LoCoNotes
The earliest human inhabitants of this region were the Monacan Indians. The county was founded thousands of years later in 1761. This site focuses on European American, African American, and Native American families who lived in the county between the 1700s and the present. The blog posts use material culture (artifacts, houses, etc.) to illustrate the history of the Amherst community. This digital history website is managed by Dr Lynn Rainville (Director, Tusculum Institute at Sweet Briar College). Please contribute your stories about Amherst County History.
To learn about the Monacan Indian Nation, visit their website and museum.
Plan a visit to the Amherst County Museum and Historical Society and view their changing exhibits.
Visit two external sites for more information on the Sweet Briar Plantation and the history of African Americans on the plantation and at the college.
Or, visit a related blog on Albemarle County.
Gravestone
of the Week
This week's stone (February 2, 2010) comes from an African-American cemetery in NW Albemarle County. While the cross is a standard motif, the lily laid at its base is more unusual (and beautiful). Lilies are associated with mourning, innocence, and purity. There is also a rose, associated with rebirth, beauty, and love. Behind the cross is a symbol of a rising sun (and rebirth) and/or the rays of sunlight, associated with the presence of God. The deceased died in 1972 at age 48.
