FVM's Annual Ice Cream Social -- Always a Midsummer Favorite! 

Spend a summer Sunday afternoon in Fort Valley the way it was meant to be spent ... at a genuine, old time ice cream festival.  It's set for Sunday, July 31st, from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Fort Valley Museum.

This popular annual event once again features five flavors of hand-dipped Garber's ice cream (including GrapeNut!), a Craft Show and a Fort Valley Fire Department display.  Food is provided by the Fort Valley Ruritan Club. Local musician, teacher, and poet, Rich Follett, will provide a backdrop of live, acoustic music.

Between helpings of delicious ice cream and browsing among some unique items displayed by a number of local craft vendors who will be there, take some time to check out the museum's new Families of the Fort exhibit!

2022 Season Kicks Off with Annual Dinner Meeting

Fort Valley Museum supporters filled the Fort Valley Fire Hall  on May 24th for the 2022 Volunteer Recognition Dinner and Annual meeting.  After a presentation about the Shenandoah County 250th Commemoration from county library archivist Zach Hottel, a slate of officers for the 2022-2024 Biennium were elected:

President - John Gaunt
Vice President  - Lloyd Moss
Treasurer - Debbi Dellinger
Corresponding Secretary  - Meg Trott
Recording Secretary  - Dianne Maggard
Historian - Meg Trott
Curator - Amy Jett
Docent Coordinator - Eileen Drinkwater

Directors

Phil Crisman Jr.
Charles Lichliter
Kim Runion
Allan Schell

Trustees

Ann Hunter
Maisel Lamma
Meg Trott
Dianne Maggard
John Gaunt

The Old Brick Church will be open to the public each Saturday and Sunday afternoon between May 28th and October 30th, 2022. This year's theme reflects the Shenandoah County 250th anniversary year: Fort Valley Families, Old and New.  The focus is on the Fort's original settlers, but will also celebrate the many families that have moved here in the more recent past. 

A large "Family Tree," beautifully drawn by Fran Deren, hangs on the back wall of the Old Brick Church. Family surnames and the approximate dates the families arrived in Fort Valley is represented on individual "leaves." The  leaves closest to the trunk belong to the earliest settlers; later arrivals are arranged farther out on the branches. Additional blank leaves are available for museum visitors to add to the tree.

Museum Season Highlights

• The 17th Ice Cream Social on Sunday, July 31st
• The Annual Fall Craft Festival scheduled for October 29th and 30th. 
• This year's pewter Christmas ornament features a representation of the landmark Indian Sign Tree, along  Rt. 678 at Elizabeth Furnace, a few miles south of the Fort's northern entrance.

Museum News

Trinity Church has been filled with hundreds of items over the past year; some newly donated, others emptied from storage closets, it had been off-limits to the public. The church building closets are now freshly painted and have new shelving, thanks to Frank Tilko, John Gaunt and Charles Lichliter. 

Lloyd and Rosette Moss, Dianne Maggard, and Meg Trott have been examining each historic object, cataloging it into a computer-based inventory where each one is tagged with appropriate identification. Then the items are stored away.  

Curator's Corner

In keeping with this year's 250th Anniversary theme, Fort Valley Families, Old and New, families are asked to loan small memorabilia collections, such as photos and/or small objects, for display along the back wall of the Old Brick Church. 

Each set of items from groups of three or four families will be exhibited together for a limited time, then returned to their owners. Security of precious items is always a highest priority. To participate, contact Meg Trott  (mtrott747@gmail.com) or Dianne Maggard (demaggard@hotmail.com).