Joyce Hanna presented her research findings at the meeting.

The Upper Vandalia Historical Society met on Sunday, January 29, at the Bancroft Church of God Mission.

During the meeting, Joyce Hanna of Winfield discussed the family histories and local connections of George Washington, William Crawford, and Rev. James Craik, three men who were very influential in the early years of the region that is now Putnam County. Washington and Crawford both extensively surveyed the area during the frontier period, with Washington acquiring over 7,000 acres of land along the Kanawha River. Craik, who served as Washington’s personal physician and Physician General of the United States Army, also owned land in Putnam County (then Mason County). In the local area, Craik is known for his home Elm Grove, also known as the Craik-Patton House, which is located near Daniel Boone Park in Charleston.

Ron Allen discussed “My Side of the Hill,” a memoir written by Mrs. Dorothy Adkins-Cyrus of Browns Creek.

Videos of the presentation can be found on the Upper Vandalia Historical Society’s Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/431246375713984

This year marks Putnam County’s 175th anniversary. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Upper Vandalia Historical Society will be publishing local histories in its quarterly journal. Topics of interest include Putnam’s early days, the Civil War, the industrial era, and church and family histories. People are encouraged to send their submissions to the journal by emailing [email protected]

The Upper Vandalia Historical Society meets four times a year to discuss Putnam County and local history. Anyone who has an interest in local history and trivia is invited to attend meetings. For more information about the Upper Vandalia Historical Society, visit http://cclark8399.wix.com/uppervandalia

The Society also maintains a Facebook page, as well as a Facebook group, where members can post old photographs and discuss local history.