Discover Stafford cordially invites you to join us on June 3, 2023 from 5 PM to 9 PM at scenic Hartwood Manor for Cheers to Stafford. We’ll crack open the cold and refreshing taste of local history with our first annual history-themed dinner party! Come enjoy an evening of food, music, raffles and live auction set among the Hartwood Manor’s numerous rose gardens.

Stafford is literally the county that build the nation, but our story is largely unknown. Our Society’s primary focus since its inception has been to support the creation and operation of a Stafford Museum and Cultural Center that highlights the county’s rich local and national history, showcases the county’s current role in shaping society, and cultivates a vibrant future for the county through programs of critical acclaim. Your attendance is an important step forward to our being able to achieve that goal.

Prior to Adventure Brewing Co., the only previous brewery in Stafford County was the Marlborough Brewery opened in 1766 by John Mercer. John was a prominent entrepreneur, attorney, and landowner and almost single-handedly rebuilt the failed town of Marlborough. Ever the optimistic entrepreneur, Mercer seized upon the idea of establishing a brewery at Marlborough. He built a brewhouse and a malthouse together with cellars, cooper’s house and all the buildings needed to run his brewery. Unfortunately, the brewery lumbered and stumbled and the beer that Mercer’s brewers made was of such “bad character” that only two casks were sold. The brewery lasted only one year and was closed by 1767. Cheers to Stafford is partnering with Adventure Brewing to release a new beer, Mercer’s Second Chance Shandy, made in honor of John Mercer. We’re happy to report it has “good character”!

This year’s theme is the Revolutionary period and will include colonial-period music by Colonial Faire.

This is an exclusive FREE event — tickets are limited to the first 200. Please reserve your tickets promptly at https://stfhistsoc.wpengine.com/store/cheers/ to secure your place.

with Daniel M. Chichester

This presentation will also be live streamed via Facebook. To view the presentation from Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/StaffordHistory. You should see the live feed listed at the top of the posts. If not, you may need to refresh your page.

Discover Stafford County’s Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve!

Bring the family on a self-guided “volksmarch,” a tradition of non-competitive fitness walking originating in Germany, and receive a commemorative token.

Access the trailhead off Raven Road and take whichever trail suits your fitness level (not wheelchair accessible).

with Joseph Cardello

This presentation will also be live streamed via Facebook. To view the presentation from Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/StaffordHistory. You should see the live feed listed at the top of the posts. If not, you may need to refresh your page.

Donna Sayre of the DAR will speak on the many changes for military women over the years and highlight some of Stafford County’s present and past military women.

Donna is a native of Kentucky. She attended the University of Kentucky and proudly “Bleeds Blue.” She has had a career in the United States Navy, raising her right hand on Friday the 13th of November 1970 and is a Viet Nam veteran. She served in theatre aboard the Navy Hospital Ship Sanctuary.

After her Navy career, she returned to school and received additional degrees from The George Washington University in Health Care Administration, and the then Mary Washington College where she received additional bachelors and master’s degrees in Political Science and Public Administration.

Donna owns a technology consulting company where she uses her medical background to apply technology to medical practices. She has one daughter, Heather, who is a retired police officer for the city of Fredericksburg. She also has 5 granddaughters, ranging in age from 24 years old to 7 years old.

She has been involved in the United Methodist Church Lay Servant and Lay Speaking Ministry for over 25 years serving locally and on the District. She has been a resident of Stafford County for over 40 years.

This presentation will also be live streamed via Facebook. To view the presentation from Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/StaffordHistory. You should see the live feed listed at the top of the posts. If not, you may need to refresh your page.

Stafford historian and author, Jane Conner, will be the guest speaker for the Stafford County Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Thursday, February 16th. Her talk will be about the influence George Washington and his father have had on Stafford and the nation. The meeting will begin at 7:30 pm and will be held at the Stafford Administration Building in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers. All are welcome.

Jane was instrumental in preserving Government Island. It took her 29 years and a speech before Congress to get the island on the National Register of Historic Places.

This presentation will also be live streamed via Facebook. To view the presentation from Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/StaffordHistory. You should see the live feed listed at the top of the posts. If not, you may need to refresh your page.