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HISTORIC FINCASTLE, INC.
April 2015
Historic Fincastle, Inc. Recognizes Scott Critzer for his
tireless work on the Fincastle Sidewalk Project
HFI 2015 Save the Dates:
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
OCT. 2015
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP HOLIDAY SOCIAL
DEC. 5, 2015 - PROSPECT HILL
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR & MARKETPLACE
DEC. 12, 2015
The Board of Directors of Historic Fincastle, Inc (HFI)
voted to recognize Scott Critzer for his tireless work on the
Fincastle Sidewalk Grant project. HFI board member Alan
Brenner presented Critzer with a plaque noting his
leadership and perseverance on the sidewalk project at its
annual Membership Open House. Critzer spent countless
hours on the sidewalk project starting in 2007 and
continuing through 2014 when the project was completed.
The 2007 Fincastle Town Council started looking at
renovating the town’s aging sidewalks. Mayor Critzer led
the council and citizens through community meetings to
gauge public interest in the project. The town council
applied for grant funding with the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) for renovation to its sidewalks
through a program called TEA, or Transportation
Enhancement Act. In the spring of 2008, VDOT notified
the Town that it would be eligible for funding for the one
million dollar project.
Mayor Critzer worked on committees with the engineering
firm to design and plan the sidewalk paths, met with
concerned citizens, to find solutions for infrastructure
issues, identify impacts on the homeowners, explore and
make materials choices and control overall costs of the
project. A construction contract was awarded to Virginia
Carolina Paving in December of 2013. An unforeseen
obstacle occurred in January of 2014, when VDOT noticed
that the street configuration of this historic town would not
meet current Federal traffic lane and parking area width
requirements. Thus Critzer and many other citizens spent
time considering the impact of one-way streets on the town.
IN this Issue:
2015 Projects
Elizabeth and Israel Christian Scholarship
2014 Membership Listing
Dottie S. Kessler Archives Collection
Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace
Focus on Volunteer: Karen Shriver
2014 Annual Meeting Summary
Like HFI on FACEBOOK
Scott Critzer worked from 2007 to 2014, seven years, to see
this project come to fruition. HFI and its members
recognize him for his dedication to this project and the town
of Fincastle. The sidewalks will last many years to come.
Newsletter 1
Elizabeth and Israel Christian Scholarship 2014
Historic Fincastle Inc. Awards 2014 Scholarships
Israel Christian was an early founder of the Town of Fincastle and donated the land for the Court House.
The Israel Christian house, originally a one room log structure, is thought to be the oldest house in
Fincastle. The 2014 scholarship winners are Luke Arney from James River High and Christopher Halsey
from Lord Botetourt High. These winners were selected from applicants who were required to write a
short essay about Merriweather Lewis.
Luke Arney is attending William and Mary this year. Luke wrote in his
essay:
Plant life discovered by Lewis and Clark came to be used for medicinal and
consumption purposes. Even though the Native Americans used it long before their
expedition, the Canadian Wild Ginger is an example of medicinal plant’s discovery
given credit to Lewis and Clark. Serving as an emetic, cathartic and errhine, this ginger
cures colds by cleaning out a person’s system. Apart from medicinal purposes of the
ginger, Lewis and Clark exposed the Common Snowberry as a beautiful plant worthy of
consumption by birds. Like the prairie dog, Lewis and Clark sent snowberries back to President
Jefferson…..Lewis and Clark have changed life for every American through knowledge of new
species of plants and animals. Lewis’s venture opened the door to a massive populace shift
westward all beginning with a simple step from Fincastle, VA.
Christopher Halsey is attending Virginia Tech this year. Christopher
wrote in his essay:
The historical impact of Lewis’s expedition is very important also….The most
interesting part of their voyage was the amount of hardships they faced but continued
anyway……His expedition started a westward movement for the United States. His
expedition described the west to the American citizens and showed them what was in
this new territory which was previously unknown…..Without Lewis’s expedition
people would not have moved to the west as rapidly as they did and they would have been more
hesitant because they did not know what they would encounter in the West…..He endured many
hardships but he persevered throughout these difficult trials. He also provided a guideline to
moving west and helped start the westward movement.
