This coming weekend!  Mark your calendars for the 4^th annual mountain heritage celebration on Saturday, April 11^th from 10am-4pm.  Visit Sperryville’s Thornton Gap Primitive Baptist Church and learn about the history of the mountain communities that once stood nearby. With a variety of activities planned, this is a great event for history buffs, hikers, families, and local citizens.

Members of the Dwyer, Bolen, Bowen, Pullen, Rutherford, Hawkins, Johnson and Bruce and many other families will be present to discuss their memories of the mountain life in Rappahannock. Archival materials, including early film footage of the area, historic maps, and church history will also be on display. Jim Lillard will share his “Mountain Memories” presentation at 1pm. The Rappahannock Historical Society also plans to present on Rappahannock County’s involvement in the Blue Ridge Heritage Project.  Enjoy live music, refreshments and conversation. Shuttles will take folks back to the Hull School and Piney Branch Trailheads, so attendees can visit and learn about the mountain settlements that once flourished in Frazier Hollow and along the Thornton and Piney Rivers.

For more information please contact Kristie Kendall at kkendall@pecva.org, or to register for the FREE event, please go to our event page at: http://pecva.org/events/rappahannock-s-mountain-heritage-an-open-house-at-the-thornton-gap-primitive-baptist-church. Please note that registration is required due to off-site parking.

I hope that many of you can join for an eventful and fun day!

By Kristie Kendall