The Board of the Greenbrier Historical Society announces their new Executive Director, Nora Venezky. Originally from Rochester, NY, Nora was the director of the Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum. She spent the last year in Pittsburgh, PA where she worked at the Fern Hollow Nature Center doing marketing and development. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Museum Studies and has a B. S. in History and a B.A in Studio Art, Design from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.
(Photo: Nora Venezky, new Executive Director of the Greenbrier Historical Society in front of the North House Museum and Historical Society Headquarters.)
Ms. Venezky certainly hit the ground running when she arrived on October 1, 2018, the week of the Annual Membership Meeting at Montwell celebrating the 200th anniversary of that great house.
I am so excited about all of the great plans we have for the upcoming year and beyond. I am really changing things up a bit, says Ms. Venezky. The Greenbrier Historical Society will be launching a new textile exhibit April 26th called Mothers of Material: Women and Textile Production in Greenbrier Valley. This exhibit will change the whole feel of the museum as we rework the entire second floor of the North House.”
She also hopes to better connect with the communities in the Greenbrier Valley and share her love and passion for history with others in fun and exciting ways.
What is the Greenbrier Historical Society (GHS)
Founded in 1963, GHS is dedicated to community enrichment through education and preservation of the history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley. A regional organization, GHS serves the West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers and Pocahontas.
The mission of the GHS is to collect, preserve, protect, and exhibit historical materials and objects, providing education experiences and activities, and supports historical inquiry and research. Such as, the North House Museum, The Barracks and Blue Sulphur.
The North House Museum
Explore the lives of Greenbrier Valley in this museum. Built in 1820, the North House was the home of local lawyer John North and his wife Charlotte for more than a decade before becoming James Frazier’s Star Tavern and Inn. At the turn of the 20th century, the North House became the home of Dr. Robert Telford, President of the Greenbrier College for Women. The Greenbrier Historical Society has operated within the North House since 1976 and has owned the building since 1992.
Today, the museum’s permanent displays and temporary exhibits feature items from across the Greenbrier Valley, including the training saddle of General Robert E. Lee’s horse, Traveller, an 18th century covered wagon, Civil War artifacts, and furniture made by local craftsman David Surbaugh, as well as original items from the North family. From early settlements to the Civil War and beyond, the lives of everyday Americans can be experienced at the North House Museum.
The Barracks
Located at 200 North Jefferson Street, the Barracks is one of the earliest buildings in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Although the exact date is unknown, the Barracks was built sometime between 1787 and before 1807 - around the time of the town’s incorporation in 1789. A three-story stone and log structure, the Barracks is situated on the Seneca Trail Highway (State Route 219), one block from Historic Downtown Lewisburg and the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway (US Route 60).
In the early 1800s, the Barracks served as an outpost of civilization in present-day Greenbrier County. Located only yards from the General Lewis Spring, the Barracks served as a stopping point for early settlers, freight wagons, military units, and stage coaches. It derived its name from its use as a barracks during the war of 1812.
The Barracks is one of the best known and most eye-catching structures in the area, noticed by all who pass through Lewisburg. As one travels into Downtown Lewisburg, this building prompts one to imagine the lifestyles of early Virginians and pioneers as they traveled into this fertile and vibrant area.
Owned and operated by the Greenbrier Historical Society, the Barracks is currently undergoing historic preservation and renovation, and is not open to the public at this time. GHS plans to turn the property into a multi-purpose space for the society—including exhibits, a gift shop, and additional storage for its growing collections.
Click here for the North House Museum Tours and the Barracks
The Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion is a historic Greek Revival structure located in Blue Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Pavilion is the only surviving structure from the Blue Sulphur Springs Resort, a 19th century mineral spa, and was built to shelter the sulphur spring at the resort.
The Pavilion consists of twelve columns holding up a square roof, and is primarily built with brick. Built in 1834 along with the resort, the Pavilion was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1992. Read more on the Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion.
When in Lewisburg, stop in and visit the Greenbrier Historical Society and Museum.
814 West Washington Street
Lewisburg, WV 24901
304-645-3398
Hours of Operation: Monday -Saturday, 10am to 4pm
The above information on the Greenbrier Historical Society is brought to you courtesy of Lewisburg Realtor Rebecca Gaujot. Call 304-520-2133 for all your real estate needs. Check out my website for Lewisburg WV Homes for Sale.
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