HFI has awarded over $14,000 in scholarships to college bound students. Funds are made possible by
membership donations and fundraising events such as Holiday Home Tour and Marketplace.
Year
Scholarship Winner
1999
2000
2001
2002
2004
Jenny Ladenheim
Jenny Ladenheim
Meg Sellers
Derek Wiley
Kim Sharp
Rob Campbell
Abigail Weddle
Dustin King
$1000
$1000
$1000
$1000
$500
$500
$500
$1000
2005
Michael Alexander
$1000
2006
Joshua Demaury
$1000
2003
$
Memory of
H.W. Kessler,
Jr.
Emily Honts
Year
$
Scholarship Winner
Memory of
2007
2008
2009
2010
$500
$500
Hunter Simmons
Katie McCampbell
Eugene Downs
-
Changed to high school students
$500
Steven Huffman (LBHS)
2011
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
Mallory White (LBHS)
Shannon Kessler (JRHS)
Bennett Witcher (LBHS)
Zach Ewen (JRHS)
Catherine Nash (LBHS)
Hannah Austin (JRHS)
Christopher Halsey (LBHS)
Luke Arney (JRHS)
2012
2013
Leslie B.
Kinion
2014
Newsletter 2
Ron Lucas &
Peg Wysong
HFI listed in 2014 Best Local
Holiday Event – 2nd year
HFI 2014 Annual Meeting Summary:
Historic Fincastle, Inc. (HFI) held its 2014 Annual Business Meeting on October 21 at the Fincastle Library.
The Board of Directors was pleased to report many successes for the organization in 2014. Membership
for the year was over 150 members for the first time in recent memory. HFI members from all across the
country including the following states: GA, OH, TN, AZ, IN, FL, MI, WA, NY and OR; however, the majority
are Botetourt County residents. The Board spent a moment remembering members and supporters who
died during 2014: Evelyn M. Beasly, Helen Cronise, Guy Robinson, and Nancy Downs.
Lyn Burton presented the current financial/treasurer report. The organization continues to operate
under a balanced budget and the report was approved. The 2013 HFI Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace
was a successful fundraiser. Sarah Meadows was nominated for the position of Vice President and
unanimously approved. The Board expressed gratitude to its corporate sponsors who made financial
contributions to the organization in 2013 including The Bank of Fincastle and The Bank of Botetourt.
Ongoing Committee activities include continuous updates to the hisfin.org website and Facebook; town
tours for individuals and groups; the Elizabeth and Israel Christian Scholarship program for county high
school seniors; support of the Eastern Legacy Trail of the National Park Service; Archives Committee
continues the process for archiving the Dottie Kessler Document Collection; and the continuous
maintenance of HFI’s three properties. The windows at the James Matten Early Cabin were repaired,
primed and painted and one of the cement walls in the Wysong Blacksmith Shop was scraped and
repaired. New handmade iron pendant lights were installed at the blacksmith shop by Mack Neighbors.
Major HFI projects discussed for 2015 include: Gateway sign at the intersection of 220 and Main in
cooperation with The Town of Fincastle; online data in PastPerfect; an audio version of the town tour
guide, blacksmith shop timeline display; tour guide manual; and 2014 HHT&M.
Lynne Bolton presented a PowerPoint presentation that was prepared in 1970. Meeting adjourned.
Newsletter 3
HFI Annual Membership Social
December 2014 was held at
Santillane, home of Lissy and Dan
Merenda. Thanks to the HFI Board of
Directors for providing delicious hors
d‘oeuvres for all. Thank you to Beth
Pappas for providing photography.
Newsletter 4
2015 HFI Board of Directors
Officers: Carol S. Brenner-President, Sarah Meadows-Vice-President
Sarah Bulmer, Secretary, and Lyn Burton, Treasurer
Board Members: Lynne Bolton, Alan Brenner, Kip Burton, Gretchen Greiner, Melodye
Hollingsworth, Mary Ann Layman, Lissy Merenda, Marcia Neighbors, and Karen Shriver
Newsletter Photos Courtesy of Beth Pappas, Melodye Hollingsworth and Carol Brenner
Focus on HFI Volunteer:
Karen Shriver has been an HFI volunteer for over 20 years.
