Staunton River Battlefield State Park News and Notes


Billboard Advertising 150th Commemoration Rises
RANDOLPH, VA –

The Historic Staunton River Foundation, Inc. was honored that Foundation Vice-President, J. Shane Newcombe of Scuffletown and C.E.O. of Accessories Abroad, a furniture and home accessory wholesaler based in High Point, North Carolina funded the creation and raising of a billboard to aid in the advertising of the 150th Commemoration for the Battle of Staunton River Bridge on June 21 – 22, 2014. The billboard is located on Highway 58 near Boston Lumber Company in South Boston and will be seen by thousands of motorists every day until the day of the historic event. For more information about the Historic Staunton River Foundation and the events and activities planned for the historic portrayal of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, please visit www.historicstauntonriverfoundation.org/150th. The Historic Staunton River Foundation is a 501 c (3) organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and preservation of the 1864 Battlefield and many more aspects of the culture, history, and heritage of Southside Virginia and the Foundation is supported by its membership, business, and donors. Staunton River Battlefield State Park is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Pictured is the large Battlefield billboard along Highway 58, the advertising banners that will circulate throughout the local counties, and Foundation President Janet Johnson and J. Shane Newcombe on the portico of the Jeffersonian Courthouse in Charlotte Court House with the Confederate Monument in the background following the announcement of the donation of the billboard and banners.


Advertising Billboard Donated
LAND DONATED TO
HISTORIC STAUNTON RIVER FOUNDATION

The Board of Trustees of the Historic Staunton River Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is pleased to announce the recent donation of several parcels of land in downtown Randolph through the generosity of “Bo” and Linda Dzyndra, and their daughter Nadia Dzyndra DeMuth. Lots 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 complete with the “old post office” and “old general merchandise store” were deeded over as a gift to the Foundation on December 3, 2013. It is the hope of the Dzyndra family and the Foundation to completely restore this historic building back to its former glory! The building has not been used in several decades; however, once the Dzyndras acquired the properties in 1995 they worked effortlessly in remodeling and stabilizing the structure. Sadly, several hurricanes slowed the process and the elements of Mother Nature have begun to reclaim some pieces of this historical and vital piece of Charlotte County history. In November, Mr. and Mrs. Dzyndra approached the Foundation, which is earnestly preparing for the 150th commemoration of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge (reenactment) on June 21-22, 2014, in regards to their interest in taking possession of the parcels and buildings with the promise of restoring and utilizing them. The Foundation currently owns one parcel of land in downtown Randolph and it houses an antique Southern Railway Push Cart.

This generous donation will help the Foundation fulfill its mission of promoting, developing, and preserving not only the 1864 Battlefield at the Staunton River Bridge; the Staunton River, Roanoke Station, Mulberry Hill Plantation; the Randy K. Wade Archaeological Site; the Sappony Indian Nation; but also the Village of Randolph, named after John Randolph of Roanoke a Virginia Statesman and member of Congress. The Foundation also collects artifacts and historical memorabilia pertaining to the Southern Railway, the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, John Randolph, Paul Carrington, the Descendants of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, and Randolph, Virginia.

Several visions for the rehabilitated structures would be a permanent office space for the Foundation, a permanent archive for all records pertaining to the Battle and Descendants of the Battle, a small museum and gift shop in a period setting. Ideally, it would be imperiously effective if a section of this property can be opened during the upcoming 150th Commemoration (reenactment) in June! If you are interested in helping the Foundation restore this historic structure, would like to donate materials (wood, plywood, paint, brushes, furniture, desks, filing cabinets, etc.), would like to help work the cleanup day to be scheduled on a Saturday in January and February (weather permitting), or would like to donate money to the cause, please contact Shane Newcombe at 434-603-1021, visit www.historicstauntonriverfounation. org (tax deductible donations can be made online at our website via PayPal, e-mail info@historicstauntonriverfoundation.org, or write the Foundation at P.O. Box 1, Randolph, Virginia 23962.

Pictured following the signing of the Deed of Gift are (left to right) Nadia DeMuth, Linda and “Bo” Dzyndra, Janet Johnson, Foundation President, and J. Shane Newcombe, Foundation Vice-President, with the recently donated property in historic downtown Randolph in the background.

