HJ799: Commending the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society.
WHEREAS, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society, headquartered in the Phillips-Dawson House on Bank Street in downtown Suffolk, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2016; and
WHEREAS, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society was started in 1966 by a small group of people in Suffolk and what was previously known as Nansemond County who were interested in learning about the history of the area and preserving old buildings and artifacts from the past; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society is to collect, preserve, interpret, and promote awareness of the history and culture of Suffolk and Nansemond County for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations; and
WHEREAS, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society has over 300 members who work to bring the attention of the community to people and places that are in danger of being forgotten or lost; and
WHEREAS, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s property company, Preservation of Historic Suffolk, Inc., buys and sells homes and also owns the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad, which operates as a museum; and
WHEREAS, the highlight of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s 50th anniversary open house celebration on May 1, 2016, was the dedication of the Marion Joyner Watson Research Room and the Susan Felton Woodward Exhibit Room; and
WHEREAS, Marion Joyner Watson, the namesake of the new research room, was a charter member of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society and passed away in 1996; and
WHEREAS, Susan Felton Woodward, for whom the new exhibit room is named, was a driving force of historical awareness in Suffolk for decades and retired from the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s board in 2015, after 40 years of service; and
WHEREAS, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society is funded through membership dues, donations, grants, publication sales, and a variety of fundraising events, including the annual Candlelight Tour during the Christmas season; and
WHEREAS, for 50 years the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society has played an invaluable role in the Suffolk community by increasing awareness and interest in local history and through their tireless efforts to preserve old homes and buildings; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society on the 50th anniversary of its founding; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ashley Nicole Lorenzen, executive director of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the society’s efforts to preserve and promote history for present and future generations.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 799