Franklin County, VA Historical Society

Franklin County, VA Historical Society History Museum & Research Library
460 S. Main Street, Rocky Mount, VA, United States Featuring pieces of local and area history. First floor accessible to most.

Second floor not handicapped accessible. $1 per person requested. Donations of any amount appreciated. Rare paintings, RR items, likker industry, War Between the States weapons, old photographs & portraits, school items, artifacts, much more.

Today, we replaced the 'gravehouse' of William Ranson Perdue, a train engineer who died an unusual and horrific death in...
05/16/2026

Today, we replaced the 'gravehouse' of William Ranson Perdue, a train engineer who died an unusual and horrific death in 1905. Details will be in our next issue of our newsletter, Times of Franklin Before & After 1786. His tomb stands at the intersection of Redwood Road and VA 40 East. We put the fallen and broken stone back up and replaced the 121-year-old grave covering. Only a few of these grave houses remain in the county. The stone has a spot that once held a photo of the 26-year-old man. We'd love to find a photo to put back. He has lots of relatives and we're hoping someone has a picture of the tombstone from back in the day when the picture was still there - or at the very least a photo of young Perdue.

04/27/2026

A big thank you to Bill White for starting a fund of sorts to help us purchase a "stage" for our future events - he saw the need during the Miz Franklin County Moonshine pageant and stepped right up. Stay tuned as we explore possibilities and yes, get ready for the 2027 Miz Moonshine pageant!

04/27/2026

We appreciate all our donations of money and "things." Right now, we want to thank Donna Flora for donating her winnings from the 50/50 drawing April 18!! Thank you, Donna, for your support of history - and us.

04/19/2026

Huge thanks to sponsors of Moonshine Express 2026: Virgil Goode Jr., Flora Funeral Service, Shively Electric, Marsha & Cliff Fay, Boyd's Tree Service, Franklin County Department of Tourism, Pinckard Realty, Lee's Tire & Wheel, Jo & Co. Jewelers, Franklin Dental Assoc., Haywood's Jewelers, Edward Jones - Financial Advisor Zach Wimmer, Eames Family, Allen Jones, Jewell Machinery, Penny Cundiff, 220 Auto Sales, Frances Dillon, Modern Gladiators Fight Academy, The Hub Restaurant, Phyllis & Casey Johnson ReMax Realtors, The Plyler Group, Cruisin' Rocky Mount, Franklin Finance Co., Carbo Inc., Dabareiner Wealth Management, Town of Rocky Mount, SleepSafe Beds - Al Flora, Virginia Furniture. We still have event booklets at the History Museum for a $5 donation for the public. Come on by and get one.

Miz Franklin County Moonshine 2026 (Sylvia Hodges) is flanked by Savana Holland (one of our judges who holds various pag...
04/19/2026

Miz Franklin County Moonshine 2026 (Sylvia Hodges) is flanked by Savana Holland (one of our judges who holds various pageant titles) and 'Moonshiner' Henry Lee Law. In front are pageant contestants Gladys Taylor, left, and Darlene Crockett.

04/19/2026

A good time for sure! Moonshine Express 2026 is in the rear view mirror. Thanks to the brave first ever Miz Franklin County Moonshine contestants! We wish everyone could've won! They played spoons, a jug, a washboard, a cowbell! It was a sight to behold. Thanks to all the contestants: Robin Cawley, Darlene Crockett, Donna Dotson, Amber Hancock, Sylvia Hodges, Martha Hubbard, Pepper Sarkein, Gladys Taylor and Melanie White. Many thanks to our pageant judges: Savana Holland, Mike Carter and Harris Ferguson - a hard job, y'all! Thanks also to pageant emcee Carson Parcell.

Runner up Miz Franklin County Moonshine is Donna Dotson. Shown here with pageant emcee Carson Parcell.
04/19/2026

Runner up Miz Franklin County Moonshine is Donna Dotson. Shown here with pageant emcee Carson Parcell.

Here she is! The first Miz Franklin County Moonshine ! Sylva Hodges.
04/19/2026

Here she is! The first Miz Franklin County Moonshine ! Sylva Hodges.

Getting ready for the Miz Franklin County Moonshine pageant Saturday, April 18. She'll be crowned by "Moonshiner" Henry ...
04/16/2026

Getting ready for the Miz Franklin County Moonshine pageant Saturday, April 18. She'll be crowned by "Moonshiner" Henry Lee Law - pictured here in our 'cornfield.' This photo and the one that will be made of Henry Lee crowning Miz Moonshine are the work of Photography by Beth Preston - our official pageant photographer. Y'all come on out to Moonshine Express at Benjamin Franklin Middle School 10-4. The pageant starts at noon. Free admission, donations welcome.

More cowbell! Miz Franklin County Moonshine contestants can choose to play the cowbell for the talent portion of Saturda...
04/15/2026

More cowbell! Miz Franklin County Moonshine contestants can choose to play the cowbell for the talent portion of Saturday's pageant. Some folks prefer to just ring the bell as they pat their foot in time. Mostly, tho' the cowbell is played with a drumstick on the top for a higher pitch and on the wide mouth area for a fuller sound. Use your fingers to dampen the sound, and actually make music, while you strike the cowbell. Unlike other instruments, how you hold this one is important. So, make a claw out of your dominant hand. Then put the cowbell in this claw, fingers extending past the open end. Your pointer finger and middle finger are used to either support the cowbell, mute the ding or lift these fingers up to produce a louder ringing sound.

Address

460 S Main Street
Rocky Mount, VA
24151

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm
Sunday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+15404831890

Website

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