PRESS RELEASE
RANDOLPH BIOGRAPHER SPEAKES

The Historic Staunton River Foundation and the Staunton River Battlefield State Park hosted Mr. David Johnson, author of John Randolph of Roanoke, on Saturday, June 9 at the Roanoke Station Visitors Center in downtown Randolph. Approximately, 50 people were in attendance to listen to the informative presentation by Mr. Johnson about the eccentric character and distinguished political career of Charlotte County’s own, John Randolph. Mr. Johnson’s biographical work, John Randolph of Roanoke, was released in May and he commenced his book tour in Randolph, a fitting location to honor John Randolph. After his presentation, Mr. Johnson autographed copies of his book; and a reception, catered by Scuffletown Bakers & More was held in Mr. Johnson’s honor on the deck overlooking Roanoke Creek. Mr. Johnson is the former Deputy Attorney General for Health, Education, and Social Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and currently, serves as University Counsel for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.


David Johnson speaking on John Randolph at Randolph, Va

Click here For more photos from the presentation
HISTORIC STAUNTON RIVER FOUNDATION, INC
LAY WREATH AT COMMEMORATION OF THE
CROSSING OF THE DAN


The Historic Staunton River Foundation, Inc. was honored to lay a wreath in honor of the brave American Patriots who fought during the Crossing of the Dan on Feb. 14, 1781. The 231st Anniversary of the Crossing of the Dan took place on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2012 in South Boston with an assembly, guest speaker presentation and wreath laying ceremony in The Prizery. The Commemoration followed with a procession down to Boyd’s Ferry on the Dan River. Later in the day, a reenactment of the Crossing of the Dan was demonstrated by Revolutionary and British reenanctors. The Historic Staunton River Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and development of the Staunton River Battlefield was grateful to the organizing sponsors of the Crossing of the Dan to allow civic and other societies to come together and pay tribute to this historic and patriotic experience. For more information about the Historic Staunton River Foundation, please visit www.historicstauntonriverfoundation.org.


Pictured (l-r) with the Foundation’s wreath are officers, trustees, and friends of the Foundation who attended the commemoration of the Crossing of the Dan: Grace Elliot, secretary; LeAnna Johnson, friend; Janet Johnson, president; Korey Snead, trustee; Patt Graves, trustee; Shane Newcombe, vice-president; and Ron Graves, trustee.
Descendants of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge Donate Original Document to Foundation

On Monday, August 2, 2010 delegates of the Historic Staunton River Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and preservation of the Staunton River Battlefield, met with Ms. Leslie Carter of Shepherdstown, West Virginia to accept a donation of an original document, the minutes of the Employees of the Danville Arsenal, dated 1864. These rare “minutes” from Captain W. H. Otey’s Company taken on July 1, 1864 accentuated her great-great-great-grandfather, William Henry Dillon’s participation in the defense of the Staunton River Bridge.

Of the ten known fatalities during the engagement, this document honors two by name: William Henry Dillon and Thomas H. Dickerson. Dillon and Dickerson were from Danville, Virginia and employees of the Danville Arsenal, which, at the start of the war, became part of Captain Walter Hays Otey’s Company Virginia Light Artillery. Subsequently, men of the Danville Arsenal journeyed 55 miles via rail to answer the urgent plea sent out by Captain Benjamin Farinholt, commander of the forces stationed at the Staunton River Bridge, to defend the Bridge against an approaching Union cavalry force of 5,000 men under the command of Generals Kautz and Wilson. Following the Battle on that hot 25th day of June in 1864, the Confederates suffered approximately 10 fatalities and 24 wounded, and it was reported that the Union left 30 dead. The information obtained from this hand-written document, a “called meeting of the employees of the Danville Arsenal (Cap. W. H. Otey’s Company held on the 1st day of July 1864,” states that “Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to remove William H. Dillon and Thomas H. Wilkerson members of our company (who were killed on the 25th ultimately in the late engagement at Staunton River Bridge) from among out numbers.” The document will be a key element in telling the story of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge and its impact on the lives of families in Southside Virginia.

Ms. Leslie Carter and her father, Terrence contacted the Historic Staunton River Foundation in December 2009 and inquired about the Battle and their ancestor’s role. Research by and between the Carter family and the Foundation ensued. By June of this year during the annual Commemoration of the Battle, Leslie and Terrence where honored by the Foundation and the Staunton River Battlefield State Park as descendants and presented with medallions. Not long after, the father and daughter agreed that the Foundation and Battleground would be the “perfect fit” to ensure the document’s longevity, preservation, and educational premise. A Photostat of the original has been made and it can be viewed at the Clover Visitors Center at the Staunton River Battlefield State Park. For more information about the Foundation, the Battle, and Descendants of the Battle, please visit our website www.stauntonriverbattlefield.org; follow the Foundation on Facebook, or phone 434.454.4312.

