Newly examined Montgomery County court records reveal intriguing clues about James Patton Preston’s early grist mill on Stroubles Creek, including references to a mill house, neighboring landowners, and a “mansion.”
Category Archives: Series
Barringer Family – House moved from Main Street to Airport Road by 1940s
Free Ancestry Sources
Explore the free digital holdings of the Library of Virginia. These rich collections of primary sources are invaluable for researching family history and for uncovering the stories that shape our shared past.
Aerial views of the VT campus over the years
This collection of aerial views of the VPI/VT campus spans more than 80 years, from 1890 to 1970, revealing decades of growth and transformation across the campus.
Historic Smithfield: In The News Over Decades
1930 1960 1970 1980s
From Big Lick to Roanoke: Maps
Why feature maps of Roanoke when our focus is Montgomery County?
German Settlement of Southwest Virginia
The German Middle Settlement—spanning present-day Pulaski, Giles, and Montgomery Counties—has a rich, well-documented history. This page gathers books and resources that highlight the families, traditions, and stories that shaped the community and its lasting impact on Southwest Virginia.
Leadership at Virginia Tech and Its Impact on Blacksburg’s History
The history of the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia, is deeply connected to the evolution of Virginia’s land-grant university. Founded as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC), the institution later became Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University—now known simply as Virginia Tech. A school of many abbreviations: VPI, VPI&SU and now VT). The university’s growth,Continue reading “Leadership at Virginia Tech and Its Impact on Blacksburg’s History”
Resource Series: Coinage & Currency
How did residents of Montgomery County, in Central Appalachia, Virginia, purchase essentials during the Colonial period and into the early years of the United States Republic? Colonial Virginia The British government restricted colonial Virginia from minting coins, printing paper currency, or establishing banks. Instead, silver and gold coins from England, Spain, Germany, and Portugal (knownContinue reading “Resource Series: Coinage & Currency”
Resource Series: Death Certificates
Death certificates are a valuable resource for genealogical research, offering a wealth of personal information that can be pivotal in tracing family histories.
Gathering Blacksburg History 