Maggie's House, home of the Society.

Welcome!

The Old Stone Jail Museum and the Holland Page Place will be opening for the season Sunday, June 3, 2012 . Hours are 2:00 - 5:00 pm. Regular hours continue through the end of September and Appointments for special hours for tours are always available by calling 434.589.7910. After June 3, the Old Stone Jail Museum will be open on Wednesdays from 1-4 pm and on Sundays from 2-5 pm. The Holland Page Place will be open the first Sunday of the month through September from 2-5 pm.

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Second Artists’ Studio Tour to Benefit the Society’s Endowment Fund Saturday, June 30, 2012, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Historical Society is again sponsoring a studio tour to raise money for the Endowment Fund and to promote our fine Fluvanna artists. The event will be from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 30. Note the longer hours to allow visitors to reach every studio. This year we are offering a box lunch for $10 that includes a sandwich (3 choices), fruit, chips, cookie and bottled water. You must prepay for a box lunch before June 22. Each artist will contribute one artwork to the Society. If sold, the proceeds of that specific work will go to the Endowment Fund as well as 10% from other works sold during the tour. Painters, an iconographer, a potter and textile artists have agreed to participate in this year’s studio tour. Several artists will be exhibiting in the village of Palmyra and at the historic Slave Chapel in Bremo Bluff and the rest at their own studios. Participating artists include Rob Browning, Jan Crowther, John Hughes, Father Mefodii, Lindsay Nolting, Peg Redd, Ronald and Susan Salomon, and Tom Tartaglino. The Salomons will be in Palmyra at Maggie’s House, Rob Browning and John Hughes will be at the former State Farm building on Main Street, and Peg Redd will be in Bremo Bluff at the Fellowship Hall (formerly the Slave Chapel) next to Grace Episcopal Church. Advance tickets are $16 each and may be purchased in person at Maggie’s House or by mail. On June 30, tickets will be available for $22 at all the exhibit locations.
More information is available in the online brochure. You may also order your tickets now, by printing out and mailing in the form available here. You will receive your ticket and information brochure by return mail. Box lunches may be picked up at Maggie’s House after 11 a.m.

Ashlawn-Highland's Monroe Interpreter, Dennis Bigelow as President Monroe.

President James Monroe Visits Fluvanna!

On a snowy Sunday, February 19, in the historic Courthouse designed by General John Hartwell Cocke, Ashlawn-Highland's Monroe Interpreter, Dennis Bigelow, took us back in time to 1828. Mr. Bigelow as President Monroe, clad in period dress, delivered his thoughts on war, politics and life as a public servant. He shared stories of his friendships with the founding fathers, as well as General Cocke and the Marquis de Lafayette. An enthusiastic audience, who braved the first snow of the winter, gave the President a standing ovation for his inspiring and very informative talk. Thank you, Mr. Bigelow, for your elegant performance portraying our fifth President, James Monroe.

The Fluvanna County Historical Society, with over 600 members, is a non-profit community organization whose mission is to preserve Fluvanna County’s heritage. The Society is organized exclusively for historical, educational and preservation purposes. The Society owns and operates a research center at Maggie’s House, its headquarters in the center of Palmyra. We encourage all citizens with an interest in Fluvanna County’s rich history to join the Society and to participate in our many cultural and civic programs. This site provides all the information you will need about the Society, its Museums and Archives and its programs.

Note: Fluvanna History 85, entitled, Hail Columbia! by Deborah D. Murdock has been mailed to members. The story of an important river town in Fluvanna/Goochland counties. Loyalists owned much of the land and the story of what happened to it. Also includes the chapter, “Who Was David Ross”, and the final section by Edmund Berkeley, Jr. on Christopher McPherson, Profit, Former Slave and Writer, and the edited version by Ms. Murdock of Christopher McPherson's autobiography. 2011. 60 pages with index. Copies of #85 are available through the historical society.

Newest publication: Virginia’s Palmyra - The Shiretown of Fluvanna by David W.C. Bearr. A photographic essay of the Village of Palmyra. Vintage and contemporary photos by local photographers. Available now. Click for order form.