We are
pleased to announce that in recent months, the Nelson County
Historical Society & The Nelson
County Museum of Rural History have joined in a
partnership to form a historical museum for Nelson County to be located
at the former R. C. Coco property, Oakland.Who?
The Nelson County Historical Society, a well established organization with a membership of 200, organizes its annual historic home tour and holds monthly meetings that include informative programs of county and regional historic interest. The Nelson County Museum of Rural History is a newly formed organization, whose board is comprised of Historical Society members.
Both tax-deductible organizations have agreed to jointly establish Oakland, The Nelson County Museum of History. The new museum will cover the county's history from its founding, but will emphasize life in the 20th century up to and including the county's recovery from Hurricane Camille.
Where?The property, known as Oakland, is located on U.S. 29, one mile north of Colleen. It is a prime location with easy access from a major highway and centrally located within the county. Located in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the site presently includes a distinctive circa 1838 brick house framed by large oak trees and surrounded by ten acres of flat undeveloped farm land.
Why?
Nelson County needs a place to display pertinent collections and educate the public about its rich and diverse heritage. Further, we want our children to learn about the history of our area through creative interpretation and experience. When the property was advertised for sale, representatives from both organizations carefully analyzed the feasibility of the site to see if it would meet the future goals of both groups. A 90-day purchase agreement was signed by both the Society and the Museum.
Here was an opportunity not to be missed!
When?When this option ended, both organizations agreed to a contract to buy the property. After signing a contract for the Oakland property on August 5, 2004, with a closing date of November 16, 2004, our immediate and most urgent goal is to obtain funding through donations to pay for the Oakland property.
What?Phase One of the Oakland development is to purchase the property and renovate and restore the house for use as an exhibit area, research center and repository for the Nelson County Historical Society's files and records now located in the Nelson Memorial Library.
Phase Two will be the creation of a museum and the capital campaign to fund it.
Oakland's history began with its original owner Samuel Cabell in the early 1800's. A number of people owned the property including George H. Mitchell, who in the approximate year of 1838, built the transitional Federal-Greek Revival style house as an Inn located on the Stage Road (presently route 29). Then, people traveling by stagecoach or on horse back, could retire there to rest for an evening, enjoy the hospitality, food and beverages, before continuing in route to their destination. A nearby stable would have provided food and care for the horses, because an Inn or Ordinary license at that time called for such.
In
1858, Dr. Arthur Hopkins, a local physician, bought the house and
actually gave it the name, Oakland. There evidently was a medical
clinic at the house, because a letter was discovered, addressed and
written to Dr. Hopkins, from a patient who requested him to attend his
sick wife. There are also legends about Civil War soldiers being
treated at Oakland and stories of soldiers having been buried at the
rear of the property.The Oakland property was in the hands of several other owners through the years until it was willed to Mrs. Rosa Stevens Goodwin, then to her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Goodwin Coco and most recently, to her niece, Mrs. Josephine Goodwin Campbell and husband, Keith. The property for the new Nelson County Museum of History is being purchased from the Campbells.
Information and documentation about Oakland has been researched in the wills, deeds, records and resource books at the Nelson County Courthouse and Library.
It has been a journey full of mystery and surprises, and it has only just begun.
Photographs by Ivan Morozov / Illustrations by Karla Murray
Updated: February 25, 2007