Summers County Historical Society

01/16/2026

✅ MARK YOUR CALENDAR 🗓️

Scheduled Summers County Historical Society MEETINGS FOR 2026

JANUARY 20, 2026
MARCH 17, 2026
MAY19, 2026
JULY 21, 2026
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
NOVEMBER 17, 2026

01/16/2026

NEW BOOK NOW AVAILABLE 📕

ARNEL’S STORY

ABOUT THE MAN- Arnel Buford Thompson

“Times were hard for people in rural southern West Virginia. Arnel Thompson’s life became harder after his body was paralyzed from the waist down at the age of four by an attack of polio in 1917.

Many hard times followed. It was not until 1924, seven years after suffering the attack, that Arnold entered the Children’s hospital at Huntington for treatment. His treatment was for sixteen months in two periods in 1924 and 1925, where his body fitted with braces that he finally learned to walk with crutches.

His schooling continued. In 1930 he entered Talcott high school and completed the four-year course on time – traveling to and from by horseback.

Under the W.VA. Rehabilitation Program he entered West Virginia Business College in Bluefield in 1936 and completed the commercial course. Upon his return home he established his shop which continued the rest of his life. This book details, by his family and friends, “a life well lived”.

Arnel’s Story by Phyllis Campbell Whitley - book is available for purchase by mail-in form

Books are $24.00 USD each. Shipping and handling included in price.
To order by mail please print, fill out, and mail this form to:

PURCHASE ORDER FOR “ ARNEL’ S STORY” BY PHYLLIS CAMPBELL WHITLEY
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DATE:____________________________________

BYER:
NAME___________________________________ EMAIL__________________________ ADDRESS________________________________ TELEPHONE_______________________
________________________________
________________________________

QUANTITY ORDERED______ ($24.00 EACH BOOK/POSTAGE INCLUDED)

REQUEST THE AUTHOR SIGN YOUR BOOK TO:_______________________________________

MAKE YOUR CHECK TO: MRS. PHYLLIS C. WHITLEY - AND SEND IT TO 10225 GORDON ROAD
SPOTSYLVANIA VA 22553-3723

QUESTIONS? EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL 540-786-7010

Other books by this author:
Thesagaofvirginiaham.com $35,00 Photographeronhorseback.com $20.00 &
Barnsofsummerscounty.com $42.00

11/30/2025

11/25/2025

Make Christmas shopping easy. Buy historical books for everyone on your list. World War II in Summers County $50, One Room Schools of Summers County $20, the Civil War in Summers County $25, Churches of Summers County $30, and Middle New River Settlements $25. All books available by mail at PO box 295 Hinton. Please add $5.25 for postage. Books can be gift wrapped at your request

11/21/2025

The Summers County Historical Society has installed a commemorative sign marking John F. Kennedy's 1960 visit to Hinton during his presidential campaign.

Location: 407 2nd Avenue, between the former Grandma's Attic antique store and the Market at Courthouse Square.

The plaque reads as follows: John F. Kennedy addressed the citizens of Summers County from this location during his successful campaign for president in 1960.

Pictured with the plaque is Ron K. Lilly, president of the historical society.

11/18/2025

Still time to get to the Graham House Preservation Society and enjoy!
If you haven’t heard Doug Woods tell this story, you are missing out!
Members of the Summers County Historical Society will be there as well to answer any questions you may have.

Join the Summers County Historical Society for a captivating Living History presentation by Doug Wood, exploring the incredible journey of Mary Draper Ingles, the brave woman who escaped from Shawnee captivity in the 1750's and made her way back to her Virginia homestead, passing through what is now Summers County.

Doug Wood also shares the story of Thomas Draper Ingles, Mary’s son, who was captured and lived in captivity for years. Through his portrayal, Doug brings these remarkable frontier stories to life with depth and authenticity.

📅 Tuesday, November 18th
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Historic Graham House
💰 Free Admission

Come connect with our region’s rich history and experience the past like never before!

10/05/2025

The Summers County Historical Society has released its newest book churches of Summers County.
The book is 300 pages and lists 137 churches in Summers County, most of which no longer exist. Included with the histories of these churches are stories and memories of those who attended including minutes dating back to the 1800s and lists of donors when the churches were being built in the early 1900s.
Since Church attendance and membership was such an important part of the culture in the early days of the formation of the county, anyone with ancestors dating back to that time can probably find their names in this book.
The book sells for $30. Mail orders should be sent to PO box 295, Hinton, 25951, adding $5.25 for postage. The book will be available during Railroad Days at the Summers County Historical Society booth and also is currently available at The visitor center in Hinton.

09/25/2025

⛪️“CHURCHES OF SUMMERS COUNTY” ⛪️
****************now available*******************

📣The Summers County Historical Society announces its newest book, Churches of Summers County, will be released to the public on Saturday, September 27, at 2:00 PM The Graham House in Lowell. All are welcome to attend the brief program.
The 300-page volume gives the history of 137 churches with many photos of both the churches and the people who attended services there.
Stories relate members’ memories of activities and copies of church minutes relate those who were “dismissed” for various types of misconduct, including playing cards and dancing.
The Society would like to thank all those who contributed to the history of these churches.
Also at the Graham House on this day will be the annual Chili Fest, a fundraiser that benefits the log structure, the oldest standing home in the county which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1770, the house is the location of an Indian raid during the American Revolutionary War.
The Summers County Historical Society has published other books as well, including World War II in Summers County, the Civil War in Summers County, and One-Room Schools in Summers County.
The Church book will sell for $30. Mail orders should add $5.25 for postage. Mail checks to PO Box 295, Hinton 25951. The book is also available at the Summers County Visitors Center in Hinton.

05/29/2025

Do you recognize this sign?
Any information you provide would be appreciated!

03/28/2025

👩‍🎓Students Participate in Inspiration Gallery👨‍🎓

The following students have been selected to introduce the inductees into the Inspiration Gallery at Summers County Comprehensive High School:

🎓 Ben Bragg will introduce Butch Miles, a world-renowned jazz percussionist.

🎓 Stephanie Williams will introduce Christopher Harrison Payne, an African American pastor, legislator, lawyer, and Council to the Virgin Islands, born prior to the Civil War.

🎓 Sarah Okes will introduce Blind Alfred Reed, a well-known American folk singer.

🎓 Ava Stover will introduce Ella Marie Atkins, a professor at Virginia Tech and a prominent expert in drones.

🎓 Marie McKinney will introduce Ken Allman, an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

🎥 Joshua Crawford, also a student, will serve as the videographer for the event.

✨The Inspiration Gallery is designed to inspire students to achieve at their highest level, as the above-named individuals have done. All inductees were educated in Summers County.

💫Last year's inductees included Pearl Bragg, a pioneer aviator; Cornelius Burdette, an Olympic Gold Medal Winner; Sylvia Mathews Burwell, former US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services; Gene Fife, head of Goldman Sachs in Europe; and Dr. Titus Pankey, a physicist who made important discoveries pertaining to space.

🌟🌟The ceremony will take place at 2 PM on Saturday, April 12, at the high school and is open to the public. 🌟🌟

03/19/2025

***INSPIRATION GALLERY INDUCTEE***
“Blind” Alfred Reed, born blind, earned a living through music composition and performance. He recorded over 21 records, including the highly acclaimed "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live", later covered by Bruce Springsteen. In 1937, Hinton enacted an ordinance prohibiting him from performing on street corners, thus eliminating a primary source of income from tips.