Objects | Rocktown History

98.14.01 - Mask

Belsnickel mask, made from a sugar sack, used in the Cootes Store area of Rockingham County by Daisy Rhodes when she participated in the Christmas custom of belsnickeling, c. 1920s. 24" x 12 1/2".

Record Type: Object

98.15.01 - Quilt

Quilt, extensive embroidery, including flowers, eyeglasses, vegetables, scissors, name "Jennie" is also embroidered on quilt, made by donor's mother Annie Miller Myers and others in Bridgewater, Virginia, c. 1890s. 94" x70"

Record Type: Object

98.16.01 - Mask

Belsnickel mask, made from a knit stocking or sweater sleeve, used by donor in the Christmas custom of belsnickeling, c. 1920s. 19" x 9".

Record Type: Object

98.16.02 - Mask

Belsnickel mask, made from a cotton feed sack, used by donor in the Christmas custom of belsnickeling, c. 1920s. 18" x 13"

Record Type: Object

98.18.01 - Hat

Black top hat, black band around base of crown, used during the Civil War by Charles Robinson, c. 1860s. 6 1/2" high, brim 12" wide.

Record Type: Object

99.01.01 - Basket

White oak basket, hamper style with lid and two handles, made by Ernest Nicholas of Mayland, Rockingham County, Virginia, c. 1998. Signed on bottom "E. Nicholas 1998". 20" height, 13" diameter.

Record Type: Object

99.02.01 - Loom

Two-harness loom, originally a four-harness loom for making coverlets and other fine work, it was converted to a two-harness loom for rug making. In the late 1920s, Nellie McDorman learned to weave rag rugs from Carrie Lam in her home community of Lilly, Rockingham County. After her husband's death, and with seven children to support, Nellie McDorman saw rug weaving as an ...

Record Type: Object

99.03.01 - Chest of drawers

Chest of drawers, four drawers with carved walnut pulls, made from walnut, pine and popular woods. From the home of Howard Kline, Spring Creek, Virginia, probably originally in his home place on Linville Creek in Rockingham County. Label reads: "From T. P. Humphrey, Steam Furniture Works, Bridgewater, Virginia, c. 1885. 44 3/4" (h) x 41 3/4" (w) x 18" (d).

Record Type: Object

99.04.01 a-e - Gown, Wedding

Three-piece mauve-colored wedding gown. Skirt is full and pleated at top, two lines of ruffles on bottom, ruffled skirt cover, gathered along vertical seams, bow attached, lined jacket, single ruffle sewn on cuff. Wedding gown of donor's grandmother, Cornelia Asparine Liskey, wife of John Graham Liskey, married in Rockingham Co., September 5, 1877. 57" length.

Record Type: Object

99.04.02 - Slip

White cotton slip, gathered at the waist, button at waist. 40" length.

Record Type: Object

99.04.03 - Slip

White cotton full slip, small white button at back of neck. 45" length.

Record Type: Object

99.04.04 - Bloomers

White cotton bloomers, gathered at waist, button at waist, open crotch. 30" length.

Record Type: Object

99.05.01 - Nightstick

Billy club used by Manuel "Ham" Trenary, leather strap is attached near the handle, "H" is carved into the bottom. Manuel "Ham" Trenary was the first Harrisonburg policeman killed in line of duty in the 1950s. 24" length, 1 1/4" diameter.

Record Type: Object

99.05.02 - Blackjack

Leather blackjack, short leather strap is attached near the handle, used by Manuel "Ham" Trenary. Manuel "Ham" Trenary was the first Harrisonburg policeman killed in line of duty in the 1950s. 10 1/2 " length.

Record Type: Object

99.06.01 a-e - Gown, Wedding

White two-piece wedding gown and petticoat, Gibson Girl style gown, lace bodice, organdy and eyelet blouse, skirt with 9 1/2" of lace edging on bottom hem, train of transparent fabric. Worn by donor's great-aunt, Bertha Elizabeth Rice of "Fair View", New Market at her wedding to D. Harry Campbell, son of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Campbell of Woodstock, on July 21, 1898. Donor, Sylvia Sheaks Moore, wore this wedding gown on August 6, 1949 at her mar...

Record Type: Object

99.07.01 - Carving

Folk Art carving, bust of a bearded witch doctor by well-known Virginia artist John L. Heatwole, lettering is highlighted in white paint, carved from a single piece of walnut, signed along the base "J. L. Heatwole '77." This carving was commissioned in 1977 by Dr. Elmer Smith, noted collector of Shenandoah Valley Folk Art and Folklore. 19" height. See 99.07.02 for description of carving written by John Heatwole. Robert Hopkins and Lorrain...

Record Type: Object

99.07.02 - Transcript

Framed description of John Heatwole's Witch Doctor carving, shown in 99.07.01. Transcription: In the early 1970s I began collecting oral history from family members and residents of west-central Rockingham County. I shared these with the late Elmer Smith when he visited my studio in Bridgewater in 1976. At that time, he commissioned me to do three carvings depicting Valley lore for, what he told me at the time, inclusion in a museum collecti...

Record Type: Object

99.07.03 - Jar

Earthenware storage jar or vase of a most remarkable and bold ovoid form, light yellow/orange/green glaze. Attributed to Andrew Coffman (b.1795 - d.1853) working at the pottery of John Zigler, Timberville, Virginia, signed in period pencil under base "Zigler." Purchased at the Estate auction of Otto Zigler of Timberville, Virginia. 10" h, 4 1/4" diameter mouth and base, 7" diameter center. c. 1835. Robert Hopkins and Lorraine Warren Strick...

Record Type: Object