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Republished with permission from the Southside Sentinel.  The Richard Henry Lee (RHL) Chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (VASSAR) recently held a meeting at the Indian Creek Yacht & Country Club (ICYCC) near Kilmarnock, featuring Dr. Paul Malone of Urbanna who presented background on John Mitchell (1711-1768), a native of Lancaster County and maker of the famous Mitchell Map, a copy of which is in the Urbanna Museum and Visitors Center. Malone stressed that Mitchell was much more than a map maker. Mitchell was born to a family of means with a large estate in the vicinity of Morattico Creek. His father, Robert Mitchell, was a successful planter-merchant. John was sent abroad for higher education. At the age of 18 he had earned a masters degree from Edinburgh University, Scotland. He stayed on to complete two of a three year medical program. Returning home in 1732 he settled across the Rappahannock River in Urbanna. In 1734 he set up a medical practice in Urbanna. From the beginning it was clear that Dr. Mitchell was interested in research in many fields. Urbanna was a busy port city in the 1730s and each arriving ship would bring in new diseases. Treatment for these diseases was very primitive. Dr. Mitchell began the practice of autopsies on those who had succumbed to a fever epidemic. He wrote copious notes on each autopsy to include a step-by-step observation on what he observed and what he did. After a time, he sent these notes to the Royal Society in London. It caught the Society’s eye and the notes found their way into medical publications 226 years later in 1967. Dr. Mitchell had a passion for botany, Malone said. In particular, he was interested in the classification of plants. He would follow the same technique in his study of diseases to experiment in cross fertilization of plants to see what worked and what didn’t. This research was the first attempt to develop an experimental taxonomy of plants that 169 years later was further developed into our current taxonomy of plants. His fertile mind led him to chemistry experiments. A fertilizer desired in the 1730s was derived from potassium carbonate. Russia and Turkey were the sources of this chemical but would only sell an inferior grade to outsiders. Mitchell conducted experiments until he equaled the best potassium carbonate, and the process he developed is basically what we use even today in fertilizers. Dr. Mitchell’s agile mind led him to many other challenges of the era. He did work in the field of electricity that led to his meeting Benjamin Franklin and other American scientists. But Mitchell got fed up with his wife and himself getting sick from the frequent diseases brought to the colonies on ocean-going schooners docking in Urbanna. In 1746, he and his wife sold everything and moved to England. On the way there they were overtaken by a French privateer that took all their property. Arriving in England virtually destitute, he used his knowledge of botany to make money, by telling the nobility what they could grow from plants imported from the colonies. It was this time in England that Dr. Mitchell made his first map. The map was made at the request of George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax. Not satisfied with the first map, Halifax solicited new maps from the colonies for Mitchell to make a complete map of all the colonies. Halifax, who was president of the Board of Trade and Plantations, wanted a map that would be useful in an expected war with the French in North America. Dr. Mitchell, with no credentials as a cartographer, went to work to do just that. His product was the map of 1755. The map was extensively detailed to show, among other things, where one could find a source for salt, meat and lead—items a field army would need. It also showed the sites of friendly and unfriendly Indian tribes and depicted the many roads in the colonies. The map was very large. It was produced on eight sheets and when laid out it covered a space of 6.5 feet by 4.5 feet. The map was used as the only map source during the Treaty of Paris for defining boundaries of the newly-independent United States. The map was involved in deciding many boundary disputes throughout the 1800s and well into the 1900s. It was used in the dispute between the United States and Canada over Gulf of Maine fisheries in the 1980s. Dr. Malone then discussed how a copy of the map ended up in a museum in Urbanna. Jessie DeBusk, an official at Bank of Middlesex, wrote a flyer about Dr. Mitchell and the map in preparation for the upcoming Urbanna Tricentennial Celebration in 1980. She heard that a copy of the map might be available in Valley Forge. A group went there and purchased the map for $7,500. It sat in the bank for the next 20 years. Ultimately it was moved to a storage area where it sat for another 10 years. Getting ready for Founders Day in 2012, a movement was made to have the map restored. A restoration company in Richmond took on the exercise. After the restoration, the map was appraised to have a value of $550,000. The map was carefully returned to Urbanna and now rests in the town museum. Dr. Malone believes this story needs greater publication and that it should be a prime tourist attraction for both Lancaster and Middlesex counties.

