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.

The Roane County Historical Society met on Thursday, April 25, 2013, 7 p.m. at the Roane County Library. President Rick Greathouse called the meeting to order. The pledge to the American flag was led by little Miss Madison Parker, granddaughter of Theresa, and the opening prayer was led by Linda Liss.
The minutes from the March 28th meeting were read by Susan Tucker, Recording Sect’y. They were approved with corrections.
The financial report was presented by Carol Board-Westfall, Treasurer. Ending balance: $18,516.87. Copy filed for audit.
Corresponding Sect’y, Linda Liss, reported that she had remailed the newsletters and directories that had been returned with address changes. She sent cards where needed and as Membership Sect’y she reported that membership is 204 with two renewals and one new member.
Committee Reports:
Book purchases – None
September 2013 Annual Genealogical Fair – No report.
Newsletter: Vol. 20 #3 should have been rec’d by those on mailing list.

Old Business:
A lengthy discussion, continued from our March meeting, regarding the B & O Railroad Museum, owned by the City of Spencer. Theresa Boggs Parker, Museum Caretaker, related that the museum was cleaned by a 4-H group but needs persons for regular cleaning, routine and long-term maintenance and to staff it during “open” times. [1st Saturdays monthly, May-Oct.]. Is this something the society could do as a project? It was still recommended that the Executive Committee meet to see the condition of the museum and report back at the next meeting.

Carol Board-Westfall reported that she had gotten a price, $245. for the commemorative plaque for the Flat Fork Community Baptist Church. She will order the plaque went she gets the consent form back from the church trustees.

Susan Tucker reported that the first order of digitized microfilms of local newspaper reels have been received and that the rest of the microfilms will be sent to the Florida-based firm, Digital Solutions, to be put on CD’s. She has not received an invoice for the first order.

Annual Essay Scholarship: Linda Liss reported that the committee met before this meeting and read the submitted essays. It was the committee’s decision that Miss Katie L. Snodgrass receive the $750. scholarship. Katie’s excellent essay reflected the life & times of her great grandmother. Linda will present the scholarship on behalf of the society at the Roane County High School’s awards assembly on Tuesday, May 21st.

Carol Board-Westfall had copies of two advertisements promoting the society recently published in the Charleston Newspaper “Spencer – Business is Booming & Blooming” section and the 2013 WV Travel Guide. Copies were circulated for those present to see.

New Business:
Carol Board-Westfall announced that the society had received a large book order request from the St. Louis County Library in Missouri. They want approx.. 32 of the society’s different publications for their library. Motion was made and properly seconded to send the requested books at a 10% discount and charge the actual cost of postage. Motion carried unanimously.

Melissa Swisher reported that she had attended the 2013 Hoot Owl night at the History & Archives Library in Charleston on April 5-6. She toured all floors of the library, learned about the inner workings of the facility, and was able to do research of their files at no cost.

Melissa also reported that she has been researching the McKown Burying Grounds in Spencer. She said that in 1899 the Legislature proposed to move the cemetery. Who was buried there and was it actually moved? Some of her information revealed that the cemetery was also called the Old Town cemetery.

Linda Liss reported that society member & WW II veteran Denver R. Gandee was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal on Sat., April 13, 2013. Articles about this presentation appeared in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel newspaper and in the Roane County Times Record newspaper.
Mr. Gandee has also been nominated by County Delegate Bob Ashley to have a Roane County bridge on Rte. 14, named the “Denver Ray Gandee, Sr. Bridge.”

Meeting adjourned with refreshments being served by Phyllis Counts.

Members present were: Carol Board-Westfall, Rick Greathouse, Brenda Whited, Phyllis Counts, Reva Paxton, Janet Drake Robinson, Linda Liss, Theresa A. Boggs-Parker, Susan Tucker, Melissa Swisher, Hazel Gandee, Mike & Shirley Hill, and guests, Carl Paxton and Madison Parker.

The next regular meeting of the Roane County Historical Society will be Thursday, May 23rd at the Roane County Library, at 7 p.m. Our special guest will be Miss Katie Snodgrass, recipient of the 2013 Essay Scholarship in the amount of $750. Katie will tell us about her family history and her plans for continuing education. All members are urged to attend and as always guests are welcome.