...the second tenant house built in 1903 can be seen and in the background a two story log house on a privately owned farm that joins Mudlick Road and the Poor Farm. Bill Graham and Mary Graham once lived in this beautiful olde log home,
I have recorded from oral history accounts. 

......history has it that this two story log home was much older than the Wythe County Poorhouse, est. in 1858

     LIVING HISTORY - VERY OLDE AND VERY NEW!!!!

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THAT OLD TIME RELIGION IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME......

Lee Thomas, related to Orba Thomas, Overseer of the Poorhouse Farm in the 1950s and his wife, our Dean/Graham cousin attend this beautiful old church that still has the wonderful antique oil lamps and olde atmosphere. The Thomas couple and friends often share their gift of song and music with the congregation. 

GRAHAM'S MANSION - Wythe County, Virginia - IRONMASTER, of GRAHAM FORGE HISTORY
ancestral cousins to Sarah Helen through Nancy Cassell....

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St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Wytheville, Virginia

Pictured a back view of the historic St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Wytheville, Virginia. In the foreground of the photograph is the granite markers of Bessie Vance Johnstone Crenshaw and William Allen Crenshaw. He was overseer of the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm from the late 1800s until his retirement in 1930. Slightly to the right is the marker of Alfred Moore Johnstone and Elizabeth Easter Dean Yonce Johnstone. Many of the descendants of Thomas Dean and Nancy Cassell Dean rest peacefully at the beautiful cemetery. 

I was fascinated by the Poor Farm as a child and now have lived and worked on this Old Poor Farm since 1992/1993 and still feel that same love and fascination. 

My Mom taught us at an early age to appreciate olde things and to love and cherish antique glassware and furniture. My Dad’s Johnstone heritage gave me the family connection and the love for the Poorhouse Farm.

GOD gave me my special husband, Abner Jr, who enjoys doing whatever I’m doing and loves the Poor Farm as much as I do.

Our prayer now is for a Grandchild that would carry on after us........
It’s a lot of hard work and the maintenance and expense on these olde buildings is enormous. But the rewards come when we can share it with others. We have made such special friends. 

We still have dreams and visions.....one of the eight houses is nearly completely down now and the spring house and barn are in ruins...the cemetery needs a fence and the wash house’s roof is coming off..... but until Destiny chose us for this special job of restoring the Poorhouse Farm....it was all in shambles and ruins.....With GOD as our guide we took the Poorhouse Farm from ruins and animals pens and dumpsters to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places....in six years!

Thank You GOD for choosing us for this important project!

The Grahams
Sarah Helen and Abner Jr.

This little girl is Ethel Swanson Crigger in 1911, her parents William Albert Crigger and Ann Cassell Crigger worked for the Poorhouse Farm and lived near The Crenshaws. Little Ethel as she was fondly called visited them daily when her parents came to work. 

Crigger/Cassell, Johnstone/Topham, Cannoy/Jackson, Crigger/Cline, Spraker/Lawson; Dean/Cassell, Graham/Adams, Crenshaw/Johnstone, Astin/Settle, Hale/Kincer, Thomas, Crockett, Morris, and Turley descendants shared the history of the Olde Dinner Bell with the Grahams, present owners of Bethell Community's Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, established in 1858 in Wythe County, Virginia. 

The large iron dinner bell near the Farm's Overseer's back entrance was loudly rang at meal time so the men hired by Wythe County to work on the Poor Farm would come in out of the fields where they would be busy with every possible chore.....from plowing, harvesting the many crops to cutting fire wood in the Mudlick section along Cove Creek in the County owned woods. According to the large number of accounts of oral history shared with Sarah and Abner, if the bell was rang between meal times it meant for all to come immediately and leave their chores as it was an emergency.

According to Bill Crigger born in 1910, his Dad, Will was summoned one day where he worked for Wythe County on the Poorhouse Farm. The Bethel Community School was on fire. Bill said his Dad chopped the hole into the attic section and put the fire out before it caused much hard to the school. Bill pointed to the picture of the Olde Bethel School as he showed us exactly where Pap made his entrance hole and saved the school house which stood along Peppers Ferry Road near the entrance to the Poorhouse Farm.

Willie Mabel Grubb Umberger, one of the teachers at this two room school donated an antique school bell she had worn the rim off of by the years of ringing and then sitting it down on her desk. Ms. Willie as she is fondly called taught in the Wythe County Public School System for fifty years. The school bell given to friends, Sarah Helen and Abner Jr. is on display at the LIVING HISTORY BOOK in room 3B along with many other olde school items.

The many poor, elderly, disabled and blind living in the Poorhouse Cabins could easily hear the pleasant ring of the dinner bell
as they prepared to travel the short distance from their homes to the large dining room for their meals. All meals were prepared
in the kitchen of the Overseer's Home and served in the dining area built on the back of this main house. Homemade soups were a favorite food served at the large tables. If some of the folks were not able to come to the table for health reason, their food was taken down to them.

Bells, Bells, hear them ring. What a pleasant sound they do ring. 