Republished with permission from the Southside Sentinel. During the 2019 Urbanna Oyster Festival, held Nov. 1-2, The Fairfield Foundation will conduct an archeological dig in the backyard of the colonial Gressitt House on Virginia Street. The Foundation had a preliminary dig last fall in the backyard and on the last hole of the day found a corner of a brick foundation. Archeologists plan to start at the point where they left off. Access to the site will be through the rear of the town museum property, and visitors are welcome. The Gressitt House is steeped in Urbanna tradition and history. The house is believed to have been built between 1740-50 and is listed as an early 18th-century dwelling in the Historic American Buildings Survey filed at the Virginia Historic Landmark Commission. The “Historic Buildings In Middlesex County, 1650-1875” book published in 1978 states that “some residents of Urbanna remember when a small plaque hung on the wall behind the front door commemorating William Clark’s departure from this house in 1803 to join Meriwether Lewis for their expedition westward.” Legend has it that he was the guest of a great aunt at the time, and Clark etched his initials in a window pane. This has led Jonathan Bastian and others to try to determine the accuracy of this because if Clark left from the house, Urbanna would then be a significant part of Virginia’s Lewis & Clark Trail. Research, however, has not specifically tied Clark or Lewis to the house. While looking for Clark’s great aunt it was soon learned researching his pedigree would prove to be quite difficult since he was from King and Queen County and King and Queen is a “burn county,” meaning its colonial records were sent to Richmond, Capital of the Confederacy, during the Civil War, and were burned by Confederate troops as they left the city for Appomattox in 1865, said Bastian. With the help of a genealogy researcher Jim Miller, there is no evidence Clark was ever in Urbanna prior to the expedition and no evidence he was here afterwards, said Bastian. The timeline of events and letters between Lewis and Clark began in June 19, 1803 when Lewis was in Washington and wrote Clark in Clarksville, asking him to accompany him on the expedition. The two men rendezvous on October 14, 1803 in Louisville, Kentucky, to begin making preparations and acquiring men and supplies for the expedition. There is little likelihood that either Clark or Lewis were in Urbanna during that time period, said Bastian. The research revealed that Clark could not have possibly made the trip during the time period to Urbanna and returned to Louisville. There is a lapse of unaccounted time, but he would have needed to travel 45 miles per day every day to make the round trip, virtually impossible in that time on horseback, said Bastian. “When looking for Clark’s great aunt the thought occurred to me, why not look up Lewis’ pedigree as well. I already knew Lewis had come from King and Queen, Gloucester, and Middlesex counties,” said Bastian. “I had recently started studying details and marking the gravesite of the first Lewis immigrant who came over from Wales and died in 1689. My best guess was Meriwether must have come from this same family line,” he said. “I gave Dr. Gus Lewis of King and Queen County a call and he affirmed Meriwether was a descendant of the original John Lewis Jr. of Wales, as well as many other notable Virginians!” continued Bastian. “After completing his pedigree and Clark’s, I was familiar with names associated with these men which helped piece the puzzle together. The question arises are any of these relatives even possibly related to owners of the Gressitt House?” The writers of the Historic Buildings in Middlesex County, 1650-1875 had already pieced together ownership of the Gressitt House. The house was owned in 1803 by George Dillard and conveyed to William Blake in 1804. Dillard died in 1804. In researching Dillard’s pedigree it was discovered his mother was Mary (Lewis) Dillard, married to Nicholas Dillard. Miller has become more interested in a possible Lewis connection, said Bastian. He suggests linking this Mary (Lewis) Dillard through John Lewis Jr. from Wales. “It is plausible, although not positively documented, that Mary (Lewis) Dillard could have been a sister to Meriwether Lewis’ greatgrandfather . . . she could have been alive prior to Lewis and Clark’s departure on the expedition,” Bastian said. Did Lewis possibly come back this way and the tale got mixed up over the years that Lewis rather than Clark visited Urbanna? Taking us back to the initials scratched in the windowpane, there are a set of initials that correlate to Clark’s son, Meriwether Lewis Clark, but doubtful he in fact left them, said Bastian. This could have confused the storytellers over the years.

Historic Leafwood Christmas House Tour on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 from 1 to 4 p.m. will benefit the Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society. Built in 1781, Leafwood was originally part of Clarke’s Neck Plantation and was an overseer’s house. The Marston family purchased the house in 1856 and was instrumental in organizing the county’s board of supervisors and running a drug store. At the turn of the century, Leafwood was purchased by Col. John Saunders, Attorney General of Virginia who added the two additions on each end of the home, including the master bedroom suite and a porch that is now the garden room, as well as the back additions that include the dining room, study, and laundry room. The house remained in the Saunders family until 2005. The current owners, Grady and Angeline Frame purchased the home in 2017 and have had extensive restoration work done to the manor home, grounds and the buildings. All the major rooms have fireplaces, the original random- width flooring remains upstairs, the downstairs floors have been replaced. The staircase rising from the entrance hall is part of the original house and is unusual with very shallow steps and an overhang of only 5’2. The original house included the center hall, living room and an upstairs bedroom and a small room. A third upstairs bedroom and bath was added when the additions were constructed in the early twentieth century. Many rooms still contain the original hand-blown glass windows and is decorated with the owners mix of antiques and modern pieces, art, family heirlooms and collectibles from their many travels abroad. For Christmas, the house is decorated with fresh magnolia, holly, pine and cedar from the property. Custom designed wreaths by local floral artist Barbara Shackleford of  “Wreaths and More”  adorn doors and windows. Every room on display features lovely decorations and holiday collectibles. A nine foot Christmas tree surrounded by vintage mechanical Christmas carolers will greet you in the front entrance hallway. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door. Proceeds from this tour will support the mission of the Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society to acquire, preserve, display and educate the public about the different aspects of our rich history. Light refreshments will be served. Leafwood is located at 820 Gloucester Road, Saluda, VA. 23149.

The Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, Inc. will present its 2019 Preservation Award to the Black Church Cultural Affairs Committee. The presentation will take place on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, 159 Oakes Landing Road, Saluda. This annual award is presented to individuals or entities who have made significant contributions to the public understanding of Middlesex County history. In 1994, the Black Church Cultural Affairs Committee, with Norfolk historian Tommy Bogger, published A History of African-Americans in Middlesex County, 1646-1992 . This volume remains the only comprehensive history of African Americans in Middlesex County. The award will be presented to the Reverend Robert D. Brown and the Reverend Fred D. Holmes, Jr. as representatives and only surviving members of the Committee. Certificates will be presented posthumously to the other committee members. They are Lucy W. Carter, Katherine G. Amy, Faye L. Beverley, Easter Duster Holmes, Sherman T. Holmes, Sr., Wilma Jenkins Powell, and Roberta Harris White. The award presentation will be a part of the opening program for the 2019 Strong Men and Women in Virginia History traveling exhibition that will be on display at the museum through November 6. Strong Men and Women recognizes African Americans, past and present, who have made noteworthy contributions to the commonwealth. This exhibition from the Library of Virginia is made possible with support from Dominion Energy. King and Queen native, preacher, community activist, and 2019 Strong Men and Women honoree, the Reverend Andrew Jackson White, Sr. will be the keynote speaker for the October 6 program.. Following the program at Antioch there will be an opportunity to view the exhibition and to have refreshments at the Middlesex County Museum, 777 General Puller Highway, Saluda, This program is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by Middlesex County NAACP Unit 7091 and Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society. For further information about the exhibition and program, call 804-758-5163 .

Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, Inc. 2019 Strong Men and Women Essay Contest The Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, Inc., will host the 2019 Strong Men and Women in Virginia History traveling exhibition from October 2, 2019, through November 6, 2019.  Strong Men and Women in Virginia History recognizes Virginia African Americans, past and present, who have made noteworthy and admirable contributions to the commonwealth. This exhibition from the Library of Virginia is made possible with support from Dominion Energy. The seven 2019 Strong Men and Women honorees include mathematics and technology pioneer, Dr. Gladys B. West. Dr. West is credited for leading the team that developed the Global Positioning System (GPS) while she was employed as a mathematician at the Naval Service Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in King George, Virginia. Contest Overview Students are invited to submit an essay on the theme:  The Global Positioning System: 20th Century Invention, 21st Century Game Changer. The Global Positioning System (GPS) has profoundly affected many aspects of contemporary society. GPS technology has seemingly endless uses and GPS products are broadly used by government entities, businesses, and individuals. Essays may focus upon any aspect of the GPS system, including elements of contemporary society that would not exist but for GPS. Contest Rules Entrants must be Middlesex County students (enrolled in Middlesex schools and/or residents of Middlesex County) in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12. Entries must include the following information: entrant’s full name, parent or guardian’s name, address, telephone number, email address, grade, and name of school. Essays must be submitted in Microsoft Word, be double spaced, and may not exceed 400 words. Essays must be submitted by email to middlesexmuseum@va.metrocast.net by Friday, October 11, 2019, at 3 pm.. Three winners will be selected. All entries must be original works that have not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Entries become the property of the Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, Inc. and will not be returned. The Middlesex Museum and Historical Society, Inc. reserves the right to use the winners’ names and entries for promotional purposes in all forms of media without notice, review, approval or compensation, except where prohibited by law. Timeline Deadline for essay entries is Friday, October 11, 2019, at 3:00 pm. Essay winners will be notified by Monday, October 28, 2019. Essay winners will be introduced and will read their essays at the Strong Men and Women closing program on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at 3:00 pm. at St. Clare Walker Middlesex School. This program will feature a conversation with GPS developer, Dr. Gladys B. West. Winners Three essay winners will be selected. Winning students will read their essays at the Strong Men and Women closing program on Sunday, November 3, at 3:00 pm at St. Clare Walker Middle School. Winning students will have the opportunity to take a picture with Dr. Gladys B. West. Winning students will receive a certificate, a $100.00 gift card, and an autographed copy of their picture with Dr. West. Winning essays will be posted to the Middlesex Museum and Historical Society, Inc. website: middlesexmuseum.org . Judging Criteria Essays will be judged by Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, Inc. on originality of thought, grammar, spelling, logic, quality and depth of research, clarity, writing style, and content

