Community members remap Bluefield’s history as part of Women’s History Month event

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - In the City of Bluefield, West Virginia there’s an effort to remember and remap the rich history associated with the city. On Friday members from different groups hosted an event titled ‘Coming Home To Preserve The Past’.

The event is part of the first Women’s History Lab at the Raleigh Street Cinemas. The event will continue into Saturday and focuses on preserving Bluefield’s black history using speakers, listening and mapping sessions.

“Very excited to have a lot of conversation and to be able to peak people’s minds and really dig deeper into understanding our culture, some of the experiences that we’ve been through and how it impact us today and how it can impact us tomorrow,” said Taylor Curtis.

Curtis is the director of Racial Justice Justice & Equity at YWCA Greater Cincinnatti.

One of Friday’s topics was talking about historically black areas of the city and mapping them to help recognize their importance to the city. One of the tools used to do so was a Polk Directory for the City of Bluefield from the year 1960. The book maps addresses of homes and businesses during the time.

The directory was brought by Dr. Diane Zham, an associate professor in urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech.

“We’re hearing a lot of stories about houses that are now gone, parking garages that are gone. Places people use to go for candy stores and things that are now gone,” said Zham. “We’re at a place where if we don’t capture these memories from people who are in their 60′s, 70′s or 80′s then we may lose those forever just as we’ve lost physical evidence of those memories.”

One man in attendance says he was born in raised in the great City of Bluefield, but now lives in Roanoke, Virginia. He says attending this program meant a lot to him, as do past events like the area’s band festival, homecoming games for Bluefield State University and even places like restaurants that no longer exist.

“A lot of the people here that are speaking today, doctors, college professors, architects. They got their training, their education and their beginning right here in Bluefield. That foundation was laid here,” said Joseph Bundy.

Bundy is also serving as a guest speaker for the event.

This event continues on Saturday and will pick up at the Raleigh Street Cinemas and later at the Greater Mount Zion Pentecostal Church.

Saturday’s events start at 9 am and will feature discussions on African American women in Southern West Virginia as well as Green Book buildings in the city. The event is free to the public.

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