Past Meetings

Members gathered at the Carolina Yacht Club in Charleston, S.C. Dr. Ncholas Butler, archivist with The Charleston Archive of the Charleston County Public Library, game a historic look at windmills, showing distinguishing characteristics of three types seen in colonial America. New members were introduces and guests welcomed.

At the fall meeting at Forest Lake Club in Columbia, S.C., guest speaker Tom Strange game a history of the harpsichord and performed Victorian period music. The new board was installed with Jon Morgan stepping up to serve as governor. A memorial ceremony was conducted by Chaplain Wilma Horton in honor of Frank Chapman.

In March, our meeting was held at the Harbor Club in Charleston, S.C. The speaker was Margaret Thompson whose topic was "Perils Facing Virginia Settlers and Their Growth." She gave out handouts with the genealogy of some of the ancestors mentioned, as well as sources for further research. She also had a display of books containing information about early Jamestowne.

Dr. David Shields was the speaker at our November meeting which was held at Forest Lake Club in Columbia, S.C. Dr. Shields is best know in South Carolina for his work in ringing heritage grains and vegetables back into cultivation. He heads a foundation that brought back Carolina Gold Rice. In Virginia, Dr. Shields is known for his book on Captain John Smith. On the 400th anniversary of Jamestowne, he was invited to speak on John Smith, which was his topic.

The Harbor Club in Charleston, S.C. was the scene for our March luncheon meeting. Wima Horton was derssed in period costume depicting Sybil Luddington, a 16 year old girl who lived in New York State during the American Revolution. Her father was a commander of the 7th Regiment Militia. She related her story of the time the English troops were bearing down on the area in which she and her family lived. Since her father had to stay with the militia, Sybil volunteered to sound the alarm to all the inhabitants in the area. She rode her horse, Star, 40 long and torturous miles giving warning that eh British were coming. She was thanked personally by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton for her bravery.

Dr. Fritz Hamer was the speaker at our November luncheon Meeting which was held at Forest Lake Club in Columbia, S.C. Dr. Hamer is the curator of Published Materials Division at the South Caroliniana Library and formerly the chief curator of History at the S.C. State Museum. His is also author of several books. His topic was John Locke and Old World Thinkers: How They Planted the Seeds of American Independence.