The Shadow
The Alleghany Historical Society is moving forward on the completion of the Alleghany Highlands Industrial Heritage and Technology Discovery Center.
The Discovery Center will be housed in the large retail building located in the 200 block of N. Maple Avenue.
The building was obtained from Rooklin Estate through a gift-purchase agreement in 2015 and once housed grocery, furniture and office supply stores. The last prominent business located in one of the four storefronts was Music Unlimited.
A $1.2 million grant was awarded to the Society by The Alleghany Foundation and work on the rehabilitation of the building is nearing completion.
Mike Wade, Gordon Specht, and numerous volunteers have been obtaining documents, photographs and artifacts for displays and hands on activities.
As a discovery center, the attraction will serve as an educational site where visitors can learn about the industries which supported the economy in the Alleghany Highlands and the changes in the manufacturing processes as technology transformed manufacturing.
While portions of the center will have the feel of a museum, exhibits in various activity centers will provide hands on experiences which are both fun and educational. One can go by the building and look at some of the displays through the storefront windows.
Tours have been and will be conducted over the next few months so that visitors can get an idea of the types of activities that are being developed.
The city of Covington has recently been awarded a $240,000 grant from the Industrial Revitalization Fund managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. These funds will be utilized by the society to complete the rehabilitation of the building.
However, there is still a need to raise $400,000 so that funding will be available to complete the exhibits and secure the initial operational costs for the opening of the center.
The campaign to raise these additional funds has been called the Brown Bag and Hard Hat Campaign. Initial gifts from WestRock, the Nettleton Foundation and several generous private individuals has already obtained $70,000 of that goal.
One campaign initiative designed to allow everyone an opportunity to contribute to this effort is called the Wall of Labor. The industrial heritage of the area would not be complete until the individuals who supplied the skills and labor for the workforce are listed and recognized for their contributions.
In the entry hall of the Discovery Center, wall plaques will be erected which will have nameplates recognizing individuals by listing their name, occupation, years of service, company and donor’s name.
Doris and Rodney Kyle were the first to contribute to the fund by recognizing Mrs. Kyle’s brother, William C. Colvin, manager at Dominion Virginia Power for 37 years.
There have been thousands of individuals who have worked in factories, retail establishments, service industries, education and medical fields, child care and domestic services. Housewives, stay at home moms and dads, gardeners and caretakers all deserve recognition. For a contribution of $100, an individual’s name can be listed on the wall.
This effort is being launched during the Christmas season because it offers individuals a unique opportunity to recognize loved ones and friends, both living and deceased, with a gift which preserves their memory, legacy and contributions to the community.
For more information, contact Paul Linkenhoker at 962-3718.
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The Alleghany Historical Society is moving forward on the completion of the Alleghany Highlands Industrial Heritage and Technology Discovery Center. The center is located in the 200 block of N. Maple Avenue in Covington. (Photo Courtesy Alleghany Historical Society)
