Pittsylvania County celebrates 250th anniversary

Ceremony held in Chatham Saturday

CHATHAM – Pittsylvania County is 250 years old.

Pittsylvania County residents decked out in replica Revolutionary and Civil War-era clothing gathered outside the county's courthouse in Chatham Saturday to hear state Delegate Les Adams, a Pittsylvania County native himself, read a resolution from the state General Assembly recognizing the milestone.

Recommended Videos



"Be it resolved further that the clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the county's rich history and contribution to the commonwealth," Adams said.

Chatham's mayor, members of Chatham First, which helped organize the event, members of the county's Board of Supervisors, and other local state and U.S. representatives also spoke.

A representative from U.S. Congressman Tom Garrett's office presented the director of the county's historical society with a proclamation.

The director of the historical society, Larry Aaron, said celebrating the county's history is important because it is also a celebration of America's history.

"We mirror the development of this country," Aaron emphasized. "The settlers coming west, explorers looking for what was beyond the mountains, all passed through Pittsylvania County."

The historical society also provided informational tours of the old county clerk's office.

 "This building is the 1813 clerk's office," membership secretary Langhorne Jones Jr. said.

When asked about his favorite part of the county's history, he said he does not have one.

"I like all of it," Jones said.

New lamppost banners were unveiled Saturday to commemorate the 250th anniversary.

The first one was hung up during Saturday's ceremony.