Weldon Heritage Speaker Series
The Irvin Francis Kyle iii Speaker series
Rev. Francis Kyle created a Weldon Heritage Speaker Series for Weldon In Action. The volunteers and board of Weldon In Action have named the series in memory of Rev. Kyle. Its name is now The Irvin Francis Kyle III Speaker Series.
Wherever he lived, local history was his passion. It became a part of his life, which he shared willingly with others. On his familiar motorcycle, he traveled the area to museums, to memorial parks, to cultural centers, to historic buildings and markers, absorbing himself in the culture of the town, county, and state.
Appreciating and understanding one’s past, he felt, is important to a town’s sense of community. Shortly after he arrived in Weldon as pastor of the Weldon Baptist Church, Rev. Kyle realized that Weldon has a unique and important story to tell.
He suggested we begin a Weldon Heritage Speaker Series, and he took the lead in creating, planning, and conducting two presentations a year. Weldon In Action began its Weldon Heritage Speaker Series in October 2022 with an event that focused on the town's Jewish heritage and featured guest speaker Leonard Rogoff, who had written a book about the Jewish temple in Weldon. Former residents returned to greet old friends and to celebrate growing up in Weldon.
And in February 2023, WIA invited Weldon native Gentry O. Smith to speak on "From Weldon to World." Smith is the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security based in Washington, D.C. The community turned out to celebrate Gentry’s family, his career in law enforcement, and his message of encouragement to the youth of the town.
Three more followed. The third, in fall 2023, titled "The Roanoke River: Amazon of the East" featured three Weldon "River Rat" fishermen and two eastern North Carolina fisheries experts who told tales of the river's past glory days and shared information about the river's present and future. Included were details about the recently initiated 3-year effort to restock the river and Albemarle Sound with over two million Striped Bass, commonly known as rockfish.
In May 2024, UNC Chapel Hill professor emeritus of English and comparative literature, William L. Andrews, spoke on "How Fugitive Slaves and Their Stories Helped Win the War Against Slavery." He shared excerpts from the autobiographies of the once-enslaved Frederick Douglass, Olaudah Equiano (also known as Gustavas Vassa), Henry Ossian Flipper, "Father" Josiah Henson, Harriet Jacobs, and Moses Roper.
Sandra W. Bryant, chair of the Halifax Underground Railroad Commission told about their ongoing efforts to have a museum in Weldon near its town center and popular River Falls Park. Three verifiable sites within Halifax County (est. 1758) have qualified the county to be included in the National Underground Railroad "Network to Freedom."
The last program planned and executed by Rev. Kyle in September 2024 was titled, "From the Mountains to the Sea, All the Goods Traveled Over Me,” It was about the Weldon Aqueduct, which is two hundred years old this year. Otis "Nat" Vaughan, long-time Weldon resident and former Town Commissioner, talked about the aqueduct's history, the historic structure's value and significance in his personal and former work life.
Brian Coffield and William "Bill" E. Trout III, Ph.D., of the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society provided the broader historical context of the region's man-made aqueducts, canals and inland waterways. Trout played a significant role in the formation and later leadership of the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society (est. 1977) and the annual and popular James River Bateau Festival (1986).
We will no longer benefit from Rev. Kyle’s scholarly leadership. There is no way we can replace his knowledge and enthusiasm, but we will continue the speaker series in 2025, with the first program in March. His creativity and research will guide us as we plan the series for an enduring future. We are indebted to the Kyle family for its sponsorship and financial support which will enable us to continue the program at the level of excellence that Rev. Kyle established.