Middlesex County and our local community have been blessed with the musical genius of Sherman Holmes, Jr., a founding member and survivor of the Holmes Brothers. On September 21, 2019, Sherman will lend his vocal and bassist virtuosity as the headliner of the Middlesex Museum and Historical Society’s Autumn Jazz Fest . Along with Holmes and other performers, many well known in our area, the Jazz Fest will feature two up- and- coming young artists. Leah Drummond is performing for the first time in the River Realm. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Leah has been singing and playing the piano since the age of six. She began singing in church and continued her vocal journey in advanced ensembles in middle and high school. Leah participated in All Girls Show Choir, Mixed Show Choir, and a Chamber Ensemble at Manchester High School. It was with these choirs where she received the opportunity to perform at Disney World’s Epcot Center and Universal Studios Hardrock Café. She also traveled to New York City and performed at Lincoln Center. Leah went on to study music at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia where she graduated Cum Laude and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a concentration on vocal performance. She is currently studying to earn a master’s degree at Johns Hopkin’s Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore while working as a music teacher in the Baltimore County School system. Another young performer also comes to the Jazz Fest stage from Chesterfield County, but has local family roots. Kevin Epps is the grandson of the late Monroe Jarvis and Rosetta Jarvis of Saluda, Virginia, and the late Webster Epps, Sr. and Muriel Epps of West Point, Virginia. He began his musical career in middle school having to choose an elective in the sixth grade and decided on band. Kevin was assigned the clarinet even though he really wanted to play the drums. When the teacher offered students the opportunity to audition for the saxophone Kevin decided to give it a try. Upon entering high school, he joined the marching band and the show band which played for Broadway musical style productions. In addition, he plays regularly at his church, Tabernacle Baptist, in Chesterfield, with the National Deacons Convention band at their yearly conferences around the US, and any other time he can. Kevin currently is a third-year undergraduate student at Bridgewater College where he is majoring in physics with a minor in music performance. While at college he has been a member of the pep band, the symphony, the jazz band, and the saxophone ensemble. Joining Sherman, Leah and Kevin onstage at the Jazz Festival will be area musicians Chris Gresham, Walker Andrew, Cynthia Honablue, and Rick Jessie. Interspersed with the cool jazz music will be the sultry poetry performance of Miss Pinkie Holmes. Another seasoned performer, Robert Gillison (also known as DJ Ghost), is shedding his usual role as disc jockey and joining the other artists by offering his smooth jazz instrumental skills. The Autumn Jazz Fest will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at the Christ Church Parish Hall, 56 Christchurch Lane, off General Puller Highway in Saluda. Doors open at 6 p.m. and performances are from 7 to 10 p.m. There will be a cash bar with an array of wine and beer available. The complimentary hors d’oeuvres that will be served will be made by Jeffrey Scott, a local caterer. For more information call (804) 539-2791. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online HERE or in person at the Middlesex Museum on Saturdays. A limited number of tickets will be available the night of the Jazz Fest, but it is highly recommended that you call and reserve your tickets before September 21. Proceeds of the Autumn Jazz Fest will be used for on-going support of the Middlesex Museum and Historical Society.

The Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society invites you to a living history presentation by Nancy Lowden, Manager of Historical Programs at Maymont, Richmond’s Gilded Age estate, as she brings the story of woman’s suffrage to life. Sunday, November 10, 2019 from 3 to 5 p.m. As we grow weary from another season of political ads, it’s easy to take for granted one of the most important aspects of our democracy – the right to vote. But until 1920, American women were denied this right, prompting decades of tireless work on their part and a determination to change the political landscape for future generations. Time-travel with a Richmond suffragist who relates the victories, the set-backs and the fascinating saga as we celebrate the approaching centennial of the 19th Amendment that gave women the vote. The program begins with a living history portrayal of Adele Clark, one of the founding members of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. An illustrated talk then takes the audience on a journey that spanned decades and forever changed our country. The controversial debate touched almost everyone at the turn-of-the-20th-century. At Maymont, Mrs. Dooley and her sisters-in-law found themselves on opposite sides of the issue, and African-American women in Virginia and the south felt resistance due to their gender and their race. Discover the arguments, the justifications, and why even some women opposed the vote in this dynamic and informative presentation. The presentation will be held at Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina located at 137 Neptune Lane, Deltaville. The tickets are $25 and include appetizers with a cash bar. Purchase tickets online HERE . You may also send a check made out to Middlesex Museum to P.O. Box 121 Saluda, VA 23181 or visit the museum Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 777 General Puller Highway, Saluda. Photo by Aaron Salvidar.

Join us for the Autumn Jazz Fest! September 21, 2019 from 7 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Christ Church Parish Hall, 56 Christchurch Lane, Saluda, Virginia 23149 -Cash Bar -Live Music -Jam Sessions -Hors d’oeuvres -Poetry Readings Featured performers include Sherman Holmes, Miss Pinkie Holmes, Chris Gresham, Walker Andrew, Kevin Epps, Rick Jessie, and new to the Middlesex County music scene, Leah Drummond. Proceeds benefit the Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society. Purchase tickets online HERE , in person at the museum, or mail checks payable to the Middlesex Museum to P.O. Box 121, Saluda, VA 23149. For more information call 804-539-2791. #Fundraiser #Jazz

