Strother Conference - 2022
Due to the nationwide coronavirus situation, the 2020 Strother Conference was first postponed to 2021 and then to 2022, same location and same program. For our 18th Biennial Conference, our focus was on David Hunter Strother, also known as Porte Crayon. He gained fame in the 1850s for his illustrations for Harper's Magazine and his books, including Virginia Illustrated. He served in the U.S. Army as an officer during the Civil War and as consul-general to Mexico (1879-1885).
Wednesday’s only activity was the Board of Director’s Meeting and dinner. On Thursday, several optional tours were planned, including bus trips to Weyer's Cave and to Ferry Farm for those who missed it in 2018 or who wanted to see the continuing progress. In addition, a Winchester city tour and a cemetery tour were available. We also toured the Museum of the Shenandoah and its beautiful gardens followed by a catered dinner with a talk by Hunter Lesser, an historian and David Hunter Strother researcher.
Friday’s main event was a visit to the site of the old Strother Hotel (now the Old Country Inn) in Berkeley Springs, WV, and a luncheon there. This was followed by a visit to the Old Roman Baths, also visited by George Washington, and a dedication reception at the newly revised Porte Crayon exhibit in the Museum of the Berkeley Springs. This exhibit was funded by the William Strother Society.
Saturday featured the General Business Meeting, including elections of officers for the next two years, and the Board of Director’s Meeting. The Banquet that evening ended with a tribute to Ernst Strother Bauer for his many contributions to the Society, and a talk by Don Teeter, a David Hunter Strother impersonator and historian.
For the 42 attendees, there was lots to see and do and many of our members trace their recent ancestry to this area. Our hotel was near Old Town Winchester, where you could find many attractions and restaurants. One historic site was the Taylor Hotel which served as Stonewall Jackson's HQ several times during the Civil War, and also as a field hospital for both sides during the War. Another was the old wooden building used by a young George Washington when he was a surveyor there.
Attached is the Conference Schedule, showing the activities and times for each day, and the Conference Registration Form. Both can be downloaded and printed out.