ABOUT US
History is Our Aim
Get to know the dedicated individuals who are passionate about preserving our rich history and heritage. member brings unique experiences and insights that contribute to our mission of educating the community and celebrating our local history. We invite to learn more about their and commitment to our society.
Officers of the Board
Al Chewning
President
Debbie Lou Hague
Vice President
Sarah deRosa
Treasurer
Kenneth Henry
Historian
Joanne Singh
Secretary
Members of the Board
Drummond Ball
Mike Boyd
June Cooper
Barbara Henley
Anne Henry
Doug Johnson
Cory Routh
Grant Williams
Past Presidents
Leon J. Maneess 1961-1962
J. Davis Reed, Jr. 1962-1964
M. F. Fogler 1964-1967
Edmund S. Ruffin, Jr. 1967-1969
William B. Copeland 1969-1971
Harold Page Smith 1971-1974
Martin P. Hottel 1974-1979
John M. Hodgson 1979-1983
Robert R. Beasley 1983-1985
Stephen S. Mansfield 1985-1987
J. David Reed III 1987-1990
Derris Raper 1990-1991
James G. Vermillion 1991-1992
Barbara M. Henley 1992-1994
Stephen S. Mansfield 1994-1997
Glenda H. Knowles 1997-2000
E. Sidney Vaughn III 2000-2002
Barbara Henley 2002 - 2006
John Baillio 2006 - 2016
Barbara Henley 2016 - 2022
Princess Anne County / Virginia Beach Historical Society Timeline
1931
Hope and Sadie Kellam published Old Houses in Princess Anne, Virginia after researching records and interviewing residents of surviving 17th and 18th century structures. Their work preserved knowledge of homes that were rapidly disappearing.
1950s
A group of local women wanted to create color slides of historic structures and found that within 30 years, half had collapsed or been demolished.
1961
That awareness was a contributing factor behind the call for a meeting at Princess Anne High School on Washington's birthday in 1961, at which the 125 attendees voted to establish the Princess Anne County Historical Society.
1986
On its 25th anniversary in 1986 Society members voted to expand the name to the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society, thereby providing a clearer historical linkage for the many new residents as Virginia Beach became the commonwealth's most populous city.
2021
We celebrated our 60th anniversary!
Upper Wolfsnare House
The Historical Society provides the sole support for maintenance and restoration
of the Upper Wolfsnare house. Donations to the Society are always welcome!
Unknown Date
visitvirginiabeach.com
1939
Library of Congress
Unknown Date
PAC/VB Historical Society
Thomas Walke received a land grant in 1612 and Thomas Walke III built his home on the property in 1759. His son, Thomas Walke IV, a colonel in the Colonial Militia, later inherited the land and the house. He, along with his cousin, Reverand Anthony Walke, served as Princess Anne County's two representatives at the convention of 1788, which is where Virginia voted to ratify the new United States Constitution.
The original Georgian style of the house reflects the gentry class life style of the builder. The structure was designed with two rooms on either side of a central hall, a pattern that was repeated on the second floor. A stairway extended through the two floors to an attic, helping with air circulation in summer, and a basement was accessible through an outside door.
Additional features included corner fireplaces, distinctive wood paneling, and walls as thick as sixteen inches.
The house was known as the Brick House Farm until the Malbon family purchased it in 1939 and changed the name to Upper Wolfsnare. The name was derived from Wolfsnare Creek, which flowed nearby until it was obliterated by the Virginia Beach Expressway (Route 44). The house was painted white in 1954. It has been in the custodianship of the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society since 1966.
The house was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on March 26, 1975.
1975
1939
2010
