At first glance, the North House Museum in Lewisburg looks like a stately reminder of the past. A classic Federal-style brick house rooted in the early 1800s, it might seem like a museum frozen in time.
But step inside and it quickly becomes clear: this is a place alive with stories. The North House is layered with voices from across the Greenbrier Valley, and it’s actively reshaping how the region connects with its history. And this summer, the Greenbrier Historical Society is reaching further than ever, including a major debut at one of the state’s biggest events.
Yes, history is going to the Fair.
A Century of the Fair, A New Chapter for History
As the State Fair of West Virginia marks its 100th year this August, visitors will have a chance to step out of the midway and into a living piece of the region’s story: the MERILUCO building.
The MERILUCO building, named after the MEadow RIver LUumber Company, was originally built near the grandstand and a large shade tree on the fairgrounds in the early 1920s when the event was still known as the Greenbrier Community Fair. Built to highlight the carpentry and trim work of the company’s Rainelle-based mill, the building has worn many hats over the years: a public post office during fair week, a small State Fair museum run by members of the Tuckwiller family, and more recently, a structure relocated across the fairgrounds. Now, more than a century after its construction, it’s showcasing something even more valuable and is stepping back into the spotlight with a powerful story to tell.
Thanks to the Greenbrier Historical Society’s new Hidden Histories of Western Greenbrier project, the building will host an immersive exhibit during the Fair.
Giving Voice to Western Greenbrier
The Hidden Histories of Western Greenbrier project began in early 2024, when GHS board members Janice Cooley, Margaret Hambrick, and Vicky Cline identified a troubling gap in the historical record. While Eastern Greenbrier County is well-documented, the western side, home to generations of coal, timber, and railroad workers, has largely gone unrecorded.
With support from AmeriCorps and the Greenbrier Historical Society, the project is preserving those stories. At the center of this work is Vicky Neal, a retired art teacher from Greenbrier West High School. Neal began collecting recorded oral histories with her students as far back as 2009. Many of the voices she captured are no longer with us.
“They’re like gold to me,” Neal says. “Now we finally have a way to bring those voices to life.”
A Walk Through Time at the State Fair
During the full run of the State Fair, the MERILUCO building will be open daily to the public, transformed into an interactive exhibit space filled with powerful visuals and memories from a different era. Visitors can explore:
- Historic photos of coal camps, timber towns, and early railroads
- First-person accounts of life in mining and lumber communities during the 1920s and 30s
- Memory Boards, where fairgoers can chalk in their own family histories
- A listing of historical coal mine operations in the region
Neal hopes the display will do more than educate. It’s also meant to invite participation.
“This is a look back in time: how it used to be, how the county evolved. Some of these recordings have memories from the 1920s,” she says. “And it’s a chance for families to reconnect with their roots in a way that’s personal.”
After the Fair, the exhibit will be moved to Rainelle as a permanent installation, serving as a museum and a tribute to the area’s legacy of labor, resilience, and renewal.
The long-term vision also includes bridging the divide that has existed between the eastern and western parts of the county that were once separated not only by geography, but by lack of historical connection. “Western Greenbrier has a very rich history, just like Eastern Greenbrier does,” Neal explains.
Where to Find the Exhibit
The MERILUCO building is located near the garden area and antique tractors on the Fairgrounds, in the corner by the State Fair sign along Route 219 South. The exhibit will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the State Fair.
A Living Museum, A Growing Mission
While the MERILUCO project focuses on the western part of the county, the North House Museum continues to bring history to life every day at 814 West Washington Street in downtown Lewisburg.
Executive Director Dara Vance is leading a dynamic team whose mission blends historical preservation with community engagement. “Museums are educational institutions,” Vance says, “but they can also be economic drivers, tourism anchors, and cultural access points. History, art, and humanities are a special intersection that we’re trying to create here. We’re not only preserving the past. We’re helping shape the future.”
The museum’s Our Stories series, held on Lewisburg’s First Fridays, invites local artists, makers, and storytellers to connect their work with Appalachian culture and identity. They also recently partnered with Alderson Artisan’s Gallery to display the work of local artists in the museum.
“It’s about connecting culture and craft,” says Vance. “We have people talking about what they create, how it connects to their history, and how it builds a sense of place. That’s Appalachia.”
August’s Our Stories will feature Vicky Neal, who will speak about the Hidden Histories project and the MERILUCO exhibit at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 1 at the North House Museum.
Echoes of Slavery and the Journey Toward Unity
One of the museum’s most powerful spaces is the Echoes of Slavery exhibit. Launched just before the pandemic, the room is filled with photographs, documents, and art that traces the history of slavery in Greenbrier County. It’s an unflinching look at the region’s past and a call for honest reflection.
“The Echoes of Slavery exhibit challenges assumptions and brings a vital, honest conversation to our community,” says Janice Cooley, its curator.
The Historical Society also partnered with the Juneteenth Steering Committee to help organize Lewisburg’s first Juneteenth celebration in June 2025. The multi-day event featured a powerful speech by Maurice Cooley, a respected community leader and brother of exhibit curator Janice Cooley, and a unity festival at Dorie Miller Park.
History as Experience
Visitors to the North House can explore a variety of themed rooms that trace the region’s history across two centuries. Some spaces examine daily life in the early 1800s. Others reflect on post-Civil War life and the changes that shaped the modern era. While some educational programs may include demonstrations with spinning wheels or weaving tools, the focus is on connecting visitors with the experiences and values of those who came before.
“You can see how people lived 200 years ago and how their struggles, values, and hopes are still with us today,” says Lead Docent Deb Marquis-Cascio. “People wanted freedom, safety, opportunity. They still do.”
That perspective transforms the museum into more than just a historical site. It becomes a space for reflection, learning, and dialogue that is open to everyone.
Travel Back in Time on the Annual Home and History Tour
The Annual Home and History Tour offers a chance to step beyond the museum walls and into the heart of the community. Visitors explore historic homes, gardens, and early settlements, connecting with Greenbrier County’s rich past in a truly personal way. It’s a favorite event that brings history to life by taking you right where it happened. In June 2025, the tour featured four historic locations, offering a unique opportunity to step back in time.
The Team Behind the Mission
The North House Museum is powered by a dedicated team working to preserve the county’s past while inspiring its future:
- Dara Vance – Executive Director
- Karly Watts – Archivist
- Vicky Neal – Hidden History Oral Historian
- Aly Ludwig – Community Outreach and Marketing Coordinator
- Cari Burns – Museum Coordinator
- Deb Marquis-Cascio – Lead Docent
- David Briggs – Museum Associate
- Emma Rhodes – Museum Associate
Why Visit?
Whether you find yourself walking through the halls of the North House or writing a memory on the chalkboard inside the MERILUCO building at the State Fair, you are invited to take part in a living history: one that belongs to all of us. This is not just about names and dates. It is about people, place, and the power of story.
“We are more than just artifacts on display,” says Dara Vance. “We are about the experience of West Virginia. About the people who built it and the people who are still shaping it.”
That experience lives in every exhibit, every preserved document, and every effort to remember the past with honesty while moving forward with purpose.
