Summer 2025 Newsletter
New Exhibit Space
The work has started on our new exhibit space. We are hoping to have the construction finished and the items in place by Crab Carnival. We are still about $25,000 short of our fundraising goal for this project. Any donation is appreciated and will help us to share the great history of West Point.
Donate
Military Exhibits
With the help of a grant from Dominion Energy as well as help from the John Harper family, we will soon be refreshing our military room exhibits. There will be a separate part of the exhibit devoted to John Harper a local WP hero who was a WW2 prisoner of war. In addition, there will be an interactive map of the WW2 battle areas.
New board members and volunteers
Our two newest board members are already getting very involved in our activities. Dawn Greggs has agreed to become the new secretary for HSWP and Ann Byrne has been working with Terry Hall on the organization of our archive area. Ann has also accepted the responsibility of our volunteer program. Please reach out if you are interested in helping.
Tea Time at The Terminal
In April, we had a very well attended meeting and event. Dr. Mary Lynn Bayliss gave a presentation about the Dooley family of Richmond (Maymont Park) . Most of her talk focused on James Dooley who was very involved in the railroads in West Point as well as being involved in building and later owning The Terminal Hotel. Dr. Bayliss’ book, The Dooleys of Richmond is available on Amazon. We plan to do more events like this in the future. We will let you know in a future newsletter and on our Facebook page
New Members for 2025
The Historical Society of West Point, Virginia welcomes the following new members in the last quarter: Rev. Theresa and Denis Brion, Michael Southwood, Nancy Davis, and Lucy Thornton Edwards and family. We would like to invite you to renew your membership or join if you are not a member. Dues are still only $25 a year for individual, $35 for a family and $100 for a business. Your dues help us share the history of our town. Click the link below to become a member.
Membership
History Tidbit
The West Point Armory and Recreation Center was a big part of the early life for many that grew up in West Point and Port Richmond. Look at this list of business sponsors for the Armory from this 1951 ad. The Armory brings back many memories but so does this list of businesses.
Odds and Ends for 2025
- Our spring brick order has arrived and the bricks have been installed. We will be placing another order soon. Buying a brick is a great way to honor someone you love. They will have a permanent place in our memorial walkway.
- We have maps available for the historical markers that are in place around our town.. We hope to add several more before the end of the year. We will let you know.
- We continue to work on our web site and our online shop is partially complete.You can order books, hats, Terminal tea towels and more.Take a look: https://hswpva.org/online-shop/
- Our museum is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 until 2. We are also open the first Saturday of each month in the summer and we are open on all special events.
Brick Order
Follow our Facebook page and visit our web site to keep up to date on what is happening at HSWP. Also visit our You Tube Channel.