Greene County Chimney Memorial – Dedicated July 6, 2019
The Story
It was decided that there should be a national park in the eastern United States and The Blue Ridge Mountains were chosen. Part of it would become Shenandoah National Park. People who lived in the mountains were characterized as uneducated and uncivilized and many people believed they would benefit from moving out of the mountains. The Commonwealth of Virginia used eminent domain to condemn their homes and land, in turn giving it to the Federal government to create the park. The families were paid for their land, but none in Greene County left willingly.
Approximately 180 Greene County family members and landowners were displaced, plus four churches and four schools were destroyed. Six residents were granted “lifetime tenure” based on age and other considerations.
Greene County land tracts of approximately 40,000 acres were included in the original proposed 1926 area, however, by the 1936 park dedication the park acreage
The Steering Committee for this project consisted of Norm Addington (chair), Roy Dye, Teresa Lam, Larry E. Lamb, Jim Lawson, Joann Powell, Roger Powell, and Jeanne Rexroad. Economic Development and Tourism Director Alan Yost and Board of Supervisors member Bill Martin served as advisors. For over two years the committee met monthly, working to design the monument, raise necessary funding, secure permits, create the interpretive display panels, and other planning tasks. Nearly $20,000 was raised to pay the costs of building the chimney, producing panel displays, and installing a bench. The committee received financial support from the Perry Foundation, the National Association of Realtors, the Greene County Tourism Council, the Town of Stanardsville, Shenandoah Park National Trust, the Greene County Historical Society, community businesses and nonprofit groups, and more than 50 generous individuals.
Greene County steering committee members and supporters at the dedication of the interpretive displays, July 6, 2019. From the left: Roy Dye, Jeanne Rexroad, Norm Addington, Joann Powell, Jim Lawson, Bill Martin, Roger Powell, Larry E. Lamb, and Alan Yost. Teresa Lam is not pictured.
Greene is one of eight counties where, in 1930s, the Commonwealth of Virginia acquired land so that Shenandoah National Park could be established. This monument recognizes and honors the people of Greene County who lost their homes and land to make the Park possible.
Photo by Judy Pritchard
The Memorial includes a stand-alone chimney and plaque, and six interpretive display panels show examples of homes, churches, schools, and typical family life on the mountains. Two other vertical panels, one with a map of the Greene County area of the park and the other displaying the BRHP narrative of the displacement, which includes a total of eight Virginia counties.
This is the view from the farmer's market
The memorial became a cornerstone for Greene Commons Park and a walkway leads down a grassy slope to a pavilion where The Greene Farmers Market and other community.
The interpretive displays provide information about what life was like in the mountains before the people were moved from their homes.
photo by Norm Addington
Through research of public records and appeals to the community, the steering committee sought to identify, as accurately as possible, the people living in the mountains of Greene County who were displaced for the park. The plaque lists 69 names of landowners and tenants. After the monument was completed two additional families were discovered: Dunnivan and Jenkins.
Photo by Norm Addington
The original chimney standing on Foothills Farm
photo by Larry E. Lamb
After the Korfantys donated the chimney, volunteers dismantled it and moved the stones to the building site. Before beginning construction stonemasons Darryl and Jackie Whidby sorted and organized the stones.
The stones were spread around where the chimney would soon rise.
photo by Larry E. Lamb
Larry Lamb (left) assisted stonemasons Jackie (center) and Darryl Whidby. All three are descended from families that were displaced from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Darryl and Jackie Whidby at work on the monument. The couple constructed four of the eight Blue Ridge Heritage monuments.
photo by Norm Addington
The Whidbys left their trademark on the back of each chimney they built.
photo by Larry E. Lamb
The completed Greene County Blue Ridge Heritage monument. The rectangular space inside the sidewalks represents the floor space of a typical mountain home.
photo by Carrie Austin Eheart
Two young descendants find their ancestors’ name on the Greene monument.
Photo by Norm Addington