Wednesday June 24, 2009

For 24 years a small group of batteaus (French for "boat") have made an annual pilgrimage down the James River from Lynchburg to Maidens Landing in Goochland County; every year stopping in Scottsville, where the town greets them with a huge festival.

"Our river town was based on batteaus and river commerce and so it's just wonderful to see so many people coming out and enjoying history," said festival organizer Sallie Massie.

Bill Trout is a historian who makes the voyage along the James every year. He says the batteau dates all the way back to the days of George Washington and he makes it his mission to spread what he calls an important part of Virginia history.

"Virginia is really special because it did have all these boats going on the river," Trout explains. "We can go whenever we want to re-enact or experience that same thing. We can take our batteau out on the river."

Next summer will mark Scottsville's 25th Batteau Festival and organizers say they hope to make it bigger and better than ever.