Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.

P.O. BOX 817, Sparta, N.C. 28675

President: M.O. Zimmerman				
Vice President: Lorene Sturgill
Secretary: Lou Reid Landreth
Treasurer: Mildred Torney

Vol. 2, No. 4		 		December 1980		BULLETIN NO. 5

From the President: 

	We take this opportunity to again express our appreciation for the fine work our first President, Walter P. Johnson, has done in getting our Society organized and functioning.  His untiring efforts and enthusiasm contributed greatly to the interest and growth of the Society.  Thank you, Walter.

The beginning of the New Year is the time for renewing our memberships.  The Annual membership dues for the Society are:

1.	Individual members, $2.00
2.	Contributing members, $5.00
3.	Business, institutional or professional members, $15.00
4.	Sustaining members, $50.00
5.	Life members, $100.00

The financial status of the Society is rather meager and there is great need to increase the funds available to the Society if we are to continue the work before us.  We’ll not be able to continue publishing the Bulletin, for instance, unless more money is provided.  We would urge all those who can to renew at the contributing or higher membership level.  Additional monetary donations (tax deductible) are also encouraged.  

As we move forward into a New Year, it is hoped that we will continue to show interest and enthusiasm in the Society’s programs.  It takes every member of the Society collectively to achieve the ultimate aims and goals before us.  The new officers enlist your continued support as we move ahead.

From the Committees:

CEMETERY: Early in December, we reported to the Committee for Study of Abandoned Cemeteries in Raleigh that we have completed 182 cemetery surveys which is approximately 80% of those in the County.

We continue to discover additional cemeteries as our researchers become more active in the various townships, so this figure is constantly changing.  

Thanks to the co-operation of the County Tax Office, as inquiry concerning abandoned cemeteries went to each property holder in the County along with the tax listing forms.  This may result in the discovery of even more family and abandoned cemeteries.  

We’re making an all-out effort to get the remainder of our surveys completed at an early date.  We expect to have a meeting in the near future to determine the statues of those that have not been completed.

After all the surveys are completed, there’s still much work to be done! They must be assembled in a presentable form and made available for use in our Library.  We have to plot latitude and longitude to indicate all the cemeteries on U.S. Geological Survey maps.  So there will be work in this area for some time.  All help is must appreciated.

GENEALOGY: Lorene Sturgill urges each and every member to complete and submit his personal Pedigree Chart to the Society’s Library.  A chart is included with this Bulletin for your convenience.  Most genealogical societies require this and it would be a most welcomed addition to our Society’s Library.

LIBRARY: The Holbrook family Bible has been donated to the Library by the heirs of Julius Womble.  This is a huge and beautiful book about a hundred years old.  It has a lot of family data entered in it and would be valuable information for Holbrook or Womble descendants.  This will, at some point, be turned over to the Museum.  

HISTORY: Mildred Taylor reports that she has autobiographies on Dr. B.C. Waddell and Walter Wiles that will be turned over to the Library.  These contain historical data about the County that will be of interests to all.

MUSEUM: Roy Crouse reports that the Museum Committee has announced that it is now in position to start gathering specific information from prospective donors on any artifacts they desire to donate or loan to the Museum.  The present facility for the Museum will be in the upstairs area of the old Sparta Pipes building, which was made available by Mr. Jack Martin.  

The primary purpose of the Museum is to collect, preserve and exhibit artifacts that illustrate the society and the cultural and political history of Alleghany County.  The Committee is interested in those artifacts which tell the past as it really was and illustrates the life style of our early citizens.  

Gifts to the Museum will be deductible for tax purposes in accordance with the provision of State and Federal guidelines.  

Those interested in donating to the County Museum should contact one of the Committee members or any member of the Society.