The Greenbrier Historical Society will host its Annual Member Meeting and Banquet on Thursday, September 8 at 6:00 pm at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church. Everyone is invited to attend for an evening of delicious food prepared by the Methodist Women as the Society Board of Directors and staff provide a report on the growing organization.
Directly following the meal George Collins will give a presentation on the “Meadow River Lumber Company: The Last Giant.” Founded in 1910, the Meadow River Lumber Company developed into the "Largest Hardwood Lumber Mill in the Country" with an array of products shipped around the world. With its closing in 1970, it became the last logging railroad in West Virginia. Through images, artifacts, and personal experiences, George Collins, a native of Rainelle, will tell the story of "The Last Giant."
This presentation will be held in honor of the Max Hayslette original Meadow River Lumber Company painting that was purchased byDale H. Tincher from Raleigh N.C., a 1964 Rainelle High School graduate. He has donated the painting to the Greenbrier County Historical Society, with the purchase price ($4,500) going to the Rainelle Planning Committee for Rainelle Restoration. The painting will be on display during meeting.
Copies of the oil print on canvass, signed by the artist, will be sold for $395. Copies printed on acid free paper, signed by the artist, are $195. Also, 17” x 21” quality posters on paper are available for $25.00 each. Send your check payable to Rainelle Restoration Project, c/o Andy Pendleton, PO Box 223, Rainelle WV 25962 or call Andy at 304-438-7662 or 304-667-9233.
Admission is $15 per person
Registration is Required
Call 304-645-3398 to reserve your seat
George Collins is a native of Rainelle and graduated from Rainelle High School. He received his BA in History/Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College and his MA in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program/State University of New York. He retired in June 2010 having over 40 years of experience in a variety of roles in museums including Director of Human Resource Development, Director of Employee Relations and Communications, and Director of Historical Interpretation for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He has also served as Director of Programming for the New York State Historical Association and Vice-President of Programs and Operations and Acting President for Genesee Country Village and Museum in Rochester, N.Y. And, he served for 10 years as Director of Museum Program and Studies at Tusculum College..
He currently serves as volunteer administrator for the Northeast Tennessee National History Day Program, is curator for the Magnavox Heritage preservation Association for whom he recently completed an exhibition on Magnavox in Tennessee. And, he is currently working on a history display for the new Rainelle Elementary School. He and his wife Amy, who is Director of the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University, live in Greeneville, Tennessee.
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Rebecca, that does look like a painting that captures the industrial progress and local great business features. Good luck, I hope the painting and its copies make a hit!
Rebecca, That is a lot of history. No doubt, George Collins talking about the Meadow River Lumber Company will be heartfelt as he lived to tell the story of "The Last Giant." The painting feels still and quiet yet as I look at it ... it comes alive with history.
Rebecca: You are such a wealth of knowledge about the Greenbrier area, and with your easy to read style, I bet your local consumers can't wait for your next local post.
What a great opportunity to learn more about the Meadow River Lumber Company and possibly own a little piece of local history too!
Rebecca- your area is so rich in history. I would love to learn about the Meadow River Lumber Company and hear the stories of George Collins.
Ellen, the painting by Max Hayslette was indeed a big success. I have two of his paintings in my home.
Kathleen, you are so right about the painting coming alive with history. Thank you!
Anita, thank you for the kind remarks/compliment. I do enjoy writing about my area,
Lee and Carol, thanks for stopping by, there is so much history here....as it is in Murphy NC.
Kathy, I do hope to attend myself and learn some history about the Last Giant.
great post to show off your area. I love that painting.. you should get a copy!
Joni, yes I have two .. Max is a great artist originally from WV and now lives in Seattle WA.
Sheila, I just may order a print.
Rebecca - I love the history of the Meadow River Lumber Company that you incorporated into your post and the painting is wonderful.
Toni, thank you,