by Jack Mayhew - classmate and friend of Lyda Reilly

Growing up in Greenbrier County instills one with a sense of pride that stays with you for the rest of  your life.  So is the life of Lyda Elizabeth Spencer Reilly, RN, an accomplished Artist.  Born and raised on a farm located on Friars Hill Road, a few miles from the town of Renick, Lyda’s early days were filled with school and the attention of her grandfather Charlie Spencer who became her closest friend while he lived out his long life of ninety years with her family.  In her early teen years, her family was expanded by the arrival of Linda and Brenda Spencer, her twin sisters who now reside in Lewisburg.  As a young student, Lyda discovered art and was encouraged to develop her talent by her favorite teachers, Ms. Hanna and Ms. McKnight, which she did.  However, her love of art took a back seat to her education.  Immediately following High School she left the farm to attend nursing school. 

Lyda Became a Registered Nurse (RN) and set about helping those in need.   However, she never lost her love of farm life and her community which her paintings reflect.  As soon as she had the opportunity she captured her family home on canvas.  The painting now hangs on her bedroom wall in a location that ensures that it is the first thing she sees in the morning and the last at night.

Lyda expanded her life’s experiences with marriage and travel.  The arrival of her daughter Kerry was magical and their bond has grown as they both excelled in the professions of helping others.  Her daughter is now;  Dr. Kerry Reilly, Ph.D.

Enjoy some of Lyda's art below: 

By AmeriCorps Member - Abi Smith

​             The issue of sustainable collection storage is particularly important in the communities of the Greenbrier Valley. The Valley experiences flooding disasters on a regular basis. Natural disasters, like flooding, can result in the loss of priceless information from private and public collections, as well as family documents. Sustainable collection storage would mean creating disaster plans and storage facilities that are less at risk to destruction. It might also mean working with local communities to create digital copies of private and family collections in case these physical items are destroyed. So how can small organizations work to promote sustainable collections.

         One step that we can take here at the North House Museum is to be more intentional in our collecting. Did you know that many museums only display 10-20% of their collection? This means that large portions of a museum’s collection are sitting in climate-controlled storage. Although new additions to our collection are exciting, the constant growth of an organization’s collection is not always sustainable. A sustainable collection is one that an organization has enough staff, space, and time to manage. Museum collections are not intended to hold every artifact of a community’s history, but rather are to be curated collections that can be reworked as the needs of the organization changes. Here at the Greenbrier Historical Society, we are working to improve our collecting to focus on our scope of the Greenbrier Valley. This sometimes means deaccessioning exciting collection items that have no relation to our scope, like historic copies of the New York Times. We can deaccession these kinds of items with the knowledge this information will be preserved in other institutions with a more accurate collecting scope. ​

            Preservation of information is a key part of our mission statement, but so is education. Museums are well suited for education as they are designed to communicate to diverse groups of people. Often, environmental sustainability is taught through the science of climate change. However, as a history focused organization, we also have space to teach sustainability. We can teach about historic land use and land management practices. In fact, our newest exhibit opening in May, The Road to Plenty, examines Native American land use and management, and how those practices changed with colonization. We can also teach about the impact of industry on West Virginia’s environment. The lumber and coal industries had a major impact on the land of the Greenbrier Valley, and the effects of these industries still impact our communities. By including discussions of sustainability into the programming we already have, we can provide a framework to help guests better understand the importance of sustainable practices.
           
            The field of museums has been slow to develop sustainable practices. However, as more institutions begin to consider these issues, more museums are beginning to implement sustainability standards. The issues of environmental sustainability can seem overwhelming, particularly for small organizations. It may even make us question our understanding of how museums should operate. However, small, concrete actions will help shift museum and public practices and values to ones that help future community enrichment. ​

By Executive Director Nora Venezky 

​In 2020 I made it my goal to visit every West Virginia State Park and Forest (There are 45). Little did I know it would become the perfect year to spend as much time as possible outside and in nature. I was very fortunate to have great weather 97% of the time and a few friends in my bubble that joined me on my hikes. If you are not aware, West Virginia State Parks have a few awesome programs to encourage you to visit. ​

Their VIPP program allows you to collect stamps at each park when you complete the program you get a patch, window decal, and a $25 gift card for use at any park or forest and its FREE to sign up:   https://wvstateparks.com/parks/programs/vipp/. They also have a hiking program that is only $15 to register for and you get rewards as you hit different milestones: https://wvstateparks.com/parks/programs/hiking/.
There is no time limit on these programs and visiting State Parks is an amazing way to explore West Virginia. It is also amazing how much history you can discover along the way at some of the state parks. Here are a few West Virginia State Parks that had some great history to explore:

​Droop is in the Greenbrier Valley up in Pocahontas County and worth the quick drive (don’t forget to stop at everyone’s favorite Beartown State Park since its just up the road). This park is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail and is the site of the Battle of Droop Mountain that took place on November 6. 1863. They have a small museum you can visit to learn more about the battle, or you can walk up the iconic lookout tower. I recommend the .5-mile Overlook trail if you want to see Civil War trenches, and a scenic overlook.  

