The research of the previous throughout the geographical space encompassing Harrisonburg and Rockingham County is facilitated by a corporation devoted to its preservation and interpretation. This entity collects, preserves, and disseminates info regarding the historical past of the area. These actions guarantee accessibility to historic data, artifacts, and narratives for current and future generations.
The worth of understanding the historic trajectory of Harrisonburg and Rockingham lies in its capacity to offer context for present societal buildings and cultural norms. Preservation efforts assist tutorial analysis, genealogical research, and neighborhood engagement by offering sources and academic applications. The historic context informs decision-making processes and promotes a stronger sense of place and neighborhood identification throughout the area.
Archival sources, reveals, and academic initiatives usually handle numerous sides of the areas previous, together with its settlement patterns, financial growth, agricultural heritage, and social transformations. These explorations usually delve into the contributions of numerous populations which have formed the areas distinctive character and supply a platform for deeper understanding and appreciation of native heritage.
1. Preservation
Throughout the coronary heart of Rocktown, the endeavor of safeguarding its previous is inextricably linked to the group devoted to historical past. It’s a dedication that extends past mere storage of artifacts; it includes actively guaranteeing that the tales of generations previous proceed to resonate throughout the current.
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Archival Stewardship
The diligent assortment and administration of paperwork, pictures, and maps kind the muse of preservation efforts. As an example, the cautious cataloging of early land deeds can reveal settlement patterns and shifts in land utilization over centuries. Every report meticulously preserved permits researchers and neighborhood members to delve into the intricacies of Rocktown’s growth, safeguarding them from the ravages of time and neglect.
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Historic Website Conservation
Preserving historic buildings, from early homesteads to outstanding civic buildings, is essential to sustaining the bodily report of the previous. A crumbling farmhouse, as soon as restored, turns into a tangible reminder of the agricultural heritage of the area. By defending these websites, the historic society ensures that future generations can expertise the surroundings and perceive the architectural kinds that outlined totally different eras in Rocktown’s historical past.
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Oral Historical past Documentation
Recognizing that not all historical past is present in written data, the preservation of oral histories captures private experiences and neighborhood traditions. By way of interviews with long-time residents, the society collects invaluable insights into cultural practices, native folklore, and the challenges and triumphs of on a regular basis life. These narratives present a human dimension to the historic report, preserving voices that may in any other case be misplaced to time.
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Digital Preservation Initiatives
Within the digital age, preserving historical past additionally means adapting to new applied sciences. The society digitizes archival supplies, making them accessible to a wider viewers whereas additionally creating backup copies to guard towards loss or harm. On-line reveals and digital excursions additional improve accessibility, guaranteeing that Rocktown’s historical past may be explored and appreciated by anybody, wherever on the planet, securing its legacy for future generations.
By way of archival stewardship, historic web site conservation, oral historical past documentation, and embracing digital preservation, a tapestry woven collectively by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society ensures that the story of Rocktown continues to be informed. By way of intentional preservation, the previous informs the current and enriches the way forward for this neighborhood.
2. Training
The story of Rocktown’s previous shouldn’t be merely a set of dates and names etched into stone, it lives via the transmission of information from one technology to the following. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society stands as a central pillar on this ongoing academic endeavor, rigorously crafting avenues via which historical past is not only remembered, however actively engaged with and understood.
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Curriculum Integration
The society collaborates with native colleges to weave Rocktown historical past into the material of their curriculum. It furnishes educators with main supply supplies, lesson plans, and visitor audio system who carry historic occasions to life. This ensures that college students don’t merely memorize details, however join with the narratives of those that got here earlier than them. The echoes of the previous grow to be a lived expertise, shaping views and fostering a deeper appreciation for the neighborhood’s heritage.
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Public Packages and Workshops
Past the formal classroom, the society presents a various array of public applications and workshops aimed toward learners of all ages. From historic reenactments that transport audiences to bygone eras to hands-on workshops that train conventional crafts, these initiatives supply immersive experiences that spark curiosity and ignite a ardour for historical past. The data is not confined to dusty books; it’s tangible, vibrant, and accessible to all who search to discover it.
