Museum pays tribute to William Sutherlin

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is marking the death of the Sutherlin Mansion’s namesake for the second year in a row.

The free event started July 22, the anniversary of Maj. William T. Sutherlin’s death in 1893 from angina, and lasts through Aug. 31. Last year’s debut commemoration doubled museum visitation in August compared to the same month in 2006, Lynne Bjarnesen, the museum’s executive director, said Wednesday.

The museum is housed in the mansion.

Sharon Hughes, the museum’s former education coordinator, and Sarah Latham, marketing and research coordinator, began the special event. Bjarnesen said she hopes the display will draw a lot of local interest.

“We’re looking for different kinds of events at the museum so that local residents visit us more often,” Bjarnesen said.

Sutherlin was one of the most influential men in Danville in the 19th century. He served as mayor and as alderman for the city and was head of the Sutherlin Meade Tobacco Co. at the time of his death.

Sutherlin lived and died during the Victorian era, a time known for its opulence. Weddings and funerals were especially elaborate, said Dorothy Hodges, the museum’s volunteer services coordinator.

The museum is following the Victorian mourning customs through Aug. 31.

Black wreaths and crepe are on the front doors, a practice that prevented casual visitors from disturbing the grieving family, Bjarnesen said. Black crepe covers mirrors to prevent reflecting light and keep people from seeing their own image, which would mean they’re the next to die, Hodges said. Black fans are laid about and black crepe adorns portraits of the Sutherlin family.

In addition, shutters were closed and the piano was shut not only to discourage merriment, but to conceal its white keys, Hodges said. Flowers tempered the odor of death, while ice was packed in the casket to keep the body cold.

The duration of a house’s mourning depended on the status of the deceased, Bjarnesen said. Traditionally, widows were expected to grieve for a set period.

“It was required that a widow mourn for a year,” Hodges said.

The widow wore a black mourning dress with a band around the neck and no jewelry, she said.

The dress on display includes a veil and a pillbox hat. Visitors can view the dress made by Patsi Compton, the museum’s education coordinator.

Mourning attire was made for the entire family of the deceased, right down to undergarments, Hodges said.

Visitors also can see an 1850s handmade walnut casket with an ice chest and hair jewelry, which was traditionally made from the hair of the deceased, Bjarnesen said.

Sutherlin Mansion was built in the Italianate style in 1859.

Sutherlin signed the Virginia Secession Ordinance and was quartermaster of Danville during the Civil War.

Confederate President Jefferson Davis and members of his cabinet stayed at the Sutherlins’ mansion during the final days of the war, where he wrote his last Proclamation to the Confederacy.

Contact John R. Crane at or (434) 791-7987.