Mission Statement

King George County Historical Society, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich history, antiquities, and literature of King George County. Through its museum and research center, the society offers residents and visitors access to historical exhibits, genealogical resources, and educational programs that highlight the county's heritage. 

 

John Stanton’s History of the King George Historical Society

When I purchased my farm about 1980, I was impressed with the ancestry of my neighbors. In my same block were descendants of George Washington. I wanted to talk to these people. The Ashtons - - good people. Beyond that I saw that the names in the King George phone book were almost exactly a copy of the 1860 census. Holy smoke, these families have lived here for like 200 or 300 years. They must like it here.

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Then came the "coup de grace", as we were burying our power lines across the farm, we began to dig up artifacts- belt buckles - weird buttons - old dinner ware, from before the civil war. Bigger holy smoke. I realized that now I am part of that history, and I appreciate that honor. We even dug up a clandestine mail-drop. At first I did not realize what it was. It was a large Iron pot on three legs, with a large flat rock on top- readily available to the edge of the river. The pot got broken, but I still have it. The rock is still in the place where we found it. This stirred up a desire in me, to look, to find, to study. That has never gone away.

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One person could not do the job -(to gather up 300 years of history,) but a group of like-minded people, working together, over a long period of time, might make a dent. Ok, why not put this group together and see what else happened in this neck-of-the-woods. I became a history pest. Friends would cross the street when they saw me coming - "he wants to talk about Booth. “Run for it”.

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This led to the formation of the King George County Historical Society. In time, Ed Veazey offered the use of Cleydael for our first get together. At the first get-together, as well as I can remember, there were Joy and Ed Veazey, Mary Belle and Stuart Ashton, and Elizabeth Lee. I am ashamed that I can't remember them all, oh yeah, I was there. I think that in retaliation for being the pest, they all agreed "ok, big mouth, you are the president! From this start, we needed a place to meet regularly. We asked the county for help. They offered us the "assembly room" of the courthouse. I can't remember exactly where it was - but it was somewhere near our museum. So, on February 7, 1986, we held the first meeting of the King George County Historical Society. We had a contentious time agreeing on a name for the group. If we called it "the King George Historical Society”, some people might think it had something to with King George II.

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The building was a large, one room, dismal place. It had a concrete floor, no Heat, no restroom, but it had electric lights and iron folding chairs. We met Once a month and adopted our first community project. We would make a Census of all the cemeteries in the county.

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It wasn't long before we started to lose members, because of the "hall". With The county’s approval, we moved to the middle school- the one that is now the temporary resting place for the Smoot Library. That was great. The county realized that we were all voters. "Let’s keep them happy". We got cushioned seats, rest rooms, etc.

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However, the roof needed fixing. There were times when you could not hear the speaker - because of the noise from the rain dripping into many buckets. This forced another move. From here we began to meet at Caledon. That was a real effort on their part, because they had to move their exhibits around once a month and then set up chairs, but we were warm and dry. We still thank them for their generosity.

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About this time, we set up a schedule for the payment of dues. I would build a shrine for the individual who proposed that, but I never knew who it was. Wally Morton was the editor of the newsletter and did all the composing. I was responsible for the mailing. We published a newsletter whenever I had enough stamps.

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Before I move on, I want to acknowledge the effort put out by members like Larry Cameron, who has had charge of our check book- forever. Mary Ann Cameron has held one office or another - for years. Remembering some members who are no longer with us -Aubrey Jennings, Plater Gedney, Stuart Ashton, and Virginia gros. I wasn't the only president, so we will give a nod to, Elizbeth Lee, James Mullen, Ken Newton, and now. Jean Hudson. Let’s go back to Elizabeth Lee.

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This society would not function without Elizabeth. She has held multiple positions- simultaneously, ever since the beginning. She is and has been the only director of our museum. She is a magician. She can pack a truckload of artifacts into a phone booth and have room for us to walk in and see them. She has worked with other projects, in addition. She almost died when she found that the roof burned off of the museum. She accomplished all this with threatening health, raising a family, and eventually riding herd on her extended family. She was everywhere, when she is needed. She and her good pal Jean Graham have cooked up a program of their own. They dress up in period clothing and visit schools to educate the children. She also introduces them to colonial games and fun. Thank you very much ladies. My job was easy. If I were to dwell on each member who has extended themselves for the Benefit of this society, we would be here until our golden anniversary. We squiggled and we grew, only because of cooperation. Can you think of anyone who works harder than Koontz Campbell? Now, there is a team worker!

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Each member made their own mark on the society. As an example, Jim Mullen must have tripled our membership while he ran his business and served as a county supervisor. I plan to hang around long enough to see our spanking new museum, complete with space, heat, rest rooms, an auditorium, and a good roof - and I’’ll bet that it will get done by the people sitting here in front of me.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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This history was presented by John Stanton at the society meeting on October 11, 2011. John Stanton was the president and founder of the society in 1986.