suggestions including the establishment of a permanent museum in the old jail, the collection of Civil War relics, producing an 1860 map of Fluvanna County, establishing a roster of Civil War soldiers from the county, and setting up a tour of historic homes and sites. She and others who participated in the process were remarkably successful in achieving these goals.
A panel at the county PTA meeting discussed why the county should participate.
The Fluvanna County Civil War Centennial Committee meets with Mrs. Snead as Chairperson. George P. Smith Jr., the Fluvanna Commonwealth Attorney, speaks on “Fluvanna’s Opportunity in the Civil War Centennial”.
The old jail will be turned into a public museum to house Civil War relics, historical documents and pictures, collected by the Fluvanna County centennial committee, the Point-of-Fork chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as civic groups and individuals.
A contest is announced to create a sketchbook covering the history of Fluvanna County.
Link to the sketchbook
The historical collection is growing and is being stored in the Civil War Centennial Center located in the County Office Building on the Courthouse grounds. Materials are on display on wall boards, shelves and glass cases. Mrs. W. W. Bercaw is in charge of the exhibition.
Mrs. J. W. Pendergrass is in charge of the museum committee to establish a permanent museum at the old county jail. A temporary museum has been established at the county office building.
The Centennial Celebration will be held in August 1963. Plans were to include: a historical pageant to be staged over two nights at the county high school; the official opening of the Fluvanna Museum at the Old Stone Jail; dedication of the park and gardens surrounding the jail; a memorial service on Sunday afternoon; and publication of a historical sketchbook of the county.
The museum collection continues to grow. Recent acquisitions included a knapsack containing a map of the Battle of First Manassas and the diary of James Galt. The collection is being temporarily housed in the Selective Service Office in the county office building.
Given to the center by Mrs. Bernice Thomas- a roster of Company K of the 44th Virginia.
A tour of historic houses was arranged.
The following articles cover the observance itself.
Students study the script for the pageant.
A tea and fashion show
The bell at the Bremo stable to mark the ope
There are very few articles after 1863. The uniform is still in the museum today.
