MERLE MONAHAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
merlemonah@aol.com

COURTLAND — Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 14 will offer a special attraction this year: four new exhibits at the Museum of Southampton History.

Starting with several replicas of old homes made by the late E. B. Gayle, Chairwoman Gail Camp, Joanne Fox and several other assistants, have put together an exhibit of military items featuring uniforms and other memorabilia of Southampton veterans, an exhibit of championship football games by the county schools and a Nottoway Indian exhibit featuring the two Algonquian Indian pots found recently by Francis Widmeyer in a local river.

“We think it’s going to be fascinating,” said Camp, whose late husband, S.V. also was an avid supporter of the museum. “S.V. would be happy to see this.”

Camp’s husband, as well as Milton Futrell, have donated the proceeds from books they wrote to the museum. Futrell will be on hand on Heritage Day to autograph his books.

Camp said the old home exhibit was handled by Martha Kello and Glynn Parker. A replica of Parker’s home, Rosedale, is one of the homes on display, along with the old Raiford Hospital, Sunnyside the Rochell-Prince House and the early school in Sedley. Pictures of other old homes are also on display.

Kitty and Milton Futrell came up with a number of military uniforms, including some from the Spanish-American War, the Civil War, WWI and WWII, the Korean conflict and on up to Afghanistan.

Dawn Holland and Jim Beale identified items and worked diligently pulling the military exhibit together.

The Indian exhibit was drawn and built by Bill Hancock, who worked for Jamestown Park in researching and building Indian homes there.

“Everything is coming together nicely,” said Camp, “except for the sports display. “We’ve reached out to the former football coaches in all of the schools for help, but responses have been slow.”

Camp said she hopes next week will bring more interest.

In addition to Heritage Day, the history museum will be open Sunday, Sept. 22 as well. Admittance will be $2 per adult.

Camp said the museum continues to accept donations.

“We still have so many things to accomplish,” she said.