History of Charlotte County APVA
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Charlotte County APVA started from it's organizational meeting at Gravel Hill in April of 1928 to the present. Charlotte County APVA has contributed to the preservation of local history by means of publications, monuments, markers, collecting portraits, and building a small museum. Through the efforts of the Charlotte County APVA, residents have access to written monographs on many phases of local history.
The state-wide Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities came into existence in 1889 as the result of a movement to save Jamestown Island. Erosion by waters of the James River was removing property long associated with the Jamestown settlement of 1607. If the process was allowed to continue unchecked, historians foresaw the complete disappearance of the island and of the site of America's first permanent settlement. A seawall stopped the damaging currents and saved Jamestown. Recent excavations have uncovered much of the original 1607 fort - long thought to have been lost to erosion. Without APVA's actions over a century ago many of the historic artifacts would be lost.
Before Colonial Williamsburg's formation in 1926 preservation efforts in Virginia focused on the homes of the famous - Washington, Jefferson and Lee. Residents of Charlotte knew that homes associated with the county's most famous residents had burned Patrick Henry's Red Hill and John Randolph's Roanoke were gone. Williamsburg redirected preservation toward homes of craftsmen, teachers, and millers, and Charlotte County Retained a treasure of such structures. The realization that Charlotte had something worthy of preservation ignited a spark of interest. From the excitement of the rebirth of Williamsburg in its colonial motif the Charlotte County Branch APVA was conceived.
They brought together friends and associates who shared their interest in history. A small group of citizens met at Gravel Hill on April 21, 1928, and formed the Charlotte County APVA. They elected a slate of officers and drew up a membership committee. By December of that year they enrolled seventy-five APVA members.
The founding members of Charlotte County APVA knew the county was rich in history. These resources included undisturbed historic sites, many surviving structures, and important family archives. Placement of highway historical markers became one of their first goals. They also urged people to write down family records and events for posterity. When the first annual meeting was held in Charlotte Court House on December 6 of 1928. Judge Hutcheson inaugurated the custom of presenting a paper on county history with a bountiful meal.
From the beginning meeting, Charlotte APVA sought to preserve the history of Charlotte County. They also selected meeting sites which would highlight surviving historic structures. Through the years, the annual meetings have been held at more than 50 locations,
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1928 Charlotte Court House
1929 Cub Creek Church 1977 South Isle
1930 Drakes Branch 1978 The Courthouse
1931 Rough Creek Church 1979 Pineland
1932 Greenfield 1980 Maple Roads
1933 Charlotte Court House 1981 Ingleside
1934 location unknown 1982 The Vaden House
1937 Location Unknown 1983 The Hancock-Petty House
1941 Charlotte Court House 1984 Twelve Oaks
1942 (executive meeting only) 1985 Mulberry Hill
1944 (executive meeting only) 1986 Fair Oaks
1945 Mulberry Hill 1987 Black Walnut
1946 Arcadia 1988 Grace Church
1947 Staunton Hill 1989 Greenfield
1948 (no meeting) 1990 Dunlieth (Scott House)
1949 Ville View 1991 Oak Hill
1950 Oakland 1992 Gravel Hill
1951 Ridgeway 1993 High Hill
1952 Moldavia 1994 Staunton Hill
1953 Roanoke Plantation 1995 County Library
1954 Mulberry Hill 1996 Woodland
1955 Briery Church 1997 The Gilliam-Harding House
1956 Woodfork 1998 Ivy Hill (Jackson House)
1957 (a house tour) 1999 Sylvan Hill
1958 Red Hill 2000 Village Church
1959 The Courthouse 2001 Ingleside
1960 Maple Roads 2002 Maple Roads
1961 Wynyard 2003 Bonis Est
1962 APVA Museum 2004 Ridgeway
1963 APVA Museum 2005 Wildwood
1964 Prestwould 2006 Charlotte Courthouse
1965 Arcadia 2007 Briery Presbyterian Church
1966 Do Well 2008 Home of Don & Bonnie Hoffman
1967 Gravel Hill 2009 Woodfork
1968 APVA Museum & Tankersley 2010 Berry Hill
1969 Greenfield 2011 Annefield(Spring) Westview(Fall)
1970 Golden Hills 2012 Tucker Brother's Store - Dickerson Homeplace
1971 Ville View 2013 Maple Roads
1972 Village Church 2014 Charlotte Courthouse
1973 Reps Barnes House 2015 Shadow Lawn (Chase City)
1974 Ridgeway 2016 Noland Village (Providence)
1975 Wyllie House 2017 Green cove
1976 Mulberry Hill 2018 Historic Jefferson Courthouse
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Most of the meeting sites still survive and are cherished by the owners and families related to former residents. Charlotte APVA has promoted preservatation by highlighting these structures. Such recognition makes people aware of the the value of preservation.
Over the years many individulas have served as Director of the Charlotte County APVA. The complete list is seen below
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Judge Robert Francis Hutcheson, Jr 1928-1940 1/
Judge R. Page Morton 1941-1943
Mrs. Nellie McPhail Barksdale 1944-1946
Honorable David K.E. Bruce 1947-1948
Honorable John Hannah Daniel 1949 2/
Mr. H. B. Chermside, Sr. 1949
Major John D. Guthrie 1950
Mr. Joel H. Watkins 1951-1952
Mrs. Isabel R. Watkins 1952 3/
Mrs. Margaret Smith Watkins 1953-1954 4/
Mr. Lee W. Morton, Jr 1954
Mr. David Quinn Eggleston 1955-1958
Mrs. Isabel R. Watkins 1959-1960
Mrs. Eloise B. Daniel 1961-1962
Mrs. William P. Ingram 1963-1964
Mr. Thomas R. Watkins, Sr. 1965-1966
Mrs. Margaret Russell Eggleston 1967-1968
Mr. Henry W. Hoffman 1969-1970
Mrs. Zillah Hailey Shafer 1971-1972
Mr. W. Burdett Ramsey 1973-1974
Mrs. Annie C. Roberston 1975-1976
Mrs. Gene Hile McKinney 1977-1978
Mr. O. Bret Peaden 1979-1980
Mr. Gerald Tate Gilliam 1981-1984
Mrs. Frances S. Ramsey 1985-1986
Mr. Gerald Tate Gilliam 1987-1988
Mrs. Betty R. Petty 1989-1992
Mrs. Claudia S. Bates 1993-1994
Mr. Daryl Keeling 1995-1996
Mrs. Lucille B. Purcell 1997-2000
Mrs. Claudia S. Bates 2001-2002
Mrs. Kaye B. Lucado 2003-2011
Mrs. Cora V. St. John 2012-Present
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1/ Judge Hutcheson served as director until his death in 1940.
2/ Mr. Daniel, elected in 1949, was unable to serve and Mr. Chermside filled the post-until and election was held.
3/ Mrs. Watkins completed the unexpired term of her deceased husband.
4/ Mr. Morton completed the term when Mrs. Watkins was unable to complete her term.
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History of the Branch