Chapter History 

Levisa River was organized 10/7/2000 with 24 members. Organizing Regent was Pat Hatfield.

 History of Levisa River Chapter NSDAR by Patricia M. Hatfield.

      In a letter dated November 17, 1999, the chapter  was given permission by the National Board of Management to form a new primary chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution in Buchanan County, Virginia. Several NSDAR members were living in Buchanan County at the time. Most of them were members of the Fort Maiden Spring Chapter in Tazewell County. Before the November date, the chapter had been meeting at the home of Brenda Ward at Patterson or at the public library in Grundy. This was a lively group of women who liked to work on family history , but also enjoyed the idea of service to the schools and community.

    The Organizing Regent took the first step by notifying National DAR that there were sufficient numbers of ladies who would qualify for membership. They next petitioned National for permission to organize. Three names were submitted  for consideration as the official chapter name;  the group was then  notified that Levisa River Chapter would be the official name. It was the name everyone liked the best.

   On December 2, 2000, National Board of Management confirmed twenty-five organizing members in good standing. An installation ceremony was held at Buchanan First Presbyterian Church in Grundy. Members of Fort Maiden Spring Chapter led by Betty Byrd St. Clair helped install the new officers: Regent, Patricia Musick Hatfield; 1st Vice Regent, Grace Addison Ratliff; 2nd Vice Regent, Elsa Looney Cook; Chaplain, Mary Rife Salyer; Recording Secretary, Janie Layne Owens; Treasurer, Brenda Ward; Registrar, Linda Looney Smith; and Librarian, Elizabeth Susan Cox.

   The chapter was off to a good start with twenty-five members and several more memberships pending. The chapter has sustained growth every year and has completed major projects since 2000 culminating in the most recent project "Wheels for Heath", a project that raised over $35,000 for a special vehicle for Heath Calhoun, a local soldier who suffered major injuries in Iraq. Levisa River Chapter continues to attract members who enjoy service to the community and a love of  genealogy.