The 2018 annual membership meeting was held on Tuesday, September 18, at the downtown branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Guest speaker Scott Walker, owner of Hallowed Ground Tours (www.hallowedgroundtours.com) gave a lively presentation called "Wild Hairs of History", composed of stories about people who have had an impact on this area's local history.  Each compelling story "connected the dots" between people, little known facts and historic events. The stories made for a fascinating, and often hilarious evening and we are truly grateful to Scott for his enthusiasm and expertise in sharing these stories with us.

 

The annual report included the following highlights:

 

• Treasurer Dan Bender reported that The Heritage Center's finances were in good shape, with a slight increase in income over 2017

• The Center continues to increase its collections through donations and gifts

• Social media "followers, Constant Contact addresses and traffic on the website continue to grow

• Outreach efforts through the newsletter, The Center's participation in community events, and Outreach Coordinator Beth Daly's lectures to various groups, are helping to raise awareness in the community about The Center, but there is always work to do

• There are currently 42 active volunteers and we are seeking new volunteers. From October, 2017 to September, 2018, these dedicated volunteers logged 3,942.50 hours

•  Membership elected one new director and 4 additional directors agreed to serve a second three year term. Officers will be elected by the directors at the November board meeting and announced in the December newsletter 

 

The 8th annual Rappahannock Repast will be held on Sunday, October 7, from 4-7pm on the grounds of historic Braehead Manor. There are still a few tickets available. To purchase, please go to crhcarchives.org.

 

The Fredericksburg Dog Mart celebrated its 320th anniversary on September 29.  Said to be the oldest dog-centered event in the United States, it has been sponsored for many years by the Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Izaak Walton League.

The Mart was originally a festival where Colonists traded dogs with local Native Americans in return for furs and produce.  It was probably held in Spotsylvania.   From 1927 until World War II, the Dog Curb Mart was held at Hurkamp Park. After the war, the Mart was started up again and held in October, to coincide with the first day of hunting season.  The Dog Mart was held at Maury Field, the James Monroe High School athletic field, from 1947 until the mid-1970s.  There were all sorts of events and contests, including a dog parade down Caroline Street, a dog show, dog washing and grooming, dog obedience, Indian crafts and auctions.  The Center has many photographs of dogs, their handlers and the crowds of people.  It seemed that everyone in Fredericksburg attended the Dog Mart.  Crowds were estimated at 2,500 to 3,000. Many families have fond memories of coming home from the Dog Mart with a new pet.  Dog Mart photos provide an interesting record of the kinds of dogs that were most popular over the years - collies, Irish setters, English spaniels, Dalmatians and various types of hunting hounds.  The dog parade through town included an assortment of breeds mixtures, sizes and colors, all accompanied their proud owners.

Photos also show how fashions changed as well.  In the photograph below, taken in 1938, the officials are quite formal - top hat, suits and vests.  The 1951 photo, Stacy Raines as auctioneer, is wearing a cowboy hat and the unidentified man behind him, possibly and Izaak Walton League official is wearing a pith helmet.  Other clues to the years of the photos are the women's hair styles.

1938

Click on photos to enlarge

To see more photos and Dog Mart memorabilia, come visit The Heritage Center.