​This is one of the last parks I visited in December of 2020. It was stunning with the fresh Christmas snow sticking to the trees. Lots of great hiking and mountain biking trails made for a nice hike. Unfortunately, I visited out of season and the historic village was closed down for the season, but I was still able to explore and read the interpretive panels. The museum depicts pioneer life from 1796 to the early 1900s. The land the park is on was first settled by Watters Smith and his wife Elizabeth in 1796. They built a home and raised eight children on the farm. 

​This park gets its name from Chief Logan, a leader of the Mingo people who lived in the area and fought against white settlers who were encroaching on his people’s land and killed members of the Mingo tribe. This park also hosts a museum and other historic sites. After driving through Buffalo Creek to get to the park I appreciated learning more about the of the Buffalo Creek flood that occurred in February 26, 1972 when Pittston Coal Company’s slurry dam burst and unleashed 132 million gallons of waste water killing 125 people. The museum had exhibits on coal mining, railroad history, and more. I enjoyed a hike on Woodpecker Trail, a 2.3-mile easy hike through the woods that was recommended by one of the rangers. There is a great mix of nature and history at this state park. 

​This state park is all about history, open from May 1- October 31 this island adventure was a blast! You can get a combo ticket that includes the sternwheel boat ride to the island, a wagon ride around the island, a guided tour of the reproduction Blennerhassett Mansion (yes this is not the original mansion, it was rebuilt using blueprints and historic documentation), and a visit to the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History. I thoroughly enjoyed the sternwheel boat ride to the island; it was so mesmerizing watching the sternwheel churn the water of the Ohio River. Make sure you plan a whole day to explore the history and maybe stop at a restaurant or brewery in Parkersburg after.

​This was a great trip that I combined with visits to Cacapon and Lost River State Parks. Berkley Springs is an awesome little town with great little shops and restaurants and so much history. It is definitely worth taking your shoes off and soaking in the waters. Long before the first white settlers, Native Americans found benefits in these spring waters. George Washington visited the springs regularly and helped promote the health benefits of the spring waters. Located right in the downtown of Berkeley Springs, there is a museum as well as a spa to enjoy. 

​This hike we ran into some torrential downpours and thunder storms, but luckily, we happened to be passing by a picnic shelter at the time we could take cover in. With overlooks of the Gauley River and some stunning forest views this park quickly became one of my favorites. It was the site of a Union victory during the Civil War on September 10, 1861 that led to the eventual withdrawal of Confederate troops from the Kanawha Valley.  There is a small museum that teaches you about the history of the battle and area. 

This park is like stepping back into an old lumber town, rows of company houses, the company store, and the train whistles echoing through the valley. Before our current AmeriCorps Member, Abi smith joined us, she spent a year up at Cass working on the historic interpretation of the park. Getting a personal tour from her brought to life so much of the history of this Greenbrier Valley town. I love visiting the remains of the old mill that was built in 1902 before a fire destroyed it in 1922. It used to employ 2,500 people in its heyday before it closed in the 1960s and fell into disrepair. If you are up for the challenge, I recommend taking a weekend bicycle trip from Caldwell up to Cass along the Greenbrier River Trail (You can camp at Watoga State Park on your way!).

Preview by Brehana Scott - Marketing Manager 

​If you've visited the North House Museum and Archive in the last 10+ years you're probably familiar with the "War Room" exhibit.  The "War Room" was a military history display that showcased objects pertaining to regional conflicts, military engagements, and frontier fort history.  This year, the exhibit is getting a much needed makeover and will re-open later this March.  The exhibit will still be heavily focused on objects and images, while our knowledgeable docents handle the descriptions, themes, and dates.  

The newly crafted exhibit, Conflict and Consequences, will start by discussing the complex period of white settlement of Native lands in the Greenbrier Valley before moving on to the War of 1812, the Civil War, and World Wars I and II.  We will view these national and international events on a local scale and explore their impacts on our diverse communities, the economy, and the land.

The updated exhibit takes a deeper, more inclusive, look at the contributions of Black Americans, Native Americans, and the women of our area. Black Americans are honored in this exhibit for their roles as protectors of our community and of our nation during conflicts, wars, and other military engagements.  These Black men and women fought discrimination, exploitation, and racism in every facet of our history, with times of war being no different and with their services and sacrifices often being overlooked. 

