Bristol Historical Society: Wythe County History

Wythe County history is topic of BHA meeting

Bristol Virginia – Wytheville native, Michael Gillman, will be the featured speaker before the Bristol Historical Association in February.  Gillman, who is the Coordinator of Heritage Sites and Programs for the Town of Wytheville, will present the program, “Resolved to live or Die”, Southwest Virginia in the Revolution.  The meeting will be held on Monday, February 10, 6:30pm, at the Bristol Public Library.  The general public is invited to attend this free event.

Wythe County’s history is very strategic to the history of Southwest Virginia.  The current location of Fort Chiswell is the site of a frontier fort built in 1758 as an outpost during the French and Indian War. The fort was of strategic importance during the American Revolution as the guard post over a deposit of lead used by the militia to mold bullets.  It was situated at the junction of the Great Trading Path and the Richmond Road, near the New River.

Wythe County was created after the American Revolution in 1789 and named for George Wythe, the “father of American Jurisprudence” and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In May 1790, 100 acres of land was donated to establish a town and county seat at Wytheville.  The fort fell into disrepair after the county seat and courthouse were moved from Fort Chiswell to its new location at Wytheville.  Gillman will discuss the history and importance of Fort Chiswell, the lead mines and the Fincastle Resolutions.

Michael Gillman was born and raised in Wytheville. He is currently the Coordinator of Heritage Sites and Programs for the Town of Wytheville, Department of Museums.  He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business-Project Management from Liberty University Online. He is an avid Southwest Virginia material culture and decorative arts collector. A member of the Fincastle/Montgomery County Militia of Southwest Virginia living history group, he most recently was named as an advisor to an upcoming PBS series.

The February 10th meeting is open to the public and held in conjunction with the library’s mission of “Expanding Minds and Building Community”.  Contact Tim Buchanan, Program Chairman, for details of this or other upcoming programs, by e-mail; buchanan03@bvu.net. Visit our Facebook page for details, BRISTOL HISTORY. Judge Charles Flannagan was recently named as the new president of the Bristol Historical Association.