Rocktown History Coffee Mill
The Rocktown History Coffee Mills are brewing up stories from the past! This series of informal gatherings offers you a unique museum experience with Rocktown History’s own curator, researcher, historians, and other local history and genealogy friends.
Come get a peek at a featured artifact, help solve a history mystery, or discover a new story of the past while you savor richly brewed coffee from local coffee roaster Coffee Hound and fresh cream from Mt. Crawford Creamery. Coffee Mills are in-person at Rocktown History.
Free, donations appreciated.
Upcoming Conversations
Oct 27: GENEALOGY WORKSHOP: Merle Christner leads a genealogy and cemetery interactive workshop, 9:30-11:00 am.
Beyond the Headstone: Turning Cemetery Records into Family ConnectionsCemetery records can be a goldmine of information to fill in the gaps in your family history. For example, a local cemetery, Lindale Mennonite Church, is developing a database to preserve records that could be helpful to families. Rocktown History has a number of cemetery databases that can be used for research. Then we will also take a look at national/international cemetery databases, such as findagrave.com. Come and share your thoughts and ideas of things that would help you in your family and genealogy research. Presenters will be Merle Christner of Swiss Anabaptist Genealogy Association andGalen Lehman of Lindale Mennonite Church.
Nov 10: Veteran Conversation and Appreciation.
The coffee is hot at 9:30 am. Make time to visit the galleries or the research library after the conversations!
Past Coffee Mill Conversations
Oct 13: Bill Zirk shares the history and stories of the Rockingham County almshouse, the subject of his recently published book.
Sep 22: Gary Van Brocklin looks at the role of Colonial Presbyterians in the American Revolution.
Sep 8: Emily Carneal examines the life and legacy of Peter Muhlenberg, Revolutionary War leader and Lutheran minister.
Aug 25: Josh Gooden shares the discoveries, challenges, and rewards of restoring his 1890s Elkton farmhouse.
Aug 11: Dale MacAllister reveals the Revolutionary War in Rockingham.
July 28: Josh Payne presents The Legend of Emanuel Loewner “Cap” Klingstein: “The Al Capone of the Shenandoah Valley?”
July 14: Carole Nash discusses Moving with the Seasons: Native Americans of the Valley and Ridge.
Jun 23 at NOON: Special Heirloom Recipe Potluck Lunch—A special community potluck inspired by heirloom recipes and America’s Potluck, a nationwide celebration of food, memory, and shared traditions connected to America’s 250th anniversary.
Jun 9: Watching for War: Harrisonburg Theaters and Newspaper Headlines in 1941, by E. K. Knappenberger.
May 26: George Wilson brings tales from the classroom collected during his years of teaching at John Wayland and Wilbur Pence Schools.
May 12: Carole Funk Gerhard, Shelby Burruss, and Dale MacAllister share memories of the Singers Glen Funk family.
Apr 28: Back by popular demand! Heirloom Recipe Show & Tell. Bring your special recipe or come discover a new one. Tasting samples welcomed!
Apr 14: James Flory provides a history and origins of stone masonry with highlights from local restoration work.
Mar 24: Gallery conversation around We the People, a traveling exhibition on loan from Virginia Museum of History and Culture (Mar16-Apr 25).
Mar 10: Nate Miller provides a history of landscape design and identifies local edible plants and flowers.
Feb 24: Storyteller Sandy Parks shares traditional Appalachian stories passed down through generations.
Feb 10: Heirloom Recipe Show & Tell. Let’s have a foodie chat! If you have an heirloom recipe, please bring it along. Tasting samples welcomed!
Feb 3 (RESCHEDULED from Jan 27): Aaron Siever shares his experience as an immersive, on-the-ground Civil War tour guide and interprete
2025
Dec 9: Collections Committee Christmas Show & Tell of artifacts and archives.
Nov 25: Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center staff shares faith traditions through stories, artifacts, and experiential learning.
Nov 11: Michael Stoltzfus reflects on the history of Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, VA.
Oct 28: Barbara Camph shares the story of her Harrisonburg mosaic art project.
Oct 14: Pat Turner Ritchie brings to life the Civil War-era story of Aunt Eve.
Sep 23: David Ehrenpreis discusses the WWI memorial in Harrisonburg.
Sep 9: Elwood Yoder highlights the Anabaptism’s 500th anniversary & his new book
Aug 26: Bill Blair shares the history of early Presbyterian churches and settlers in the central Shenandoah Valley.
Aug 12: Curator Scott Suter reviews Boom activity in Harrisonburg’s north end during the 1890s.
Jul 22: Chaz Haywood and Megan Pullen provided a look at historic preservation resources at the Rockingham County Courthouse.
Jul 8: Greg Riddle rolled in with Classic Car friends. Drive yours to join the show and tell!
Jun 24: Jay Fulk shared his interest in store tokens.
Jun 10: Jeff Ishee discussed his family-tree-based novel, Two Sacks: One Family’s Journey from Swiss Germany to America 1803-1805.
May 27: Glenn Rodes presented notes on the Early Cemetery, located on Early Road east of I-81.
May 13: Bobby Driver returned to share more Grocery Boy stories.
Apr 22: Thom Flory discussed the story of the killing of Union Lt. John Rodgers Meigs, October 1864, approximately 1 mile from Rocktown History.
Apr 8: Gary Smucker spoke about documenting the traditional farm life of the Tusing sisters of Hardy County, West Virginia.
Mar 25: Jim Lawson looked into eastern Rockingham’s past, including the displacement of families to create Shenandoah National park.
Mar 11: Jon Henry combined grocery experience and history to talk about foodways.
Feb 25: Frances Richardson described the recreation of mid-1900s woven textiles and connections within the early Rockbridge County community.
Feb 11 (Snow Date, Feb 18): Ron Nallon shared the history of the historic Edinburg Mill (1848).
Jan 28: Bill Zirk reflected on the memories of his father-in-law Emory Shoemaker, Dayton resident and printer.
