Happy Holidays!
All of us at The Historical Society of West Point would like to wish you and your family a healthy, happy and blessed Christmas season! We hope that 2024 is the best ever. Thank you for all of your support during this past year. We are excited as we look to the future.
Christmas Gift Ideas
HSWP Web Site
We have made a number of additions to our web site. We have added several histories of early West Point, a section on the Terminal Hotel, a section on local plantations, newsletters under news and shortly we will have a shop for you to view and purchase items.Visit our website at https://hswpva.org to see the changes.
Scavenger Hunt
Beginning in January, all children that visit our museum will be able to participate in a scavanger hunt. They will be given a pictorial list of items to be found in the museum and everyone that locates the items will receive a prize.
HSWP 2024 Budget
During the December meeting of the board of directors of HSWP, the budget for 2024 was adopted. Our budget for the year will be $35,300. All of our funding for operations comes from annual dues (please renew now), item sales and especially donations. We greatly appreciate your past financial support and hope that you will continue to support us.
Historical Markers
Our historic sign installation program is ongoing. We will soon be installing 5-6 signs like this one at the site of the former O’Connor Hotel. Proposed locations include Marshall and Richardson Oyster Houses, Cinquoteck village, Beverly Allen School, Sam Bland Store (Riddles), and the rail and shipping depot. Stay tuned.
History Tidbit
Carter Braxton (1736-1797) is one of the most famous historical figures from our area. He was born in King and Queen but lived most of his life at Elsing Green, Chericoke and at the Grove Hotel in West Point. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, one of the major planter/traders (over 12,000 acres) of the time and the father of 18 children. Some reports say that he is buried at Chericoke. Stop at our museum to learn more.
Major Building Project
We are just launching a major fundraising campaign in order to turn the “shed” behind our museum into exhibit space. Our plans are to refurbish and expand the current shed so that it will hold and display the old West Point fire pumper, the antique Model T truck from the Chelsea plantation, and several other large items that we now have in storage. Please become a member (or renew by submitting your 2024 dues) and please donate whatever you can to help us build a home for these pieces of West Point history.
Follow our Facebook page and visit our web site to keep up to date on what is happening at HSWP. Also visit our new You Tube Channel.