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Lecture Collection and Shows
Famend historians, native consultants, and neighborhood members share their data and insights via the society’s lecture collection and displays. These occasions delve into particular facets of Rocktown historical past, from the rise and fall of industries to the tales of influential figures. They supply a platform for deeper understanding and demanding evaluation, encouraging audiences to query assumptions and have interaction in significant dialogue in regards to the previous.
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Analysis Grants and Scholarships
The society fosters the pursuit of historic data by awarding analysis grants and scholarships to college students and students. These awards assist unique analysis tasks that shed new gentle on Rocktown’s previous. By investing within the subsequent technology of historians, the society ensures that the story of this area continues to be informed, reinterpreted, and enriched for years to come back, perpetuating the tutorial mission at its core.
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society, via its curriculum integration, public applications, lectures, and analysis assist, breathes life into historical past and ensures that its academic mission continues to thrive. The group serves as a repository of collective reminiscence and a crucible for future generations, actively shaping how Rocktown’s story is known and remembered, thus guaranteeing its relevance for the continued narrative of the area.
3. Neighborhood
Rocktown’s historical past is not solely present in archives; it lives within the shared reminiscences, ongoing traditions, and collective identification of its folks. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society acknowledges this intimate connection, working beneath the understanding that it’s the neighborhood that breathes life into the previous, making it related to the current. The Society serves as an important bridge, fostering a way of possession and belonging that transcends generations.
Think about the annual Rockingham County Honest, a convention steeped in agricultural heritage. The Historic Societys presence on the Honest shouldn’t be merely a show of artifacts; it is an energetic engagement. Elders share tales of previous festivals, younger folks study their ancestors livelihoods, and a collective narrative is bolstered. Or look at the restoration tasks the Society undertakes in native cemeteries. These are usually not merely duties of historic preservation, however deeply emotional acts of remembrance that present tangible areas for households and the broader neighborhood to attach with those that formed the realm. The Societys success stems from recognizing the neighborhood as each the topic and the viewers of historic inquiry.
Challenges exist, definitely. Shifting demographics, differing interpretations of the previous, and the ever-present battle for funding all take a look at the Societys capacity to function a unifying pressure. But, by prioritizing neighborhood engagement, fostering dialogue, and guaranteeing that the story of Rocktown is informed from a number of views, the Historic Society strengthens the social material of the area. By way of these concerted efforts the neighborhood stays the lifeblood of preservation and remembrance, respiration continued function into the organizations basic mission.
4. Archives
Throughout the partitions of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society, the archives stand because the lifeblood, the very supply from which Rocktown’s historical past flows. These collections are usually not merely repositories of outdated paperwork; they’re the preserved reminiscences of a neighborhood, the tangible remnants of lives lived and selections made that formed the area. With out these archives, the Society can be a physique and not using a soul, an empty vessel missing the substance wanted to inform its story. The archives inform the Societys reveals, gasoline its academic applications, and floor its analysis efforts. The group’s function is to make sure it continues for generations to come back.
Think about the case of the Kline household papers, meticulously preserved throughout the archives. These paperwork, starting from private letters to enterprise ledgers, reveal the story of a household that performed a pivotal position in Rockingham County’s agricultural growth. By learning these archives, researchers have been capable of reconstruct the Kline’s revolutionary farming strategies, their enterprise dealings, and their contributions to the neighborhood. This understanding, in flip, permits the Historic Society to create partaking reveals and academic supplies that carry this necessary piece of Rocktown’s historical past to life. The archives make the story richer and extra accessible.
But, the existence of an archive doesn’t assure the preservation of historical past. Challenges stay, together with restricted funding for preservation efforts, the fixed menace of degradation, and the problem of constructing archival supplies accessible to a wider viewers. Nonetheless, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Societys dedication to overcoming these obstacles ensures that the archives proceed to function an important useful resource for understanding the story of Rocktown, a narrative that’s consistently being rewritten and reinterpreted as new discoveries are made throughout the archives themselves. Solely via such devoted care and ongoing funding can Rocktown proceed telling its story, constructing on the wealthy inheritance preserved throughout the archives.
