Chesterfield Historical Society of VA to Present “Historic Winterpock Day”
Tour of Homes, Churches, Cemeteries and a School on April 12th
The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV) will present “Historic Winterpock Day,” a tour of more than a dozen historic homes, churches and cemeteries and a school on Saturday, April 12, 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
This tour of one of Chesterfield County’s oldest communities will benefit the CHSV Revive Magnolia Grange campaign to raise funds for the interior refurbishment of Magnolia Grange house museum on Iron Bridge Road, the only historic home open to the public in Chesterfield County.
Tour tickets go on sale February 12th. Advance tickets will be $25 for Adults and $12.50 for Students (18 and younger), Event Day tickets will be $30 and $12.50. Tickets may be purchased online at www.chesterfieldhistory.com using PayPal, or at Magnolia Grange, 10020 Iron Bridge Road, or CHSV head office in historic Trinity Church, 10111 Iron Bridge Road.
“Historic Winterpock Day” will include house tours of Magnolia Grange which interprets life on a 19th century country plantation, and three historic private residences normally closed to the public: Adventure Hill, a Huguenot-style cottage dating from around 1847 that once served as an equestrian camp, where members of the teacher sorority Alpha Delta Kappa, Delta Chapter will serve as docents; Physic Hill, a Federal period home built in 1815 by a physician whose office was on the property; and Clover Hill Plantation (c.1834), a rambling farmhouse with close ties to the Winterpock coal mines where coal mining artifacts found on the property will be displayed and the visit by General Robert E. Lee on his march to Appomattox in 1865 will be recalled. In addition, there will be living history activities featuring traditional domestic arts at Buzzard’s Roost (c. 1870), a typical 19th century Chesterfield County farmhouse.
Also included in the tour will be Gifft’s Store (c.1929), a colorful landmark in the heart of Winterpock where classic cars will be displayed, and Historic Beach Station (c. 1890) which served as a train depot and post office at the center of Beach village. Today, the restored house and surrounding railroad shanties provide a unique sense of life in rural Chesterfield County at the turn of the 20th century.
Four Winterpock area churches will be featured in the daylong historic tour: the Reformed Baptist Church of Richmond, located at the iconic crossroad of Winterpock and Beach Roads, was built circa 1825 and has served its current congregation since 1977; its neighbor on Winterpock Road, Bethia United Methodist Church which was formed in 1886 has undergone many expansions including the 1979 building which houses the original cornerstone and memorial windows; Centenary United Methodist Church was formed in 1883 at Physic Hill, its sanctuary was built circa 1918 and completed with furnishings made by inmates ; and, Tabernacle Baptist Church, formed in 1862 by black families who met in a bush arbor and lumber building, the current structure was built in 1976.
Additional church activities during “Historic Winterpock Day” will include refreshments and a presentation of the history of Tabernacle Baptist Church including oral history videos narrated by church elders and, a bake sale at Centenary United Methodist featuring recipes from the United Methodist Women’s cookbook which will be for sale. Self-guided tour information for local cemeteries will be available at both these churches as well as at Bethia United Methodist Church.
Throughout the day, Historic Beach Station will offer an a la carte menu and Magnolia Grange will offer refreshments. Pre-ordered box lunches at $7.50/person will be provided by Bethia United Methodist Church for pick-up 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m. Box lunch tickets can be purchased on the CHSV website www.chesterfieldhistory.com using PayPal.
On April 12, tour tickets will be available at Bethia United Methodist Church, 10700 Winterpock Road, Chesterfield.
The Chesterfield Historical Society of VA serves as the center for Chesterfield County history. Its mission is to research and celebrate Chesterfield County’s history. For more information or to volunteer, please call (804)796-7121 or click on www.chesterfieldhistory.com
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