Janet Johnson, President of the Historic Staunton River Foundation (far left) and J. Shane Newcombe, Trustee (far right) honorably accept a donation of an original 1864 document of a “meeting of the employees of the Danville Arsenal (Capt. W. H. Otey’s Company)” from Leslie Carter (center) of Shepherdstown, West Virginia and her father, Mr. Terence Carter of Irvington, Virginia (not pictured). The Carters are lineal descendants of William Henry Dillon, an employee of the Danville Arsenal and private in Captain W. Hayes Otey’s Company, Virginia Light Artillery. The document, donated to the Foundation, mentions the engagement of Staunton River Bridge and provides the names of two of the ten known Confederate fatalities during the Battle: William H. Dillon and Thomas H. Wilkerson.

Descendants of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge Presented Medallions

Friday, June 25, 2010, marked the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge. To remember and honor the valiant efforts of the Confederate soldiers and “old men and young boys,” who answered the urgent plea from Captain Benjamin Fairnholt to defend the Bridge from an approaching Union cavalry force under the command of Generals Wilson & Kautz, the Historic Staunton River Foundation, Inc. hosts a Commemoration of the Battle each year at the Staunton River Battlefield State Park. On Friday night, following a wagon-ride tour of the Battlefield, members of Cumming’s Battery Cape Fear Light Artillery demonstrated several “night” cannon firings in honor of the soldiers who fought at the Battle. Several events were held throughout of the day on Saturday: the Halifax Chapter 1321 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy presented several Military Service Award Medals; the Historic Staunton River Foundation presented two medallions to descendants of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge and Miss Savannah Ketchum, a 2010 graduate of Randolph-Henry High School and recipient of the Charlotte Grays 1964 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Robert C. Moates Scholarship, presented her winning essay, and representatives from the Foundation, UDC, and SCV laid memorial wreaths at the Bridge; Mr. Robert Dunkerly presented a lecture on “Weapons of the Civil War;” and re-enactors from 14th Virginia Infantry, Co. K. and Oliver’s Battery, 21st Virginia Co. provided a living history encampment. For more information on other upcoming events at Staunton River Battlefield State Park or to learn more the Foundation, please visit www.stauntonriverbattlefield.org; follow the Foundation on Facebook; or phone 434.454.4312.

Janet Johnson, President of the Historic Staunton River Foundation (far right), presents Ms. Leslie Carter (far left) of Shepherdstown, West Virginia and Mr. Terence Carter of Irvington, Virginia (center) with Descendants of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge Medallions. The father and daughter are lineal descendants of William Henry Dillon, a private in Captain W. Hayes Oteys’ Company, Virginia Light Artillery, the Danvile Arsenal. Several months ago, the Foundation was notified by the Carters in their quest to find more information about their ancestor and verify several family legends for a biography Leslie is crafting. Leslie and her father, Terence enjoyed the Commemoration events and a tour of Mulberry Hill Plantation. If you or someone you know is a descendant of a soldier or “an old man or young boy,” who fought at the Battle, please contact the Foundation at 434.454.7157.

LOCAL FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO CLOSE STAUNTON RIVER BATTLEFIELD

On Wednesday in order to balance the state budget, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced a package of budget cutting proposals that include the closing of five (5) state parks. Specifically, the five state parks are Twin Lakes (Prince Edward); False Cape (Virginia Beach); Caledon (King George); Mason Neck (Fairfax); and Staunton River Battlefield (Charlotte and Halifax).

If included in the final budget, these closures would take effect on Thursday, July 1, 2010. Governor McDonnell’s package of budget cutting proposals included the following explanations, "Decrease funding in the Department of Conservation and Recreation by closing five state parks and eliminating the associated wage staff ($1.0 million). Furloughs ($180.8 million) for state employees for up to five days in FY 2011 and an additional five days in FY 2012."

For more information, or if you are interested in supporting this Cause, please feel free to contact
info@stauntonriverbattlefield.org or visit
www.stauntonriverbattlefield.org.


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