Spring 2026 Newsletter
It is Finished!
After over two years of fundraising and construction, our new exhibit space is finally complete! We are now ready to move items into the new display space. Thank you to B. O’Connor Construction, Inc. and all of you who helped make this happen. We will announce the grand opening soon.
Board of Directors
During the March meeting of the board of directors of HSWP, the 2026 officers and board were named and approved. President, Edwin Malechek; Vice President, Sandra Willis; Vice President and Treasurer, Terry Hall; Secretary, Dawn Geron. Elected to the board were Debbie Ball, Ann Byrne, Ty Bland, Jill Dalton, Sam Drewry, Karena Funkhouser, Katie Harlow, Levi Jones, Kay Lawson, Donald O’Connor, Dale Seward, and Jim Vadas. Joanne Wright remains as administrative assistant and our MVP.
We recently partnered with the King William Library on one of their “Walk and Talk” programs. Sam Drewry and Ann Byrne led a tour of some of our historical markers in town. We hope to partner with the library on other events in the future.
Historical Markers
On March 10, we had the formal unveiling of the historical marker at the mill. Members from Smurfit Westrock were joined by the West Point Chamber of Commerce (who sponsored the marker), and representatives of the Historical Society. Pictured are Amber Kurfees, Smurfit Westrock; Edwin Malechek, HSWP; Ann Byrne, HSWP; Brenda Thompson, Tom Wadsworth, and Scott Adams of Smurfit Westrock; and Tom Kohler of the Chamber. Not pictured are Jim Vadas of HSWP and Sam Drewry of the Chamber and HSWP. We now have 18 installed signs with 6 more in process. Stop by the museum for a map of the markers.
Model Trains
Trains and railroads have played a large part in the history of West Point. We have started discussions of adding a model train exhibit into our new exhibit space. We are looking for input from folks who know model trains and we are also looking for anyone who has items to donate for this new exhibit.
Odds and Ends
- In Mid-August we will place our next order of bricks for the garden walkway. Consider donating a brick in honor of or in memory of your loved one, organization or business. A link is provided below to place your order.
- The Lafayette memorial sign has been fully approved by the town and will be installed near 14th and Kirby Sts. LafayetteTrails, Inc. will install a Lafayette sign along with our help. This is all part of the 250th birthday celebration this year. Lafayette spent several weeks in West Point in 1781 visiting with Carter Braxton prior to the Battle of Yorktown.
- HSWP would like to welcome our new members during the last quarter: Byrd and Waddy Thomson. Please consider becoming a member.
- In addition to opening our new exhibit space, we have a number of other projects in the planning stages. We appreciate and welcome your continued support through your new or renewed membership, donations, and/or volunteerism.
- It is not too late to renew your membership for 2026. Please use the button below or email contact@hswpva for assistance.
Social Media
We have recently added two new videos to our You Tube channel. One was on Chesty Puller and the other was about the 1900s shipping depot in West Point. Both of these were completed thanks to the work of the West Point High School Key Club. Be sure to visit our channel and subscribe. We also make regular postings on our Facebook page and regular updates to our web site. Be sure to visit. You can click the links at the bottom of this page.
History Tidbit
Port Richmond Shipyard Secret Mission
Most of us are familiar with the WW1 shipyard that was located in Port Richmond. If you are not stop by our museum and learn more. It is widely rumored (but hard to prove) that the same shipyard site was also used in a secret WW2 project. During the war the German subs were controlling the North Atlantic which was a long way from aircraft landing sights. An English scientist came up with an idea to make a floating aircraft carrier (more like a small island) as a remote aircraft landing site in order to defend against the German subs. The landing site would be made of what is now called Pykrete which is a mixture of wood pulp and ice. Because of the pulp mill in West Point and the remains of the WW1 shipbuilding site, Port Richmond was an ideal site to experiment with Pykrete. It is known from good sources that this site was active in WW2. The area was fenced off and there were armed guards. It is thought that all of this was part of Project Habbakuk. There is much information about Project Habbakuk and about Pykrete but not much other than old stories to tie in the Port Richmond shipyard as part of the project. We would love to be able to prove (or disprove) this activity.
Follow our Facebook page and visit our web site to keep up to date on what is happening at HSWP. Also visit our YouTube Channel.