31st annual

Brocks Gap Heritage Day

April 22, 2023

At J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, Broadway, VA, 10 - 4. Free and open to the public.

Over 180 posters of vintage photographs are arranged by families, churches, 
schools, communities, and other topics. Researchers can use Pat Turner Ritchie’s personal library of family, local, and regional histories. Other genealogists and local historians will share their material and gather new information.

** Bring your old family Bibles to be copied and preserved by Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (Rocktown History) and the DAR library. Free service! **

Donations accepted to purchase tombstones for family cemeteries in Brocks Gap: Roadcap, Caplinger, and others.

 Three programs:

11:00    Fulks Run fun; humorous stories  

                by Ronnie Fulk

12:30    The Will brothers' service in World War II,

                by Joe T. May 

2:00       How to Preserve your family heirlooms

                by Fran Ritchie 

Other participating organizations:

• Rocktown History (Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society HRHS) selling new books & telling visitors about the work of the society.
• Plains District Memorial Museum, Timberville, highlighting their collections and mission.
• DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), photographing old family Bible records to transcribe and put in their national database. Joint project with HRHS.
• Chimney Rock Chronicle, the area's monthly newspaper with emphasis on good news from the local community. 

Sponsored by Pat Turner Ritchie, patritchie@verizon.net

Want a table space? Let me know by April 14 so we can save you a space. Bring your own table and extension cord if you need an outlet. Contact patritchie@verizon.net

My newest book will be available for sale: African Americans in Brocks Gap, Rockingham County, Virginia. There were enslaved and free African Americans in the Gap before 1865. A free family who owned a farm on Crab Run at Bergton about 1806-1845 was industrious and thrifty. Another free family lived in the Gap a few years and moved to Winchester about 1850. Their stories are another aspect of life in Brocks Gap. Over 200 pages, some photographs, and photos of some original documents. $25 plus $4 for shipping, and you can order them from Pat Turner Ritchie. patritchie@verizon.net

Portraits of the Past: Bergton and Criders Communities, 1903. This 127-page book has photos of families of the area, taken by traveling photographer J. M. Hill of Bridgewater. It includes a brief biography of each person in the photos, when we could identify them, several pages of unidentified photos (maybe you’ll know some!), and some other photos from the 1880s of local people. $22 plus $4 for shipping, and you can order them from Pat Turner Ritchie. patritchie@verizon.net

Programs from 2022 Brocks Gap Heritage Day

• Harrison May, World War II Hero
• George May from Ireland to Brocks Gap, Virginia
• Forgotten People of Rockingham County (Poor House)

Photos from 2022 Heritage Day:

 

30^th annual

Brocks Gap Heritage Day

May 7, 2022

at Broadway High School, Broadway, VA, 10 to 4. Over 150 posters of vintage photographs are arranged by families, churches, communities, schools, and other topics. Researchers can use Pat Turner Ritchie’s personal library of family local and regional histories. Other genealogists and local historians will share their material and gather new information.

 3 programs:

11:00    An Unsung World War II Hero from Fulks Run, Harrison May, by Joe T. May

12:30    George May: from Ireland to Brocks Gap—How DNA & new research led to a revised picture of George May & his family, by Diane Langston

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

**The school’s safety rules will be in effect.**

Currently masks are required for everyone.

Please be prepared to abide by the rules so that we can hold this event. 

Rocktown History (Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society) will be on hand to sell new books and to tell visitors about the work of the Society

.
Sponsored by Pat Turner Ritchie, patritchie@verizon.net

If you are interested in having a display table, let me know by April 29 so we can save you a space.

My newest book will be ready the middle of February: “African Americans in Brocks Gap, Rockingham County, Virginia.” Yes, there were enslaved and free African Americans in the Gap. There was a free family who owned a farm on Crab Run at Bergton about 1806-1845 who were industrious and thrifty. Another free family lived in the Gap a few years but moved to Winchester about 1850. Their stories are another aspect of life in Brocks Gap. The book has over 200 pages, some photographs, and photos of some original documents.

