YOUR GUIDE TO BROOKNEAL CIVIL WAR HISTORY
family history and the roles people had
2ND ANNUAL FARM BENEFIT
raising money for local children with cancer
TOP SUMMER EVENTS featuring some of the best local happenings
TAKE ONE, IT’S FREE!
our local community in Halifax County
Keeping the world turning requires us to find new ways to do things better, always in close collaboration with communities and partners. Help us achieve more by joining our team!
Follow our local Facebook page to see what we’re up to in the community: Facebook.com/HitachiEnergySouthBoston
DISCOVER BROOKNEAL ISSUE 1 2023
2023 47th Annual Fun Float Day
Cover: Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution posted colors at the Naturalization ceremony in May at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, Left: Lily and Laura Wadzinski were visiting Patrick Henry’s Red Hill on July 4 for the big day of fun, food and fireworks., Above: Irina Sykes gets a congratulatory hug from a loving member of her family after becoming a U.S. citizen. Opposite Page: Irina Sykes and Dalia Dunlop wave the American flag after becoming U.S. citizens.
Web: www.altavistajournal.com PRESIDENT: Chad B. Harrison EDITOR: Debra Ferrell DESIGNER: Jess Ingram REGIONAL MARKETING
ASSISTANT: Lisa Fowlkes WRITERS: Debra Ferrell, Alice Prival GRAPHIC DESIGN, ADVERTISING: Amanda Meadows, Jasmaine Motley, Susan Lambert, Mary Beth Wellborn
PUBLISHED BY:, Womack Publishing Company, Inc.
Halifax Marketplace & Farmers Market
209 South Main St, Halifax
Open every Saturday 8am-1pm
Freshest veggies, meats, herbs, baked goods, free range eggs, jams & jellies, fresh cut flowers, home & garden décor, arts, crafts & much more!
Indoor community play zone with FREE books for the kids, play mats, puzzles, games & more!
SNAP welcome with all purchases matched up to $20 Senior Vouchers welcome
Follow the market on FB @halifaxmarketplace Founded
Mayor Kenneth Jennings
Vice Mayor Mark Wilkes
Council Members
Barbara Laprade
Joseph David
Cynthia Johnson
Scott Fisher
Conner Francis
If your septic tank needs to be pumped or installed, turn to our experts today. We provide top-quality septic tank installation, repairs and pumping services. Whether you have a construction site or an event that requires portable toilets, rent yours from us. We offer clean and handicap accessible portable toilets at a reasonable price.
STUDYING ANCESTORS’ ROLE IS FASCINATING TO LYNCH STATION MAN
While many aspects of the Civil War are fascinating, having ancestors playing important roles can make it even more so. Richard Blanks, Jr. of Lynch Station certainly has a keen interest in his family’s history and the sacrifices ancestors made.
He even traveled with some of his family to the Fredericksburg Cemetery a few years back to see the grave of Captain Henry Douglas Puckett in person. In 1868 the Ladies Society of Fredericksburg located every Confederate soldier they could find with a marked grave and reburied them in a cemetery in Fredericksburg.
Puckett and his wife, Marthaann, lived in Brookneal together before he joined the Confederate Army.
Blanks points out that slavery was not the issue with his family
serving in the military. “I’m proud of them because they were protecting their family and homes from the Union soldiers who were coming through burning, looting, raping, and killing innocent women and children. H. D. Puckett joined when he knew Virginia was going to be invaded,” Blanks explains.
Blanks has a real treasure he shared with Altavista Journal editor Debra Ferrell in the making of this article…a historical research project by Diana Surratt that was turned in to Dr. Vance on December 8, 1981.
Surratt wrote a paper about Puckett that included pages and pages of letters he had written to his wife waiting for him in Brookneal.
Surratt explained that in order to understand the true meaning of the Civil War in all its complexities, she examined the life of a man
who was on the front lines away from his family.
The letters are intriguing and paint an accurate picture of what was happening day to day. Puckett was one of a few officers in charge of his troop so getting a furlough to come home to see his family grew harder and harder as the fighting raged on.
It was clear that the health and well being of his family was of paramount importance with him worrying about them every minute. He was constantly sending home hundreds of dollars to keep them going, even if it meant sacrifices on his part. Making life even more difficult was having few clothes and personal products. They would often get lost or perhaps stolen along the way leaving him with only the dirty clothes on his back.
It’s easy to see that as time wore on through 1861, 1862, and 1863 that his dissatisfaction at being away from his wife and children was weighing heavily on his mind as he wrote of his longing to come home. By that time, other officers had been killed or injured with the operation of the regiment being up to him, thus making the prospect of getting a furlough more remote as time went on.
