September 4, 2008Lauderdale Community House is looking for people Jo and Larry Eggers in front of the Lauderdale Community House. It still has the character of an old school with high ceilings and wainscoting and oiled wood floors, but it is really quite functional and kept very clean. The Lauderdale Community House Committee that overseas the property includes: Chip Lawrence, Charlie Provost, Rose Marie Cox, Bobby Loope and Larry Eggers. They sincerely are trying to keep new life coming into the building. Once home to a 4H Club and a Ruritan Club, both defunct, the committee is hoping other groups will want to use the building. “Non profits would not have to pay for the rental, said Larry Eggers. Continue reading "Lauderdale Community House is looking for people" » August 22, 2008WWII Air Corps dress hat returned to familyWWII Air Corps hat returned to family of Albert Johnson A hat arrived in Botetourt this week. It has been away from its owner since 1944. the late Albert Johnson of Eagle Rock was a member of the Army Air Force in WWII and he loaned the hat to Vernon McCombs back in 1944 when they were stationed at Tinker Field in Oklahoma before they shipped out. McCombs borrowed the official dress hat to travel home to Enville, Tennessee to see his wife and newborn daughter. He returned to Enville after the war and has spent his life there. Some how the hat got misplaced and 60 years have passed before it was found again. Steve Vaughn the postmaster at Eagle Rock post office received a call from the post master of the Enville post office, Judy Robertson contacted him trying to see if he knew Albert Johnson. Like most local post masters’ Vaughn was aware that Johnson had passed away but suggested that McCombs send the hat to his daughter, Brenda Dooley who still lives in Eagle Rock. McCombs was saddened to hear that Johnson was dead. McCombs lost his wife on Memorial Day and because he has been cleaning out the attic, a helper found the hat and that find is what prompted him to try to return it to Johnson. “We ended up on a B-29 crew in the Pacific on Saipan. I was an air craft engine man. You know those big bombers like the ones that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” “We were in the 20th Air Force.” said McCombs. He is contacting his daughter to send him a picture of him holding her and he is wearing Johnson’s hat looking like one of the millions of young military men America produced in WWII. He includes his military buddy Albert Johnson in that group of heroes that served their country. Next week we will run a photo of McCombs and the hat that he is sending via mail. August 14, 2008Historical society speaker features Abe Lincoln's Virginia Roots Philip Stone, president of Bridgewater College, will be the keynote speaker at the Botetourt County Historical Society's Founder's Day dinner on September 26. The fourth annual event will be held at the Family Life Center of Fincastle United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. Stone will speak about Abraham Lincoln's Virginia Family. The cost of the tickets is $25 per person. They may be purchased at the museum, from board members or from Digital Imaging Printing in Daleville. A-Chord will play period music during the dinner. Heritage Awards will be presented during the evening as well. Stone is an authority on Lincoln's Virginia family. Lincoln like many had relatives on the opposite side of the conflict and knew the stress and sorrow of the Civil War where families fought against one another. It is soon to be the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and Stone will address that topic as well. Stone has been president of Bridgewater College since 1994. For more information or to purchase tickets call the BCHS museum at 473-8394. July 30, 2008The story on Asbury Church that's been converted into a home Continue reading "The story on Asbury Church that's been converted into a home" » June 27, 2008Contacts come from story about the WWII friends Mike Huggins of Irvine California contacted the Botetourt View after our story on Fincastle resident E.C. Westerman and his long time friend from Pontypridd, Wales, Leo David who came to wish Westerman a happy 85th birthday. Continue reading "Contacts come from story about the WWII friends" » June 23, 2008Godwin Cottage contents auctioned Saturday The pineapple bed in the background brought $3000 at the Auction of the Godwin House contents. Godwin Cottage is empty and looking for a new owner.The contents of the old home in the town of Fincastle were auctioned on Saturday June 21. It had belonged to Frances Carr who died with in the past decade, a daughter of Pete Huff who owned the remnants of the Breckinridge plantation Grove Hill Farm and also owned the property in Roanoke City where Valley View Mall is built. Continue reading "Godwin Cottage contents auctioned Saturday " » June 20, 2008Homespun Legacy winners announced James Womack, formerly of Fincastle and now of Haymarket, read his second place entry. The winner, Jane Lyle Reynolds, missed the award ceremony. The winners of the fourth annual lifewriting contest were announced at the regular monthly meeting of the Botetourt Genealogy Club, June 18, at the Fincastle library, 19 Academy St., Fincastle. The First Place cash prize of $100 was awarded to Jane Reynolds Lyle of Glen Wilton for her entry ”Once Upon a Porch" which personified her grandmother's front porch as an esteemed member of the Reynolds family. The Second Place winner was James E. Womack, Haymarket, for his memoir “Our Front Porch—A Playground for My Mind”, describing the porch of his childhood, a vantage point from which he could view thunderstorms building over Tinker Mountain. The Third Place cash prize went to Sherian Atkins Wills of Bedford for her story “Momma's Porch” which related the memorable small porch of her childhood in the 1940's. The impressive variety of entries in this year's contest prompted the judges to award three Honorable Mentions as well: Amy S. Tate, Boones Mill, for "Porch Memories"; Catherine Thomas, Fincastle, for "Moses the Front Porch Cat"; and V. C. Vance, North Tazewell, for "God's Plans, Cherished Memories, and a Front Porch". June 6, 2008Botetourt Genealogy Club lifewriting contest winners to be announcedRoll the drum -- the lifewriting contest award winners will be announced Wednesday, June 11: Continue reading "Botetourt Genealogy Club lifewriting contest winners to be announced" » May 21, 2008Historic Fincastle gives tours Historic Fincastle, Inchisfin.org is adding to the local tourism business and recently gave two tours to out of towners. Cassandra Bulmer of HFI said, " With the high price of gasoline, we want families and groups to know there's lots to do right here in Fincastle. They can schedule a Fincastle tour, visit the Early Cabin, the Botetourt History Museum, and enjoy a picnic lunch." May 20, 2008Historical Society hears about Buchanan's rebirth Harry Gleason, Buchanan town revitalization manager, was the keynote speaker for the Botetourt County Historical Society meeting and public presentation at the Wilson Warehouse on Lowe Street in Buchanan on May 19. Continue reading "Historical Society hears about Buchanan's rebirth" » May 15, 2008Lifewriting Contest ends May 31stCelebrate Personal History Month write about a "Front Porch" experience from your childhood! The Botetourt Geneaology Society and the Botetourt Historical Society are sponsoring "Personal History month" in conjunction with Homespun Legacy.The theme? Front porches Focus your story on a particular front porch from your childhood. May 14, 2008Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Fincastle needs help Trustees Dennis Crowder, Billy Ray Teaford and Jimmy Armentrout are hoping the community will help with a community cemetery northwest of Fincastle. The oldest marked graves go back to 1808 with an infant named Ellen Mary Foster. Continue reading "Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Fincastle needs help" » |
About this blog
Welcome to The Notebook, the community gathering place for news and tidbits from The Botetourt View, by community journalist Cathy Benson (that's her on the left). You'll be able to find the most up-to-date news, events and stories in Botetourt County here at this blog. And please join in! You can share your comments, stories, links and ideas here, too. This is your community conversation. .....Advertisement.....
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