Karen's love of history and historic buildings was
fueled by a field trip with her family to
Williamsburg, Va. in 4th grade. Karen's recent
number one HFI job is securing homes and
buildings for the HFI Holiday Home
Tour. Citizens of our community are very
generous in allowing visitors in their homes, but
many have concerns and worries that Karen
quickly puts to rest. Homeowners always speak
of Karen's thoughtful home choices and
respectfulness of their concerns. Other HFI
activities include committee chair for Heritage
Days, working on archives collections, James
Matten Early Cabin tour guide, tending to herb
and flower gardens, and she was an integral
editor of the revised HFI Fincastle Tour
Guide. Karen was born and raised in Roanoke
County and retired in 2003 after 37 years with
Norfolk Southern Corporation. She moved here
from Atlanta, Ga in 1989 and quickly become an
active member of the Botetourt community. She
has lovingly restored her historic home, Rustic
Lodge, which is one of the most historically
documented homes in Botetourt
County. Karen's son, Ryan and wife, Regan, live
in Richmond, VA and are working to restore a
1920’s home. Karen loves to garden, especially
with herbs, work on her home, read, sew and do
other handcrafts.
HFI members and friends salute Karen for her countless volunteer hours on
behalf of our historic town!
Newsletter 5
2014 HFI Volunteer Committee Chairs: Lyn Burton, Melodye Hollingsworth, and Karen Shriver
2014 HFI Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace a Great Success!
Our 2014 Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace was one the most successful HFI events. The event was blessed with
wonderful weather! Over 350 visitors from across Virginia came to Fincastle to tour our historic town. We gratefully
thank our major event sponsors: The Bank of Fincastle and The Bank of Botetourt. HFI also thanks our home owners for
hosting the following tour sites:
Bolton Bungalow
James Matten Early Cabin
Peck Cottage
Kyle House
Botetourt County Historical Museum
Stoner House
Wiegandt Home
Fincastle United Methodist Church
The HFI Marketplace at Fincastle Baptist Church was a very cheerful venue with over 40 of vendors. The Marketplace
provided an excellent opportunity for visitors to view and purchase nice handmade items.
HFI would like to thank all the home owners and volunteers that
helped make this such a success.
Save the Date: 2015 HFI Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace – Dec. 12, 2015
Information will be available on our web site hisfin.org in July
Sam Winkler, dressed in period costume, explains the use
of herbs in the early 1800’s to James Matten Early Cabin
visitors, Peggy Davis, Cathy Goad, and Clemmer Ann Allen.
HFI Volunteers, Ruth Thomas and Meg Omer
Sam Winkler snapshot:
“I have always been interested in American history. When I became involved in the herb society it was very
interesting to study the herbs that were used medicinally during the 17th and 18th century. It is interesting to
note that most modern day medicines actually stem from early herbal remedies. It is also very interesting to study
the herbs used in witchcraft and magic. I guess I am just an old soul at heart in a modern day world.”
Newsletter 6
The Dottie S. Kessler Archives Collection Committee
While cataloging the treasures in Dottie Kessler’s collection the Archives
Committee found this photo of the dedication of the Confederate Monument at
the Botetourt County Court House. With it was an original newspaper clipping
that was hand dated Thursday, October 27, 1904. The clipping appears to be the
second article regarding the dedication, and it starts by apologizing that some
interesting information had to be left out of the unknown first article due to space
constraints.
In this follow-up article, Miss Eloise Johnston was praised as the Chief
Sponsor of the event, and her fifteen “maids” were singled out as being “a most
pleasing and attractive feature in the beautiful ceremonies of the occasion.” The
“maids,” who appear in the upper right of the photo in big, light colored hats, had
a crucial task to complete, the unveiling of the monument at the proper time.
Later in the article we are given a breakdown of costs related to the
monument, which totaled $1535.59. Although many years have passed we agree
with this author of 1904 that the monument is “equal in beauty and style to any in
the State.”