Among the noted Middlesex County residents featured in our Homegrown Heroes documentary (you can watch it here ) was Raymond W. Burrell . Below find his full biography which his family so graciously provided to the Middlesex Museum, as well as photos of Mr. Burrell through the years. Republished here with permission from his family. Raymond W. Burrell was born on May 9, 1919 in Mathews County, Virginia to the late Molegold and Annabel Burrell. He is last remaining sibling of 7. Mr. Burrell graduated high school in Middlesex County and is a member of First Baptist Church Amburg He was married to the late Clarice Burrell and the father of 3 children, daughter Leanna, son Robert and his late son Raymond Jr. Mr. Burrell retired from the Newport News Shipyard and Drydock Company in Newport News, VA. On December 16, 1942, Mr. Burrell was inducted into World War II from Baltimore, Maryland, to become one of many black men to enlist in the 761st Tank Battalion. In December 23, 1942, he entered into active service at Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic training at Armored Force Training School when finished there he went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Being a black detachment and segregated down in the south, everything was done in the back door. Mr. Burrell finished training at Camp Hood, Texas and was on my way to Camp shank, New York. Mr. Burrell left New York to go to Merly Park, England and from there to Omaha Beach, in France. The 761st Tank Battalion was assigned to General George S. Patton, as part of the 26th Infantry Division of the 12 Corps in the Third Army. The morning of November 8, 1944 was D-Day or Judgment in the Saar Basin, the area which had been assigned to the 26th Division embraced a number of key towns and cities along an escape and supply routes for the citadel of Metz untaken in 1000 years. The Allies were driving at Metz from 3 sides with incirclement as the object. Facing them was part of the German 11th SS Panzer Division, which had been rebuilt with some 12,000 reserve troops, 30 big guns, and many tanks. Either they take the hill, be prisoners of war, or be shanghaied for swimming the English Channel back to England. The other forces establish that beach head there were suffering from battle fatigue, but they made it to the front with flying colors and we stopped at Saint Nicholas de-Port, for a breather. They were trained to do all 5 positions in the tank crew, but never been on a battle field before. Everyone got real quiet and serious. Everyone was sad and down hearted and saw a lot of dead along the way. On November 1, 1944, Division Commander Major General Paul gave them a welcome speech, saying “I am glad to have you with us. We have been expecting you for a long time, and I am sure that you are going to give a good account of yourselves. I’ve got a big hill up there that I want you to take, and I believe that you are going to do a great job of it.” On November 2, General George S. Patton, stood on the same half track. He gave them a rousing welcome saying “Men, you’re the first Negro tankers to ever fight in the American Army. I would never have asked for you if you weren’t good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don’t care what color you are, so long as you go up there and kill those Germans. Everyone has their eyes on you and are expecting great things from you.  Most of all, your race is looking forward to you doing well. Don’t let them down, and don’t let me down!” In 183 days of front line fighting, Mr. Burrell came home without a scratch. His fellow comrades of the 761st Tank Battalion didn’t do all this because they were segrated and had to prove a point that they were just as good as any white man in the armed forces, they did it because we wanted peace, liberty, and justice for all Americans. Mr. Burrell was honored on June 8, 2014 at First Baptist Church Amburg I Deltaville, VA during the Men’s Day Program. Colonel Stephanie A. Lewis, Reserve Chief of Northern Command Exercise Support Team for the Joint Staff, presented Mr. Burrell with a shadow box that contained his medals, a patch of his unit, his picture in uniform, and flag flown at the U.S. Capitol from Senator Mark Warner and a poster of the 761st book cover.

