Brocks Gap Heritage Day will be Sat., April 12, 2014. 

This year we'll start at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. 

Photographs, books to use for research, chat with other researchers.
Several programs will be featured this year. 

• A professional conservator from the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, Fran Ritchie, will discuss how to take care of your family's treasures, like old photos, papers, and artifacts.
• Joe T. May will have details about the service and last days of an area man who died during World War II.

Other programs will be confirmed soon.

Join us at Fulks Run Elementary School, Fulks Run, Virginia on April 12.  The event is free an open to the public.  Even if you're not related to Brocks Gap families, if you like old photos, come on out.  We'll make you an honorary cousin for the day.  Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society will be present with local history books for sale.  Turner ham sandwiches and other food will be available for sale. 

New Books:
The James Turner III and Margaret Fulk Turner book is now available for $40 from Lois Rhodes, Broadway, VA, at Fulks Run Grocery, Fulks Run, or Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.  The book is 900 pages, hundreds of photographs.  The appendix has an outline of all the Turner families of Brocks Gap, brief history of the Frankforter family, brief history of the Christian Fulk family, photograph with identification of the 1939 Turner reunion, and hunting stories of Adam M. Turner. 

New Projects:
I'm now compiling a history of the "Hessian John" Baker family, Dry River area, Fulks Run, VA.  Research by another Baker researcher has proved that Hessian John was married to Maria Dorothea Neice/Nease, and she was the mother of most of his children.  His second wife was Elizabeth ____ but research by a paid professional researcher was not able to prove that her maiden name was Turner.  This information changes some of our Brocks Gap traditions.  If you are connected with the Hessian John Baker family, I'd like to hear from you soon to add your information to the book.

Hessian John's great-grandson Philip F. "Phil" Baker was a furniture maker and house carpenter who made many pie safes for people in the community.  An exhibit on Safes in Virginia will start in May at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, curated by Jeff Evans.  Some of Phil's work will be on display.  You'll want to be sure to see this special exhibit.

In July 2014, Jeff Evans will publish a book with even more information about pie safes.  It will be a valuable addition to your personal library.

For more information about Brocks Gap Heritage Day, contact me at  patritchie@verizon.net or 540 662-1475. 

Pat Turner Ritchie