Achieves Committee meets in the James Matten Early Cabin – Dottie Kessler Archives Room
For information about the HFI archives collection, please contact any committee member:
Gretchen Greiner, Lyn Burton, Karen Shriver, Pat Simmons, Ruth Schwendeman or email
Historicfincastle@hotmail.com
Newsletter 7
Historic Fincastle, Inc.
2015 Historic Home Plaque Program
Many years ago HFI worked with homeowners to place wooden plaques on their historic homes with the
circa construction date. Most of these plaques have disappeared or faded to be unrecognizable. The
2015 HFI Board of Directors has voted to start a new bronze house plaque program with two goals:

To allow homeowners to show pride in maintaining, and “loving” their historic house

To help visitors to identify the houses in conjunction with the HFI Fincastle Tour Guide
Seven historic houses in Fincastle were built more than 215 years
ago, prior to 1800. These seven houses are the focus of this
program for 2015. In order to get the program up and running, HFI
is proposing a 50/50 cost share program for the cost of the plaques
for these seven houses built prior to 1800. The plaque cost with
shipping is approximately $180, therefore, $90 for each party.
Homeowners will be contacted directly about this program. The
design of these plaques will specify the house by the “common”
name and the date of construction (circa). Placement of the
plaques will be agreed upon between all parties prior to ordering of
the plaque. Placement preference will need to be on the front of
the house viewable from the street.
Marcia Neighbors and Alan Brenner plan installation of first plaque.
Newsletter 8
HFI Lifetime Members
Sally Eads, Anita & James Firebaugh, Carole & Chuck Gieger, Sandy Stokes,
Pam Wiegandt, Priscilla Richardson, and Sarah Early
2014 HFI Memberships and Donors
Individual Memberships
Lynne Bolton
Brenda F. Chapman
Angela P. Coon
Janet Coon
Michelle A. Crook
W.E. & Jo Dunbar
Florence Fahrbach
Rose Ellen Gravett
Glenna Hinson
Patricia A. Honts
Loretta Ikenberry
James M. Johnston
Barbara & Pat Kagey
Dorothy Langford
Harriet Little
Valerie Lucas
Weldon L.& Susan Martin
Geneva Mateer
Frank Taylor Miller
Emily Moore
Mack & Marcia Neighbors
Judy Newbern
Nancy M. Pauley
Ms. Billy W. Proffitt
Virginia Dodd Smith
Beverly Stafford
Katherine Watts
HFI continues
to support
efforts for the
Eastward
Extension of
the Lewis & Clark National
Historic Trail
Family Memberships
Pete & Nancy Adamson
Mrs. Max Bertholf
Frank & Eleanor Branin
Carol & Alan Brenner
Neal & Heather Brush
Bill & Rhonda Campbell
H. Joe Camper & Chad Meyer
Arlene & Bob Cheeseman
Gene & Barbara Conti
Scott & Susan Critzer
William & Janice Dillon
Jessica & Correy Diviney
Charlie & Penny Finn
John & Genevieve Goss
Liniel G. & Helen M Gregory
Jim & Marcia Helms
Louis & Virginia Hiett
Luther C. Huffman, Jr.
Sidney & Tommy Hunter
Gary & Dreama Kattenbraker
Ed & Ruth Korth
Brett & Mary LaGue
James W. & Wilma Lambert
Kim & David LaPrade
Allen & Ann Layman
John & Lindsey Layman
Betty Luber & Mack Bullard
Mary Ann & Matt Miller
Kaye & Alan Lowe
Gail & Ralph McCampbell
Bob & Linda Meadows
Dan & Lissy Merenda
Lee & Luther Minnix
David & Trish Morris
Allen & Patricia Nelms
Stan & Carolyn Nelson
Natalie & Harry Norris
Robin & Teresa Reed
Continue page 10
Newsletter 9
Friend Memberships
Terry & Kathy A. Austin
Robert & Sue Bagnoli
Peggy Keith Barnett
Daniel & Karen Beasley
Bob & Sue Birmingham
Dr. Henry Bowen
Mitch & Bobbie Lou Bowman
Susan Besley Bradford
John & Patricia Brown
Joseph Buhrman
Sarah & Bruce Bulmer
Kip & Lyn Burton Burton
Kerry & Marsha Campbell
Dale & Gloria Carter
Peggy C. Davis
Stan & Connie Diez
Lois N. Farmer
Mike & Cathy Goad
Lee & Gretchen Greiner
Steve & Ann-Marie Hamblin
Betty B. Hawes
Hemco Gage & Plasma-Tec
James E. Hickenbotham
Karen & Henry Hicks
Robert H. Hoffman
Melodye Hollingsworth
Robert & Helen Holt
Carol & Devereux Jarratt
Garland & Jane Jones
Brian & Marni Jones
Charlotte & Daniel Jones
George Kegley
Mahlon & Gret Kidd
Julia & Michael Klapproth
L&M Properties, LLC
Rodney & Mary Catherine Layman
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Logan
Lee B. McBride
Continue page 10
Family Memberships
continued
Thank you to all the
members and donors to
Historic Fincastle, Inc.
