Bus service offered for Juneteenth celebration at Sharswood Manor

Fred Miller purchased the property known as Sharswood Manor only to later find out his ancestors were enslaved there.

The story brought television journalist Lesley Stahl to the Riceville Road plantation in 2022 after an article appeared in The Washington Post.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

The event, planned for June 15, will allow visitors to learn about the history and tour the home. The celebration will also feature live music, food trucks, and vendors.

The bus transportation is available for $20. Tickets may be purchased on Eventbrite or by calling the museum at 434-973-5644.

Those opting to take the shuttle service will meet at the Danville museum at 11 a.m. June. 15.

Miller’s sister, Karen Dixon, keeps a giant bag of old documents, photos and newspaper clippings in her car all the time since she never knows when she’ll need to pull something out to retrace history.

She did just that in late November last year when Sharswood hosted an open house.

“It was kind of mind-blowing,” Miller, standing in the foyer, told the Register & Bee of the story behind the purchase.

It started as nothing more than an expansive space to use for family gatherings. He never expected the “awe-inspiring” and extreme media notary to come along with it.

“It’s a story that I want to keep out there, and I don’t want it to die out,” Miller said. “Because it is important.”

He wants Sharswood to be an open place for people to walk around, see some old architecture and learn the way early people lived in the country, even though some of those tales of slavery may be tough to hear.

“People are welcome to be here,” he said. “This is a place that was shut off for so many people for so long.”

Admission to the Juneteenth event at Sharswood Manor is free. For anyone who would like to go to the fourth annual event, the address is 5685 Riceville Road, Gretna, VA, 24557.