Just a little reminder that the Roane County Historical Society, Inc. does not meet during the months of January & February due to the uncertainty of weather/road conditions. Our next meeting will be Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library, downstairs. Please mark you calendars now for this important meeting.

The R.C.H.S. met on Thursday, Nov 17th at 7 p.m. for their regular monthly meeting. There were twenty-eight members and guests present.

President, Rick Greathouse, called the meeting to order, Johanna Nutter led the opening prayer and the Pledge to the flag was recited by all.
The minutes from the October meeting were read by Susan Tucker, Sect'y & accepted as presented. The treasurer's report by Carol Board-Westfall reflects a working balance of $17,608.90
Linda Liss, Membership & Corresponding Sect'y reports current membership at 208. Twelve members have not paid 2011-12 dues & will be removed from the roll. She has responded to inquires and other correspondence as needed.

Mr. Michael Myers, guest/visitor, made an inquiry about information needed to recognize Mr. James M. Cleavenger, Commander of a G.A.R. Post at Spencer. Mr. Cleavenger enlisted in the Union Army in 1864, Co D, 7th Reg W.Va. Cav Vol. Mr. Cleavenger was the son of Bailey Cleavenger.

Other business/news included:
1. $750 2nd Annual Essay Scholarship has been brought to the Guidance Counselor of Roane County High School where it will be presented to Senior students. College-bound students will be applying for the different scholarships in January 2012.
2. Carol Board-Westfall did interview with the Spencer Newspapers, Inc. in preparation of an article about the society's recent historic churches in Roane County plaque project.
3. Society "16th Annual WV History Hero" nominee, Linda Liss, has completed needed applications and returned them to society President Greathouse for his review, signature and delivery to the Culture Center in Charleston.

Our evening's guest speakers were Sara Prior, Planning & Education Coordinator and Carolyn Kender, Archaeologist Sect 106/Cemetery Survey of the WV State Historic Preservation Office. They were well-prepared, knowledgeable and informative about cemetery & historic building preservation. They supplied pertinent literature regarding WV cemetery codes & restoration. They encourage societies and interested persons to record and submit the "West Virginia Cemetery Survey Form" so all known cemeteries can be mapped and included in the Historic Preservation Office's database. The database information is available to those companies or agencies who are planning construction projects such as highways, dams, buildings, etc. so burial grounds may not be disturbed in the construction process.
For more information you may contact Ms. Prior at sara.a.prior@wv.gov or Ms. Kender at carolyn.m.kender@wv.gov

The meeting adjourned with refreshments being served to our guest speakers, Prior & Kender, also guests Clifford & Janice Tawney Cooper of Maryland, Kathryn Westfall of Florida and Michael Myers. Members present were Marvin Stemple, Johanna Nutter, Betty Moore, Terry & Jo Cummings, Bernard & Patty Wyatt, Susan Tucker, Brenda Whited, Peggy Starcher, Linda Liss, Hazel Gandee, Susie Wyatt, Anthony and Joel Hofstad, Phill "PJ" Miller, Carol Board-Westfall, Rick Greathouse, Reva Paxton, Jack & Jean Nida and Melissa Swisher.

The next and final meeting for 2011 will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 15th in the downstairs area of the Roane County Library. All members are urged to attend. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday our regular meeting is one week earlier.
A GUEST SPEAKER has been scheduled for the
November 17th, 7:00 p.m. meeting of the Roane County Historical Society. Sara A. Prior, from State Historic Cemetery Preservation Office will be present for that meeting. We will meet downstairs at the Roane County Public Library. Please make every effort to attend.

The Roane County Historical Society met Thursday, October 27, 2011 for their regular monthly meeting with eleven members present: Brenda Whited, Peggy Starcher, Marvin Stemple, Jack and Jean Nida, Philip Miller, Rick Greathouse, Carol Board Westfall, Susan Tucker, Hazel Gandee and Linda Liss.
Rick Greathouse, President, called the meeting to order and led an opening prayer. Susan Tucker, Recording Secretary, read the minutes from the September meeting, which were approved as read. Carol Board-Westfall, Treasurer, reported all bills paid, leaving a working balance in the amount of $17,737.41
Books donated or purchased & added to historical society’s library:
1. Images of America – Lewis County
2. Jackson County Deaths, Letter F-M
3. Photographic History of Ritchie County
4. Snodgrass Family Ancestors/Descendants by Sondra Elmore Reger
Also a set of Comstock’s WV Heritage Encyclopedias was donated to the society.

