YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WeeKLy edITIOn
oCt. 8-14, 2025
Vol 47 No 41 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Black history in Jamestown discussed at First Thursday talk By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com Ruby Sapp Leach has been researching her genealogy for more than 55 years. That’s over half of her 91 years. She has found many interesting things in deeds, censuses and stories about her ancestors, which is remarkable because Leach is Black and much Black history has been lost — if it ever existed. Census records in the 1800s only listed enslaved people by age, not name, making it hard to track an ancestor. Leach brought her knowledge not only of her ancestors but of the history and heritage of Black communities in the area, including Florence, to the September First Thursday History program at the
Jamestown Public Library. The program was subtitled, “A Fresh Look at LongOverlooked History.” Her many displays covered several walls of one room in the library. Leach, understandably, had trouble collecting information, even when speaking with people faceto-face. “People weren’t supposed to talk. People were out to get us because our skin was different,” Leach said but she was able to get some stories anyway. She located records of her ancestors being freed from slavery and given the “40 acres and a mule” ordered by Union General William Tecumsah Sherman in Special Field Orders No. 15. “It’s been said that the Sapps were the only family
Photo by Carol Brooks Photo by Carol Brooks Ruby sapp Leach in front Black people and white people both attended Leach’s presentation. of her display boards.
in Jamestown that got the 40 acres,” Leach said. “My great-grandfather, grandfather and all of the family grew up here in Jamestown,” she added. She added that her family lived on Sapp Road (now Mackay Road) and the community was called Sapptown. “They were farmers and owned lots of land.
“My great-aunt was indentured by Judith Mendenhall at 9 years old. They were to let her go when she reached the age of 18 and they did. They gave her $40 and clothing.” In her 1900 will, Minerva Mendenhall, Richard Mendenhall’s daughter and the last of the family to live at the Homeplace,
gave two lots across from the Mendenhall Homeplace to Mezeriah Fuller, the former indentured servant, near the entrance to City Lake Park. Mez, as she was known, and her husband Ezekiel lived there. Ezekiel was taken in by Nereus Mendenhall, Minerva’s brother and listed as a “drayman,” or driver of a
freight wagon, in the 1900 census. “He drove the [false-bottom wagon] that took the slaves to Indiana, hidden under hay and pottery,” Leach said. That wagon can be seen at Mendenhall Homeplace. Her ancestors owned see HIsTORy, PAGe 2
walk and roll for alzheimer’s
COMPILed By nORMa B. dennIs JAMESTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FALL FESTIVAL The Jamestown Business Association is hosting a special fall festival in downtown Jamestown in the parking area between Kindred Coffee and the Soap Lady. The event will be held Oct. 12 from 1 to 7 p.m. and include 20 vendors, multiple food trucks and live music. Vendors will have all types of products displayed for sale from wooden items, crochet, embroidered T-shirts and sweaters, jewelry and more. (Think Christmas gifts.) There will even be a face painter and food available from Home Slice, White Label Concessions, Taco Bros, Kona Ice, Ghassan’s and DonutNV. Everyone is invited to participate in the fun. Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@gmail.com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com
By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com
Residents of the Skilled Health Care and Assisted Living households at Pennybyrn Retirement Community participated in a special fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association on Sept. 26. Starting and ending in Norcross Town Square, the course was specifically designed to walk through Smith-Deal House, which is the assisted living memory support household, and McEwen House, the skilled nursing memory support household, and then return to the Town Square. The walk was open to all residents at Pennybyrn. “We advertised the event with flyers across campus and on the activity calendar,” said Jennifer Ballance, director of Life Enhancement Healthcare and Assisted Living. Approximately 30 residents participated, many in wheelchairs pushed by family, friends, staff and volunteers, and some using walkers. Most
donations were made online by scanning a QR code. The group raised $580. “The ‘walk’ for Alzheimer’s is absolutely something we will do again,” Ballance said. “The residents loved doing it so much I think it might become a yearly event. A few expressed that their spouses had passed away from Alzheimer’s and it was a sweet moment for them to honor their loved one.” Ballance coordinated the event with the help of Maribel Perez, program director of the Photos submitted new Melvin & Ruth Witcher With the help of family, friends, staff and volunteers resiAdult Day Center. dents of Pennybyrn walked and rolled their way to a sucThe Adult Day Center, cessful fundraiser for the alzheimer’s association. located in the Healthcare Center at 1315 Greensboro Road, High Point, officially opened Oct. 6. It is designed to offer a “safe, caring, and socially stimulating environment where older adults can participate in engaging activities such as art, music, exercise, games, spiritual renewal and special celebrations.” Caregivers receive the opportunity for respite and peace of mind knowing their loving ones are well cared for during the time they are at the Center.
Garden club plans special Holiday Sale By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com
Photos by Carol Brooks
scenes from Village Fair sept. 20 at Mendenhall Homeplace.
adVErtisE in tHE JamEstOWn nEWs! We offer great, affordable packages to fit any budget. Call 336-316-1231.
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21st Annual Village Fair
The clock is ticking and members of Cedarwood Garden Club is focused on helping prepare for the upcoming Christmas holiday with a special fundraiser on Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the Cedarwood pool, 300 Tangle Road, Jamestown. A rain date for Nov. 15 has been set. Featured items for sale will be wreaths, bows and small, live plants decorated for Christmas. “We are also inviting crafters and vendors to participate,” said Shelly Lutzweiler. “This is not a yard sale, but the opportunity for them to share what they sell
with the community.” The cost for a space is $10. Each person should have his/her own table and is responsible for set-up and cleanup. Items do not have to be Christmas related but can be anything someone might like to select as a gift or purchase for themselves. The Cedarwood Garden Club was established in 1967 and is a member of the Garden Clubs of North see HOLIday, PAGe 2