The Executive Board of the Richmond County Historical Society met in the Carriage House of the Leak-Wall property on August 1. During committee reports, the board was informed that the second phase of replacing the Wall garden fence has been completed. This is in time for two weddings planned for the garden in September. Including those two events, there will have been four weddings in the garden this year.

Neal Cadieu reported that since the June 6 board meeting, there has been $825 income from the sales of the Historical Society’s three books.

Betty McBryde reported on an unusual summer visit to the Bostick school house. Most visits are during the school months. However, on July 13 the Jane Layton class of the Rohanen Summer Enrichment program came to visit. Mostly 14 year-old students, they thoroughly enjoyed seeing the one-room school and presentation by Lillian Sherrill.

Tom MacCallum gave a report on work done and in progress by the Genealogical committee. He said that $150 has been received in donations, showing appreciation by some given assistance with family history and genealogy.

The committee expressed appreciation to Ed Ormsby for six notebooks of family history, and for a World War II food ration coupon book.

The committee continues to improve the second floor of the Leak-Wall house, their headquarters. MacCallum has installed new shelving and continues to renovate one of the three bathrooms on the second floor.

The estate of Catherine Monk has donated a great deal of material relating to her ancestor, John Shortridge, one of the founders of Hamlet and responsible for the Seaboard Railroad being located there in 1900. The committee is putting the Shortridge material in a series of notebooks.

President Dr. John Stevenson reported that a total of $12,005 has been donated to the Historical Society for the creation of an endowment. The endowment has been set in place, managed by the Foundation For The Carolinas in Charlotte. Part of the endowment contributions has already been placed in the endowment. Plans are to place the remainder after board approval during the September meeting.

The president also reported membership renewals by two former member, bringing the total family membership to 189.

The final business was a report from the president on the status of the Historical Society transferring ownership of the former Seaboard Airline Railway’s Rockingham depot to the City of Rockingham. Permission to do so must come from NCDOT, since most of the funds for moving and renovating the depot came from their Community Assistance department. It is expected that a reply from NCDOT will not come until studies have been made which will require several weeks.

The Historical Society will meet next Monday at 7 p.m. at the Rockingham City Hall. The program will be on Col. William Henry Harrington, son of Gen. Harrington who is considered a father of Richmond County. The program will be given by Dan Allen, a direct descendant of Gen. Harrington. The son led a colorful life. Because his mother would not approve marriage to a lady he loved, Col Harrington never married. There are indications, however, that he provided living accommodations at this home for two ladies, sisters to each other.

Staff Writer Dawn Kurry can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ex. 43, or by e-mail at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.