These membership
donations make it
possible to complete
yearly projects and
support preservation in
Fincastle and the
surrounding area.
continued
Ed, Verna & Mark Shuey
Kathleen & Michael Sloan
Jack & Betty Spigle
Alvin & Pamela Thacker
Tony & Karen Triplette
Paul & Terry Tucker
Lee & Debbie Turner
Patty & Rick Vari
Bob & Reedie Waid
Richard & Paige Ware
Kirk & Bettina Wehner
H. Douglas & Trish Wilhelm
Pete & Freda Wood
Patron Level
Friend Memberships
Gail McMillan
Helen Morris & Kerry Morris
Betty Newman
Joseph B. & Marcia Obenshain
Meg & Bob Omer
Beth & Steve Pappas
John & Julia Patterson
Don & Judi Race
Virginia Reynolds
Erik & Ruth A. Schwendeman
Karen Shriver
Pat Simmons
Dr.& Mrs. W. Graham Stephens
Doris Sutton
George & Shirley Sydnor
Josh & Lori Taube
Rosemary & Ray Thomas
Eleanor Neville McDowell Thompson
John & Linda Thornton
Scott & Barbara VanCleef
Charles J. Wehrmeister
Donald & Ulla Wetherington
C. Locke Wysong
Samuel Wysong
Jerry Wysong
Doris E. Sutton- Wysong Family Association
Corporate Sponsors
Dr. Henry Bowen
Mike & Cathy Goad
Hemco Gage & Plasma-Tec
James E. Hickenbotham
Karen & Henry Hicks
John & Julia Patterson
Pat Simmons
Rosemary & Ray Thomas
Eleanor Neville McDowell Thompson
Charles J. Wehrmeister
Samuel Wysong
Kathleen Wyson- Wysong Family
Association
The Bank of Fincastle
The Bank of Botetourt
The Town of Fincastle
Newsletter 10
HFI Projects
Oral Remembrances: The goal of this project is to gather and share
oral remembrances of long-time residents of Fincastle and the
surrounding area. The interviews, conducted by volunteer members of
the HFI Board, will be added to our web site. We hope to record a rich
variety of interesting stories, some from the earliest days of Fincastle. The speaker may choose their
topic and relay their stories in their own voice. Some ideas are: How have things changed in town or
remained the same? How did national issues impact local residences? What was daily life like? Any
interesting remembrance can be relayed in the oral histories
collected.
Oral remembrances are the personal recollections of the
persons interviewed, who have volunteered to participate and
share their perceptions and opinions. These are not a
substitute for official records and data. If you would like to
participate in this project, please email us at
historicfincastle.com
Wysong Blacksmith Displays: A history of Fincastle and the
United States timeline has been added to the displays in the Wysong
Blacksmith Shop. The timeline was designed by Ben Moser and
produced by Sign Design. In addition, the blacksmith tool displays
have been improved for better presentation during school and visitor
tours. New hand-crafted light fixtures were also installed. We thank
all the volunteers who assisted with this ongoing project. However,
there is one display item we would like to add to the collection, a
blacksmith apron, the more worn the better. If you have this item
and would like to donate it, please email HFI at
historicfincastle@hotmail.com
Newsletter 11