School Days At The Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm's
LIVING HISTORY BOOK 
Max Meadows Elementary School 
May 18, 2001

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This old school bell was donated to THE LIVING HISTORY BOOK, at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm by retired teacher, Mrs. Willie Grubb Umberger Tavenner. Mrs. Umberger taught at Bethel Community School, Wythe County, Virginia.

Bethel Communtiy School, Stood Along Peppers Ferry Road, in Wytheville, Virginia Near The Entrance Of The Wythe County Owned Poorhouse,
Established In 1858. 
AN UNHILL PATH TO BETHEL SCHOOL LED. IT PASSED THROUGH THE POOR FARM WHERE THE POOR FOLKS WERE FED.

Students and friends at Bethel School, Wythe County, Virginia, Nellie Lawson and Virginia Johnstone. Will Crigger can be plowing with team of horses Dick and Dan at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm, in the background.

W.T. Crigger, grandson of William Albert Crigger and Annie Cassell Crigger was my classmate at Wytheville Elementary School in Wythe County, Virginia

Sarah Helen Johnstone
Class picture at Wytheville Elementery School, Wythe County, Virginia

        School Days - Sarah Helen Johnstone

Bessie Vance Johnstone

Bessie Vance Johnstone's Graduation Class of 1898, at Marion Female College, Marion, Virginia. Bessie, in 1903 married William Allen Crenshaw, overseer of the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm established in 1858. They lived in the main house at the Poorhouse Farm as the caretakers their entire married life. My Great Aunt Bessie died in 1929 and My Great Uncle Shaw, as he was fondly called died in 1930 shortly after his retirement as overseer of the Poorhouse Farm.

Wytheville High School Team
Bill Crigger's played on this team. He was good at ball it did seem

Bill Crigger, born in 1910 is standing near Wythe County, Virginia 's, Bethel Community School. When I asked Bill how old he was he laughted and said "old enough to go courtin!''

Bill, Our Friend

WILLLIAM FRAZIER CRIGGER, who’s that we might say? But Bill Crigger, oh sure we knew him that way. 

As Memorial Day draws near we do recall. This dear friend is missed by us all.

His mother Annie called him Bill. His dear Pap, folks knew him as Will.

For the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm worked his Mom and Dad. We lost our Bill on March 9, 1996 and we feel so sad. 

The second tenant house on the Poorhouse Farm still stands. Here was born this special man. 

The rooms are covered with a roof of tin. Here the four Crigger brothers grew to be men.

In the Spring the flowers do grow. They were lovingly planted so very long ago. 

William Frazier was the oldest son.  We remember him best for his stories, jokes, and tales of fun. 

August 16, 1910 was at the Poorhouse Farm full of joy.  Will and Annie Cassell Crigger had this healthy baby boy. 

Little Ethel Swanson Crigger, their first in 1912 was lost.  Her memory and pictures at the Poor Farm still protected at all cost. 

Bill’s name was William after his Pap.  This little boy so very full of sap!

Frazier after a Methodist preacher. Edith Topham, my great aunt at Bethell School, was Bill’s first teacher. 

To Bethell, a two-room school he did go. Bill’s still famous for the wild oats he did sow!

At Wytheville High School he played on the team. He was good at baseball, it did seem.

Bill and his family worked for the Poorhouse Farm. A hard working family, all - full of charm! 

About 1930, Will became Overseer of the Poor. Here at the Poor Farm, always an open door.

When World War 11 came to our land Bill and his brothers said we would do all we can. 

To Pearl Harbor, Bill signed up to go. Good construction workers were then needed so. 

His job may be, until now an unknown fact. The Ship Yards at Pearl Harbor, Bill helped put them all back! 

Bill stayed until the job was done. How we all love this WYTHE COUNTY SON.

The tunnels through our mountains, he did help HISTORY make. And our dear friend, Bill, he sure did like cake! 

Never really retired you will hear EVERYONE loudly say.  In his eighty’s, he still helped BILL JOHNSTONE make hay. 

Dot is his sweet and loving second wife. In the olde ‘ CRENSHAW HOUSE’ they shared their wonderful life.

No enemies, only friends this man had!  That is why we miss him so very, very bad. 

We must all remember that in SPIRIT our Bill to the Poorhouse Farm is STILL HERE.  Bill would sure laugh if he saw us, for him, shed a tear. 

So when we are asked, if at the Olde Poorhouse Farm ghosts we have seen? Softly our answer, No dear but if it’s angels you mean….

To this question, we will happily say. Oh, yes dear, angels at this Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm will forever stay!

They bring promise, joy, and the meaning of the dove. This Poorhouse Farm always full of brotherly love!

By SARAH HELEN AND THE WHISPER OF ANGELS …. 5/9/96 

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John William Johnstone, Sr. 

My granddad John William Johnstone, Sr. was born in the Mudlick Section of Wythe County, Virginia, his parents are Alfred Moore Johnston and Elizabeth Easter Dean Yonce Johnston. Granddad was known as Will. He married Bessie
Frances Topham in 1914. She is the daughter of George Topham and Isabella Brown Umberger Topham. Isabella's parents are Solomon Umberger and Alpha Kegley Umberger. 

