Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia

2022 Magnolia Grange Bicentennial Celebration Began on Saturday, May 21 with the  “Mayfaire” Festival.  Magnolia Grange, our historic house museum on Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield, celebrated its 200^th anniversary throughout 2022.  Treat yourself to a visit to our house mueum if you have not been there.

The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia held its first meeting on September 23, 1981, at the Central Library with 258 charter members. A private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization funded with membership dues and tax-deductible donations, the Society mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and promote Chesterfield County’s unique past for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations.  Historic Trinity Church (1887), located at 10111 Iron Bridge Road, serves as the organization headquarters and research library. In addition, the Society maintains collections in the County Museum and 1892 Old Jail on the historic 1917 Courthouse Green, as well as in Magnolia Grange(1822), a house museum on Iron Bridge Road. The Society also helps maintain eight battlefields. Our events and programs calendar includes lectures, genealogy workshops, rotating exhibits, battlefield tours, themed fundraisers, public speaking engagements, and programs for educational outreach, home schools and scouting.  Chesterfield County Facts 

Visit our Research Library and discover your Chesterfield ancestors and their rich history.  Our volunteers are there to assist you if needed..  See our library page for more information.  See The New Film on the Library Committee    

Scout Archealogy Camp at the Historic Trinity Church  For details go here;

Vistit the Sherfiff's Office Exhibit:    Go Here for details        Civil War Tours:  Go Here for details        Scout Programs:  Go Here for details

A new book, titled, “Murder in Midlothian: The True and Complete Account of the Murder of Anthony T. Robiou on July 16, 1851” by local author Brandon Fullam is now available from the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.  Go here for details.

County Holiday Closings:  For a comprehensive schedule of County holidays, see https://www.chesterfield.gov/5430/County-Holiday-Schedule

Chesterfield County Historic Sites

Point of Rocks is a historic site on the Appomattox River  is designated "Pont of Rocks Park".  Abraham Lincoln walked with Union Generals discussing ways to win a war.   Clara Barton served as the head nurse to many wounded and sick Union soldiers in the largest hospital in the world. The house was used for the surgeons quarters and is still standing and currently, the house is being stabilized. Evidence of Indians who lived on the river is just below the house.  It is one of Chesterfield's most historic sites and not yet open to the public.

The "Magnolia Grange House Museum" is an elegant Federal period home built in 1822, named for the circle of magnolia trees that once graced its front lawns.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Magnolia Grange’s distinctive architectural features include elaborate ceiling motifs, a half-turn open carved stairway  and  hand-painted scenic wallpaper produced by Zuber, a French manufacturer.

Historic 1817 Castlewood was built ca. 1817-1819 by Parke Poindexter. Poindexter was the Clerk of the Court at Chesterfield County from 1812 until 1847, almost 35 years. The original landowner was Henry Winfree, who received the property as a land grant in 1754. County Clerk Mr. Poindexter purchased the 180-acre tract in 1816 and began his efforts to construct a new home. One of the three or four finest Federal period houses in the county, Castlewood features a formal five-part plan differing from any other recorded Virginia dwelling.

Help Save Chesterfield County's Rich History

"C. 1860 Summerseat"  - According to tradition, this 19^th century house was used by a county magistrate as the “seat” of his court during summer months due to the muddy and rutted roads which made travel to the courthouse in the center of the county almost impossible.  The lower brick portion of the house was the “jail” or “detention center, complete with bars that held prisoners or those persons awaiting trial.  It is not a large building at 18 by 16 feet.  The house is part of Virginia State University.

C. 1879 Trinity Church - The old church sits in a stand of a few trees not quite visible from Krause Road but adjacent to Ironbridge Road where it is plainly noticeable.  It offers an unobstructed view at that corner.  Not so vacant any longer and no longer a huge storage shed for odds and ends, it serves a new purpose in its longevity of survival.  It is alive with activity once again.  Presently, the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia is utilizing the building as its headquarters and library until historic Castlewood is renovated.  Historic Castlewood, ca. 1817-1819, sits nearby to the church just across Krause Road and was once the parsonage for the Methodist.