ZOO-NYE: A Story of the Village

Zuni Historical Society Newsletter Volume I •  Issue 2 • December 2007

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Events unfold as time flies, and some things are happening really fast and some are slowww. To keep you up-to-date;
Some railroad history has been turned up and will be included in the next book, and I am still making contacts to find more archives of Zuni and Dwight, stations and schedules, freights and etc.

During the drought this summer, I went along the riverside to see if I could find the pillars remaining of the railroad bridge the Confederate Army demolished during the Civil War. I could! Walking along the river bottom, many old shells were scattered around, crunching under foot. I picked some of the whole ones up and showed them to Bobby Clontz of The Nature Conservancy, who identified them as fossils of the state shell ‘Chesapecten jeffersonius’ , several million years old! He recommended I call the College of William and Mary’s geology department to see if they were interested in looking at this site. I did, they were, and in no time we were walking along the river again. Identified were 14 fossils, some quite rare in this area! So, more items to go in the museum of Zuni.

Another call I made was to John Quarstein, the director of museums in Newport News and the host of WHRO’s Here and Then in Hampton Roads segments on the PBS station. I gave him a tour of the Blackwater River ‘attractions’ both in Isle of Wight and Southampton Counties, including the river site of the fossils, the remaining railroad pillars, the earth works along the river, other Civil War sites, the village of Zuni itself, the old wooden railroad bridge on Tucker Swamp Road, etc. He is very interested in including several of these historic sites in the Here and Then in Hampton Roads editions. These cost money, though, to the tune of $2500 each! The sponsor will have a copy of the segment for their own use in advertising, promotion, or other interest. The segment will be shown on WHRO TV for three to five years. I am collecting funds and will find the answer any questions you may have about sponsoring one or part of one of the segments. What a great way to show the history of our area!

Along those lines, I also will make application for non-profit status so any donations ZHS receives will be deductible for the donor. Museum site is, of course, dependant on what is available when we collect the funds and get non-profit status, but continually looking forward to that day! Donations of ‘relics’ and personal items have been received gradually, and all are greatly appreciated and accepted with much gratitude and care.

Kenneth Brantley is researching the decendants of Edward Brantley, who came to Isle of Wight County in 1638, to land granted to him by Governor Berkeley, in the vicinity of Proctors Bridge. If any one has info or would like to learn more, go to the web site www.brantleyassociation.com.

Zuni Christmas Parade, Dec 15, 2007, Fifth edition, 2007. Biggest and best yet!

Along a sadder note, the year has seen the loss of both Earle ‘Doc’ and Charlotte Strickland, Donald Bowden, and Tom Joyner.

Zuni Historical Society
P O Box 107
Zuni, Va 23898

Zuni Historical Society Newsletter Volume I •  Issue I • June 2007

Send me your e-mail address!!

The formation of the historical society and the publishing of the book, ZOO-NYE A Story of the Village, has been a well received success! The response of readers who have offered more information has encouraged us to write another book to continue to record the past history and stories and photos of the area. ZOO-NYE Revisited is in the works! Discovery continues as more comes forward! If you have memories of life in Zuni, have family photos or genealogy, know of cemeteries or old home or store sites, don’t hesitate to let us know! I am still working on obtaining the Norfolk and Western Railroad history pertaining to Zuni and Dwight and would like to include all this information in the new book, as well.

The Department of Historical Resources historical highway marker pointing out Zuni’s importance during the Civil War was dedicated on March 3, 2007. Many state and county officials attended to commemorate the event. Another step in preserving Zuni’s memory.

Now for bigger things!

Working on the premise that Zuni would not be here at all with out the Blackwater River as it’s beginning, we would like to see the formation of a museum dedicated to both of them in the village. On Route 460, West Windsor Blvd, there stands a building that was the former Esso gas/service station built in the late 1920s. This building has also housed a thriving peanut business run by Sol Lastinger, then bought from him by Rose and Peter Gualeni and Virginia Seits, and continued as a peanut retail store, ‘The Peanut Peddler’. It was later remodeled to become a country restaurant and craft store, but never opened. It has stood empty and for sale for some time. We would like to buy this property as the museum, but must raise some money! The building has already had handicap access and rest rooms installed and other updates. A security system up to museum specifics would need to be installed. Being on the main thoroughfare through Isle of Wight County to and from Richmond and Virginia Beach and beyond, it is also out of the famous (or infamous) flood zone of the Blackwater. This site could have an additional use as visitor’s center for Isle of Wight County and tourist sites elsewhere in Virginia. A small sales store for local crafts and seasonal fruits, veggies, peanuts and etc could be a possibility. Much could be done here!

An informative site for river history and on-going activities is www.blackwaternottoway.com, the site of the Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Program.

The peanut industry and soap factory have played an important role in the families and growth of this village, and will have room set aside for their history, as well. So, you see, there is much to fill a museum here! Many items are in storage, and more has been promised when there is a permanent site, so a good start is under way. We looking for those who have expertise in preserving, insuring, and archiving historical documents and other items, who will contribute to this effort when the time comes.

A request has come to the society for help in researching the Edward Crumpler family. He had a son Matthew and other children. Edward is listed on the 1830 census of Southampton County. If you have information, please contact Michael J. Dunn, 784 Park St, Asbury, MO 64832.