The Greenbrier Historical Society has announced its biennial Home and History Tour Weekend for 2025. This event will begin on Friday, June 13 with a presentation by Dr. Sarah McCartney at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the New River Community and Technical College with refreshments on the lawn at the North House, and conclude on Saturday, June 14 with the Home and History Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a major fundraiser for GHS and tickets for all events as well as ticket packages are available on the GHS website https://bit.ly/ghshometourtickets
Dr. Sarah E. McCartney is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Harrison Ruffin Tyler Department of History and the National Institute of American History and Democracy (NIAHD) at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA and has deep roots in the Frankford/Renick area of Greenbrier County, the location of this year’s Home and History Tour. She did some research for her dissertation in the archives of the Greenbrier Historical Society at the North House. Her presentation will focus on “The Spring Creek Settlement in the Revolutionary Era.”
Spring Creek, encompassing present-day Renick and Frankford, WV, was one of the earliest areas of European settlement in the Greenbrier Valley in the 1760s. By 1775 it had the largest population of settlers in the region. Among those residents were familiar family names like Stuart, Renick, Ludington, Arbuckle, McClenachan, and Walkup. Many of the actions of the individuals in this first generation of settlement were central to the events of the American Revolution in the Virginia backcountry and to the founding of Greenbrier County in 1778.
Al Emch, President of the Greenbrier Historical Society, said, “We are so very pleased to have Dr. McCartney share some of her research with us. The role of the people of this area in the events leading up to and through the Revolutionary War is underappreciated. GHS made a start toward education with its Camp Union events last fall. We invite everyone to join us for this presentation to learn more and follow that experience with a tour of some of the locations where history was made.”
After Dr. McCartney’s presentation, wine and light refreshments will be served inside the North House and on the lawn to encourage further discussion of her research and in anticipation of the tour the next day.
On Saturday, June 14, the magnificent Charles Stuart home; a charming early log home now called Buffalo Ridge; a log home transformed into a sturdy Victorian residence; and the 1855 Frankford Presbyterian Church will be available for tours. Also on display will be the stunning farm country found in this area with lush spring grass and thousands of black Angus cattle grazing. “Old Renick,” down by the Greenbrier River, will be available to explore with the help of signage which identifies landmarks from bygone days. The Renick Community Center will have a photo and history display to assist with further learning.
Margaret Hambrick, Secretary of the Greenbrier Historical Society, said, “It is easy to see why the early settlers chose this area. The raw beauty is amazing and, combined with the tasty water gushing out of limestone caves powering mills, and the Greenbrier River for transportation, it must have seemed the perfect place to settle and raise families. Please join us on June 13 and 14 and experience firsthand what the Greenbrier Valley was like in pre-Revolutionary War days as well as soon after.
Food will be available at the Frankford Presbyterian Church, Mountain Table, and the Good Roads Bakery in the immediate area as well as all the fine, award winning restaurants in Lewisburg.
More information and virtual tickets are available online on the GHS website with a discount for early purchase.
Founded in 1963, the Greenbrier Historical Society is dedicated to community enrichment through education and preservation of the history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley. The Greenbrier Historical Society is a regional organization that serves the West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, and Pocahontas.