In a letter to his daughter Nannie on November 15, 1862, he writes about the possibility of them never seeing each other again on earth. Following the bloody Battle of Sharpsburg, he is even more despondent of getting a leave.
On September 15, 1862 he talks more about never seeing his family again on earth and meeting them in heaven.
One interesting story that was unexpected arose from his description of Confederate and Union soldiers swapping tobacco and coffee even though it was against the rules for the opposing soldiers to associate with each other.
By this time he is worried to death about his family when he finds out his son Billy may be hired out to earn money. Inflation was everywhere and Puckett was desperate to get home to his family.
Somewhat puzzling is his letter from January 30, 1863 where he addresses a rumor his wife heard that Puckett’s own men were going to kill him the next battle they got into. Puckett vowed that he trusted every one of his men and did not believe this lie. He wanted someone to send him word of who told the lie and who did they tell it to; he would take care of it.
The letters after that told of hardships with rain, snow, and mud and having nothing to eat but spoiled flour and old bacon. He was very concerned that his wife was not getting all his letters.
Spring had come and General Burnside was replaced by General Hooker as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Chancellorsville was a great loss for the Confederacy as Stonewall Jackson fell on May 2, 1863 by the hand of one of his own men. One day later, Captain Henry Douglas Puckett was also killed.
A letter to Marthaann from her brother Richard Elder gave her the devastating and heartbreaking news that during a “dreadful battle” on May 3, Puckett was shot. It took two hours to drive the Yankees back far enough for Elder to go to him. “I then went to him and found him very bad off, but in his right mind. He did not think he would die.”
They carried him off the field, but didn’t get far before Puckett asked to be put down and let him die. They poured water on him until he revived a little and then took him to the shade. He died a few minutes later, having lived about three hours after being shot in the right shoulder with a mini ball that exited through his right
breast area.
Col. Withers allowed Elder to remain with Puckett until they could bury him.
Elder told his sister how to retrieve her husband’s body if she was able to get to him.
Her brother Robert Elder also wrote of his own broken heart and how the company seemed lost without her husband. He also assured her that Puckett was “ready to go and they must not question God’s plan for him.”
In another letter from Richard Elder, he spoke of crying as he read her letter asking him what were her husband’s last words. Richard explained that Puckett only said one or two words before dying. He assured her that her husband was always pious and was an upright man.
After his death, Puckett’s two sons, William and Henry, enlisted in the Confederate Army. William Puckett later achieved distinction as the first mayor of Brookneal. Marthaann lived for many more years with her children and died in 1903 at the age of 79. She is buried in Brookneal in the cemetery behind the old motel.
Some of Puckett’s fine carpentry can be seen at Henderson Funeral Home in Brookneal where he built the beautiful staircase before going to war.
In his spare time Richard Blanks loves to share his knowledge of the Civil War with others. He is former commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans group in the area that Puckett was the company commander of the Campbell Guards, Company I, 42nd Virginia Infantry.
The story of Henry Douglas Puckett is not confined to the Brookneal area. There are even connections to Caswell County through relatives of Charlie Yancey who moved across the state line.
Blanks explains that most of his family were from the Halifax area, but Puckett lived in Brookneal. Some of the family from Mecklenburg County moved south into North Carolina.
Blanks’ family tree most likely came to America from England or Wales in 1642 and were originally called Nanney. Somewhere down the line the spelling changed and it became Yancey. The early Yancey’s were plantation owners and had slaves who took their surname. The first census after the Civil War shows Yancey as a common name in North Carolina and Virginia.
Blanks’ ancestors were an important part of the Civil War and he has some who were killed in action, murdered by Yankees, made prisoners of war, or sent home for illness. One of his own great-great grandfathers was among them.
He has many relatives in Caswell County sharing the name Yancey.
Just going back a short distance, his family tree shows:
• Althea Geneva Yancey marrying Julius Ceasar Sneed in 1888
• Gertrud Mae Sneed marrying Thomas Walter Crews in 1911
• Althea Nancy Crews marrying Richard Burnell Blanks, Sr. on May 13, 1942.
Richard Blanks, Sr. was a farmer and father of Richard Blanks, Jr. “It was a hard life.” •
Richard Blanks, Jr. loves talking about history and sharing fascinating stories.
PHOTOS BY DEBRA FERRELL
The 2nd Annual Back to the Farm Benefit – Pullin’ for a Cure is scheduled for Saturday, September 16. This year’s benefit will kick off at 1:00 p.m. and be held at the Charles and Geneva Overby Farm located on 216 Swinging Bridge Rd., Gladys, VA.