Last year I finished “Portraits of the Past: Bergton and Criders Communities, 1903.” This 127-page book has photos of various families of the area, taken by traveling photographer J. M. Hill of Bridgewater. It includes a brief biography of each person in the photos, when we could identify them, several pages of unidentified photos (maybe you’ll know some!), and some other photos from the 1880s of local people. The Portraits book is $22 plus $4 for shipping, and you can order them from me.

 

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. 

29th annual

Brocks Gap Heritage Day
Sat., April 27, 2019
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at Broadway High School*
269 Gobbler Dr., Broadway, VA

This year's festival features three programs:

11:00 Ghost Stories from Fulks Run, by Ronnie W. Fulk
12:30 D-Day Heroes: Harrison May & Orville Neff
            by Joe T. May & Lois May Rhodes
  2:00 Yankeetown--the Real Story, by Mary Ann Yarsinske

Heritage Day covers the communities and families of Fulks Run, Bergton, and Criders. 

• Over 140 photo displays of scenes and people. 
• Other researchers will attend to gather and share information on their families and areas of research. 
• Family, local, and regional histories available for research.
• Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society will be there with a wide selection of books for sale.
• Turner Ham sandwiches and other lunch items can be purchased.

To reserve table space for researchers or display, 

contact Pat before April 20.

Sponsors: Garnett Turner & Pat Turner Ritchie, 540 662-1475, patritchie@verizon.net.

*New location because Fulks Run Elementary is unavailable because of renovations.

Fawley historians Howard Fawley (left)
and Paul Fawley (red shirt) have attended
nearly every Heritage Day. 

Left to right: Dennis Lee, Joe T. May,
and David F. Ritchie.
Joe May and Dave Ritchie were
speakers at the 2018 Heritage Day.

Turner Ham sandwiches and other refreshments
available for sale. Peggie Turner (left)
and Ron Turner (middle), 2018.

Researchers using Pat's personal library
of history books during the day.

2018 Heritage Day

Brocks Gap Heritage Day

April 21, 2018,       10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fulks Run Elementary School, Fulks Run, VA.  Free admission.

Special programs at this 28^th annual event:

11:00  History of the Libbey House: Myths, Mysteries & More

by Robert & Barbara Liskey Driver

12:30  Jacob C. Rhodes, World War II soldier, KIA

by Joe T. May and Lois May Rhodes

  2:00  What DNA Can and Can't Tell You, and Why

by Dr. David F. Ritchie

Over 140 photo displays of Brocks Gap scenes & people.  Other researchers gathering information. Family, local, and regional histories available for research.  Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society will be there with a wide selection of books for sale.  Turner Ham sandwiches and other lunch items available for sale.

Sponsors Garnett Turner & Pat T. Ritchie

540 662-1475  patritchie@verizon.net

Here are some photos from 2017 Heritage Day:

 Reuel Tusing and Howard Fawley

 Wilton Thomas, Ellen Runion Fitzwater, Audrey Turner McLendon

 K. B. Getz

Mildred Wittig & Pat Turner Ritchie

Brocks Gap Heritage Day

April 22, 2017,10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fulks Run Elementary School, Fulks Run, VA.  Free admission.

Special programs at this 27^th annual event:

11:00   "Schools and Education in Brocks Gap" by Dale MacAllister        

12:30   "World War II soldier: Owen M. Getz & updates on William Crider, Paul Neff" by Joe T. May

    2:00   "Traditional Mountain Toys and Games" by Peggy A. Shifflett

Over 130 photo displays of Brocks Gap scenes & people.  Other researchers gathering information. Family, local, and regional histories available for research.  Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society will be there with a wide selection of books for sale.  Turner Ham sandwiches and other lunch items available for sale.

Sponsors Garnett Turner & Pat T. Ritchie

540 662-1475  patritchie@verizon.net

Here are some photos from past Heritage Days

Steve Ritchie of Muncie, IN, researcher for Brocks Gap Rifles, & Ruth Reedy

Reedy researchers comparing notes.

The 26th Brocks Gap Heritage Day will be Sat., April 16, 2016

Fulks Run Elementary School

Fulks Run, VA

For more information, contact Pat Turner Ritchie

patritchie@verizon.net