Eleven years ago the Southside Sentinel published an article on experiences of Raymond Burrell Sr., who was a member of the “Black Panthers,” the first tank battalion comprised of African-Americans. He was 89 years old when he told his story and recalled vivid details of the role of the 761st Tank Battalion at the Battle of the Bulge in Europe during World War II. The following is that story, a compelling account of one young man’s experiences and memories that, for better or worse, have stayed with him for his lifetime. It’s a reminder of the consequences of war, and it bears repeating. It’s a story that every American should know. Burrell turned 100 years old on May 9, 2019. He lives with his daughter in Deltaville and was among the Middlesex County veterans featured in our document series, Homegrown Heroes, which you can view  here . By Tom Chillemi and Republished With Permission from the Southside Sentinel  In the winter of 1944-45, Raymond W. Burrell Sr. of Deltaville was a member of the now famous 761st Tank Battalion—the Black Panthers— that saw extensive action at the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler’s last desperate effort to stop the Allies at the border between France and Germany. The U.S. Armed Forces were segregated until after World War II, and the “Black Panthers” of the 761st were the first African-American tank battalion. Jackie Robinson, who would later be the first African-American to play Major League Baseball, was a member of the 761st Battalion. Burrell, who turned 100 on May 9, 2019, said Robinson’s b unk was three away from his, and they talked often. Burrell recalled details of some of the harrowing events during his 183day deployment. In addition, books have been written about the 761st, which was assigned to General George S. Patton’s Third Army. General Patton On November 2, 1944, Gen. Patton stood on a half-track and addressed the 761st Tank Battalion, said Burrell, who was 25 years old at the time. “Men, you’re the first Negro tankers to ever fight in the American Army,” said Gen. Patton. “I would never have asked for you if you weren’t good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don’t care what color you are, so long as you go up there and kill those Krauts or Germans.” Gen. Patton continued, “Everyone has their eyes on you and are expecting great things from you. Most of all, your race is looking forward to you doing well. Don’t let them down, and don’t let me down.” Burrell said Gen. Patton told the men they had to fight to stay alive. He kept referring to the ground with his hands, showing “what was going to happen to you,” said Burrell. Patton had sent men up the hill for 90 days “and no one came back,” said Burrell, who wondered if his fate would be the same. Patton knew a soldier would not take reckless chances on his own, but would still find a way to take the objective, said Burrell. “Once you leave here don’t listen to anybody; you are on your own,” Patton told his soldiers. “If you get an order from an officer and you see a better way you can do it, pay him no mind. When you leave this point of departure, every man is responsible for his own death. I’ve been sending them up there, and officers have been giving them orders, and they wind up in the ground.” When he’d finished his speech, Gen. Patton said to Burrell, “You look like you don’t think much about what I said.” Burrell agreed. “I told him I didn’t think much about what he said.” Burrell then asked Gen. Patton, “If Raymond gets killed, how are you going to get another Raymond?” Gen. Patton responded with a rhyme, “Raymond’s name is Lou, let him go too. Just save the tanks . . . got any more questions?” To which Burrell responded, “No, you said it all.” Burrell tried to transfer out of the 761st Tank Battalion after he saw how a German armor-piercing shell could attach to a tank’s armor and burn through it in 30 seconds. First battle The 761st Tank Battalion landed in France at Omaha Beach in October 1944, four months after D-Day. “The stench of death hung over the beach like a cloud,” said Burrell. A 400-mile trek led Burrell and his battalion to “Hill 253.” Burrell, who was 25 years old, had narrowly escaped death when he and some men were warming themselves by a fire. A German shell exploded nearby and killed all of his buddies. Burrell ran along the road and got into a ditch. Another she ll exploded and covered him with mud. Later the same day, A, B, C and D companies of the 761st Tank Battalion moved toward a town to run out the Germans. Burrell and his Headquarters Company set up their tank to shoot its 105-mm cannon over the hill at the Germans. One of the 761st tanks had a track knocked off, recalled Burrell. The men escaped through a hatch in the floor and set up machine guns under their tank. The Germans broadcast over loud speakers, “We got you now, so give up,” remembers Burrell. Instead, the Black Panthers shredded wave after wave of German soldiers that tried for hours to knock out the American position. The Germans gave up the fight and when they started to abandon the town, the 761st was waiting at a narrow pass. “We laid down fire on them,” said Bu rrell. Their job was to lob shells in front of the Germans as they left town. Burrell, assigned to the Headquarters Company, said he told his captain to set the fuse so the shells would have “air bursts” and discharge 15 yards above ground and kill by concussion. All five tank companies fired simultaneously, creating a circle around the German convoy. When it was over, the stalled convoy was about 2 miles long and the truck engines idled until they ran out of fuel. “They (dead Germans) were sitting up there in the trucks without a scratch on them,” said Burrell, who added he still has nightmares about that sight. Take cover About 7 p.m. that day a flare lit up the area where Burrell and his company were located. They knew they had to move. German planes “bombed that area all night and didn’t miss a spot,” he said. Later, Burrell was on guard when a 28-man German patrol came through and saw the damaged equipment. Burrell said he wanted to use his 50-mm machine gun to cut them down, but he held his fire, knowing the noise would give away his position. Instead, Burrell called ahead and told the infantry to be looking for the Germans. “They captured every last one of them,” he said. “That was only the beginning,” continued Burrell. The 761st was the spearhead as Allied Forces advanced on Berlin, trying to get there before the Russians, who were moving toward the German capital from the east. Eventually, the 761st met up with the Russians, who took Berlin. Then, the 761st headed west toward home. Burrell said the Germans would rather surrender to Americans than Russians. Sometimes, however, the Germans would walk up to American soldiers acting like they wanted to surrender, but would then produce live hand grenades from under their coats. While the final surrender was being negotiated in May 1945, a German railroad gun fired a shell that left a huge crater in the earth near the 761st. Burrell and his men wanted to retaliate by knocking down a smoke stack near the railroad gun, but were told to hold fire. “They fired that one for fun, that’s the truth,” he said. “Greed” The horror of war stays with Burrell, who always felt sorry for the German mothers who lost their sons, just as the American mothers did. “I had sympathy for them all,” he said. “Look at all the mess we could have done without. It was all started by a few men. I wonder why it happened? “Greed is one thing that caused it. Everybody wants to be boss. Nobody wants to do the work,” continued Burrell. “We still haven’t learned anything. World leaders still got that mess in their mind.” It wasn’t until January 24, 1978, that President Jimmy Carter awarded the 761st Tank Battalion the Presidential Unit Citation in recognition of its service and sacrifice.

Want to add excitement and a little color to your garden ornaments, wrought iron patio furniture, flower pots, planters, statuary, figures and plaques? It will bring your outside spaces will be alive with color and…possibilities! Inside your home you’ll find that  Authentique Weathered Bronze Finish  adds a unique weathered bronze look to picture frames, chair rail, crown mouldings, tables and chairs and even kitchen cabinets. You can learn how here at the Middlesex Museum. Join us for a Tichacek Finishes Presentation on Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. here at the Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society Visitors Center (located at 777 General Puller Highway Saluda, VA). Authentique was the original do-it-yourself antique finish. It became available to the public in the mid-1960’s and quickly became the finish of choice. During this exciting demonstration of different finishes, you will learn how you can refinish your treasurers so they look fresh and new. This event is free and we look forward to seeing you all! Learn more at tichacekfinishes.com .

Did you know the Middlesex Museum staff and volunteer researchers are delighted to help you discover family history or uncover the answers to your burning Middlesex County history questions? Our research assistance is billed at $25 per hour. If you are interested in this service, please contact us using the contact form here .

