By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt Historical Society and Museum (BCHS) provide visitors a chance to revisit some of Botetourt County’s history through education, exhibits, and activities. The museum’s 57-year history saw a couple of massive changes last year. One of those changes stemmed off of the county courthouse renovation project, causing the museum to successfully find a new home.
Over the next several weeks, The Fincastle Herald will feature interviews with some of the individuals who help make the Botetourt County History Museum a must-see destination.
In the 1630s, a man by the name of Benjamin Borden received land grants for what would be known as Botetourt County. Many years later, a Borden married a Peck– and that’s where former Botetourt County educator Angela Coon’s ancestry began.
Coon’s been involved with BCHS since the mid-1960s. She is a graduate of Fincastle High School, which in 1959 was comprised of grades 1-12. Coon graduated in the last class before the high school split into two (Lord Botetourt and James River, respectively).
She graduated from Madison College (James Madison University) and taught in Chesterfield County for five years after leaving school. She returned to Botetourt teaching and working with various educational grant programs. Angela then went to teach students with learning disabilities at Botetourt Intermediate (Central Academy) for 25 years.
She started the Jennifer Coon Citizenship Award given to two Breckinridge Elementary fifth graders annually in honor of her late daughter. The citizenship award is given to Breckinridge students who show care for community school, compassion, and being a good citizen.
“My family has always been interested in history,” Angela said in a recent interview. “Somewhere in the 1700s, the Coons came [to Botetourt]. They arrived in Philadelphia on a ship called ‘The Thistle.’”
She worked with the Historical Society for what Angela claimed to be “a little bit at first.” Then, in 1969, Angela moved back to Botetourt and began her time spent as a member of the Historical Society. Her time with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) began shortly before returning to Botetourt.
“My sister, Patricia, and my mother, Virginia, were charter members of the DAR and they thought I ought to get my paperwork done,” Angela recalled. “I thought, well, if they’ve had done all that work, I would be foolish not to do it. It was fresh on everyone’s mind.”
The DAR is a nonprofit organization founded in 1890. Its mission is to help promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Angela and many of her family have been proud members of the DAR. Ella Frantz, Kathleen Myers Glasgow, Lelia Peck Lewis, Rebecca Peck, and Valydia Coon Smith are some of Angela’s family who were involved in the DAR over the years.
Photos by Matt de Simone
Angela worked on the first Greenfield Commission, was a member of the four women on the Botetourt’s Sestercentennial (250th anniversary) Committee along with Lois Switzer, Donna Vaughn, and Wendy Wingo, she’s been a longtime member and former board member of Historic Fincastle Inc. (HFI), served as chair and co-chair of The Fincastle Festival for eight years and Christmas tours in Botetourt, and co-authored the HFI book “Around Town.”
“History’s my middle name,” Angela said. “When I retired, I said, ‘I’m really going to concentrate on HFI, DAR, and the museum because that’s what I enjoy doing.’”
Angela recalled some of the individuals who were impactful on her interest in Botetourt history.
“My aunt, Rowena Austin Crush Camden, was the senior teacher at Fincastle High School,” Angela remembered. “She was the senior sponsor. She taught government, she taught history, she taught whatever. I got my love for theater from my Aunt Rowena. She had big influence on me.”
She mentioned the impact of former curator at the museum, Garland Stevens, and teacher Bess Koontz, who also were memorable educators at Fincastle High School who impacted Angela. Rosalia Dodd used to let Angela come over to the Dodd house play with their pots and pans.
“Rosalia’s husband owned Dodd’s Store in Fincastle, and then they became Dodd & Vaughn Store,” Angela said. “They lived catty-corner from me. She was a big influence on my life. She was very, very tall.”
These days, Angela stops by the museum every week. The DAR and others volunteer at the museum on Sundays, where volunteers staff the museum and Angela serves as the Sunday volunteer chair. The volunteers consist of DAR members and others who make time. Angela couldn’t remember how many years she’s been going to the museum on Sundays. Her other “big” job is being on the BCHS’s Artifacts Committee and the Awards Committee.
People will sometimes donate items to the museum. Angela and other members of the Artifacts Committee try to ascertain the artifact’s significance to Botetourt County. The committee then votes on whether not to accept the artifact into the museum. Currently, the museum works to uncover the origins of items they receive. They use online software called PastPerfect, an application for collections archiving designed for museums. PastPerfect allows for the database storage of artifacts, documents, photographs, and library books.
Additionally, Angela is still involved with the annual Founder’s Day Dinner as a part of the Awards Committee. She is also a proud member of Fincastle United Methodist Church.
As Angela looks ahead at the future of BCHS, she’s excited about what’s to come and hopes younger members of the Botetourt community show some interest in BCHS.
“We need younger people, we really do,” Angela said. “People that would want to spend a couple of hours working on the property– small things that need to be done on any property.
“Ultimately, what I would like to see, if I had my druthers, is to be able to raise enough money for the museum to be able to have a room where we can have a meeting containing about 50-60 people. That’s my personal dream.”
Angela continues helping out in the Botetourt community because it’s something that she really enjoys.
“I don’t want to sit around home and do nothing,” Angela added. “But I don’t want to be busy every second of the day… I just still enjoy helping out.”
To learn more about the Botetourt County Historical Society & Museum, visit bothistsoc.wordpress.com. The museum is located at 26 East Main Street in Fincastle and is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.