5. Analysis
Throughout the huge panorama of Rocktown historical past, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society serves not simply as a caretaker of the previous, however as a catalyst for its steady rediscovery. Analysis kinds the mental engine of this course of, driving the Societys endeavors to deepen our understanding, problem current narratives, and uncover beforehand unknown sides of the area’s wealthy heritage. It’s via devoted analysis that the stones of the previous are rigorously examined, revealing the intricate mosaic of Rocktowns identification.
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Unearthing Untold Tales
Analysis allows the Society to maneuver past well-trodden narratives and discover the experiences of marginalized communities or neglected people. As an example, a current mission delved into the historical past of African American entrepreneurs in Harrisonburg through the Reconstruction period, revealing their resilience and contributions to the native economic system regardless of going through systemic discrimination. These untold tales add depth and complexity to Rocktowns historic report, fostering a extra inclusive and nuanced understanding of its previous.
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Validating Historic Claims
Rigorous analysis is important for verifying historic claims and distinguishing reality from fantasy. The Society actively engages in scrutinizing native legends and anecdotes, evaluating them towards main supply proof to find out their accuracy. This course of ensures that the historical past offered shouldn’t be merely a set of romanticized tales, however a rigorously vetted account grounded in verifiable proof, thus upholding the integrity of the historic report.
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Connecting to Broader Contexts
Analysis permits the Society to situate Rocktowns historical past inside broader nationwide and world contexts. By analyzing the areas position in main historic occasions, such because the Civil Battle or the westward growth, researchers can illuminate the methods wherein native occasions had been formed by bigger forces and, conversely, how Rocktown contributed to the unfolding of nationwide historical past. This contextualization enriches our understanding of the areas significance and its place within the wider world.
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Selling Scholarly Engagement
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society’s dedication to selling scholarly engagement with its archival sources ensures that new interpretations and analyses of Rocktown’s previous proceed to emerge. By offering entry to main paperwork and fostering collaboration amongst researchers, the Society stimulates mental inquiry and encourages revolutionary approaches to historic research. This ongoing means of discovery and interpretation retains Rocktown’s historical past vibrant and related to up to date audiences.
By way of unearthing untold tales, validating historic claims, connecting to broader contexts, and stimulating scholarly engagement, the position of analysis for the Historic Society illuminates a path towards a extra complete and nuanced understanding of Rocktown historical past. The group is instrumental in fostering an surroundings the place the previous shouldn’t be merely remembered however actively explored and reinterpreted, guaranteeing that the story of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County continues to evolve and resonate with every passing technology.
6. Heritage
Heritage, within the context of Rocktown historical past, is the tangible and intangible inheritance handed down via generations inside Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. It encompasses the bodily landmarks, cultural traditions, oral narratives, and collective reminiscences that outline the area’s distinctive identification. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society acts as the first custodian of this heritage, recognizing its intrinsic worth in shaping the current and way forward for the neighborhood. The connection is symbiotic: heritage offers the uncooked materials for historic inquiry, whereas the Society offers the framework for its preservation and interpretation.
Think about the legacy of the Shenandoah Valley’s agricultural heritage. Rolling hills, generations of farming households, and the distinctive structure of financial institution barns all contribute to a bodily panorama imbued with historic significance. The Historic Society actively works to doc and protect this heritage via oral historical past tasks capturing farmers’ tales, architectural surveys of historic farmsteads, and reveals showcasing agricultural artifacts. These efforts not solely protect a tangible hyperlink to the previous but in addition present precious insights into the financial and social forces that formed the area. The Valley’s agricultural historical past impacts current and future. With out energetic preservation, these insights may very well be misplaced, leaving a void within the understanding of Rocktown’s identification.
