Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society



The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society at Dayton, Rockingham County, Virginia is home to: the Harrisonburg Rockingham Historical Society an excellent genealogy library a gift shop and bookstore an electric map depiction of General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson's Valley Campaign temporary and permanent museum exhibits talks and lectures on local history, genealogy and folk art. A fee of $5.00 for nonmembers buys one-day admission to all exhibits on display, the electric map and the library. All facilities are free to members. Genealogists: Online sources! Find your Valley relatives here! new Previous HRHS newsletters (from 2000 - 2007) Make Donations online. Rockingham mill information. Rockingham WPA report transcriptions online. Site map		NEW - Take a Virtual Tour of HRHS Click here Highly recommended - Harrisonburg Downtown Walking Tours Follow this link Rotating Exhibit "The Country Store" Feb. 2 - Aug 31 An exhibit about the country stores that used to be in every small town throughout the Valley. They were the center of the community, supplying wares and information to the local folks.
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Bookstore Featured Items	Calendar of Events	Current Exhibits
What was sold in a real country store 200 years ago? Find out in Michael Baker’s Store Journal, 1804-1825. Well-to-do Captain Michael Baker lived in Brocks Gap, Rockingham County, where he operated a store with a surprisingly wide range of merchandise, from whiskey to door locks to silks & velvets for the ladies. Some customers came from 20 miles away on horseback to trade and buy goods. Many had charge accounts at the store and paid with bacon, fur skins, or their labor on Baker’s farm. This store journal was passed down through the Baker / Harnsberger family who donated it to the Historical Society. Dr. Ellsworth Kyger transcribed it, and Pat Turner Ritchie, a Baker descendant, typed it. She included information on the Baker family and some Brocks Gap customers. The book is an excellent addition to the history of Rockingham County. $14	New Fall 2009 Stricler Lectures: click here for more information	Rotating Exhibits: The Country Store: Feb 2 - Aug 31 Permanent Exhibits: Invincible Spirit: History in the Heart of the Shenandoah more The Art of Tradition more
Articles of Interest
Wayland's 1953 Rockingham County Post Offices Also available via PDF (165 kb) More Articles

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Last updated 11/24/2008