Edith Bolling Wilson Foundation Center opens in Wytheville

A former first lady who was born in Wytheville gets a center in her honor.

The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation Center held its grand opening today in Wytheville.
   
It’s at the Bolling building at 145 East Main Street in Wytheville.
 
Edith was the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson..

She helped the administration after he had a stroke.
   
Bill and Farron Smith have been renovating and working several years to open the center…using their money. “It’s just such a pleasure to be here today at this point and see this finished and open,“ said Bill.

The place is filled with furniture Edith and her siblings sat in as children, a bible her grandparents used to recorded births and marriages including hers to President Wilson, books that belonged to her father and pictures of Edith and the president.

Bill and Farron have plans to renovate the Bolling home, but they need your help.
   
An anonymous donor has committed $5,000 to a dollar-for-dollar matching gift program for funds given to the foundation by December 31, 2008.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation and have it matched through the program, mail your check by December 31, 2008 payable to: The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation, 145 East Main Street, Wytheville, VA, 24382 or visit http://www.edithbollingwilson.org to make a donation.