Women’s History Month at Weston Manor

Originally published April 2022 · p. 28

The new Civil War Trails sign at Weston Manor tells the story of a family caught between the lines, as told through their twelve-year-old daughter. Courtesy, Civil War Trails, Inc.

Civil War Trails, Inc. has teamed up with the Historic Hopewell Foundation, Inc., and the City of Hopewell, Va., to launch a new Civil War Trails sign at Weston Manor. The new story recounts the heart-wrenching experiences of twelve-year-old Emma Wood and her family. The sign was installed last month in advance of Women’s History Month beginning March 1, 2022. Hopewell offers five Civil War Trails sites, including Weston Manor. These sites are networked with over 500 others in Virginia and over 1,400 across six states. The Civil War Trails program encourages visitors to stand in the footsteps of history, exploring each unique landscape and story through the eyes of those who were there; Weston’s new sign is a great example of this approach to storytelling. The new sign was researched and originally written by Historic Hopewell Foundation (HHF) board members Robin Somers-Strom and Daniel Jones. “Through our research and interpretive narratives, we at HHF strive to personalize the diverse lives and rich experiences of Emma, and all who lived and worked to sustain life at Weston Manor, including the enslaved,” said Robin. The proposed new sign then went through a rigorous review process to ensure it resonated with a variety of audiences. The sign is the first of several updates being planned for the Civil War Trails sites in the

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Hopewell-Prince George region. The work is made possible by the participation of the City of Hopewell that sponsors each site, allows for product updates, maintenance, and the collaborative marketing efforts. “Our program is unique in that the signs are always being updated, offering something new for travelers.” said Drew Gruber, Executive Director of Civil War Trails, Inc. “Stories like Emma’s are relatable to many, especially families who have been forced to move and adjust to difficult circumstances.” Each Civil War Trails site is marketed internationally by state tourism offices, regional destination marketing organizations, and municipal partners. This means the educational product is part of a much larger economic development mission. “We see self-guided outdoor tours like Civil War Trails as very important to tourism in our region…” said, Becky McDonough, CEO of the Hopewell-Prince George Chamber. “Civil War Trails has helped us update the stories which are now found in places of historic context and economic return.”

Chris Brown (left), Assistant Director, and Jason Shaffer (right), Operations Manager of Civil War Trails work to clean up and repair the sign pedestal before installing the new panel. Courtesy, Civil War Trails, Inc.

Civil War Trails® has been working with communities since 1994 to share their stories and connect visitors with small towns and big stories across a network that now spans six states. Travelers look to Trails to put them in the footsteps of the generals, soldiers, citizens, and the enslaved who found themselves in the midst of this Civil War.