Cecil "Jerry" Starcher the keeper of the Starcher Family website is seeking to correspond with Starchers of Roane County, WV.

Greetings to all site visitors. My usual monthly post to the site will be brief this month since I was unable to attend the July meeting for details.

It was reported to me that the meeting was pretty well attended and that Mrs. Peggy L. Stemple presented an interesting program about "Names of Old Time Diseases."

Report was made by Annual Audit Committee that the society's financial records were in good order.

Report was made from the Committee on Nominations. The following were nominated & elected to serve another term [2013-14] beginning immediately.
President: Richard I. "Rick" Greathouse
1st Vice Pres: Melissa Swisher
2nd Vice Pres: Jack Nida
Recording Secretary: Susan Tucker
Treasurer: Carol Board-Westfall
Membership/Corresponding Sect'y: Linda Liss

Plans are coming together for the 19th Annual Genealogical Fair to be held Sat., Sept. 28th at the Heritage Park Community Building in Spencer. [9 a.m. - 3 p.m.]

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library in Spencer. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. Guests are always welcomed.
Submitted by Linda Liss, Corresponding Secretary

The Roane County Historical Society, Inc. met at the Roane County Library on Thursday, June 27th for its regular monthly meeting. Mr. Rick Greathouse, President, called the meeting to order and welcomed those present. Mr. Jack Nida led an opening prayer. The pledge to the flag was recited by all.
The minutes from the May meeting was read by Mrs. Susan Tucker, Recording Secretary. They were approved as read.
Mrs. Carol Board-Westfall gave the Financial Report reflecting a balance of $18,017.89. A copy of the report was filed for the annual audit.
Mrs. Linda Liss, Corresponding Secretary reported that she sent cards and responded to other correspondence as needed. She also reported that the Society’s membership is holding steady at 206 members. Several members have not paid their dues for the 2013-14 fiscal year. Those persons will be contacted.

Other Business:
No further report from the Executive Committee on the B & O Railroad/City of Spencer Museum project.
No further report from the trustees of Flat Fork Community Church regarding the plaque.

Carol reported that the society has received a collection of approx.20 U.S. Civil War history books from the estate of the late R.C.H.S. member, Mr. Terrence R. “Terry” Cummings. Mr. Cummings, a well-known Roane County resident died April 5, 2013 in Morgantown, WV.

Two committees were formed with reports required by July meeting.
Financial Annual Audit Committee – Mrs Melissa Swisher, Mr. Jack Nida & Mr. Rick Greathouse.
Committee on Nominations for 2013-14 officers – Mrs. Linda Liss and Mrs. Susan Tucker.

The 19th Annual Genealogy Fair, sponsored by RCHS will be held on Saturday, September 28th at the Heritage Park Community Building in Spencer, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mrs. Johanna Nutter, Fair Committee Chairperson. reported that contacts are being made, table reservations are being received and items suitable for door prizes are needed. Help with set up will be needed on Friday the 27th. For further information, she may be contacted at joeandjo30@wirefire.com. Table space rental is, $10. per table for persons or organizations having items to sell. Those persons requiring table space but not selling items are required to make a reservation as well. Melissa Swisher will compose a flier to advertising the fair.

Mrs. Susan Tucker reported that she completed an inventory of society publications. Books will be ordered where needed and made available at the genealogy fair.
Susan also reported that an invoice has been received for the first shipment of digitized newspaper microfilms owned by the society. The second 36-roll shipment has been sent to Digital Solutions for preserving on DVD’s. The Governor’s Community Participation Grant in the amount of $1,000 will be used toward converting the microfilms to DVD’s.

Additionally, Susan reported that she is still working on the “photo framing project.” She is considering the best way to frame and display the historic photo collection owned by the society. Melissa volunteered to help by preparing a sample artistic matting lay-out for the photos.

2013 is the Roane County Historical Society’s 20th Anniversary year. The society was organized in 1993. The meeting adjourned with “Birthday” cake & ice cream being served.
Those present were: Susan Tucker, Melissa Swisher, Rick Greathouse, Linda Liss, Carol Board-Westfall, Jack and Jean Nida, Marvin and Peggy Stemple, Johanna Nutter, Reva Paxton, Pat Combs and guest Bobby Skinner.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 25th at 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library. A program will be presented by society member, Mrs. Peggy L. Stemple on “Old Time Disease and Illness Names.” What were causes of our ancestor’s deaths? In genealogy research we sometimes come across unusual names for a malady or illness that are not used today. Have you seen causes of death like, ague, apoplexy, brain fever, lung fever, child bed fever, scrofula, erysipelas, or grippe? Come to the meeting on the 25th and learn more about these and other illness's names.

