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The Vaughan House, a handsome circa 1888 Italianate style, two-story residence located on Washington Avenue in the South Boston Historic District, has recently been named to the National Register of Historic Houses. Listed in the Virginia Registry of Historic Places in 2018, the National Register designation brings the number of state and national listings of historically significant properties in Halifax County, Virginia to thirty-six. The National Park Service, a division of the U. S. Department of the Interior, bestowed the honor recognizing the historic character and integrity of this property. An article describing the Vaughan House will be featured on this website’s Historic Property’s section in the coming weeks.
Published by Preservation Virginia and JTI Leaf Services, “Tobacco Barns, Preserving History in the Old Belt” is now available on the Halifax County Historical Society website under the Store. The book illustrates the 5-year project that has repaired over 60 historic tobacco barns in Halifax County, Pittslyvania County and Caswell County.
The Halifax County Historical Society has reprinted History Mercy Seat Presbyterian Church 1847-1967, written in 1967 by Ruby Barnes, deceased. This 2018 reprint is in its original form. Ruby Barnes is also a coauthor of Booboo’s Hundred Years (Life on Brooklyn Road in Halifax County) published by the Society in 2009.
According to the author “This history of Mercy Seat Church was written entirely from sessional records of the Women of the Church, and of Roanoke Presbytery. The oldest records have yellowed with age and the writing by hand faded so badly they were hard to decipher. This makes it more necessary for a history, however incomplete, to be preserved for this and future generations.”
This new publication includes the names of charter members, which included five whites and twenty-eight blacks. The book is available for sale at South Boston-Halifax County Visitor Center, South Boston-Halifax County Museum in South Boston, Peddler’s Market in Halifax and in the Store on the Society website
The Society received permission from the family for this printing. The book is soft bound, 36 pages, cost $5.00.
New Publication - Berry Hill Plantation and the Bruce Family
The Halifax County Historical Society invites you to become a member for the upcoming year. The Society’s mission is to bring together those interested in preserving historical facts, artifacts, and structures in our county. Members receive the quarterly Bulletin, a publication having articles and information pertaining to historic events, sites, and happenings. The Society sponsors lectures and activities relating to history and preservation and publish various books and other materials from court records, family papers, and other sources.
A new page has been added to "About the Society". "Bulletin Briefs" will spotlight an excerpt from past Bulletins so that potential members can see the interesting articles included. And for current members, we will provide a sneak preview of an upcoming Bulletin article.
Cotton Mills Tower Memorial Bricks
The Society recently announced that their annual ornament was the historic Cotton Mills Tower. They almost sold out in 1 day and if you have not purchased your ornament by now, they are essentially gone. No more will be produced. But you have not lost your chance to remember the iconic landmark.