Non-Fiction Historical Collection Review

Franklin County True Stories: Letters and Recipes from the Grapevine
by Edith McGhee Sigmon and Beverly Merritt
Review by Heather Froeschl

Sadly, the days of family history being passed down from generation to generation are being lost. Gathering what you can of your grandparent’s stories is always a good idea. The newspapers don’t report everything that goes on and even if they did, the stories that pertain to your personal family might not be known to you. Discovering what has gone on in your community might be a considerable and exciting treat, and I encourage everyone to talk to their neighbors and elder residents to see what might be known. For Franklin County residents, two thoughtful authors have put down some of the verbal history for us. “Franklin County True Stories: Letters and Recipes from the Grapevine,” by Edith McGhee Sigmon and Beverly Merritt is a delightful step back in time.

Reminiscent of tales told to children at grandma’s knee or over hot tea at the kitchen table, this little book is full of this and that and some other things too. It’s an eclectic collection shared with delight and disparage of Franklin County’s history. From rumors of witchcraft to the biggest feud in this area (involving a State Senator as killer no less!), and from moonshine to squirrel stew, this collection is certainly colorful. Ghost tales, murder mysteries, and family memories are accompanied by descriptions of long forgotten cemeteries, letters sent home from the front of the Civil War, and interesting tidbits from the county courthouse records. My favorite was a collection of old sayings and their meanings and the descriptions of preserving foods back in the day.

Reading this book made me realize that there is an abundance of history right under our noses, literally, right under our feet, and going by the wayside. I had no idea that George Washington had been out to Franklin County, and I find it extremely interesting to learn that officially, “If you are well bred, you will not gulp your soup so audibly that you can be heard across the room, nor sop up the sauce in your plate with bits of bread.” Darn!

While there are typos and (true to source) misspellings to be found in this book, one can overlook them with admiration at the charm it exudes. The authors have done a fantastic job of compiling a bit of history to share before it is long forgotten. I would be remiss to not mention Beverly Merritt’s other publication, “Civil War Records of Franklin County, Virginia 1861-1865.” This is a compilation of articles regarding the Civil War and its affects on Franklin County, including newspaper clippings, the National Park Service records, letters sent home to family, battle dates and battlefield names, and the extensive list of records of the individual soldiers and sailors from Franklin County. Interestingly enough, an article about the dedication of the Confederate Monument at Rocky Mount (which recently was destroyed in a vehicle accident) is also included. This examination of 1861-1865, which was a monumental time in America, is a fine tribute to those who were so deeply affected. Both books are available for purchase from the authors: $25, includes postage, mail check to Edith Sigmon, 11625 Franklin Street, Ferrum, Va 24088. Beverly’s Civil War collection - $45, includes postage, mail check to Beverly Merritt, 675 Carver Lee Road, Ferrum, Va 24088. For questions on both books, email at beverlym@swva.net.