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
Nov 11: Michael Stoltzfus reflects on the history of Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, VA.
Nov 25: Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center shares faith traditions through stories, artifacts, and experiential learning.
Dec 9: Collections Committee Christmas Show & Tell of artifacts and archives.
Coffee Mills will return on January 27, 2026.
The coffee is hot at 9:30 am. Plan for a visit to the galleries after the conversation!
Past Coffee Mill Conversations
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.
