MUSEUM IN HALIFAX COUNTY, VA (Mark)

​Cheri was busy at a quilting retreat; I took a short drive and ended up at a museum.  Halifax County, Virginia is just across the border from North Carolina, about a two hour drive, if you take a direct route from where we live.

The Halifax County Museum has both history of the County and some art exhibits.

This is a reproduction of the scene when Major General Nathanial Greene is directing Lt. Colonel Edward Carrington to survey the Dan River in this area.  This would be very important later when Greene was able to strategically retreat across the river ahead of British Lt. General Cornwallis after the battle at Guilford Courthouse (which is about 40 miles from our house).

​This preserved the Continental army and kept Cornwallis away from his supply base, further weakening his army.

This is one of the maps that were available for Greene to study.  You will notice the little ceramic bird figurine near the map:

This is something the museum is doing to attract younger people to the museum.  Every month different objects are placed around the museum and kids are given little prizes if they can find enough of the items.

These are some of the items often carried by a soldier.  You will notice the coin cut apart - which was done to make change - and the pieces used for purchasing smaller items.

The history of the settling of the County, from churches to businesses was displayed:

​It was interesting to read what and when the first church or business, fire department, etc. was incorporated into the County.

​In the general life section they had several of these magazine covers on display, quite stylish in 1899.

​And speaking of stylish, these boots must have been quite the item:

If you have been following the blog you might remember several months ago my dad and I went to the Buggy and Wagon Museum in Blanco, TX.  This museum has a well-preserved buggy also, this one made by Harrell in the town of South Boston, Halifax County, for the Singer Sewing Machine Company:

​​Some of the arrowheads found locally were fascinating to me. 

​One of the arrowheads in the top right corner was about the size of a dime.  Incredible amounts of skill would be needed to make an arrowhead that small.

​No, this is not the sewing machine Cheri has to use to quilt with.  But the area does have quite a history of quilting, and the museum does acknowledge this.  

If you used this foot-powered machine a lot you would build some leg musculature.

[Editor's Note:  Maybe even need a physical therapist?]