Members and Guests Only.

The Christmas party will be held at the Rowser Building, Room A. The SCHS provides napkins, plates, cutlery, and beverages. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.

We’ll be meeting at 2:00pm on Sunday, December 15, at 2:00pm in hopes that more members will be available to attend.

With Scott Harris.

Scott will discuss dendrochronology (tree ring dating) undertaken in 2023 at the historic House Belmont.  Harris will review the process and results of the project, which helped establish a more precise date of construction for the oldest portion of the structure.

Scott Harris is the Executive Director of the University of Mary Washington Museums and an editorial advisor to the White House Historical Association.

This presentation will be recorded and posted to Facebook and the Discover Stafford “Past Presentations” portion of the events page.

with Terri Blanchette

We want our lives Clean, Clear, and Organized. But we are facing boxes, bags, piles and “stashes” of family history items in our attics, spare rooms, basements and storage units that we don’t have time – or know how – to “deal” with. Making it worse is the guilt and pressure we feel as these memories are being lost to decay with each passing year. Come to this informative talk and discover some basic steps you can take right now to easily organize and preserve all kinds of materials that we have in our homes and help ensure it will be clutter-free and safe for generations to come!

Terri Blanchette is an historian, writer, and heritage preservation specialist in the Virginia and greater Washington DC areas. She has a Masters in U.S. History with certification in Museum Studies and Archiving. She has written extensively for national history organizations, delivered numerous talks, workshops and seminars on preservation, and has researched and written corporate histories for some of Washington’s most prestigious firms. Her one-of-a-kind company, TimeSorters, LLC helps individuals and businesses to capture, organize, preserve and protect those things that make up their unique histories.

This presentation will be recorded and posted to Facebook and the Discover Stafford “Past Presentations” portion of the events page.

Via Colori® Stafford! is a two-day, family-friendly event, taking place from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 28, through Sunday, September 29, 2024.

The 2024 event will be held at the Stafford Regional Airport. Accessible parking and portable restrooms will be available. Food vendors will be on-site should you wish to purchase refreshments. The event is free for participating artists and the public, and you’ll find a number of community organizations and sponsor tables to visit, plus activities for children. Artists will be busy creating their chalk paintings on well-spaced squares, so you’ll be able to walk around and watch them in action.

Learn more at: vcstafford.com

with Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor

This program discusses the early settlement and development of the area that was designated as Stafford County in 1664.  It covers the system of land grants, patents, and headrights as well as the first European families to settle here.  Discusses the early parishes, courthouses, and industries.

Jerrilynn grew up in Stafford on the back of a horse and, as a teenager, became fascinated with the county’s history. Having spent her youth at Aquia Church (1757) and amongst several of the county’s old families, she heard the local oral history and eventually learned that little beyond oral tradition existed in Stafford due to vandalism by Union troops during the Civil War. In 1862 and 1863, the invading soldiers stole or destroyed many of the county’s court records and, as a result, traditional historians largely ignored Stafford and rarely even mentioned it in their books. In time, she began compiling information from the deeds, wills, court records, tax records, and newspapers that did exist, added to that the oral history, and tracked down other sources of information. Nearly forty years later, she is still researching her beloved Stafford County and publishing her studies so others might better appreciate the activities and families that made the county so special. Most of her research focuses on land tracts, mills, and industries, but she’s grateful for any tidbit that will help to develop Stafford’s unique story. She has published ten books about Stafford’s history.

Jerrilynn retired from the Prince William County Public Schools after working for 31 years as a middle school librarian.

Note:  the previously published program for September on Frances Benjamin Johnston with Connie Hilker had to be rescheduled and will be presented in the future.

This presentation will be recorded and posted to Facebook and the Discover Stafford “Past Presentations” portion of the events page.