The preservation and interpretation of heritage, as facilitated by the Historic Society, face ongoing challenges. Shifting demographics and modernization can result in the erosion of conventional practices and the neglect of historic websites. Securing funding for preservation tasks and guaranteeing that heritage is accessible and related to numerous audiences require sustained effort and innovation. Nonetheless, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Societys ongoing dedication to preserving the tangible and intangible facets of Rocktown’s heritage stays essential for fostering a robust sense of neighborhood identification, informing present-day decision-making, and enriching the lives of future generations.
7. Artifacts
An artifact, within the context of Rocktown historical past, transcends its easy definition as a bodily object. Throughout the stewardship of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society, it turns into a portal to the previous, a tangible echo of lives lived and occasions transpired throughout the area. These objects, whether or not a worn blacksmith’s hammer, a light Civil Battle-era {photograph}, or a hand-stitched quilt, are usually not merely curiosities however important items of proof that assemble a story of Rocktown’s evolution. The Historic Society rigorously curates these objects, figuring out that every holds a fraction of a narrative ready to be unveiled.
The importance of artifacts extends past their intrinsic historic worth; they function highly effective instruments for schooling and neighborhood engagement. As an example, a lately acquired assortment of early Twentieth-century medical devices offers perception into healthcare practices throughout a time of restricted sources and technological development. These devices, when displayed alongside historic accounts from native docs and sufferers, supply guests a visceral understanding of the challenges and triumphs of medical care in Rocktown. The Historic Society additionally makes use of artifacts to bridge generational gaps. By showcasing toys and video games from totally different eras, the group sparks conversations between grandparents and grandchildren, fostering a shared appreciation for Rocktown’s altering cultural panorama.
Nonetheless, the preservation and interpretation of artifacts additionally current vital challenges. Objects may be fragile, requiring specialised care to forestall deterioration. The context surrounding an artifact may be misplaced over time, obscuring its unique function or which means. Regardless of these hurdles, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society stays dedicated to making sure that artifacts proceed to function tangible hyperlinks to Rocktown’s previous. By way of cautious preservation, considerate interpretation, and fascinating academic applications, the artifacts grow to be voices of the previous, persevering with to talk to and encourage the current neighborhood and future generations.
8. Family tree
The pursuit of household historical past inside Rocktown is inextricably linked to the sources and experience cultivated by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society. It’s greater than tracing names on a chart; it’s about unearthing the narratives of people who contributed to the area’s cultural and financial material. The Society’s archives, with their assortment of census data, land deeds, and obituaries, grow to be indispensable instruments for genealogists searching for to attach with their Rocktown roots. With out the Society, many household tales would stay fragmented, their context obscured by the passage of time. Think about the affect of tracing one’s ancestors again to a selected farm throughout the county. It creates a tangible connection that fosters a way of belonging that enhances and enriches family tree analysis as a part of native heritage, enhancing the broader Rocktown narrative.
The Society’s affect extends past merely offering entry to historic paperwork. It cultivates a neighborhood of genealogists, providing workshops, lectures, and networking alternatives that facilitate the change of information and the invention of shared ancestry. The interweaving of household tales enriches the collective narrative. A household historical past analysis mission specializing in native retailers illustrates how totally different households contributed to the financial development of Harrisonburg. This analysis enhances data and connections to the Society. It enriches every household’s understanding of its position throughout the bigger neighborhood, selling larger consciousness of Rocktown’s numerous heritage and shared previous.
Nonetheless, the pursuit of family tree inside Rocktown additionally presents challenges. Information may be incomplete, and tracing household traces via durations of migration or social upheaval requires endurance and resourcefulness. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society performs a vital position in serving to genealogists navigate these obstacles, offering steerage on analysis methodologies, providing entry to specialised databases, and fostering a collaborative surroundings the place researchers can share their experience and discoveries. In the end, the pursuit of family tree inside Rocktown is a journey of discovery, not nearly particular person household histories, but in addition a few deeper understanding of the area’s distinctive and evolving story, all nurtured and amplified via the sources and experience of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society.
