Historical
Society & Museum
Events
Our mission is to promote and preserve local history which dates back to and beyond Colonial times through such activities as:
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Julia Pierpont and Memorial Day
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Historic Homes Tour
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Marion County Historical Society Museum
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Participation in Community Historical Events
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Celebrations of Historic Events and Personages
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The George P. Stanton Speaker's Bureau
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Restoration & Preservation of Historic Cemeteries
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Fairmont City Cemetery
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Historic Landmarks Preservation & Recognition
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Preservation of the Museum Archives and Artifacts
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Historic Tours and Exhibitions
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Preservation of Endangered Sites
2012
January 3, 2012: The celebration of the 254th birthday of Boaz Fleming. the founder of Middletown, Virginia, now known as Fairmont, West Virginia. In 1787 with a party of 43 settlers moved from Milford, Delaware at the encouragement of David Morgan. Cake will be served all day at WesBanco the site of the former Presbyterian Church Cemetery where Boaz was buried. He had donated this land to build a church. A cake will be served at the Marion County Museum as well as a display of the Founding Fathers. Historian JoAnn Lough will be available to answer questions.
January 14, 2012: Marion County was established by an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia on January 14,, 1842. The House Bill 69 was introduced by William S. Morgan, grandson to David Morgan. A brief Ceremony with birthday cake will be held at the Marion County Commission following the Wednesday Meeting on January 11, 2012. On January 14th at the Marion County Museum will celebrate the birthday from 10:00 -2:00. A ceremony will be held at 12:30 led by Chair of the Landmarks Commission, JoAnn Lough. There will be birthday cake, an exhibit on Founders Month and free tours of the Museum
January 19, 2012: On this date Middletown, Virginia, now Fairmont. West Virginia, was established by an act of the Virginia Assembly. In 1817, Boaz Fleming cleared a 40 acre parcel of his 254 acres in order to establish a town which could serve as a county seat for a new county. Cake, free tours and a brief ceremony will be held at the Museum
January 25, 2012: Francis H. Peirpont, the "Father of West Virginia" and Governor of Restored Virginia from 1861 -1862 was born. He was elected Governor by all 77 Representatives at the Second Wheeling Convention. Without him it is doubtful that the State of West Virginia would have been born. He also established free eduction to all which did not exist in Virgina. In 1865 he established what is now known as Fairmont State University. Cake will be served in his honor as wee as free tours and a exhibit at the Museum.
January 28, 2012: Membership Meeting - 10:30 at CUMC
February 11, 2012: Chocolate Day in downtown Fairmont. Come join the merchants and others as free Chocolate will be served. The Museum will be giving out homebaked Chocolate Chip Cookies from 10 - 2. Main Street will be having door prizes.
February, ?, 2012: The Museum will have a display of Black History during February and March. A Program is in the process of being planned
February, 26, 2012: Membership Meeting - 10:30 CUMC
March 24, 2012: Back by popular demand is the "Mountain State History Expo" again to be held in the Marion County Court House that is on the National Registry of Historic Sites. Last year there were over thirty exhibitors from 5 counties as well as heritage music and a program. Time is from 10 - 3. This is free & open to the public. This is a wonderful opporturnity for children to have some hands on experience.
April 28, 2012: Proposed Historic Church Tour in conjunction with the Council of Churches.
April 28, 2012: Membership Meeting - 10:30 CUMC
May 26, 2012: Julia Pierpont Day as proclaimed by City of Fairmont, The County of Marion, & the State of West Virginia. Julia Pierpont, wife of Francis H. Pierpont (Gov. of Restored Virginia from 1861-1868 and the " Father of West Virginia" ) is considered by many historians as being responsible of Decoration Day now known as Memorial Day. Following the Civil War when the Pierponts were residing in the Governor's mansion in Richmond Virginia, Jullia felt the graves of the Union Soldiers in Hollywood, Va. needed to cleaned up, decorated and honored which she and a small group proceeded to do. There will be a program with guest speakers and heritage music followed by procession to Woodlawn Cemetery for a ceremony. Free to the Public
The Museum will be open that Day for additional information.
June 20, 2012: The Celebration at the Marion County Museum with hertiage music, Living History Interrupters, and cake will be going on between the hours of 10 - 2. Everything is free including parking. Come join us & learn about Marion County's Involvement in the Civil War. See some of new Civil War Collection including a 1851 Smithfield rifle made in Harper's Ferry.
June 23, 2012: Membership Meeting -10:30 CUMC
July 1, 2012: Father's Day. In conjunction with Central United Methodist Church, the Father's Day Church, a program will be held. Live Heritage Music, Free Hot Dogs, Program and tours of the Father's Day Room. Time: 1-3 in Front of the Church located on the corner of 3rd Street & Fairmont Avenue:
July 28, 2012: Membership Meeting - 10:30 - CUMC
August 25, 2012: An Ice cream social and cemetery tour at Woodlawn with Joey Madia portraying Civil War Capt. Thomas Maulsby following the Membership Meeting at 10:30. Gena Wagaman Chair. 304-657-1813.
September 22, 2012: Membership Meeting - 10:30
Also in the planning stage is "Hands-on- History" for children on the Museum Lawn and in front of the Court House.
October ? 2012: A Dinner Theater TBA
A Ghost Walk downtown implemented by Joey Madia of New Mystic Players. TBA
October 27, 2012: Membership Meeting - 10:30 at CUMC
November 3, 2012: Annual Dinner Meeting. TBA
November 24, 2012: The eighteenth Annual Holiday Historic House Tour: Time: 10 - 3:00 One of the more popular events in the area with people traveling from four states to see 8 -12 Historic homes that are open to the public for this 1 day a year. Most are decorated for the holidays, some have live music, often there are tidbits to nibble. Tickets are $16.00 in advance and $18.00 the day of the tour.