Native and Indigenous Peoples are acknowledged in this exhibit for their claim to this land far before European colonization.  As Natives retaliated for land lost, frontier forts began popping up throughout the Greenbrier Valley.  The conflicts and battles that took place regionally in the name of colonization are complex and must be looked at from both the perspective of the Native Peoples and the European settlers.  

Women of the Greenbrier Valley are recognized here for their contributions on the home front, for their role as nurses who cared for wounded soldiers, and for their direct involvement in the fighting and as spies determined to make a difference in the outcome of the war. Women are often overlooked in military history, but their involvement plays a huge supporting role in these conflicts. Visitors will see war as more than just battle maps and weaponry; they will learn about the human experience of war.

While we are excited to announce that Conflicts & Consequences will be a permanent exhibit at the North House, we are always willing to adapt and update the exhibit to recognize more regional characters.  Please feel free to email in stories and images of veterans with ties to the Greenbrier Valley to marketing@greenbrierhistorical.org.  

The "War Room" before its glamorous makeover. 

With all of the objects and artifacts cleared out of the way it seemed like a perfect time to get a few coats of paint up! 

This green color scheme really warms up the exhibit space!
​
Pictured below: 7th grade volunteer, Rowan Woody, painting object display stands 

In 1868, he declared that “The governments of the States and their union were made for the white man, and I will oppose all attempts to give political power, suffrage, or office to the colored men…the colored people should be satisfied and content with their present position, but for them to demand and grasp at more, would be unwise, imprudent and dangerous.”[3] He would soon change his mind after the Fifteenth Amendment passed which granted Black men the right to vote.

The former Confederates were bitterly opposed to Caldwell, who was first elected Mayor in 1869.[4] Caldwell would be forced to defend the legitimacy of his election multiple times as he was also the voter Registrar of Greenbrier County. In April 1870, his election was declared illegal and he was forced to concede the office to former Mayor Oliver P. Hoover until a vote could be held.[5] However, the political landscape had shifted dramatically with the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870. The Republican and Democratic Party both sought the vote of the 147 eligible Black men in Greenbrier County. The Democratic meeting on April 16, held by Robert F. Dennis and Alexander F. Mathews, was likely not a success. In this meeting, the Democrats declared that Black people should “not denounce slavery [as] it was your best earthly friend” echoing the idea that Black Americans benefited from the “civilizing” influence of slavery. They threatened that if Black men vote for the Republicans “we will then see that you are our enemies…and you will suffer by it.”[6] Despite this threat, Black men in Greenbrier County voted for the Republican candidates who supported their civil rights.

On June 4, 1870, Joseph F. Caldwell was elected Mayor and three Black men, Jaben Holmes, Jordan Davis, and Stephen Gardner were elected as Trustees.[7] Holmes, Davis, and Gardner were wealthy, educated, leaders of the Black community in Lewisburg and were chosen by that community for political office. Jaben Holmes, free before the Civil War, was a successful barber in Lewisburg.[8] He was the wealthiest of all three men at the age of fifty.[9] Jordan Davis was a successful brick mason who lived in Lewisburg with his wife and daughter.[10] Stephen Gardner was fifty-three years old when he was elected Trustee and lived with his wife Fanny in Lewisburg. [11] Gardner was a farmer and, according to family lore, bred and sold horses.[12]

After the June election, the backlash against Black voters was swift and harsh. One newspaper article declared that “now, these, same colored men are utterly dependent upon Conservatives and Democrats for the bread that goes into their months, and the clothing that goes on their backs. The white people have always treated the colored people with kindness and respect...And this is their return; the very first opportunity that is presented, these colored men force old Joe Caldwell on us as Mayor. It was a cool, deliberate and premediated outrage.”[13]
​
Former Mayor Hoover charged that the election was illegal for three reasons: Caldwell was not a freeholder (an eligible man who could hold office), the Black voters were not legal because they had not taken the preliminary steps for registration required by law, and third that the law requires for the Mayor to be a fit and proper man and that Caldwell was “notoriously unfit and notoriously improper.”[14] This act was a blatant attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and a refusal to accept that the election was legitimate. The former politically powerful Confederates were furious that Black voters were allowed to vote while they could not.

On July 30, 1870, Circuit Judge McWhorter ruled in their favor again and declared that Caldwell was not the legal Mayor of Lewisburg.[15] Hoover was restored to the position. Two weeks later, on August 13, 1870, Caldwell was arrested by Hoover, who also happened to be the Deputy United States Marshall. Caldwell, who also served as Registrar of Lewisburg, was accused by two men, Bedford Johnson and Dr. J. L. Nelson, who declared that Caldwell denied their voter registration. The men took the loyalty oath that they had not aided the Confederacy, but Caldwell believed that they were lying and had committed perjury.[16] Hoover went to Caldwell’s house to arrest him, but Caldwell refused to go with him. Hoover then gathered “a number of citizens to aid him” and forced entry.[17] Caldwell eventually yielded before the incited mob.

