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County screens Virginia Government Services Center history video and recognizes depot filmmaker
Summary
St. Louis County screened a film about the history of the Virginia Government Services Center and publicly recognized filmmaker and county depot staff member Haley Eydenshink for her work.
The St. Louis County Board showed a short film documenting the history of the site now occupied by the Virginia Government Services Center and then recognized the staff member who produced the video.
The video traced four former buildings on the site — Ausbellows Hall (built 1917), a Memorial/Recreation building, the Arrow Shirt Factory (opened 1948), and the Northland Office Building — and included oral histories from former workers who described life at the Arrow shirt factory and other historic uses of the site. Commissioner Nelson said the film would be shown in local Virginia schools and called the time capsule excerpts and historical materials brought to the county “a treasure.”
County staff invited filmmaker and county depot staff member Haley Eydenshink to accept recognition at the meeting. Haley described archival research for the film and thanked partners including the Virginia Area Historical Society and Beyond the Birches Productions for production support. "There are few things as exciting to me as being able to spend time digging in an archive," Haley said.
Why it matters: Commissioners framed the screening as part of efforts to preserve and publicize county history and cultural resources, and said it helps educate local students and residents about the county’s economic and social history.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to consider more public displays of county history in the courthouse and to coordinate showing the film in schools and community venues.
