Author: Jennifer Hall

The Inaugural 2025 Wise County Historical Society Christmas Ornament

            A limited quantity of Wise County Historical Society’s Inaugural Collector’s Christmas Ornament is now available for purchase.  The gift boxed 3 ½ inch porcelain ornament features the Wise County Courthouse and is available for sale in the Historical Society office located in the lower level of the Lonesome Pine Regional Library in Wise.  Office hours are Tuesday 2 – 5PM, Thursday 11AM – 3PM, and Friday noon until 4PM.

            Purchase your ornament for $30 plus $1.30 tax in the office or add $2 shipping to order by mail.  Send your payment to: Wise County Historical Society, 124 Library Road SW, Wise, VA  24293.

            Place your order soon as the quantity is very limited.  Thank you for supporting your Wise County Historical Society!

Jordan Dotson to offer Book Signing and Reading at “Gathering in the Gap” Music Festival

Big Stone Gap, VA. As part of this year’s “Gathering in the Gap” Music Festival, the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is collaborating with the Wise County Historical Society, the Appalachian Writing Project and the C. Bascom Slemp Memorial Library to offer an opportunity to meet Southwest Virginia born author Jordon Dotson. In honor of the release of his book, “The Ballad of Falling Rock,” which has received much praise, participants will have an opportunity to meet with Dotson, listen to a reading from the book, purchase his book and get autographs. Tickets are not required, and the book signing will be held May 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the C. Bascom Slemp Memorial Library, directly adjacent to the festival grounds.

About the Author

Born and raised in Southwestern Virginia, Dotson moved to China in 2005 to study classical poetry and folk music. Over fourteen years in Asia, he worked as a journalist, musician and educator, eventually earning his MFA in Fiction from City University of Hong Kong.

As a writer, his work has been featured throughout the U.S. and Asia, including anthologies at multiple Hong Kong universities. In 2019 he received the Scoundrel Time Editor’s Prize, and the same year, his lone screenplay won the Jury Award in Narrative Shorts at more than 30 film festivals worldwide.

As a founder of WriteIvy.com – a writing-education platform for over one million college students worldwide – Dotson has been featured in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Muse, Authority Magazine and innumerable media outlets throughout Asia.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, Dotson has published in both English and Chinese. Though he now resides in Boston, he still calls Southwest Virginia home.

In addition to the featured Main Stage performances, “Gathering in the Gap” will include a songwriting competition, musical competitions, music jams, a children’s area, the “Gathering Place” Beer and Wine Garden, the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show and more. Antique, food and craft vendors will also be on site. For additional information and a full schedule of events, please visit the festival website at www.gatheringinthegap.org, “like” the festival page on Facebook or call the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park at 276-523-1322.

The award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to make reservations in one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.

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April 5, 2025 at 11 AM in Wise County Public Library.

Picture from 1905. Names listed below.

Men about 1899

Womens Church Group from the Davis Chapel Church in Ramsey submitted by Rick Tunnell Pictured: Standing L-R Ruth Stapleton, Buelah Turner, Lillie Tunnell, Nannie Hickman, Eula ?, ? Hurd, Edna Thacker, Janie Brickey, Mrs. Gilreath, Mrs. Murray, Juanita Gilreath, Janie Stidham, Mrs. Absher, Mattie Fogarty, Ellen Kelly, Aileen Kelly. On the ground L-R Ruth Pike w/brother, ?, ? ,Thelma Collins Osborne, Sarah Collins, Mrs. Davis, Eliza Akers w/ grandson -Eddie Joe Estep, Joyce Collins, Charlotte Collins , Loretta Stidham, Child-unknown.

Big Stone Gap Baseball Team

William Madison “Buck” Greear. He and two more killed George Wells in 1864 at Herald on Sandy Ridge.

L to R: JC, Kes and Harve Franks. Three brothers in WW2

Palmer Nelson Football Team 1937

John Counts family from Dickenson County

Marv Austin

Evelyn Slemp’s Picture, Railroad at Glamorgan

L to R William Carter, Pickney Carter, Dute Carter, Unknown

Family from Scott County, VA

David and Ellen Bise Rose from Dickenson County

John May of Pikeville, KY 

George Dewey Scott’s Band the Midnight Troubadours 

Pictured LtoR Trombone: Worley Swindall

          Drums: George Dewey Scott

          Banjo: Elmer Dotson

          Piano: Edmona Swindall

          Sax: Lee Mullins

         Clarinet: unknown 

Baptizing in Guest River.  

Rev Lil McConnell on far right.

Virginia City School

Old High Knob Tower 

Stuart Rose with G Grandchildren 

Alex and Damon Kilgore

Pictured : Top row Lto R Nita Bond, Teacher- David Perry- Pauline Estep- Emmitt Dingus- Evelyn Stallard- Gerald Thompson

2nd row LtoR Eugene Smith- Betty Brewer- Bill White- Sharon Lay

3rd row LtoR Violet Stallard- Bob Culbertson- Barbara Gibson- W C McConnell

4th row L to R Emory Stallard- Margaret May- Jack Willis- Barbara Gilmar- Gene Cockren- Clotean Barr

5th row LtoR Yvonne Holbrooks- Lois Kilgore- Margaret Kennedy- Oma Estep- Jennette Stapleton- Nancy Tompson 6th row Lto R Nina Hilton- Lois McConnell- Ann Strong- Tonya Kilgore- Phyllis Kiser-