Richmond Community Historical Society honors Jax Pizza owners

RICHMOND -- The Richmond Community Historical Society celebrated a successful year of preserving and promoting the village's history and presented a surprise award to a local business couple supportive of that effort.

The nonprofit organization held its Christmas covered-dish dinner Dec. 9 at the Crew House Museum on Main Street with President Phil Judy welcoming members and guests and Mark Judy offering the blessing.

The favors were donated by former Richmond resident Linda Hout Moody of Clover, S.C., and dedicated in memory of her parents, the late Jay W. "Pidge" and Ruth Ann Hout, both of whom were charter members of the historical society.

The evening included the presentation of a surprise award to Jack and Debbie Steele, the owners of Jax Pizza located next to the Crew House Museum. Phil Judy and his wife, Sandy, historical society secretary, joined with member Betty Hout, Richmond's oldest citizen, in walking next door to the business and acknowledging the Steeles for their supportive spirit of the historical society.

The Steeles were presented with a lifetime membership to the historical society, which they accepted with gratitude.

The historical society enjoyed a year of accomplishments in 2018, which included the museum having its back wall and wall facing Jax Pizza repointed. A major undertaking of 2017 involved having two sides of the original brick on the building constructed in 1826 re-pointed by workers from Montenery Masonry of Yorkville.

The year also included installation of new basement windows; a Halloween dance; an outdoor summer concert at the gazebo; Sunday open houses during summer months; the welcoming of visitors for tours, including to see the upper level space dedicated to Jefferson Union High School memorabilia rooms enjoyed by several classes holding reunions; and sponsorship of the annual Memorial Day parade in the community.

The historical society meets every other month on the third Tuesday at the Crew House Museum, beginning at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in local history is welcome to attend meetings or join the historical society. Annual dues are $5. For information, call (740) 765-4534.

The historical society has a variety of Richmond memorabilia items for sale, including notecards, T-shirts, pottery and ornaments.

The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 15.