9. Tales
The center of Rocktown historical past beats throughout the tales handed down via generations. These narratives, meticulously collected and preserved by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society, are usually not mere elaborations of the previous, however the very lifeblood that animates its dry bones. With out these tales, historical past dangers turning into a sterile recitation of dates and names, devoid of the human experiences that gave it form and which means. The Society understands this basic fact, diligently gathering oral histories, transcribing forgotten letters, and showcasing artifacts that spark the creativeness and unlock hidden narratives of Rocktown’s previous. A weathered diary, as an example, presents a extra profound understanding of each day life within the nineteenth century than any textbook account, revealing the challenges, hopes, and desires of odd individuals who formed the neighborhood.
The facility of tales lies of their capacity to attach us to the previous on an emotional stage, fostering empathy and understanding throughout generations. By sharing accounts of triumph and tragedy, resilience and hardship, the Historic Society promotes a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and contributions of those that got here earlier than. The story of an area abolitionist household, risking social ostracism and authorized repercussions to help runaway slaves, not solely illuminates a vital chapter in Rocktown’s historical past but in addition serves as a strong reminder of the enduring battle for social justice. Or take into account the account of a devastating flood that ravaged the area, uniting the neighborhood in a spirit of mutual assist and resilience, highlighting the energy of the social ties that bind Rocktown collectively. These tales, and numerous others preserved by the Society, have grow to be part of native identification, informing decisions and enriching lives.
Nonetheless, the preservation and interpretation of tales shouldn’t be with out its challenges. Reminiscences can fade, views can shift, and biases can distort the historic report. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society confronts these challenges by diligently verifying accounts, searching for out numerous voices, and selling important desirous about the previous. Recognizing that historical past shouldn’t be a static narrative however a dynamic and evolving dialog, the Society strives to create an area the place totally different views may be heard and debated, guaranteeing that the tales of Rocktown proceed to resonate with honesty, inclusivity, and relevance for generations to come back.
Regularly Requested Questions
Throughout the realm of native historical past, questions invariably come up. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society, a diligent guardian of the previous, addresses some frequent inquiries concerning its work and the historic panorama it oversees. Think about these factors not as easy solutions, however as glimpses into the Societys mission and the complexities of Rocktowns story.
Query 1: What particular geographical space does the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society embody?
The Society focuses its efforts on the historical past of Harrisonburg, an impartial metropolis inside Virginia, and Rockingham County, the encompassing area. The scope contains occasions, people, and developments which have formed these locales, recognizing their interwoven histories and distinct identities.
Query 2: How does the Society decide which historic occasions and figures to focus on?
Choice standards contain significance, affect, and the provision of dependable sources. Occasions that demonstrably altered the course of native historical past obtain precedence. Equally, figures whose actions had a widespread and lasting affect on the neighborhood are given larger consideration. A dedication to representing numerous views additionally informs these selections.
Query 3: What measures does the Society take to make sure the accuracy and objectivity of its historic interpretations?
Accuracy requires rigorous adherence to main sources, cross-referencing a number of accounts, and consulting with material consultants. Objectivity calls for transparency in analysis methodologies, acknowledgement of potential biases, and a willingness to revise interpretations in gentle of recent proof. The Society strives for balanced displays, representing numerous viewpoints the place historic controversies exist.
Query 4: In what methods can people contribute to the preservation of Rocktown historical past via the Society?
Contributions take many kinds, from donating historic artifacts and paperwork to volunteering time and experience. Monetary contributions assist preservation efforts, analysis initiatives, and academic applications. Lively participation in Society occasions and discussions additional enriches the collective understanding of Rocktown’s previous.
Query 5: How does the Society steadiness the necessity to protect the previous with the need to make it accessible to a wider viewers?
