Hello Fellow Listers: This just came through the Lancaster PA List - thought it may be of interest to some of the other lists as well. Donna HELLER ZINN of Newville, Cumberland Co., PA. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOOD MORNING! I am forwarding a letter about the upcoming Heritage Day in the Brocks Gap area (settlement area of several Hessian soldiers and Lancaster, PA families ) of Rockingham County, VA.---I will be there with my Palser Shaver (Balthasar Schaeffer) exhibit. It is a wonderful time of sharing info and meeting the friendly folks-many who are descendants of the original settlers! Joan Shaver-Hill Charlottesville, VA __________________________________________________ Hello, This letter is to let you know about: (1) Brocks Gap Heritage Day which will be Sat., April 3, 2004 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fulks Run Elementary School, Fulks Run, VA. If you would like to have a display, please let me know before March 31. For more details, please read further. (2) a new book on the Whetzel family of Brocks Gap, Rockingham Co., VA. Edna Whetzel Dove began in 1985 to compile the descendants of Henry Whetzel Sr., (ca 1735-1816) of Dovesville or Bergton, VA. The 324-page book is typed, indexed, and has a table of contents which is an outline of the family. It was typed and indexed by Mary V. Dove of Frederick, MD. It has a soft cover, plastic spiral binding. If you have any connections at all with Bergton or Criders, VA, your family is probably in this book. The Whetzel family was an early family in the area, and they married into all the Bergton & Criders families, such as Riggleman, Dove, Crider, Caplinger, etc. Two of Henry's daughters moved out of the immediate area - Elizabeth Whetzel Fogle, and Mary Whetzel Culp. The books are $25 plus $4 for shipping. Order them from Lois Moyers, 21104 Dovesville Road, Bergton, VA 22811. Here is more information about Brocks Gap Heritage Day: The fourteenth annual BROCKS GAP HERITAGE DAY will be held at Fulks Run Elementary School, Fulks Run, on Saturday, April 3, 2004, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The purpose of the afternoon is to encourage people to bring in their old family letters, Bibles, tax receipts, etc. relating to Brocks Gap residents (including Post Offices Fulks Run, Bergton, and Criders). We'll make copies to preserve the material and to use in future books on the Brocks Gap families. An additional copy is given to James Madison University Library for further safe-keeping. Many of our old photos will be on display on 120 different posters, and Pat Ritchie's library of genealogies, local and regional histories will be available to use to research. We will also be copying old photos of the families, and orders for reprints will be available at a nominal cost. Other family history researchers will be there with their displays and books. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society will have books for sale, and local authors will have books for sale. The day is sponsored by Pat Turner Ritchie and Garnett & Lena Turner, and there is no admission charge. Donations will be accepted to buy tombstones for local family cemeteries. Five tombstones have been ordered from past donations and are expected to be erected by April 3, weather permitting. More are planned for other cemeteries. If you would like to have a table at Heritage Day, please let me know before March 31 so we can save you a space. Last year 300 people came from 17 different states, including two separate parties from Washington state! If you have ancestors from Brocks Gap area but have never visited, this would be an excellent time to come see the countryside. We guarantee you'll meet some relatives or at least relatives of your ancestor's neighbors long-ago. We've developed some maps to help find the old family cemeteries. Hope to see you at Heritage Day. Pat Ritchie 1559 Moffett Dr. Winchester, VA 22601 540 662-1475 [email protected]