At a special election on August 20, Caldwell was elected Mayor again and Jordan Davis, Stephen Gardner, and James Cox (a white career political who refused the position two months earlier) became Trustees. Jaben Holmes was nominated as a Republican Delegate for Greenbrier County for the State Convention at Parkersburg and the Congressional Convention at Charleston.[18] This position may have been why he was not elected Trustee again. Despite the second legitimate election, Hoover and other white citizens continued to challenge the election.[19]

After the special election, The Greenbrier Independent again lashed out against Black voters and their Republican supporters. The article declared that the Republicans “showed their…dirty, unwashed and uncleanable hands. On that day they met in the Court-house of the county, in full social and political fellowship with the blackest of black negroes…Having done this, these white Radicals went home…to the embraces of their white wives and white children. Surely, those white wives and white children did not know…or their embraces would have been rejected. Many of these men have daughters—fair-skinned, innocent, marriageable daughters, who are, doubtless, ignorant of the fact that their fathers have taken the first step for furnishing them with negro-admirers and suitors…white woman of greenbrier! You, at least, are yet pure and undefiled by the contamination of negro associations. How do you like the appearance of things?”[20]

The case over the Mayor was not decided that year and both men and their Trustees continued to claim to be legitimate into 1871. The Greenbrier Independent declared that a “town of one thousand inhabitants is governed by two or three white men [illegible] sixty negroes, none of them paying any tax—not even a poll tax—while all property holders are gagged, is an outrage.”[21] In fact, many of the Black residents of Lewisburg owned property in town and paid their taxes. In February, Caldwell’s trouble continued when he was accused of stealing money from the town of Lewisburg.[22] There was not a court case so this accusation seemed to be speculation.

Then on March 4, 1871, a new levy was ordered by the Board of Trustees.[23] The article did not mention the purpose of the tax. On the same day, The Greenbrier Independent posted this notice: “We, the undersigned, acting Trustees for the Corporation of Lewisburg, are not pleased with the recent actions of Dr. J. F. Caldwell, who was to be the present Mayor. We, therefore, present our resignation and decline to act with him, and will not endorse any order or summons sent by him in the name of the Corporation of Lewisburg. Jordan Davis; Stephen Gardner.”[24] Gardner and Davis resigned in protest because of the levy. However, it is undeniable that they would have faced resentment and danger from their daring to hold political office over white men. The most widely read newspaper, The Greenbrier Independent, made clear the widespread anger towards Black voters. With the resignation of Stephen Gardner and Jordan Davis, there would not be another Black Trustee (later renamed City Council Member) until the election of Paul Cooley in 1970.

Only Stephen Gardner remained in politics after resigning as Trustee. He was appointed as a State Delegate of the Republican State Convention in 1876.[25] Reconstruction marked a brief moment where the Federal Government was committed to interracial democracy and civil rights for all men. Unfortunately, in 1876, Reconstruction failed and the rise of the Jim Crow era began.

In 1875, The Greenbrier Independent made a report on civil rights in Lewisburg. The article stated that the Black population “are orderly and quiet, and behave themselves in a becoming manner…The exception applies, principally, to those who are stragglers from their old homes and who would be worthless, lazy, thievish and good-for-nothings…There are numbers, however, who are old residenters, who respect themselves, are industrious and laborious and who know and feel their true position.”[26] Despite the claim that its Black citizens know their subservient place in the social hierarchy, the Black community continued to advocate for their political rights and equality. Two years later, the paper took note of a meeting of the Black voters of Lewisburg.[27]

The City Council remained out of reach until 1970, exactly one hundred years later, when Paul Cooley was elected. Cooley was the first Black Lewisburg City Council Member since Holmes, Davis, and Gardner. 

In 2003, Beverly White was elected as the first Black Woman Lewisburg City Council Member and after sixteen years of serving the city, she was elected as Lewisburg’s first Black Mayor in 2019. Arron Seams, also a Black City Council Member, was appointed to fill a vacancy and soundly defended his seat in 2019.  He is one of the youngest people ever elected. Holmes, Gardner, and Davis’ success and brief political power represent how Reconstruction was a moment of Black progress before widespread backlash and oppression overpowered the nation leading to the Jim Crow era. Though a brief moment in history, their fight for political power is represented in today’s Lewisburg City Council. ​