Central Rappahannock Heritage Center 

Newsletter

A place that loses its history loses its soul

I am so pleased to announce a very special event that occurred at The Center on the evening of Tuesday, January 16, 2018. With the current members of the Board of Directors in attendance, as well as former Board Chairs Barbara Barrett, Clinton Jones and Billy Withers, the former Community Room was officially renamed the Barry L. McGhee Room in honor of the founder and first Board Chairman of the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center. Barry and his wife, Pat, who was also a very involved volunteer with the Center, were present for the dedication.

 

The Founders Meeting of The Heritage Center took place on June 23, 1997, at the Fredericksburg Community Center. Barry, along with a group of other local history enthusiasts, came together because they had heard so many horror stories of valuable papers and photos pertaining to this region going to the dump for lack of a place to preserve them. They envisioned an archives that would preserve items of heritage and, though starting out small, would continue to grow as the word got out in the community.

 

Fast forward just over 20 years. From an original tiny space, The Center has grown to encompass the entire floor space of the old Maury School gymnasium and the core group of staff has grown from a handful to over 40 active volunteers. Collections number in the thousands and continue to come in.

 

What a debt of gratitude is owed to Barry and the other visionaries who conceived the idea of The Center and made their vision into reality! Their careful structuring in setting up the archives, and the thought processes that went into every detail of what The Center should be, are still in evidence today.

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Ward 2 City Councilor and former CRHC Board Chairman Billy Withers, CRHC founder Barry McGhee and his wife, Pat, and former CRHC Board Chairman Clinton Jones at the dedication ceremony of the Barry L. McGhee Room at The Heritage Center

Meredith Beckett

CRHC Chairman  

 

   

The important preservation work of The Heritage Center would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers.

In addition to The Women's Club, Marguerite was a charter member of the Sunlight Garden Club, a Spotsylvania County teacher, county chair of the Red Cross fund drive, and an organist at Hebron Baptist Church for 62 years.  

Mrs. Morton also served as secretary-typist and bookkeeper for her husband's business, Morton's Garage, for 37 years.   William W. Morton's Garage was one of a few businesses at Spotsylvania Courthouse.  It was difficult to do daily banking because business owners had to drive into Fredericksburg.  Banks closed at 2:00 pm and were not open on Saturdays.  Mrs. Morton, President of the Spotsylvania Woman's Club, spearheaded an effort to have a bank established at Spotsylvania Courthouse.  Support was obtained from local business owners and potential financial backers, including C. Rosser Massey and other directors of the Peoples Bank of Stafford.  As a result, the Peoples Bank of Spotsylvania at Spotsylvania Courthouse came into being on July 1, 1964.

The bank flourished and was a great asset for local businesses and farmers.  Several mergers followed.  In 1979 the Peoples Bank became the United Virginia Bank, in 1987 Crestar, and in 2000 SunTrust.  In 2017 SunTrust closed the branch, leaving Spotsylvania Courthouse once again without a bank.

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Marguerite Massey Morton is pictured in the center.  The others are unidentified.

The Center holds the records for numerous civic groups and clubs such as the Women's Clubs of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, the Fredericksburg Rotary, and the Soroptimists.  Visit the Center and learn more about the people, clubs and organizations that have enriched the Central Rappahannock Area.

W. Wallace Morton, Jr.

Heritage Center Volunteer and Board Member

A note about the author:  In addition to volunteering at The Center, Wallace Morton joined the King George Boy Scouts of America in 1984 when his son joined the WEBELOS.  Wallace went on to serve as Scoutmaster from 1988 to 1992.  When his son made Eagle Scout and graduated from high school, Wallace remained as Assistant Scoutmaster.  He is now in his 33rd year as a scout leader.

Hours     Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday  10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. First Saturday each month  10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or by appointment

Location     900 Barton Street #111 Fredericksburg, VA 22401  (540) 373-3704