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Henderson Hall slates new season of events

Pamela Brust poses with the new book about Henderson Hall. A book signing will be held March 30 at Henderson Hall. (Photo Provided)

WILLIAMSTOWN – Henderson Hall will welcome the new tourist season in style this year with special events including a March 30 book signing with Pamela Douglas Brust, author of the recently published “The Hendersons, One Family’s Legacy,” the first and only history of the family.

The book, available in hardcover and paperback, can be purchased at Henderson Hall, other local venues and online at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million and other major outlets.

After working for about a year on a research and preservation project at Henderson Hall, Brust asked for permission from Henderson Hall’s board of directors to write a history of the Henderson family. The book follows the Henderson family through eight generations from Scotland with their journey ending at the Henderson home in the Mid-Ohio Valley, leaving their indelible mark on local, state and national history.

“It certainly is exciting to finally have a book on the Henderson family. Many of our visitors as well as volunteers ask often if there is a book on this family. Until now, we had to tell them no,” Henderson Hall Director Randy Modesitt said. “We expect this amazing book to be in great demand and it should increase the interest in and awareness of the Henderson family and their numerous contributions to national, state and local events.”

The Henderson family left behind thousands of personal letters, journals, receipts and artifacts that enabled Brust to accurately write about the home life, business, politics and family, including accomplishments, and struggles, Modesitt said.

Henderson Hall has a number of new events for tourists this season. (Photo Provided)

“The Henderson family left behind a legacy of historical treasures in word and deed allowing an unprecedented look into the past,” he said. “Their Victorian-era plantation home constructed in the 1800s, and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, is a living monument to those who walked its halls.”

The family patriarch, Alexander Henderson, arrived in Virginia in the 1700s earning the title of Father of the American Chain Store, counting among his friends founding fathers George Washington and George Mason. He sent three of his sons to what was then the wilds of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The Hendersons took part in what may be the only duel recorded north of the Ohio River, played a role in thwarting the exploits of Aaron Burr and served on both sides during the Civil War, surviving turmoil, treachery and tragedy, Brust said.

The author donated her time and research to the book and all proceeds from the sale of the book will go to Henderson Hall.

“Piecing together the threads of the Hendersons’ story was both frustrating and rewarding at the same time. I had parts of the whole, and I was determined to find the rest of the treasure map, unfortunately as any historian or genealogist knows the answer you are looking for may have been lost to time, or never have existed in the first place,” Brust said. “Luckily this family left us many personal journals, letters, legal papers and diaries allowing us to see through their own eyes and in their own words the times they lived in.”

Work on the book began in 2016.

The Hall officially opened March 1 and offers ongoing tours Tuesdays through Sundays, noon-5 p.m. through December.

Henderson Hall will be open noon to 5 p.m. as usual on March 30. The book signing will be from 1-4:30 p.m. that day.

A number of new events have been scheduled for this year, such as a Scottish evening 6-9 p.m. April 19 at Henderson Hall. The evening will feature tours, light fare, and entertainment including Scottish fiddler Melinda Crawford, who will also be part of the entertainment at the Scottish & Celtic Heritage Festival April 20 at Parkersburg City Park Pavilion. Henderson Hall’s Scottish evening is being held in cooperation with the festival.

Also new this year, the Valley Gem of Marietta will offer sightseeing trips to the Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June, July, August and October. Excursions will begin at the Valley Gem Landing with the boat departing for Henderson Hall landing where visitors will disembark and ride a new trolley to the Hall for a tour. Visitors will then ride the trolley on the return trip through Williamstown, across the bridge returning to the Valley Gem parking area in Marietta.

Henderson Hall Dinner Cruises aboard the Valley Gem will be offered June 8 and Aug. 3 beginning at 3 p.m. with a short trip to the landing where visitors will disembark and ride the trolley to the plantation grounds. Guests will spend around two hours touring Henderson Hall and surrounding grounds. At 5:30 p.m. they will board the boat again and see it transformed for a wonderful dinner cruise on the Ohio River.

The Hall will sponsor the Fourth Annual Pioneer Auto Club Antique Auto Show from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 1. There will be tours and concessions throughout the day with Henderson Hall open for tours from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A Civil War re-enactment is scheduled for June 22-23 with the Valley Gem also offering excursions for that event. The cruise starts with a hot breakfast, with the boat departing at 9 a.m..

There will be special guests riding the boat and when visitors arrive the trolley will take them to Henderson Hall. Civil War camps will be open and Henderson Hall will offer tours.

The skirmish on the grounds will begin around noon. After the battle, visitors will return by trolley to board the boat where lunch will be served, returning to Marietta around 3 p.m.

Free parking is available for this two-day event at the Hall. Another book signing will also be scheduled during this event.

An Antique Engine show is scheduled 9-3 p.m. Aug. 3 and is sponsored by the Wood County Fly-Wheelers. Concessions will be available and Henderson Hall will be open for tours from 9-5 p.m.

The Candlelight Cruise will be held Oct. 25 on the Valley Gem and a candlelight tour of the Hall will be included from 7:30-9:30 p.m. A special Henderson Christmas Evening will be held from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 7, which will include food and live music.

Christmas at the Plantation will held 5-9 p.m. Dec. 14. The Valley Gem will offer a trip which will include Christmas dinner while riding on the river. Upon arrival at the landing, visitors will go to the plantation for a candlelit tour of the house and will be greeted by docents in period costume.

Also new this year, the Wood County Master Gardener’s Association will be developing a kitchen garden in early May, Modesitt said.

A new walkway will be installed and will encompass the property in mid-April. A fall festival is scheduled for Oct. 6.

“I believe the Henderson family would be proud of the efforts being made to preserve, grow, and display their families legacy. They would be honored to know that the Hall is rightly referred to as a ‘One of a kind historical treasure,” Modesitt said.

Henderson Hall is located at 517 Old River Road, Williamstown. For more information on all the events and programs, ticket prices, group tours, and directions, go to the Hall’s website: www.hendersonhallwv.com, check out their Facebook Page, or call 304-481-5178; for group tours call 304-375-2129 or 304-481-5178.

For more information on the Scottish & Celtic Heritage Festival scheduled for April 20 at the Pavilion, google the website; check out the Facebook Page or email: scotandceltfest@att.net. The Festival is also sponsoring a Tartan Day Tea fundraiser for the festival on April 6 at the Unicorn Wine Guild in Belpre. Reservations for the Tea can be made by calling the Wine Guild at (740) 423-1300.

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