MEET MIKE WEAN, NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE PLAINS DISTRICT MUSEUM
At its January 2024 meeting, the Museum’s Board of Directors unanimously elected Mike Wean as its new Chairman. Mike is a lifelong resident of the Timberville-New Market community with a genuine interest in preserving our local history and the genealogy of the area. He is a successful business owner who is now semi-retired, and has been a member of the Museum Board for the past four years. During that period, he has served as chair of the Property and Maintenance Committee and as a member of the Fundraising Committee.
He replaces Helen W. Smith, who has retired after 16 years as chairman and vice chair. During her tenure, the Museum moved from its original site behind the Timberville Town Office into its present location in the Old Rockingham Milling Co. (Rocking R Hardware) building; in addition to the initial restoration of the building, it has completed, with the generous donations and support from the community, three other major construction projects to improve the building. Since 2008, the Museum has continued to offer free monthly lectures and programs and revolving featured exhibits focusing on local history. Helen will remain on the Board as Exhibit Coordinator.
We look forward to the future under Mike’s leadership and encourage all of you to visit the Museum whenever possible.
IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
SUN., FEB. 18 at 2 PM
COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM
A panel will lead a discussion of local Black Cemeteries based on a book by local historian, William A. Good, SLAVERY WHEN HUMANS WERE SOLD AS CHATTEL. The panel will include William’s daughter, Wilda Wine, who will discuss her father as a writer, a colleague, William Vaughan, who worked with him, and Verne Leininger, a member of a study group at Linville Creek Church of the Brethren, which researched a portion of its cemetery containing the gravesites of local black family members.
A NOTE OF THANKS
A special thank you to Karl Rhodes for an interesting talk on his book PEGGY’S WAR. Over ninety visitors to the Museum were present to hear about his research into the role that Elder John Kline played in the underground railroad system for Mennonites and Brethren during the Civil War of which his great grandmother was a part.
This successful event was the first co- sponsored by the Museum and the Village Library in Broadway. Our thanks to librarian, Barbara Andes, and Massanutten Library for their roles in helping make the afternoon so successful.
AND COMING IN MARCH
SUN., MARCH 17 PATRICK’S DAY TEA
Details TBA
PLAINS DISTRICT MEMORIAL MUSEUM
PO Box 601
176 N. Main St., Timberville VA 22853
540-896-7900
Email: plainsmuseum@comcast.net
Website: plainsmuseum.com
