Randolph County Historical Society Programs

2025 Programs

Spring Program – Files Family to be Featured at
May 15 Program

Learn more about the “foundation story” of Randolph County — the
short-lived settlement by the Files and Tygart families in 1753. Join us
for the spring program of the Randolph County Historical Society on
Thursday, May 15, 6:30 pm at the Randolph County Museum meeting
room in Beverly.
Steve Bodkins will share a historical presentation on the Files family,
one of the first known European families to settle in the Tygarts Valley.
Steve will primarily explore the known history of the attack on the
Files family by Native Americans at Beverly in 1753. He will also
present additional historical evidence that he has recently uncovered,
to show that much more occurred during this event than current history
books slide show last about one hour.
Steve is a graduate of Tygarts Valley High School at Mill Creek and
West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. He has written books,
Bemis & Glady West Virginia: A History of Two Mountain Towns
and Forgotten Towns, Pocahontas and Randolph Counties, WV.

Randolph County Historical Society invites you to join us in celebrating the centennial of our first banquet, held in January 1925 at the Tygart Hotel. In commemoration of 100 years of preserving Randolph County history, this event, to be held at the rejuvenated Tygart Hotel January 31, 2025, will feature “Speakin’ Easy at the Tygart” presented by Don Teter. The program will explore the history of the Tygart Hotel and Elkins in the Roaring Twenties. The event will start at 6 pm, with dinner served at 6:30, followed by the program.

The 20s inspired dinner by the Oxley House at the Tygart will feature a choice of New York Strip or Airline Chicken,  House Salad & Rolls, Roasted Asparagus, Herb Crusted Potatoes. Pecan Cinnamon Rolls & Cheesecake for Dessert. Tax and tip included, adult beverages extra.

Advance purchase of tickets at $75 per person is required by January 22. Tickets are available at the link below, by mail with a check and contact information to RCHS, PO Box 342, Elkins, WV 26241, or call Logan at 304-636-6182 Ext 1 for more information. 

BUY TICKETS

2024 Centennial Programs

 

Vagabonds in WV
Friday November 15, 2024 6 PM
101 Railroad Ave. Elkins, WV

In 1918, the “vagabonds” group of well-known friends toured through the mountains of central Appalachia. A more recent journey to learn about that expedition will be featured at the upcoming program of the Randolph County Historical Society.
The program at the Darden Mill will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. and program at 6:30.
“Friends of history from counties all around will be interested in this program,” according to Don Teter, President of the Society. “This is one of the featured activities marking the 100th Anniversary of the Randolph County Historical Society.”
The speaker will be James Gardner, author of the book A Chance to Breathe, which relates the story of a 1918 trip through West Virginia by inventor Thomas Edison, naturalist and writer John Burroughs, automobile manufacturer Henry Ford, and tire tycoon Harvey Firestone. The itinerary included Leadmine, Parsons, Elkins, Beverly, the Cheat Mountain Club, and Bartow.
Gardner was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, and has been a practicing attorney for more than thirty years. His book is not just the story of those travelers, but also of Gardner’s research journeys with his father, an engineer and longtime “Firestone Man,” and retracing the route of the famous “vagabonds.”
The program will be held in conjunction with the annual general membership meeting of the Randolph County Historical Society at the Darden Mill. The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact [email protected].

Tuesday May 21 6:30 PM
Elkins YMCA
400 Davis Ave
Elkins, WV

The Randolph County Historical Society will be opening their Centennial Celebrations with a program on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 7 PM, doors open at 6:30. This event will take place at the Elkins YMCA in the Assembly Room on the third floor. Light refreshments will be available for attendees.

The event will feature a program on the founding of the Randolph County Historical Society which took place at the Elkins YMCA one-hundred years ago. With focus on the charter members who founded the Randolph County Historical Society, the presentation will explore their roles within the Society and as community members dedicated to preserving the history of Randolph County for future generations.

The centennial celebrations will continue throughout 2024 to 2026 with more events and programs to come. The Randolph County Museum in Beverly will open Friday, May 24, 2024 and remain open for visitation on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM through Labor Day weekend. Admission is free. On display will be the centennial exhibit “100 Years of History” which highlights the history of the early Randolph County Historical Society as well as more recent developments that have built the Society as known today

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2023 Annual Meeting and Program

Thursday November 16 6:00 PM

Reception and Tour at 6:00
Annual Meeting at 6:45
Program at 7:00

Beverly Heritage Center, Beverly, WV

Early Newspapers of Randolph County and the Role of the Printer and Publisher
Presented by Don Teter and Karl Mulac

In the past, local newspapers filled a vital role in the life of the community by carrying important legal notices, informative advertising, and reports from colorful correspondents. Historian Don Teter will give an overview of the numerous early newspapers in Randolph County, many of which were published for only brief periods while others lasted many years. He will also share some stories of the editorial give and take between the competing journals. Historian Karl Mulac is the proprietor of the Randolph Enterprise Project, which shows how the local newspaper operated during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. He will demonstrate the operation of the printing press and talk about the work of the printers and publishers of small-town newspapers.

2022 Annual Meeting and Program

Thursday, November 17

Prohibition Stories from Randolph County – Don Teter

Two Ways to participate:
IN PERSON at: Darden Mill, 101 Railroad Ave., Elkins

Or:
VIRTUAL ZOOM at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83920568071?pwd=SFZXQmFWOGdodnZyZDNDeUdnV21Udz09
Meeting ID: 839 2056 8071    Passcode: 1920

Questions?

Contact

Randolph County Historical Society
PO Box 342
Elkins, WV 26241
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 304-637-7424 (Beverly Heritage Center)