For further information about membership or society activities, you may contact Mrs. Linda Liss at WVRoots@aol.com.

The Roane County Historical Society, Inc. is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2013. Our next meeting is Thurs., June 27 at the Roane Co. Library at 7 p.m. Plan now to attend. Cake & ice cream will be served.

The Roane County Historical Society met on Thursday, May 23, 2013, 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library. President, Rick Greathouse called the meeting to order. The pledge to the flag was recited by all and Carol Board-Westfall led the opening prayer. Those present were: Theresa A. Boggs-Parker and Madison Parker, Hazel E.C. Gandee, Rick Greathouse, Katie L. Snodgrass, Peggy Starcher, Marvin D. Stemple, Patty Wyatt, Carol Board-Westfall and Linda Liss.
In absence of the Recording Secretary, the minutes of the April 25th meeting were read by Linda Liss. Minutes approved with corrections.

The financial report was presented by Carol Board-Westfall. The ending balance was $17,572.18 Copy filed for audit.

Corresponding Secretary, Linda Liss, reported that she sent cards where needed and as Membership Secretary she reported that membership is now 206 with two additions to the member roll.

Committee Reports:
Book purchases – None.
Newsletter – No report.
September 2013 Genealogical Fair – No report.

Old Business:
Carol Board-Westfall reported that she had mailed the large book order from the Saint Louis County Library in Missouri. The order including postage totaled $450.60 after the 10% discount agreed upon at our April meeting. The Library has been added to our quarterly newsletter mailing list.

Carol Board-Westfall reported that she sent a consent form to the Trustees of the Flat Fork Baptist Church for their signatures to have a commemorative plaque made for the church as the church is over 100 years old. She has not heard back from them.

Carol Board-Westfall reported the she still has not received an invoice from “Digital Solutions” for the first batch of newspaper microfilms. The society is in danger of losing the $1,000 grant if we cannot present an invoice for the proposed project.

Linda Liss reported that she has continued correspondence with Mr. John Austin who is restoring the John H. Smith Cemetery on Harmony Rd in Roane Co. This small family cemetery does not appear in any of the society’s cemetery books. She has placed memorials on the Find-a-Grave website for the 14 persons identified as being buried there.

Teresa Boggs Parker reported the she along with some of the Executive Committee of R.C.H.S. had visited the Depot Museum after the April meeting. The building is owned by the City of Spencer. She reported that it had been dusted and cleaned recently by a 4-H group, however it still needs regular upkeep, painting inside & out, insulated around eaves to keep out birds, better windows, etc.
The museum building will be open on the following dates if workers can be scheduled:
Saturday, June 1 – 9 a.m. til Noon.
Heritage Days, June 20, 21, 22, 2013
Walnut Festival, October 2013.
No decision could be reached at this point whether the society could take over the Depot Museum as a project. Discussion tabled until the Executive Committee can meet to put together a “plan of action.”

New Business:
Carol Board-Westfall received an advertisement request from Charleston Newspapers for the society to purchase a[business card size] ad in the West Virginia Commemorative issue of the Gazette & Daily Mail celebrating the state’s Sesquicentennial [150th] birthday, on June 20th. Copy of the newspaper will be placed in the Archives & History Library in Charleston. The ad will cost $75. Motion was made and properly seconded to purchase the ad. Linda Liss will prepare the ad for publication.

Business meeting adjourned.

Linda Liss, Essay Scholarship Committee Chairperson, introduced our special guest for the meeting, Miss Katie L. Snodgrass, the $750. 2013 Essay Scholarship winner. Katie is the daughter of Robert and Cheryl Snodgrass of Spencer. She plans on attending Marshall U. in the Fall, studying Journalism. The subject of her essay was her great grandmother, Mrs. Delta A. O’Dell, a native of Marfrance, Greenbrier Co., WV. Katie told about her future plans and read a portion of her essay. Linda presented Katie with a certificate of participation, a packet of society materials and an honorary 1-year membership in the society.