R e s t o r a t i o n P r o j e c t s

Volume 4 Issue 1

517 Old River Road , Williamstown, WV 26187 PH: 304-375-2129

Editor: Randy Modesitt rmod2@outlook.com 304-481-5178

LOOK

• 2020 Event Schedule

• Heritage Village

• Trolley

• Stoneware at the hall

• Tours have begun

• Restoration projects ongoing

• Looking ahead

• Henderson Book

With any structure that has existed for well over 150 years, father time begins to take its toll. The original Henderson home in Boaz, built in 1836, certainly has seen its share of repairs and reno-vations over the years. A new roof, gutters, painting, and mortar work are only small parts of the extensive work that has been completed. As we all know, this work comes with a price tag and laborious work. Much of the work has been completed by local workers and volunteers, using money that has been generated by local folks, or in many cases, state, local and federal grants. In the case of the “newer “ portion of Henderson Hall, built in 1856, the work becomes more diffi-cult as well as expensive due to the size and complexity of the structure,. Standing over 40 feet tall, to repair gutters, the roof, or overhangs, lifts or scaffolding is necessary and none of this is cheap. Over the winter, inside work on ceilings, the basement, repairing wallpaper, and painting became the order of the day. Most of the focus this past winter was on the main dining room. The ceiling was re-plastered, woodwork painted, and wallpaper reattached. Most of this work had to be completed using scaffolding, due to the nearly 12 foot ceiling. Thanks to Mark Lupardus and Jeff Zawatski, the work was completed in time for the hall to open the first week of March. Next winter, the South parlor, often referred to as the “piano room, will be the focus of down time restoration. This spring, the long overdue overhang and downspout in the back of the hall will be repaired. The old kitchen door that has been non functional for the past four years has been repaired and will soon have a screen door added. In addition, the side porch off the old dining room is being repaired and restored, The rotten porch post and railing’s are being made and will be added soon. The Henderson family who built this magnificent home and left it for us to enjoy would hopefully be very happy with the work we are doing to preserve their beautiful home.

March , 2020

The Hendersons One Family’s Legacy

Pioneers and patriots, the Henderson family left behind a legacy of historical treas-ures in word and deed allowing an unprecedented look into the past. Their Victorian-era plantation home constructed in the 1800s, and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, is a living monument to those who walked its halls in an unbroken chain of five generations. Family patriarch Alexander Henderson arrived in Virginia in the 1700s earning the title of Father of the American Chain Store, counting among his friends founding fathers George Washington and George Mason. He sent three of his sons to what was then the wilds of the Mid-Ohio Valley. The Hender-sons took part in what may be the only duel recorded north of the Ohio River, played a role in thwarting the treasonous exploits of Aaron Burr and family members served on both sides during the Civil War, surviving turmoil, treachery and tragedy. The Hendersons, One Family’s Legacy may be purchased at the following locations as well as Amazon.com

Henderson Hall, Campus Martius, Valley Gem. Sternwheeler, Oil and Gas Museum of Parkersburg, Blennerhassett Museum Gift Shop, and area book stores. For more information you may call 304-375-2129 or 304-481-5178.

Get your copy now!

Henderson Landing News will be published quarterly - Issues published in March, June, September, and December

HENDERSONHALLWV.COM

V o l u m e 4 I s s u e 1 P a g e 2

H e n d e r s o n H e r i t a g e V i l l a g e

What began with the idea of constructing a shelter for the Henderson trolley has expanded into what has become an amazing addition to Henderson Hall. Housing a blacksmith shop, glassblowing kiln, a wood carving area and room for weavers, spinners, and other heritage crafts the village has become a major attraction for our guests. The brainchild of Henderson Hall docent Rodney Ritchie who funded the project, the village continues to grow in function and interest. The village can easily be converted into an area for small wedding receptions as well as a meeting place for groups or organizations wishing to get in out of the weather if need be. Plans for the coming year involving the venue include our annual Henderson Heritage Festival on October 4. This event will involve all of the activities mentioned above, as well as outdoor crafts and hobbies such as pottery, antique engines, antique tool displays, farm equipment, and of course heritage music. In addition, one of our weddings planned at the hall this summer will be converted into a dance floor for the summer evening wedding. This is a must see while visiting Historic Henderson Hall.

2020 HH Event Schedule April 17 – Henderson Scottish Evening May 16 – Henderson Ladies Tea June 6 – Antique Auto Show June 20-21 – Civil War Reenactment July 18 – Henderson Trade Days August 1 – Antique Engine Show August 29 – Mid- Ohio History Expo October 4 – Henderson Heritage Festival October 18 – Waves of History October 30 – Candlelight Dinner Cruise December 5 – Henderson Christmas Evening December 12 – Plantation Christmas NOTE: The Valley Gem will bring visitors to the hall during the following events:

Each Tues. / Thurs. June—October

Civil War Reenactment - June 20 only

Henderson Heritage Festival - October 4

Waves of History - October 18

Candlelight dinner cruise - October 30

Plantation Christmas - December 12

To purchase tickets for these events, contact the Valley Gem at 740-373-7862. NOTE: There are no Valley Gem hall tours during the month of September.

