A 1700s colonial heroine will soon have a sculpture erected in her honor on a point just above one of the rivers that played a major role in her grueling journey back home to Virginia’s New River Valley.
An 8-foot-tall bronze statue of Mary Draper Ingles, created by artist Matt Langford, will be unveiled and dedicated on Friday, Oct. 21 at the Glencoe Museum & Gallery Grounds in Radford, VA. Ceremonies begin at 2 p.m. as part of Mary Draper Ingles Weekend.
In 1732 Mary was born to Irish parents in Philadelphia. Eventually her family became part of the great westward migration of European immigrants who pressed on through the valleys of Virginia in search of affordable land and a better future. Along the way her father is killed, and Mary with her mother and brother join an expedition of families who establish the settlement of Draper’s Meadows on land that is now part of the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg. There she marries Englishman William Ingles in 1750.
While other parts of the frontier are in the grips of the French and Indian War, the Draper’s Meadows residents, according to historical accounts, didn’t have reason to fear the parties of Indians, who passed by periodically. However, in July 1755 circumstances changed, and a party of Shawnees attack the settlement killing four residents and abducting Mary, her two children and her sister-in-law. What follows is a month-long march over hundreds of miles through the Ohio and Kentucky regions until Mary decides to escape.
“She’s a woman who showed undeniable determination and remarkable skill and physicality to escape and trek her way back home, and the story continues to capture interest more than 260 years later,” says Deborah Cooney, director of tourism for the City of Radford.
The result of that interest has included a “New York Times” bestseller, numerous other books and articles, a long-running outdoor drama, a couple of movies and documentaries and even a song on YouTube.
Together the city’s Tourism Commission and the Radford Heritage Foundation raised $75,000 to place the statue on land donated by Norfolk Southern Corp. “Mr. Langford has created an elegant bronze sculpture, which will be the second placed along the trail back home,” Cooney said. The first was erected in Boone, Ky. in 2008.
Weekend activities include:
Friday, Oct. 21:
Noon-2 p.m.–Open House at Glencoe Museum & Gallery with an exhibit featuring paintings of Mary and a display about her life. Location: 600 Unruh Drive
2 p.m.-Unveiling and Dedication of Statue
3 p.m.—Reception follows Statue Dedication at Council Chambers in City Administration Building adjacent to Glencoe Grounds. Location: 10 Robertson Street
3:30 p.m.—Meet and Greet with authors who have been inspired by Mary’s story, including James Alexander Thom, author of the bestseller “Follow the River.” Other writers include Sharyn McCrumb, a bestselling Southern writer known for her Appalachian ballad novels; Eleanor Lahr, who wrote “Angels Along the River”; Dr. Mary Ferrari, who wrote a chapter in “Virginia Women: Their Lives and Times,” and Patricia Hons, author of the children’s book, “Mary Draper Ingles: A True Story of Courage and Family.” Location: Council Chambers, City Administration Building
Saturday, Oct. 22
10 a.m.-4 p.m.—Open House at Ingles Farm along Radford’s New River. This working farm is run by descendants and features a replica of Mary’s cabin. Location: 9 Wilderness Road
10 a.m.-2 p.m.—Open House at Ingles Ferry Tavern (circa 1772) on the west side of the New River in Pulaski County. This property includes the remains of a ferry, which operated from mid-1770s to 1940s, and the remnants of a covered bridge destroyed in the Civil War. Maps provided at statue site.
Sunday, Oct. 23
1 p.m.-4 p.m.—Glencoe Museum & Gallery and Mary Draper Ingles statue site open for tours
Admission is free to all events.
