30th Annual

Brocks Gap Heritage Day

Sat., April 18, 2020

at Broadway High School

269 Gobbler Dr., Broadway, VA 22815

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Three special programs this year:

11:00     Forest Forensics: Clues in the Woods to History, by Chris Bolgiano

12:30   An Unsung D-Day Heroes: Harrison May, 

by Joe T. May

  2:00   The Forgotten People of Rockingham County, by Rev. William Zirk

See below for more information on the speakers.

 Celebrating our roots in the Brocks Gap area of Rockingham County, VA, Heritage Day is free and open to the public. Donations accepted to purchase tombstones for our neglected family cemeteries in Brocks Gap.

150+ posters of old photos. Pat Turner Ritchie's personal library of family, local and regional histories available to use. New books for sale.

Turner Ham sandwiches and refreshments available for sale.

Sponsored by Pat Turner Ritchie. For more information, email patritchie@verizon.net

Visitors come from up to 17 different states to attend Heritage Day. Even if you don't have roots in Brocks Gap, you'll enjoy the old photo displays and the special programs. We'll make you cousin for a day!

Chris Bolgiano is a freelance nature writer who has lived for nearly 40 years on 112 forested acres in Fulks Run. She has published several books and articles on the Appalachian Forest. She will discuss forest history.

For ten years, Joe T. May has been researching details on the local men who fought in World War II. A brief announcement in the newspaper was often the only information the family received when their loved one was killed. Joe has been able to find out more about each man’s service and the circumstances surrounding his death. This year’s program centers on Harrison May. Harrison survived the D-Day landing and shared his story with Joe.

Rev. William L. “Bill” Zirk was born and grew up in Rockingham County. A retired teacher, Bill also served as a Church of the Brethren pastor in several churches in Rockingham and Shenandoah counties from 1961 until 2005. His grandfather, William A. Zirk, was superintendent of the Rockingham County Alms House from 1945 until his sudden death in 1952. His father Berlin M. Zirk, Sr., became superintendent and served until January of 1956, when his health caused him to retire. In the years of his grandfather’s tenure, his father was in charge of the farm activities. Thus Bill literally grew up in the Alms House, commonly known as the poor house. He has been researching the residents of the Alms House and was instrumental in erecting a monument in its cemetery in memory of its residents.