Saving Southside Tobacco Barns

They might be pieces of the past, but one group on the Southside is working to preserve the many tobacco barns in that area.

Folks came out Wednesday night at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham to discuss preserving those barns.

The people involved with the "Preservation Virginia" project want to educate the public on the importance of saving the old tobacco barns that are such a huge part of Southside's past.

From Pittsylvania County to Caswell County, North Carolina, you ride past them, and some may be falling down.

So they held a kick off meeting sponsored by The Danville Historical Society and The Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce.

They plan to go about educating adults- along with middle and high school students about the importance of protecting the barns.

"The main reason for this project is to raise awareness on the importance of the barns and of our tobacco heritage and our agricultural and rural heritage to let people know that we are interested," says Sonja Ingram, Field Representative for the Preservation of Virginia.

The group especially welcomes folks with old tobacco farming photos or newspaper clippings to come forth, they will scan or copy them so their history may be shared and preserved.