Contact:  Margaret Hambrick  /  Nora Venezky  304-646-2439          304-645-3398

NEWS RELEASE November 5, 2019

Founded    in    1963,    the    Greenbrier    Historical    Society    is    dedicated    to    community    enrichment    through education   and   preservation   of   the   history   and   culture   of   the   Greenbrier   Valley.   The   Greenbrier   Historical Society   is   a   regional   organization   that   serves   the   West   Virginia   counties   of   Greenbrier,   Monroe,   Summers, and Pocahontas.

2019 STELLAR EVENING PLANNED Great   food,   historical   drama,   old   time   music,   and   friends—old   and   new—will   combine   to   make   this   year’s Stellar   Evening,   a   fund   raiser   for   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society,   a   very   special   place   to   be   on   Saturday evening, December 7.  Billed   as   the   first   big   party   of   the   Holiday   Season,   each   of   the   historically   themed   tables   will   accommodate 6   guests.      Catered   by   Blackwell’s,   the   dinner   will   recreate   historic   dishes   and   be   accompanied   by   a   choice of wines and beers.  During   the   coming   year,   2020,   the   North   House   will   celebrate   its   200th   birthday.      Getting   a   head   start   on those   festivities,   award   winning   author   and   director,   Pamela   Barry,   has   created   a   historical   drama   featuring John and Charlotte North, well-known early residents of the house.   The   State   Fair’s   WVU   Building   will   sparkle   with   holiday   decorations   and   ring   with   the   old   time   fiddle   music of   Annie   Stroud   and   Doug   Van   Gundy.      Originally   from   Greenbrier   County,   West   Virginia,   Stroud   grew   up surrounded   by   traditional   music   and   dance.      She   got   her   first   taste   of   old-time   and   Irish   music   traditions from   Suite   Contra   Band,   the   Lewisburg   dance   band   her   parents   played   in   throughout   her   childhood.        Though   trained   classically   starting   at   age   9,   she   fell   in   love   with   old-time   music   and   dance   through   regional folk   festivals.   She   played   with   the   Seaside   Farmers   in   Homer, Alaska,   and   after   returning   to   West   Virginia formed   The   Allegheny   Hellbenders   which   continues   to   play   square   dances   and   shows   around   WV,   Ohio, and   Pennsylvania. The Allegheny   Hellbenders   released   their   debut   album   in   the   summer   of   2019.   In   2018, Annie   had   the   opportunity   to   spend   a   year   with   Doug   Van   Gundy   as   a   WV   Folk   life Apprentice   focusing   on the   fiddle   tunes   and   styles   of   West   Virginia's   Greenbrier   Valley,   specifically   the   playing   and   repertoire   of Mose Coffman, Lee Hammons, Henry Reed, and the Hammons Family. Van   Gundy   may   be   better   known   for   his   writing   since   he   directs   the   MFA   writing   program   at   West   Virginia Wesleyan   College   but   he   also   plays   the   fiddle,   guitar,   mandolin,   and   harmonica   in   the   old-time   string   band, Born Old, and has won many awards for his fiddle and banjo playing. A   Silent Auction   will   afford   guests   the   opportunity   to   bid   on   dinners   in   historic   houses,   unique   textile   items, art work, specially guided theme tours of the area, and much, much more. All   proceeds   go   to   support   the   ongoing   educational   and   preservation   activities   of   the   Greenbrier   Historical Society.   By   sponsoring   Stellar   Evening,   businesses   and   individuals   help   GHS   in   its   mission   to   share   the diverse   history   of   the   Greenbrier   Valley   through   educational   programs,   field   trips,   exhibits,   and   events.     Sponsorship   also   helps   preserve   the   incredible   history   of   the   area   which   GHS   holds   in   its   archives   and collections.   Those   interested   in   a   sponsorship   should   contact   Nora   Venezky   to   discuss   levels   and   logo placement   at   d irector@greenbrierhistorical.org    or   by   calling   304-645-3398.      More   details   are   available   and tickets can be purchased on their web site at http://www.greenbrierhistorical.org/stellar-evening.html     Margaret   Hambrick,   President   of   the   Board   of   GHS,   said,   “Please   join   us   for   this   truly   unique   holiday experience showcasing the history of the Greenbrier Valley.”  PHOTO   CAPTION:      Doug   Van   Gundy   and Annie   Stroud   collaborate   to   share   old   time   fiddle   music   from   the Greenbrier Valley and will be playing at the Greenbrier Historical Society’s Stellar Evening on December 7.

(Click photo for larger view)