Ridgemont was the first hospital in Floyd, serving those in need at its 217 North Locust Street location from 1913 – 1923.  It was built by Lather Hylton as a hospital for Dr. Martin L. Dalton. Dr. Dalton practiced there until about 1923. There was a waiting room on the main floor, along with an operating room and an examining room with an X-ray machine that was state-of-the-art at the time.  Rooms accommodating up to nine patients were located upstairs.

The hospital later became the property of Dr. I.E. Epperly.  After that, it changed hands to Dr. Silas T. Yeatts.  In 1950, a Floyd school teacher named Marie Williams purchased it as her residence.  Today, the Floyd County Historical Preservation Trust owns this historic building and has restored it for use as the Floyd County Museum.

The Floyd County Historical Society’s mission is to preserve Floyd County History, serve as custodian of historical gifts, and provide educational outreach.  The Society provides an informative brochure and map for a self-guided walking tour through Floyd.  The Floyd Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Virginia Landmarks Register, includes most of the town center as it was established in 1831. A Walking Trail Brochure covers 1.7 miles and features forty-five historic places. It is available at the Museum, as well as the Visitor Center/Chamber of Commerce office at 109 East Main Street. The Society provides museum tours for Floyd school classes.  It also sponsors a scholarship for high school art students.

The museum has two current exhibits and several that are on-going – such as the moonshine still that was confiscated in 1983 and given to the Historical Society by Court order.
The main exhibit for 2018, “Things Made of Wood” features cabinetmakers of Floyd County and shows examples of their work. Margaret Smith, born on Piney Creek (current location of Eco Village) has shared furniture from her Smith and Williams ancestors. Other cabinetmakers include Ananias Thomas, Rufus and Alden Wood (father-son), Ash Compton, and Winston Spencer.  Visitors can also see items from the Quesenberry family, and others.  Other items in the “Things Made of Wood” exhibit include farm implements, spinning wheels, and very rare five-string fiddle made by famed craftsman, Arthur Connor.  There is even a long rifle made by Matthew Scott.

The second exhibit features items and artifacts from those Floyd County heroes who fought in World War I.  The display case preciously holds a purple heart, a United States Service medal, a Virginia World Tour Service medal, and a Mexican Incursion medal that was given to the troops who accompanied General Pershing into Mexico in pursuit of Poncho Villa.  The exhibit has have an incredibly well-preserved leather jerkin, as well as gas masks, a rare collection of uniform patches, and an even rarer signal flag.  There is a liberty bond, personal letters, uniforms, many pictures, and many other military items.  Museum staff are incredibly knowledgeable, and are happy to provide the tragic and moving histories, details, and stories behind this collection.

Floyd native, Janet Slusher Keith, provides a tour of the Laurel Branch/Topeco area during the Crooked Road Mountains of Music Homecoming, each year.  Janet’s tour can be found on our on-cell program at 540-585-3070. The Society also hosts five special programs each year, held at the Floyd Center for the Arts.  These are open to the public and are offered free of charge.
At 10:00 am, on November 10, 2018 at Floyd Center for The Arts, Floyd native Ricky Cox will present “Water-Powered Mills of Floyd County”.  Cox teaches Appalachian Folklore at Radford University.  Pictures of some of the 100-plus water-powered mills of the county will be on display, and a driving tour of the mills will be available soon. The January 12, 2019 program will feature Mike Ryan presenting, “Southern Appalachian Chair Making.”
Museum hours are Thursday and Friday, 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm, and Saturday, 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.  Private tours can be arranged for school groups, families, clubs and other organizations by calling 540-745-3247. Visit us at www.floydhistoricalsociety.org.  A new website is under construction and will be on-line soon.