This past November the community and local businesses came together to promote the Back to the Farm Benefit – Pullin’ for Levi! In spite of an exceedingly short time frame and in competition with the opening day of hunting season (VA Tech playing Liberty in Lynchburg) and multiple festivals and open houses already scheduled for the same day, a large crowd gathered to show support for Levi Keller, a local child from Red Bottom Rd., who was diagnosed at the age of two with Stage 2 Paramenigeal Rhabdomyosarcoma.
This particular form of cancer is rare in children as young as Levi, and for more than a year, he underwent chemotherapy and proton radiation treatments developed for use with adults. He and his family “relinquished the slaying of this giant into the able hands of God and relied on their faith, family and community to see them through.” Though they were concerned with the long-term effects
that may result due to the treatment options available for Levi at the time, again, the Keller family placed “all [their] trust in God’s will be done and the medical staff God called into action.”
Today, Levi’s family utter but two words as they reflect on their journey, “BUT FOR GOD” Jessie and Dustin Keller, Levi’s parents, have committed to advocating for greater awareness in regard to the realities of childhood cancer as well as promoting the funding of more research specifically geared toward treatments for children. Many inspired by this family’s story awaited news, and the Keller family was overjoyed to share “on February 20, 2023, a brain scan proved the power of prayer; Levi’s tumor was gone, and he rang the bell on February 23!
Levi and his family will serve as ambassadors for this year’s benefit and hope to “promote a culture of praise, prayer, and provision.” The Keller family strive to reach as many as possible with the unbelievable statistics estimating “every 36 minutes a child in the United States is diagnosed with cancer and less than 4% of resources collected for cancer research are designated for developing more appropriate and effective treatments for children.”
In the humble words of Jessie Keller, “We pray that no child
in our immediate locality ever receives a diagnosis of cancer, but if that is part of God’s plan the proceeds from this year’s benefit will support any local children in need; in addition, funds will go to support Megan’s Mission Foundation and the Child Life Services Program at UVA Children’s Hospital.”
To get to know more about the quest for a cure traveled by Levi and his family, please visit http://www.facebook.com/ PullingforLevi...to learn more about Megan’s Mission Foundation, connect to https://meganbuggsjourney.wordpress.com!
Child Life Services provides support to children and their families with the primary goal of helping them through the struggles of a battle with childhood cancer – emotional, physical, and social support
This year’s event will have three sets of music beginning at 1:00 p.m. with a community open mic emceed by Ken Swanson of the Evergreen Lavender Farm. Organizers would love for local talent to come out and play/sing a few songs if the vibe strikes them. At 3:30 p.m., there will be Christian Rock and Gospel performances by the Elder Family, Sandy Creek Bluegrass Trio, and Fear One.
To close out the evening, organizers are thrilled to have Nashville recording artist J.D. Shelburne taking the stage at 6:30 p.m. and returning to bring a little bit of Nashville to Naruna. JD’s song “Back to the Farm” was part of the catalyst for last year’s benefit; as
long as “the good Lord’s willing and the creeks don’t rise,” he and his band have committed to playing for all future Back to the Farm Benefits to support awareness and funding for children’s cancer research as well as to connect with members of the small Virginia community that have become family.
In addition to a day filled with amazing music, the benefit will also have Black Pit BBQ and The Happy Heifer food trucks on site, a Lemonade Stand with an assortment of beverages sponsored by Francis Oil and Propane, a petting zoo and barrel train rides, bouncy houses, face painting, Happy Life/Healthy Living vendors, a back sale, and raffle items galore.
Hopefully everyone will make plans to join them for a day rooted in community making a difference. Be part of a heartfelt journey to help raise money to benefit the medical endeavors of children and families facing this giant, raise awareness for childhood cancer, and bring our community together to walk hand-in-hand and one step closer to finding a CURE! Just because we are a small town, does not mean we cannot achieve monumental goals! •
Tickets went on sale July 1, 2023 at www.ticketleap.com.
In 1921 the Bass family purchased 200 acres of prime farmland. Great Grandfather Bass started his farm with tobacco and beef cattle later expanding to soybeans and wheat. Now Bass Farm is in its 4th generation and is owned by brothers, W. B. and Allen Bass.
Since 2005 the farm has produced sod on 250 acres with three types of ready to layout like carpet, grass. Fescue sod is the #1 seller with its dark green color, mid-price, and ability to stay green all year! Bermuda sod meets the marketing standards for golf courses and recreational fields. It grows fast, is mostly kept at one inch tall, goes dormant in the winter, turning a golden color, but returning green in the spring.
Zeon Zoysia is a really fine blade, extremely soft, like walking on a cloud, repairs itself like Bermuda, but slower, can be cut an inch to three inches, also perfect as is Bermuda for golf courses or ball fields and will also work in residential or business yards.
