Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110010
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They wanted to carry on the historical legacy of the town.
An ongoing movement came to mind as a good way to keep the town's history alive.
From that the Vinton Historical Society was created.
This group has been true to its mission, and this month ) it will observe the society's 10th anniversary.
A program of remembrances will be held Tuesday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Vinton War Memorial on Washington Avenue.
After the formal program, the society's prime project - the Vinton Historical Museum - will be open for tours. The museum recently set up a number of new exhibits, including a display of artifacts from the old William Byrd High School.
A highlight of the program at the War Memorial will be a talk by Elizabeth Drewry, who will speak on the work of her late husband, Carleton Drewry, who was poet laureate of Virginia. She also will read some of his works.
Musical entertainment and installation of the Historical Society officers for the next 24 months also will be included.
The society was created in June 1985 when 16 people met to lay the groundwork.
Margaret Wood, now co-president along with Madelyne Forbes, said most of those at the first meeting were those who had worked with the committee that planned and directed the town of Vinton's centennial, officially dubbed "Vintennial."
That committee gave its leftover $2,000 and copies of the town's history to the Society.
The society's biggest step forward came in 1988 when the town acquired the Upson House at 210 Jackson Ave. and made it available to the society for a museum.
The house, at Jackson and Maple Street, was the home of J.H. Upson, operator of a general store in Vinton early in this century. It was presented to the town by one of his daughters, the late Mary Upson Williams.
Since then the Historical Society has kept the house much as it was during the time the Upson family lived there.
Its 10 rooms are filled with hundreds of artifacts of special interest to Vinton and the town's people. One of its centerpiece attractions is an old but still-working organ, from Jeters Chapel, which is operated by foot pumps. It also has an old piano that still can be played.
Also among the artifacts are old furniture, clothes, chinaware, toys, photographs, scrapbooks and about 500 old books.
Anita Reynolds, a member of the society and sometimes tour guide at the museum, said all of the work setting up and maintaining the museum is done by volunteers.
"We have no paid people," she said.
Reynolds, a retired William Byrd High School business teacher, said volunteers also refinished the floors on the first floor of the two-story Upson House. Floors on the second floor still need refinishing, she said.
Setting up the museum was a long-term project.
"It's a matter of getting everything organized," she said. "It was a lot of work but it was interesting."
The museum officially opened on Sept. 12, 1988, and is now open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment. Admission is free but donations are accepted.
by CNB