For its quarterly history program, the Paxton House Historical Society will return once more to its beginnings during the “boom” era beginning in 1889. A power point presentation will show twenty houses built during the first two years of the boom, all of which are still standing and still inhabited.

The program will be held Friday, February 11 at the Maury River Senior Center on Magnolia Avenue in downtown Buena Vista beginning at 7 pm. Francis Lynn will narrate the program, assisted by Jeri Schaff.

Each of the twenty houses featured has some historic significance in the early development of the town. Four of the houses were parsonages, and four were residences of four early Buena Vista mayors. The first house built on the eastern side of the NW railroad, a private girls’ school, a hospital, one house listed on the state and national registers of historic places, as well as the homes of early business and civic leaders will all be shown. All the houses are still inhabited today.

It should be remembered that Buena Vista came into existence first as a town in Rockbridge County in 1890 in a charter granted to the Buena Vista Company. Two years later, in February 1892, it gained a charter as an independent city.

All the houses were built on lots that were drawn in the May 22, 1889, Lottery of Lots. The directors of the Buena Vista Company believed that a lottery would be the only fair Way to distribute building lots to all those who invested in the company. For every two shares of stock purchased, you were entitled to one residence lot. At the public lottery, a lot with the section, block, and lot numbers was drawn from one box; and then the name of an eligible stockholder was drawn from a second box.

After all the residence lots were drawn, the same procedure was used to distribute business lots. The purchaser of sixteen shares was entitled to one business lot and six residence lots. The lottery lasted all day and was declared quite successful…very simple and very fair. What almost immediately followed the lottery, however, was quite unexpected and caused a temporary building delay in the new town. Come to the meeting for details.

There are many more boom residences still standing and occupied today.

James Plogger and Mary Ellen Plogger have taken photographs of the existing residences, and we will include early photos of the houses where available. Research of the houses has been done by Francis Lynn who will also present the program, assisted by Jeri Schaff, Director of the Maury River Senior Center.

Please bring a friend, a neighbor, or a newcomer to Buena Vista to this program. All Paxton House quarterly historical meetings are free and open to the public. Light refreshments are served. A booklet of the program will be on sale.