Stop # 8: Jonesville Campground

I didn't understand the word "campground" when I first heard about this destination.  Jonesville "Campground" is NOT an RV-park!  The work "campground" has more than one meaning.  According to my 1959 American College Dictionary, the definition of "campground" is "a place for a camp or a camp meeting."  Jonesville Campground is a place for a "camp meeting."  It has been a place for a "camp meeting" for a long, long time.

Here's a link to some interesting information about Jonesville Campground: http://vagenweb.org/lee/HSpubl76.htm, written in 1979 by  "Anne Wynn Laningham (Mrs. James E.) The great-great-granddaughter of Elkanah and Mary Muncy Wynn who donated the grounds to the Methodist Church."  

Here's a link to another historical overview, with a neat little map.  This document includes, "A Short History of Jonesville Campground" written by James W. Orr:  http://woodward.scottsworld.info/page10.htm

According to this document "HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF  SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA 
PUBLICATION 4 - 1968: SOME PIONEER LEADERS IN LEE COUNTY'S PROGRESS"  By Etta Green, at http://vagenweb.org/wise/HSpubl29.htm, Dr. John C. Orr grew up on Sugar Run, became President of Sullins College, and "led the song services for the Jonesville Camp Meetings" 

The Jonesville Campground is listed in this document titled, "Finding America's Oldest Camp Meeting" at http://archives.gcah.org/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10516/5717/MH-1990-July-Brown.pdf?sequence=1.

Jonesville Campground is listed on the National Historic Record.  Here's a link to the application:  http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Lee/052-0007_Jonesville_Methodist_Campground_1974_Final_Nomination.pdf and a link to the accompanying photo: http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Lee/JonesvilleMethCampGround_Photo.htm.