By Nancy Fisk, Republished With Permission This year Friends of Urbanna Museum and Parks will celebrate Urbanna Founder’s Day on Saturday, August 10, 2019 starting at 10 a.m. at the Middlesex Woman’s Club building on Virginia Street in Urbanna. As those who attended our living history play last year may remember, the focus centered on Ralph Wormeley of Rosegill and his stubborn refusal to allow any of his land to be used to establish a town, thus delaying the birth of the town of Urbanna for nearly 20 years, to a time after his death. This year’s presentation will be a narrative during which we will bring to life the contribution of three of the historically important “Founding Fathers” and their families as they sought to establish the town of Urbanna as a port community that would serve the needs of the plantation owners, as well as those of the other surrounding inhabitants. Those men are Capt. Harry Beverley (1669-1730) of Brandon, the Honorable John Robinson (1683-1749), and Colonel Christopher Robinson II (16811727) of Hewick. We will look at the driving forces behind the actions of these men and their families that caused them to take up the banner of township that was so long held down by their defiant neighbor, Ralph Wormeley. In addition, descendants of these men and their families are especially invited to attend and be recognized. The descendants are encouraged to bring any memorabilia, stories or information about their families that they would like to share. It is hoped the event will be like an extended family reunion joining people together in celebrating the birth of our wonderful town. Descendants who plan to attend are encouraged to contact Nancy Fisk as early as possible so that we might better organize the event. In an effort to encourage descendant participation, we have included additional biographical information about our three main characters. Captain Harry Beverley (16691730), son of Major Robert Beverley of Jamestown and Mary Beverley, was husband of Elizabeth Smith Beverley and father of Elizabeth Stanard, Mary Chew, Robert Beverley, Margaret Chew, Susanna Winslow, Catherine Stubblefield, Judith Roy, Peter Beverley, Agatha Robinson, Ann Beverley and Lucy Beverley. He was Justice of Middlesex County in 1700. He was surveyor of King and Queen and King William counties from 1702 to 1714. He was Burgess from 1705-1706. He surveyed and laid out the town of Tappahannock in 1706. His title of captain derives from the fact that in 1716 Governor Spotswood sent him on the sloop “Virgin” to capture pirates and Spanish gold. Unfortunately his ship and crew were captured by a Spanish manof- war. He escaped and came back to Virginia in 1717. The honorable John Robinson (1683-1749), son of Christopher Robinson and Agatha Obert Robinson of Hewick Plantation, was husband of Catherine Beverley Robinson and father of John Robinson, William Robinson, Catherine Wagener, Henry Robinson, Colonel Beverley Robinson, Margaret Robinson, Elizabeth Robinson and Jean Robinson. Colonel Christopher Robinson II (1681-1727), son of Christopher Robinson and Agatha Obert Robinson, of Hewick Plantation, was husband of Judith Wormeley of Rosegill. Robinson was father of Christopher Robinson III and Peter Robinson. He was Burgess of Middlesex County in 1710 and 1714. If you are a descendant of these men and would like to attend, or can help with our committee’s historical research, please contact Nancy Fisk at nancybfisk@aol.com.

The Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, Inc. is pleased to announce that it will host the 2019 Strong Men and Women in Virginia History traveling exhibition from October 2, 2019 through November 6, 2019.  Strong Men and Women in Virginia History recognizes Virginia African Americans, past and present, who have made noteworthy and admirable contributions to the commonwealth. This exhibition from the Library of Virginia is made possible with support from Dominion Energy. The 2019 Strong Men and Women honorees are Lawrence A. Davies, Minister and Civic Leader, Fredericksburg; Fannie W. Fitzgerald, Educator and Elementary School Supervisor, Prince William County; Gladys B. West, Mathematician and Technology Pioneer, King George County; William T. Stone, Judge and Civic Leader, Williamsburg; Andrew J. White, Sr., Minister and Community Activist, Petersburg; Kwame Alexander, Writer and Youth Advocate, Fairfax County;  and Deanna Reed, Mayor and Mentor, Harrisonburg. Two programs will be held in support of the Strong Men and Women exhibition. Both will be co-sponsored by Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society (MPAAGHS). Lecture and Exhibition Opening Talk by Strong Men and Women honoree, The Reverend Andrew Jackson White, Minister and Community Activist Strong Men and Women in Virginia History: 400 Years in the Making Sunday, October 6, 2019 3 p.m. Antioch Baptist Church 159 Oakes Landing Road, Saluda, Virginia 23149 Talk followed by viewing of exhibition and refreshments at the Middlesex Museum Visitors’ Center. Exhibition Closing Program A Conversation with Dr. Gladys B. West, Mathematician and Technology Pioneer The Global Positioning System: 20th Century Invention, 21st Century Game Changer Sunday, November 3, 2019 3 p.m. St. Clare Walker Middle School 6814 General Puller Highway, Locust Hill, Virginia 23092

Learn more about the mystery of fossils this summer! Grady Frame will provide attendees to the Middlesex County Museum Visitor Center a free opportunity to see and learn more about fossils on Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 2 p.m. The Visitor Center is located beside the Museum at 795 General Puller Highway in Saluda. There will be a variety of fossils on hand to see and learn about, including finds from the local area, as well as from other parts of the U.S. and around the world. Among the items on display will include different species of fossilized shark’s teeth; Megalodon, Great White, Mako and Tiger. Those attending will also get to view whale bones, dinosaur teeth, dermal scutes and much more.

History is best when shared, and we could use your help! Do you recognize any of these photos below? If so, please contact us through the form located here and let us know what you remember! Share with us your information so we can share it with the world!

The Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society is pleased to announce it will sponsor speaker Addison Baker Thompson, Resident Manager of Tuckahoe Plantation (1740), a home and working farm for nearly 300 years, as a guest speaker on Sunday, August 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Dozier’s Regatta Point Marina, located at 137 Neptune Lane in Deltaville. Boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson, the plantation is considered by architectural historians to have the most complete eighteenth century plantation layout in North America. The original schoolhouse where Thomas Jefferson began his education and the office still stands. During this guest lecture event, learn about the features that make Tuckahoe Plantation an outstanding example of construction that has stood the test of time; the lives of those who lived there including John Marshall’s grandmother (who was born and got into trouble there); the influences of the house on Thomas Jefferson; and more about how Tuckahoe has made a large contribution to the legal landscape of preservation law. Mr. Thompson graduated from Princeton University, cum laude in history AB in 1970, and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1973. While serving as the resident manager of Tuckahoe Plantation from 1979 to present, Mr. Thompson has practiced law, served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, been a member of numerous boards, including Preservation Virginia, and is an emeritus member of the Capital Region Land Conservancy. Tickets are $35 and include appetizers, wine and beer. Purchase tickets online HERE , at the museum Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or send a check (made out to Middlesex Museum) to Middlesex Museum P.O. Box 121, Saluda 23149. Learn more about the history of Tuckahoe Plantation here . Photos courtesy of Tuckahoe Plantation.

Calling all local artists! Arts in the Middle and the Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society invites you to participate in a special exhibit of art and history – “The Retrospective Art Show: The Art of Lost, Fading, Restored, or Preserved Architecture of Middlesex.” The show will take place Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1, 2019 in the Visitors Center Gallery in Saluda, Virginia, located next to the Middlesex Museum. The show aims to celebrate the rich architectural history of Middlesex County through an array of arts and crafts media. Photography, painting, sculpture, ceramics, poetry, music, culinary art, textiles and more are all welcome. The media can be as wide as your imagination as an artist, event organizers said. Scour the county for that perfect image of something gone, soon to be gone or still around and worthy of remembering. This is not a juried show, but works will be judged and a cash award presented for best in show. Works are due at the Gallery by August 24, 2019 for final curating. Drop off anytime during museum hours. The public is invited to view the curated works during an Open House August 30 through September 1, 2019. A reception and award presentation will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 31. Poetry, music, refreshments and more will be available throughout the weekend event. For more information or questions, please email retroshow19@gmail.com or call Michael Kunzinger at 757-202-0692. #ArtShow #ArtsintheMiddle #MiddlesexCounty

Join the Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society on Sunday, June 30, from 1 to 5 p.m. for a tour of Church View’s most prominent structure. Built in 1913, for more than a hundred years this stately house with the wraparound porch located on the curve at Church View has greeted persons traveling through Middlesex County on Route 17. Owned by Mary Lynn Landgraf and Bill Budd, it is now Southern Sighs Inn . The home and nearby Dragon Run Country Store were built by George Northam using beautiful cypress lumber harvested from the flats of the Dragon Run located at the headwaters of the Piankatank River. The Northam family was heavily engaged in the lumber industry and shipped wood, including cypress, to Baltimore for sale around the country and for export. The Budd-Landgraf team purchased the home in 2016 and they have undertaken substantial renovations while remaining true to the original architectural style. The home features beautiful hardwood floors, handcrafted French and Afghan Orientals, and fireplaces with gas logs. The guest rooms and common spaces feature a combination of period-specific art and furnishings. Ms. Landfraf has decorated the house with a blend of European style and Southern sensibility. Of special interest are the several themed rooms: one, The Greenbrier Room, pays homage to designer Dorothy Draper’s interiors at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, while another, the Russian Romance Room, offers a hint of the glory days of Imperial Russia. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the house and grounds and to enjoy light refreshments. Tickets for the tour are $15 and may be purchased by mailing a check made payable to Middlesex Museum to P.O. Box 121 Saluda, VA 23149. Tickets may also be purchased at Southern Sighs on the day of the tour. Southern Sighs is located at 35 Wares Bridge Road, Church View, Virginia, 23032. The Museum is pleased to highlight the preservation of one of Middlesex County’s fine old buildings.  Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Museum. Photo provided by Southern Sighs by Roger Koppenrath. A special and heartfelt thanks goes out to sponsors of this event, including Velma Gray, the Middlesex County Woman’s Club and Suzi Hutchens.

“Just 35 years after Jamestown was settled, Virginia colonists planted tobacco in nearby Middlesex County , an area strategically located between two major rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Middlesex life has been closely tied to both land and water. From the commerce of the early steamboats to the modern oyster-farming industry, the waterways have provided an avenue for business and a bountiful harvest of crabs, fish, and oysters. The county’s modern boating industry grew from a 19th-century wooden boatbuilding tradition. The center of that industry, Deltaville, is known today as the “Boating Capital of the Chesapeake Bay.” From the county’s oyster heritage came Virginia’s most famous celebration, the Urbanna Oyster Festival, which annually draws 60,000 people to the small waterfront town. Stately homes and churches that predate the Revolutionary War include Colonial Christ Church, which annually attracts hundreds of marines to the gravesite of Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, the most decorated marine in the history of the United States Marine Corps, who retired to the county in 1955.” This, from Arcadia Publishing, so perfectly describes the Images of America: Middlesex County book by Larry S. Chowning. If you’d like to order a copy of this book, click HERE . Chowning, author of 10 books, is a native of Middlesex County. He has lived here his entire life with the exception of the four years he spent at the University of Richmond. Chowning is a staff reporter for the Southside Sentinel, the county’s weekly newspaper, and an avid supporter of the Middlesex County Museum. #Books #History #LarryChowning #MiddlesexCounty