Zoysia takes almost three times longer to grow back than Bermuda, but can creep into mulch or flowerbeds, but slowly.
W. B. looks at the sweat dripping off of one of the workers who is smiling nonetheless, and says appreciatively, “Bermuda is stacked
by hand. It is planted in summer, first of June, and only grows in summer, goes dormant in the winter, but comes back in the spring.”
When asked how many harvesting machines he has, the likable man explains, “There are three sod harvesters with one for each type of sod to prevent cross contamination.”
He has an eye that can detect a weed in his fields from yards away! Quick to remedy its further growth, it is plucked out by the root. Not a weed can ever be found in the meticulously cultivated sod grown on Bass Sod Farm in Gladys.
When asked what areas Bass Sod Farm services, he modestly replies, “We can’t take our sod too far away. It takes five tractortrailer trucks to haul one acre of sod. That being said, if there is a sod farm closer to a potential client, it is not cost effective to take on that project.”
Zeon Zoysia Sod is a favorite variety of sod, most preferred, for color and soft, thinner blade for yards, golf course, or ball fields.
Fescue is best planted in mid-August thru the end of October.
Unlike the other warm season sod that grows back on its own, Fescue sod is seed that must be replanted.
The Bass brothers started out in 2005 looking for a new business that could keep the family working together as the tobacco industry was waning, and the brothers were seeking a more innovative direction. Seeing the rise in new houses cropping up in developing communities in Lynchburg, instant grass became an obvious need for the real estate boom. The brothers began their venture at first by hand, labor intensive, and eventually invested in automated machinery for faster turnaround time from harvest to installation. Still running strong amongst their much newer machines is their original harvesting machine.
It takes about three weeks for roots to be established once the sod is cut into 2 X 5 squares, ten square foot per roll, is laid down.
The harvester machine cuts two feet wide and every five feet a blade drops down and cuts it off. “Fall is the best time to install Fescue because it is cooler and then it has all winter to get established.” W. B. states, “We work with residential clients, commercial clients, and install athletic fields. No seed, no straw, no weeds, just an instantaneous yard or field!”
He proudly adds, “We only started advertising three or four
years ago, up till then it was only word of mouth.”
While the Bass Brothers are busy cultivating beautiful fields of carefully harvested sod, stretching out further than the eye can see, the 3rd generation, their 80 year old father is still harvesting his acres of soybeans.
Every day 11 amazing, smiling workers show up and work till dusk, happy to be working for their kind and cheerful boss, W. B., who treats them like family. He throws a joke at them which sends their laughter up to the heavens where God smiles down on W.B. for tilling his soil and providing for his children, and most importantly recognizing that all are God’s children.
Bass Sod Farm’s motto is:
“To make the grass greener on your side of the fence.”
Blistering heat on July 4 didn’t stop guests from having a grand time celebrating Independence Day at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, just a few miles outside of Brookneal.
The Brown Brothers performed many country favorites throughout the afternoon as guests took advantage of the mouth watering food available for sale at vendor booths: St. John’s Masonic Lodge, The Happy Heifer, Hamlett House Coffee, Clark Boys Kettle Corn, Chatham Slush, Bistro Brothers, and Downtown Cairo.
Two tours were offered for the hike down to the Quarter Place cemetery. Docents were in the law office, kitchen, cabin, main house, and blacksmith shop giving out information and interpretations.
Colonial games were available for the children as well as face painting.
An archeological dig is underway near the stable.
Patrick Henry Jolly, a descendant of Patrick Henry, was on hand playing the fiddle in the main house before giving two performances as his famous ancestor. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem at 7, Jolly interpreted the “Liberty or Death” speech. Then he took photos with the crowd before his reading of the Declaration of Independence.
A fireworks display wound up the fun day.
Sponsors were: Food Lion, Sam’s Club, Southside Electric Cooperative, Walmart, Francis Oil & Propane, Sentara, and The Bank of Charlotte County. •
Serving our community since 1996 in Brookneal, Virginia. Georgia-Pacific Building Products has a legacy of creating strong, durable, sustainable building materials from exterior sheathing products to drywall in walls and ceilings to industry leading roof products and supporting products from lumber to subfloors to fire doors. We help members of the building community build quality commercial and residential construction projects all over the world. Blue Ribbon™ OSB is an outstanding choice for wall sheathing, roof sheathing, and sub-floors. Its multi-layered construction gives it stability and sti ness for your sheathing needs. And it lies flat for easy installation. Dimensional stability and strength for your sheathing needs.
www.gp.com/build
