News & Articles
New Location
The Wise County Historical Society is now located in the lower level of the Wise County Public Library.
Twenty-Seventh Family History Institute of Southwest Virginia
Location and Hours
We will be open with the following hours at our new location in the lower level of the Wise County Public Library.
Sunday 2:00 - 5:00
Monday 2:00 - 5:00
Tuesday 2:00 - 8:00
Wednesday 12:00 - 4:00
Thursday 11:00 - 3:00
Friday 12:00 - 4:00
Saturday By Appointment Only
OBITUARIES
Purchase WCHS Books at MECC Bookstore See link below
WISE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS PARTNERED WITH MOUNTAIN EMPIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING HISTORICAL RECORDS TO OUR PATRONS. BOOKS AND RECORDS FOR SALE WILL BE PROVIDED BY MECC BOOKSTORE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FALL 2015. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE MECC BOOKSTORE WEBSITE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE DURING THIS TIME OF TRANSITION. <HTTP://BOOKSTORE.MECC.EDU/HOME.ASPX>
Billy Ray Porter
The Texas Club
A Tribute To Ganell Marshall
Ganell serves as the Associate Editor of the Appalachian Quarterly published by Wise County Historical Society and works tirelessly with the set-up and lay-out of the magazine. Ganell puts in many hours of hard work each month putting material into page-maker, working with pictures and finally printing it out for final proof- reading.
Ganell was born in the Riverview section of Coeburn, Virginia. She was married to the late Darvin Marshall, They have two sons: Bill and John Marshall. Ganell lives in the Sandy Ridge section where she and Darvin made their home.
Ganell has put in countless hours in building and helping maintain the Sandy Ridge Old Regular Baptist Church and the old school building. She has taken on the responsibility of copying any old church records pertaining to the Old Regular Baptist Church that can be found. She has worked for about 40 years on her family history research.
Ganell has worked with crafts since 1960 making corn-shuck and apple-head dolls as well as serving as an officer in craft organizations. She is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, past and present member of Sandy Ridge Handicrafters; past member of Piedmont Crafts, Inc.; past member of the Blue Ridge Hearthside Crafts, as well as others. Her work has been featured on White House Christmas trees several times; in the Smithsonian Museum; in national magazines and special exhibits across the country. She and her husband Darvin, were active in the formation of the local community center at Fairview School on Sandy Ridge.
In addition to the Appalachian Quarterly, corn-shuck dolls, and everything else she does, Ganell enjoys helping others in learning to use the computer.
Counties in Virginia and How They Were Formed
- Orange – 1734-1738
- Frederick – formed from Orange 1738-1772
- Augusta – formed from Frederick 1738-1770 – Organized in 1745
- Botetourt – formed from Augusta 1772
- Fincastle – formed from Botetourt 1772-1776
- Montgomery – was formed from Fincastle 1776
- Washington – formed from Fincastle in 1776
- Kentucky – from Fincastle 1776-1780
- Smyth – from Washington 1832
- Tazewell – from Washington 1799
- Russell – from Washington 1786
- Buchanan – from Washington 1758
- Scott – from Washington 1814
- Lee – from Washington 1792
- Wise – from Lee, Scott and Russell 1856
- Dickenson – from Wise, Buchanan & Russell 1880.
Originally, all the land belonging to Virginia west of the Blue Ridge was embraced in the County of Orange. In 1738, Orange county west of the Blue Ridge was divided into two counties, Frederick and Augusta; and Augusta included the territory now comprising Wise. In 1769, Augusta County was divided and all the land southwest from Lexington was called Botetourt County, named in honor of the then governor of Virginia, Lord Botetourt; and all the extreme southwestern portion of the State as well as the whole state of Kentucky was then in Botetourt County. Later Botetourt County was divided and Fincastle County, including all the Western Portion was cut off. In 1777, Fincastle in turn was divided into three counties, Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky. Washington County, Virginia, is said to have been the first political unit ever named in honor of George Washington. From Washington County were formed the following counties: Russell in 1786, Lee in 1792, and Scott in 1814. Wise County was formed by taking parts of Russell, Lee and Scott Counties. It had been estimated that the new county of Wise had but 3 percent of its land under cultivation; the remainder was in wilderness.
The above was taken from the book, , by Luther F. Addington.
I would like to add that Dickenson County, “Virginia’s Baby” was taken from Wise, Russell and Buchanan Counties and named after W. J Dickenson. (F.S.)