Shenandoah County Heritage Day Returns to Shrine Mont for 2025
In 2014, the fourteenth annual Shenandoah County Heritage Day, jointly hosted by the Shenandoah County Historical Society and the Shenandoah County Library Archives, was held at the Orkney Springs Hotel (the Virginia House). Heritage Day has been held each spring since 2001 and the location rotates throughout Shenandoah County. In 2020, the event went virtual for a year with five outstanding virtual presentations. Shenandoah County Heritage Day presents a great opportunity for professional and amateur researchers, history organizations and genealogists to share their knowledge and research as well as for community members to learn about the county’s rich and diverse history. Some of the participants attend every year, but there are always tables with new displays and updated information.
For 2025, the Heritage Day returns to Shrine Mont, with the exhibits held in the Ballroom of the Virginia House and other activities extended beyond the Virginia House with a walking tour of Historic Orkney Springs. Two walking tours (at 11:15 a.m. and repeated at 3 p.m.) will explore “the timeline of development of Orkney Springs, including the hotels. Van Burenville, the village of Orkney Springs, and Shrine Mont.” (Shenandoah County Tourism)
At 1 pm, Chris Kaznosky, a geoscience teacher at Central High School in Shenandoah County Schools for 19 years, will give a talk called “A Brief Geology and History of Shenandoah County’s Springs” which focuses on the geology behind why Shenandoah County has many springs and describing some of the more prominent springs. Kaznosky teaches Astronomy, Earth Science, and Dual Enrollment Physical Geology through Laurel Ridge Community College. He has also been an instructor at James Madison University for 15 year, and has presented for sixteen consecutive years at the Virginia Association of Science Teachers Annual Conference. In addition to teaching, Kaznosky is a co-sponsor of the CHS National Honor Society where he coordinates the Central Outfitters Clothes Closet and Food Pantry.
Here is an example of how someone might use Heritage Day for research: Ruth Hughes Hoffman will be looking for information on three people with names on her great-grandmother’s one hundred-year-old “Granny’s Quilt” whom she has yet to identify: Mrs. J. C. Copp, Ruby Hardy (W Va), and S. A. Stickley. She has identified the other 222 names! (Perhaps a Chimney Rock Chronicle reader will recognize one of the names!)
Diane Cooley-Lutz, a genealogist/family historian from the Shenandoah Caverns area of Shenandoah County, will have a table with information on researching families. She has researched the Polk, Dellinger, Bowers/Miller, Foltz, Siebert/Sibert families and many others. In addition to family history information, she plans to display some of the research books that she uses. Cooley-Lutz will have a “family wreath” on display that traces the ancestors of Christian Dellinger; a large percentage of county families can be traced back to Dellinger.
Most of the museums and historical societies in Shenandoah County will have displays at Heritage Day. Some come every year. The Mount Jackson Museum will have a scanner at the event and invites those with old photos of the town to bring photos that might be included in a book on the history of Mt. Jackson. Edgar Lamma III usually has several tables of items on display made by the Shenandoah Community Workers at Bird Haven, near Orkney Springs.
Something different at Heritage Day in 2025 is a boxed lunch provided by Shrint Mont, which must be ordered ahead of time. The Shrine Mont website (shrinemont.com) has the link for reserving a $12 boxed lunch with a sandwich, cookies, and chips.
Barbara Adamson, President of the Shenandoah County Historical Society says about the special day “Heritage Day is a favorite time for me because it brings together people from all over Shenandoah County to share their stories. No matter the area we focus on, we also share countywide history.”
Zachary (Zach) Hottel, Archivist at the Shenandoah County Library, reflects on what Heritage Day is all about: ““Shenandoah County Heritage Day is a wonderful opportunity for researchers, genealogists, history enthusiasts, and historic sites to gather in one place to connect with each other and highlight wonderful stories from our past. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or are brand new to our community, you will discover something at Heritage Day that connects you to our shared past.”
Parking will be available behind the hotel; follow the signs. Those for whom mobility is an issue may be dropped off in front of the hotel. For more information, leave a message at the SCHS, 540-459-1795; visit the SCHS website (shenandoahhistory.org), or Shrine Mont (shrinemont.com).