December 8, 2012: The Annual Christmas Open House in conjunction with the Feast of The Seven Fishes. Live Music, Free Tours , finger foods and Wassail. Everyone invited. 10 - 4
January 3, 2012 (10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.)
2011
November 26, 2011 (10:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.)
The popular annual Holiday Historic House Tour will be November 26th from 10-3. This self-guided tour features from 9 – 11 historic sites. Most will be decorated for the upcoming holidays, some will have live heritage music and many will offer tidbits.
Pictured is one of the new homes for the tour The house was built in 1901 and later purchased by A.B. Fleming (the eighth governor of West Virginia) as a spec house. It was suppose to be a Parrish for the Christ Episcopal Church that was to be built on Gaston Avenue in 1917. This never materialized. Another new site is Jacob-Hutchinson Warehouse that is now the home of the New Mystic Players. The famous 25 room Watson Mansion built by Architect Horace Trumbouer is again on the tour. Many famous people stayed here including President William Howard Taft. The entire Ziefeld Follies cast was brought by train from New York for a weekend for the owner, Coal Baron and U.S. Senator James Edwin Watson’s entertainment.
Come and spend the weekend as the Clarion Hotel is offering a special room rate for this event of $60.00 a night plus tax. Telephone: (304) 366-5500 or e-mail: jblaniar@clarionfairmontwv.com
Tickets for the tour are $16.00 in advance and $18.00 the day of the tour. The tickets are $16.00 in advance and $18.00 the day of the tour. They can be purchased at the Marion County Museum from 10-2 Monday through Saturday or by sending a check to MCHS, P.O. Box 1636, Fairmont, WV, 26555-1636. If you have questions, please call (304) 367-5398 or e-mail: marionhistoricl@yahoo.com
June 22, 2011 (12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.)
Ceremony of the Beautification of the Civil War Marker of the Battle of Fairmont Public invited.
June 20, 2011 (10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.)
Museum is open. Cake and Lemonade for West Virginia's Birthday
June 25, 2011 (10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.)
Monthly Membership Meeting of the Historical Society. Open to Public
June 25, 2011 (12:00 P.M. - TBD)
Monthly Meeting of the Marion County WV Civil War Coalition. Open to Public
July 15 - 17, 2011
The 11th Annual Johnnie Johnson Blues & Jazz Festival. Telephone: 304-363-5377
July 23, 2011 (10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.)
Monthly Membership Meeting of the Historical Society. Open to Public
July 23, 2011 (12:00 P.M. - TBD)
Monthly Meeting of the Marion County WV Civil War Coalition. Open to Public
August 13, 2011
Mogan-Morgan 103rd Reunion at Prickett's Fort
August 26, 2011 The Date: On Friday, August 26, 2011 at 12:00 noon Place: At the bottom of Coal Run Hollow across from the Handicap Action Center. & the bowling alley at the entrance of the Mid-city Parking Lot. Refreshments will be served. For further information contact JoAnn Lough, Chair of the City of Fairmont Historic Landmarks Commission at 304-363-9341 or by e-mail: joannlough@frontier.com. Public is encouraged to attend Cost: Free |
August 27, 2011 (10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.) August 27, 2011 (12:00 P.M. -TBD) On Saturday, August 27, Woodlawn Cemetery will be having an Ice Cream Social at the cemetery from 10:30 to 1:00 p.m. The Sundae Truck will be there from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Come buy a treat and tour the 43 acre cemetery which is on the National Registry of Historic Sites. The Governor of Restored Virginia, Francis H. Pierpont and wife, Julia Pierpont, are buried there. For additional information contact Gena Wagaman at (304) 657-1813 or e-mail: gena.wagaman@yahoo.com Both meetings, Marion County Historical Society (10:30) and the Marion County Sesquicentennial Coalition (12:00) will meet at the cemetery that day. |
August 28, 2011 |
September TBA, 2011
Marion County Historical Society & Museum Annual Dinner
September 24, 2011 (10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.)
Monthly Membership Meeting of the Historical Society. Open to Public
September 24, 2011 (12:00 P.M. - TBD)
Monthly Meeting of the Marion County WV Civil War Coalition. Open to Public
September 25, 2011 Call Mary Jo Thomas at 304-366-2912 or or email her maryjowv@comcast.net |
October 8, 2011 |
October 22, 2011 (10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.)
Monthly Membership Meeting of the Historical Society. Open to Public
October 22, 2011 (12:00 P.M. - TBD)
Monthly Meeting of the Marion County WV Civil War Coalition. Open to Public
November 17, 2011 (10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.)
Monthly Membership Meeting of the Historical Society. Open to Public
November 17, 2011 (12:00 P.M. - TBD)
Monthly Meeting of the Marion County WV Civil War Coalition. Open to Public
November 26, 2011 (10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.)
Annual Holiday Historic House Tours - A self guided tour of historical sites in Fairmont (West Virginia), with a program and map supplied, light refreshments, live music, most decorated for Christmas.
Advance tickets: $16.00 | Day of the Tour: $18.00
December 10, 2011 (10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.)
The Marion County Historical Society & Museum Holiday Open House: heritage music, refreshments and tours for free!
* All Monthly Membership Meetings & Civil War Coalition Meeting are held at the Central United Methodist Church located at 3rd Street & Fairmont Avenue unless otherwise stated. (Enter by 3rd Street entrance)
Marion County Events Calendar
Currently in development, the Marion County Events Calendar will be an interactive tool for discovering and submitting Marion County-relevant events, meetings, festivals and much more. Please check back at a later time...