Published: August 07, 2008 07:02 pm      

‘Gazing Back in Time’

FAIRMONT — In 1908, noted preservationist and geologist Bernard Lee Butcher founded an organization geared toward educating the public about the rich history and heritage in Marion County.

The organization was called the Marion County Historical Society. Now, a century later, the organization still strives to educate Marion Countians about the long and rich history in the area. The historical society is also charged with preserving the local history as well, said Dora Kay Grubb, president of the organization.

The organization is celebrating its 100th year and has dubbed their centennial celebration “Gazing Back in Time.” Although it is known that the society was founded in 1908, Grubb said the exact date of the first society meeting is unknown, so the members of the historical society decided to celebrate the event all year long.

“We believe we are the oldest historical society in the state,” Grubb said.

On August 18, the historical society will hold one of its many events this year. The event will be at the museum and will celebrate the old Palace Restaurant, which used to be located in Fairmont’s downtown district before closing.

Although the restaurant closed years ago and the building no longer stands, the historical society has obtained the recipe for the restaurant’s renowned pecan rolls. The rolls will be baked in antique pans and will be served along with fruit and lemonade.

“And we’ll have a Palace Restaurant display set up,” Grubb said.

The event will begin at the museum at 10 a.m., Grubb said. Admission for the event is $7 and advance orders are being accepted.

The society will also hold it’s annual Holiday Home Tour starting in November. The tour is self-guided and is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Grubb said. Tickets are $13 if purchased in advance and $15 at the door.

“We normally have between 200 and 300 people attend the event every year,” Grubb said.

Several other events will be held in the next few months, including an open house at the museum in October, Grubb said. The exact date and time for the event has not been set.

Over the years the society has worked to preserve history as well as educate county residents. The society has been recognized nationally for its preservation efforts. At one time the director of a national preservation organization toured the museum.

“She told us some of the stuff that we have here belongs in the Smithsonian,” Grubb said.

Some of the artifacts at the museum include a pre-Revolutionary War leather whiskey jug. The museum also holds a very rare Goldsmith Chandlee compass, which was made sometime in the 18th Century.

“It’s one of five that we know to exist,” Grubb said.

The compass was made by Goldsmith Chandlee, a renowned clock and compass maker who lived in the late 1700s. The compass belonged to Haymond family, who are the decedents of Major William Haymond, a commander at Pricketts Fort who served with General George Washington.

Grubb pointed out that many people who live in Marion County do not know the historic significance of the area. She added that it is the historic society’s mission to rectify that lack of knowledge. This is nothing new for the historical society, she said.

According to Grubb, the historical society became involved in education and preservation immediately after forming. The group began setting up state historic markers and restored some vandalized grave markers at the Pricketts Fort cemetery. The group even performed restoration work on the Jacob Prickett home.

E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.