Linda Liss, Membership and Corresponding Secretary reported 4 new members and the loss of one member, which brings total membership to 207. She has also contacted all members (14) who have not paid their 2011-12 dues. They will be removed from the roll if not paid by time of our next newsletter mailing. The RCHS extends its sincere sympathy to Carol Board-Westfall and family at the Oct. 19, 2011 death of her sister, Eleanor S. Hunt.

Inquiries:
1. Mr. Paul Morehouse is looking for descendants of the late Edward & Biddy [Nugent] Kelly whose granddaughter married Thomas Ferrell of Roane County. Contact: epm1812@neo.rr.com
2. Society member, Marvin Stemple, is looking for information about the Stemple/Looney/Chewning family of Calhoun and Roane Counties. Contact: mstemple@wvadventures.net

Board-Westfall reported a good turnout for the Annual Genealogy Fair in September. A couple new vendors were present and everyone seemed to have a good time. You may see fair-related photos posted elsewhere on this site.
She also reported that the October 13, 2011 unveiling of the Congressman Woodyard plaque was well attended and the family was very appreciative for the society’s project to honor their ancestor. The plaque was hung at the Roane County Court House.

Liss reported that she has contacted the Counselor at Roane County High School about the 2nd Annual Essay Scholarship, that it has been raised to $750. She is awaiting contact back from the school.

Greathouse is awaiting a mailing from the WV Archives & History Commission regarding the Feb 23, 2012 16th Annual History Day at the Legislature. The society nominated Mrs. Linda Cottrell Liss for the “History Hero” honor. Applications will be available Nov. 1 and must be completed and returned by December 31st.
He also announced an invitation to display history, cultural or society items during the February History Day at the Legislature. There is an application for and guidelines for the exhibits.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday the next meeting of the RCHS will be one week earlier, November 17th, 7:00 p.m. at the Roane County Library. A speaker, Sara A. Prior, from State Historic Cemetery Preservation office has been scheduled for that meeting, so please make every effort to attend.

The Roane County Historical Society is excited to announce the dedication of the plaque commemorating the Congressional service of Harry Chapman Woodyard. The bronze plaque with Woodyard's likeness now hangs in the Roane County Courthouse.

With pomp and celebration the Woodyard plaque was dedicated on Thursday, October 13th, opening day of the 57th W.Va. Black Walnut Fesitval. The Noon unveiling was attended by festival goers, historical society members and some Woodyard descendants.

The inscription on the plaque reads:
A TRIBUTE TO HARRY CHAPMAN WOODYARD
Roane County's Only Representative in the United States Congress
Born in Spencer, Roane County, WV, the son of William C. Woodyard and Isabelle C. Chapmen, he was elected to a seat in the State Senate in 1898 at age 31. A Republican, he was first elected as the Fourth Congressional District (Roane, Wirt, Wood, Tyler, Putnam, Pleasants, Mason, Jackson and Cabell counties) representative in 1902. He then served four terms prior to 1910, and was returned to office in 1916 for three more terms. He then served one more term in the 69th Congress from March 1925 to march 1927.
Mr. Woodyard united in marriage with Emma J. Douglass, of Harrison County, in 1893, and they had three sons, William Jr., Edward Douglass and Henry Chapman.
In 1919 Mr. Woodyard entered the publishing field through purchase of the Spencer Times-Record, a weekly newspaper. His three sons assisted in the expansion of this business, establishing the first chain of weekly newspapers in West Virginia, known as Woodyard Publications, Inc.
Mr. Woodyard died on June 21, 1929, and is buried in the Spencer Mausoleum at Spencer Memorial Cemetery. Roane County Historical Society - 2011

We are indebted to Mrs. Carol Board-Westfall for spearheading this project and seeing it to its completion. We encourage you to stop by the courthouse in Spencer and see the plaque if you have not already done so.