Henderson Hall Stoneware Local author, Jim Stage, spent several hours recently, evaluating and identifying the large collection of stoneware at Henderson Hall. Much of the collection is the work of A.P. Donaghho. Donaghho’s stoneware can be found in antique and secondhand stores all across the country and is one of the most collectable and recognized names in this once thriving enterprise. The Donaghoo stoneware identify-ing markings of cobalt blue has never been able to be replicated. In addition to Donaghho, the collection contains numerous crocks and pitchers by Nathaniel Clark. Clark’s stoneware business was located in Marietta on the site where The Castle stands today. In addition to Donaghho and Clark stoneware, the hall’s collection includes numerous pieces made by Hamilton and Jones , E.B. Tay-lor, and many from Zanesville, Oh. It was fascinating to learn about the markings and details that are so often overlooked or not understood. For example, the small slits on the top of the crocks were to let the steam out while they were in the kiln, as they were stacked on top of each other. Without these small slits the stoneware could explode. The little brown spots often found on the side of the crocks are called “kisses”. These are spots created when the crocks would come in contact while in the kiln. Jim’s book, The Donaghho Story, can be purchased at Henderson Hall and is a fascinating read. Jim spent over 10 years researching the pottery business not only locally, but from around the country. His knowledge and expertise in this field is amazing. A large collection of stoneware is located in the basement of Henderson Hall.

L o o k i n g a h e a d

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HALL TOURS HAVE BEGUN ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The hall opened for tours on Tuesday, March 3 and if this year is like last year, we are look-ing forward to another great year. Each of the past 5 years, the number of folks visiting the hall have increased significantly. As in the past, each winter we reorganize and add displays and complete necessary projects to preserve and protect the hall. Many of our visitors return each year and we hear about how they see things they had never seen be-fore. Many artifacts come out of storage and others are moved to a more visible location. Bus tours, school groups, or other organiza-tions wishing to tour as a group should call the following numbers for details on discounts and availability. 304-375-2129 / 304-481-5178

Ladies Tea returns to Henderson Hall in 2020

Henderson Hall Trolley The Henderson Trolley arrived in March of 2019 and began bringing visitors to the hall in June. Teaming with the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, the trolley brought hundreds of people to the hall . Visitors would board the Valley Gem and arrive just below the hall at Harbor Point where they boarded the Henderson trolley for a short trip to the hall. In addition , the trolley was used for weddings, the annual Civil War reenactment, our inaugural Henderson Heritage Festival, and a special Christmas event that ended our year. To book the trolley call us at 304-481-5178

While the apple orchard has gotten a lot of attention and rightly so over the past few months, planning for the future of the hall is ongoing. Over the unpredictable winter, work began on clearing the area behind Woodhaven that will one day be known as Henderson Park. There is a shelter that can be utilized as well as an abundance of shade trees that include a large number of paw-paw trees. The paw-paw is often re-ferred to as the “West Virginia bana-na”. The deer love them as do some of our volunteers and visitors. At one time, Michael Rolston used this area as his own personal park and from

what we understand used this area to read and relax. We believe this once again can be a place where volunteers and visitors can sit in the shade of the big trees by the little stream and relax on a hot summer day. The area could also be used to host small gatherings for meetings and get togethers. Over the years, it has been sorely neglected and consequently has been filled with fallen limbs, briars, and unsightly vegetation. The shelter is currently filled to the brim with old barn wood that is mostly rotten or beyond use .

WHAT’S THE BUZZ This year, we will continue to

develop the apiary. Two hives of bees were added last year. Unfor-tunately, one was lost over the winter, but the current hive will be split soon to add the 2nd hive. . Plans are to eventually harvest and sell Henderson Honey to our visitors and of course keep some for ourselves. The keeping and caring for bees is not something that can be done without planning, education and investing in the proper equipment to do so safely.

Henderson English Tea

Henderson Hall will host an 1880’s English tea on Saturday, May 16 with settings at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Program for the tea includes poems and short stories published in the ladies Godey’s Lady’s Magazine, published 1830 – 1878. Also included in the tea is a tour of Henderson Hall. Cost is $25.00 per person and reservations are required. Limited to 24 people per seating.

For ticket information, please visit Eventbrite.com or contact Henderson Hall at 304-375-2129. Tickets go on sale April 10, 2020.

Adults $10.00

Students $5.00

School groups: $3.00

Bus Tours: $8.00

6 and under FREE

Woodhaven Update Woodhaven, is the former home of Henry Clay Henderson and family, as well as George Travis Henderson and his family. The home has been vacant and in need of repair for several years. Finally, it is being renovated with fresh exterior paint, interior work, and a working greenhouse. The house is being rented to a young lady who has turned the greenhouse into a beauti-ful retreat filled with interesting and beauti-ful plants, and has painted all of the interior walls, as well as remodeled the old kitchen. She plans to plant shrubs and flowers around the outside of the house and a brick entrance walkway is being planned. “ A one of a Kind Historical Treasure!

T o u r A d m i s s i o n R a t e s

Visit us on the web at: Hendersonhallwv.com

Like us at: Henderson Hall Plantation

Also visit: oilandgasmuseum.org

Woodhaven—Home built by Henry Clay Henderson