Goochland Historical Society
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Announcements
FALL MEETING - HEATHER S. COLE
More U.S. presidents were born in Virginia than in any other state. Join us at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the Goochland Public Library to hear author Heather S. Cole talk about her new book Virginia’s Presidents: A History and Guide.
The book tells the stories of the eight Virginia-born presidents and the historic sites that interpret their lives. Profiles of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson are provided, as well as descriptions of museums, historic sites, and presidential homes in Virginia and elsewhere that are associated with each.
Heather S. Cole is a writer, archivist, and public historian living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She served as an interpreter at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, Virginia.
The program is offered jointly by the Friends of Goochland Library and the GCHS. A book signing and refreshments will follow. The Goochland Public Library is located at 3075 River Road West, Goochland, VA 23063.
HISTORY WALK AT BYRD CHURCH
Join us on Saturday, October 21, at 10:00 a.m. for a seasonal walk and history talk through the sanctuary and cemetery of historic Byrd Church, located at 2229 Dogtown Road, Goochland.
We will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary for a brief history of the building which is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. We will then proceed outside for a pleasant walk through the cemetery, with stops at several of the markers to hear interesting stories about those interred. Afterwards, there will be refreshments. The walk is suitable for all ages, so join us for this leisurely morning stroll.
For further information or to sign up for the walk, please contact the GCHS by phone at 804-556-3966 or by email at goochlandhistory@comcast.net. Participants will need to sign a waiver form.
Since part of this History Walk will be inside the church, it may not be especially suitable for accompanying pets.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Join us on August 5, 2023, at 2:30 pm at the Goochland branch of the Pamunkey Regional Library (3075 River Road West) for an afternoon with historian and writer, Mary Miley Theobald, who will talk about the history of ice cream. The presentation will be followed by an ice cream social. The event is sponsored by the Goochland Library, the Friends of the Library, and the Goochland County Historical Society. Mary Miley Theobald received her B.A. and M.A. from the College of William and Mary. She worked for Colonial Williamsburg and for many years taught American history and museum studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.
To ensure there will be enough ice cream, please make your reservation by contacting the Goochland County Historical Society at 804-556-3966 or at goochlandhistory@comcast.net before the end of the day on July 28, 2023
BEGINNING GENEALOGY 2023 #3
Have you ever tried to discover the history of your family, but didn’t know how or where to begin? The Goochland County Historical Society is here to help by sponsoring Beginning Genealogy.
On March 18, 2023 we will be holding our third lecture designed to help in your search for genealogical information, including the U.S. Census. The lectures are not cumulative, so do not worry if you missed the first two. It will be from 10:00 am to noon in the meeting room of the Goochland Branch Library, 3075 River Road West.
To sign up or find out more about individual lectures, please contact the Goochland County Historical Society by phone at 804-556-3966, by email at goochlandhistory@comcast.net, or drop by the society at 2924 River Road West. We located next to Goochland Courthouse; hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wednesday through Friday and the second Saturday of the month.
Preregistration is required to ensure sufficient seating.
HISTORY WALK AT WEST VIEW
Join us on Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:00 am at West View on the James, 1231 West View Rd. Goochland, VA 23063, for our first History Walk of the year! The walk will take us to one of the surviving culverts that was built to support the James River and Kanawha Canal in the early 1800s. GCHS Vice-President Richard Toler will talk about the Canal history and volunteer Erich Krause will lead the group. Rain date will be March 18, 2023. Please contact the Society at goochlandhistory@comcast.net or 804-556-3966 if you would like to participate.
