The first meeting of the Randolph County Historical Society was held at the YMCA in Elkins on Thursday, May 1, 1924, and the organization is proudly celebrating its centennial with a series of events over the next couple of years. Kicking off the commemorative events will be an effort to “Find Our Founders.”

Some of the names are easily recognized as having been local leaders, and the organization is looking to collect and organize information about them and their contributions. The charter members at that meeting were: Cyrus H. Scott, William H. Cobb, Edward D. Koontz, Dr. A.S. Bosworth, Dr. James E. Allen, Mrs. Boyd Wees, Mrs. B.M. Hoover, Howard L. Collett, J. Sliddell Brown, Claude W. Maxwell, Charles M. Marstiller, Blaine W. Taylor, E.C. Wyatt, James A. Bent, Mrs. C.M. Cobb, James H. Elder, J.W. Trembly, Dwight Teter and Dr. Charles E. Albert.

The Society has some limited initial research, but it would be a huge boost to the effort if members and others in the community would share what information they may have, whether documentary, anecdotal, or photographic, about the lives and careers of those history-minded but also forward-looking citizens. Particularly gratifying would be hearing from descendants or family of founding members.

Information may be shared by mailing quality copies to the Randolph County Historical Society PO Box 342, Elkins WV 26241, by email to randolphcountymuseum@gmail.com, or by bringing any information to the Randolph County Museum in Beverly by appointment (made via email) to be copied and collected and used as supplements for centennial related projects and programs, especially in our inaugural event and program focusing on the founding members of the RCHS.

Part of the celebratory effort will include following the footsteps of the founders, with the first event and program for the centennial celebrations being held at the YMCA as the first meeting was held there one-hundred years ago. This event will take place on May 21, 2024, as the first centennial program. With focus on our founding, the program will be a presentation focused on the charter members and their lives within the Society and as community members, leaders, etc. We hope beyond biographical information, we can showcase and share the history and stories that surround them as noteworthy figures who not only dedicated themselves to the Randolph County Historical Society but to the legacy of our county.