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John William Johnstone, Jr.
U.S. Marines WW11 - 1945

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     Sarah's Family - Peary and Johnstone

It's Angels We Say............

We are often asked, if at the Poorhouse Farm, ghosts we have seen??? Softly our answer, No dear, but is it Angels you mean....... 

Angels at the Wythe County Poorhouse Farm you may find. This LIVING HISTORY is one of a kind.

These Angels Stories have come down through the ages. Open the doors and you can read the olde pages. 

Here straight into History you can step. The good olde days have been safely kept.

Only memories can be left behind. The Wythe County Poorhouse Farm is a page in tyme!

Love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear. 

Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you. 

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. 

You can only go as far as you push. 

To have a best friend,be one yourself.

Don't let the past hold you back, you're missing the good stuff. 

Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while you might miss it. 

A BEST FRIEND is like a four leaf clover, HARD TO FIND and LUCKY TO HAVE. 

Some people make the world SPECIAL just by being in it. 

BEST FRIENDS are the siblings God forgot to give us. 

When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your BEST FRIEND will be there. 

TRUE FRIENDSHIP "NEVER" ENDS. Friends are FOREVER. 

Your friendship is our greatest treasure. Just the mention of your name brings us such pleasure. 

The Greatest Gifts In Life Come From Above...The Greatest Of All Gifts Is          Love 
                           Sarah Helen and Abner Jr.Graham
                           Olde Wythe County Poorhouse Farm

Rockdale, home of  Sarah Helen's cousins Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Stephens in Wythe County, Virginia was built by their ancestor's Solomon Umberger and Alpha Kegley Umberger.

A rhyming birthday tribute is not the easiest thing to do
As you all will undoubtedly see before this reading’s through.
Sometimes the rhymes are tough to find, sometimes they sound so silly,
Sometimes the verse takes off and just runs willy nilly.

We are here to honor Alpha Scott, our friend, sister, mother.
I think she knows we wouldn’t trade her for the promise of another.
Born the fifth of the Johnstone girls on a farm down on Mudlick;
Her depression-era upbringing was clearly no picnic,
But strong ties of family helped overcome any adversity,
And in 1933 Alpha and her family moved from the farm to the “city.”
As a young woman trials and tragedy came to her—but Alpha did not submit.
Instead she faced the future with a most admirable grit.
Responding to Justin Scott (our dad) and his strong powers of persuasion,
April 1947 brought a most auspicious occasion—
A wedding, followed soon by three small bundles of joy
Who sit with you today, this rhyme to enjoy.

To incorporate Mother’s entire biography into this rhyming verse
Would no doubt create a reaction today that would be quite adverse,
So this is an abbreviated version of events that we recall
And is not intended to be an inclusive listing at all.

Mother seemed to whip together clothes for our dolls with ease
Because Betsy Wetsys and grown-up dolls were easier to please
Than three girls with opinions that were varied and quite strong
Who might wail, “Mother, this skirt just fits all wrong!”
Thus, I recall one of Mother’s greatest sewing feats
Was to refashion an A-line skirt out of one with pleats.

Bridge club nights at our house seemed like grand exotic occasions—
People laughing, glasses clinking, a kitchen full of food temptations,
And Mother, dressed up wearing red nail polish and Chanel No. 5.
We knew right then, with just one look, that she was the prettiest mother alive.

She went to work for the Forest Service at the urging of her sister Jo
She organized the district, and made a little dough,
And that was such a help to us with all the things to buy—
Weejun loafers, villager sweaters and prom dresses that caught our eye.

In the summer of 1998, Mother traveled far from home
And tirelessly trekked through London, Paris and a sizzling Rome
And we can’t leave out the cities of Venice, Florence, Lucerne
Although she enjoyed the trip, she’s not that anxious to return.

Keeping up with grandchildren, nieces, nephews spread both far and wide,
Mother can always be counted upon, the most recent news to provide.
A writer of letters, a lover of words, Mother has embraced e-mail with aplomb
So on this birthday we would describe Alpha as a techno-savvy mom.
And, Mother, we love you dearly, more than words can ever say
So let's get on with this celebration of your 80th birthday.

By Teresa-Edgerton Scott, September, 2001 for my Mother, Alpha Johnstone Scott.

A Beautiful Sight...funds were provided by John A. Heuser for the new Steeple - many Heuser/Watson family members were present for the
dedication service on September 30, 2001 .... the funds for the new roof were provided from the estate of the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Paul Nickell.

Abner Bruce Graham Jr.  and Charles Graham Crockett share their Wythe County, Max Meadows, Virginia Heritage at the dedication service for the New Roof and the New Steeple for THE ANCHOR OF HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, founded in 1792 located on Max Meadows Road in Max Meadows, VA  They both shared memories with each other and with the Watson brothers and their families...... Abner shared a picture post card of Max Meadows with Charles that he had purchased lately which showed the home of Dr. Crockett and the old furnace where Abner's  grandpa Hugh Preston Adams worked.