Balancing preservation and accessibility includes cautious useful resource administration and revolutionary methods. Digitization initiatives present broader entry to fragile supplies whereas defending the originals. Interactive reveals interact numerous audiences, translating historic data into compelling experiences. Academic applications cater to numerous age teams and studying kinds, fostering a lifelong appreciation for historical past.
Query 6: What challenges does the Society face in its efforts to protect and promote Rocktown historical past?
Challenges embody securing sufficient funding, combating historic inaccuracies, addressing conflicting interpretations, and fascinating youthful generations. The Society acknowledges these challenges and actively seeks options via neighborhood partnerships, revolutionary programming, and a steadfast dedication to its core mission.
The questions addressed supply a glimpse into the complexities of historic preservation and interpretation. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society stays dedicated to its position as a steward of Rocktown historical past, adapting its approaches to satisfy evolving wants and challenges.
Be taught in regards to the methods the Society shares artifacts.
Insights from Rocktown’s Previous
The annals of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, meticulously chronicled by its historic society, maintain classes usually neglected within the rush of recent life. They whisper of perseverance, neighborhood, and the cyclical nature of human expertise. Heed these insights gleaned from the research of “rocktown historical past harrisonburg-rockingham historic society” to navigate the current and strategy the longer term with knowledge.
Tip 1: Perceive that native selections ripple outwards. The struggles and triumphs of Rocktown, although seemingly remoted, replicate broader nationwide traits. Choices made by native leaders, farmers, and entrepreneurs have formed the area’s character and contributed to the bigger American story. Analyze native occasions with an consciousness of those wider contexts.
Tip 2: Worth the tangible remnants of the previous. Historic buildings, artifacts, and paperwork function anchors to our shared heritage. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society champions the reason for conservation, recognizing that these bodily reminders supply invaluable classes about earlier generations. Hunt down alternatives to have interaction with these tangible hyperlinks to the previous.
Tip 3: Acknowledge the cyclical nature of challenges. Financial downturns, social divisions, and environmental crises have all examined Rocktown’s resilience all through its historical past. Learning these previous struggles presents precious perspective on up to date challenges, reminding us that adversity is usually short-term and that communities can overcome even probably the most daunting obstacles.
Tip 4: Emphasize the significance of civic engagement. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society depends on the dedication of volunteers, donors, and neighborhood members to meet its mission. Lively participation in native organizations, civic discourse, and neighborhood initiatives is important for preserving the legacy of the previous and shaping a brighter future.
Tip 5: Domesticate a way of place. Rocktown historical past fosters a robust sense of native identification and belonging. Understanding the distinctive traits of the area, its pure landscapes, and its cultural traditions enriches our lives and promotes a deeper connection to our neighborhood. Take the time to discover native landmarks, attend neighborhood occasions, and study in regards to the people who formed the area.
Tip 6: Keep in mind marginalized communities. Too usually, histories emphasize the experiences of dominant teams, overlooking the contributions of marginalized communities. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society seeks to develop and diversify how historic narratives are being informed to disclose the lives of all folks.
By learning native historical past, people can acquire a deeper understanding of the complexities of human expertise and a stronger appreciation for the enduring energy of neighborhood. The teachings discovered from Rocktown’s previous supply precious steerage for navigating the challenges and alternatives of the current.
Think about these classes as you ponder the way forward for the area, knowledgeable by an appreciation for what has come earlier than.
Rocktown Historical past
The story of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, also known as Rocktown, extends far past dates and names. This exploration has revealed an interwoven narrative, meticulously preserved by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society. From the Society’s position in safeguarding archival data to its academic outreach and its dedication to neighborhood engagement, every aspect displays a deep funding in connecting the current to the previous.
The area’s story shouldn’t be full. Every archived doc holds potential for extra tales, and every preserved constructing a narrative to be shared. Because the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historic Society continues its work, the neighborhood’s connection to its heritage grows stronger, offering a basis for a future constructed on knowledgeable selections. The mission lives on, guaranteeing that the story of Rocktown isn’t actually completed, however is at all times evolving, at all times chatting with the continued narrative of human expertise.
