Botetourt County documents the history of the Black community

BOTETOURT Co., Va. (WDBJ) - The Botetourt County community Sunday honored stories from the past for Black History Month.

The Botetourt County Historical Society recorded the largely uncatalogued history of the Black community in the area.

Residents shared stories from their ancestors or other people they admired.

Stories ranged from what life was like as a slave at Greenfield Plantation, the first African-American football player from the county, and people who lived to be more than 100 years old.

Organizers say they want the next generation to know where they came from.

“You look at Botetourt County was one of the largest counties in Virginia all the way to the Mississippi. And there’s a lot of history locked up here in Botetourt County. And we’re just finally, last few years, to unlock some of it. It’s good to get it out and have it documented,” said Curtis Brown.

Stories shared today will become artifacts at the museum and accessible for people to check out.

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