Valley Business Collection
Scope and Contents
The Valley Business Collection consists of approximately 4 linear feet of materials. This includes approximately 65 folders containing an array of documents and business records. There are two physical items.
Series I contains items related to the Edinburg Hatchery dating from 1894-1940 and one of its early owners, J.C. Hutchenson. .
Series II: General Businesses, 1885-1989 includes documents and two physical objects related to a wide array of businesses in Shenandoah County and surrounding communities.
Dates
- Creation: 1886 - 2016
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the researchers without restrictions. Researchers must register and agree to all copyright laws and archives policies before using the collection. Please contact the Shenandoah County Library before visiting to use this collection.
Biographical / Historical
The Edinburg Hatchery Company operated on Creekside Lane in Edinburg from around 1930 until the late 1950s. It was one of the many Shenandoah County businesses that specialized in poultry products during that time period. Chicks were shipped to the hatchery via the mail, raised to a certain age, and then sold to chicken farmers.
J.C. Hutchenson was one of the initial owners of the Edinburg Hatchery. He was born in 1867. From 1890-1903 he operated the railway mail service in Edinburg. He served as county treasurer and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Hutchenson died in 1946.
During the late 19th century through the middle of the 20th century the vast majority of county businesses were associated with either agricultural production, travel, or service-based industry.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet (Two full size, clamshell document boxes, legal size. One oversize print box. )
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A collection of documents, letters, and records related to businesses in Shenandoah County and the greater Shenandoah Valley.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series.
Items in Series I: Edinburg Hatchery are arranged chronologically.
Items in Series II: General Businesses, items are arranged as received due to continued donations.
Folder 2.6 in Series II does not exist.
Physical Location
Shenandoah County Library, Truban Archives
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The majority of the items were donated to the Shenandoah County Library's Truban Archives. A select number were transferred from other collections and a few were received in the mail or dropped at the library building.
Bibliography
Williams, May Ann, and Jean Allen Davis. The History of Edinburg, VA. Commercial Press Inc., Stephens City, Virginia, 1994.
Processing Information
Items were processed from various smaller accessions related to businesses in the Shenandoah Valley to improve access and storage. When possible folder titles correspond with original filing information.
Ongoing donations continued to be processed into Series II: General Businesses when single items or donations of a small number of business related items are received.
- Title
- Valley Business Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Zachary Hottel
- Date
- September 15, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Arabic
Repository Details
Part of the Shenandoah County Library: Truban Archives Repository