THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409240106
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
IN 1970, GOV. Mills E. Godwin Jr. left the Governor's Mansion and his Louisville Slugger.
In 1974, when be began to serve his second term, he found the baseball bat in a closet - appropriate since Godwin was once again going to bat for the Old Dominion.
The Louisville Slugger, given to him by the manufacturer during a 1965 governors' conference in Kentucky, is one of many items on display in Riddick's Folly.
The Mills E. Godwin Jr. Permanent Exhibit is a display of papers and memorabilia.
``He called about a year and a half ago offering these items to us,'' said Georgellen Monette, president of Riddick's Folly. ``Needless to say, we were thrilled.''
GODWIN WAS THRILLED last Sunday at the large opening-day turnout, a turnout that included another former governor, Albertis S. Harrison.
``He and his wife came down for the occasion,'' said Godwin, who earlier had visited the Brunswick County Museum in Lawrenceville on the occasion of the opening of a Harrison exhibit.
Robert Francis, a consultant for the Virginia Museum, helped arrange both exhibits.
``He did a superlative job,'' Godwin said. ``So did Mrs. Monette and her people at Riddick's Folly.''
The governor and his wife did not see the exhibit until it had been completed, he explained, ``because we didn't want control over how they put it together. It's been done in a very professional way, and we're very pleased with it.''
One of the things that most pleases Godwin is a case containing mementos of his daughter, Becky, killed by lightning when she was 14. A touching part of the display is a scrapbook she kept - pictures and stories concerning her father's activities.
PICTURES AND STORIES make up a large part of the exhibit covering Godwin's personal and professional life, but some official papers and correspondence are not part of the Riddick's Folly display.
``When you go out of office, all official papers go to the Virginia State Library in Richmond,'' he said. ``They can be seen there.''
Some of his correspondence can be seen at the Swem Library at Godwin's alma mater, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg - items he donated several years ago.
``Later,'' Godwin said, ``we'll put a couple other things in Riddick's Folly.''
THE ITEMS ON EXHIBIT now occupy two rooms and cover his life from childhood - when he was nicknamed ``Bud'' - to the present.
Godwin is the third of four children, the only son, of Mills Godwin Sr. and Otelia Godwin.
There are pictures of the youngster, his family and their home - pictures of all five Godwin homes, one of which was, of course, the Governor's Mansion.
And there are the inaugural outfits and the No. 1 license plates.
The exhibit covers both gubernatorial terms, with the second term getting more coverage.
People viewing the display will find out a lot about Godwin the statesman, Godwin the man and Godwin the FBI special agent during World War II.
Mrs. Godwin - the former Katherine Beale - figures importantly in the exhibit through pictures, stories and family histories.
She taught fourth grade at the old Chuckatuck School.
That community gets a lot of play in the exhibit because it holds the family's roots. Oakland Christian Church remains the Godwin house of prayer.
``Most of the members were here for open house,'' said Monette.
She pointed to a rifle ``given to the governor by Gov. Edmund Brown of California. Winchester made 50 of them to be presented to the 50 governors.''
THE GUBERNATORIAL EXHIBIT, on the second floor of Riddick's Folly, features videotape interviews, newspaper stories and cartoons and copies of more than 300 Godwin speeches.
There are pictures of the Governor with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush.
For whatever reason, among the most fascinating offerings are the campaign buttons.
``There are so many treasures here,'' Monette said.
There has already been a request to visit from students of a Richmond school named in honor of the governor.
From time to time, there will be another visitor.
``I want the public to see the exhibit,'' Godwin said, ``and I want to look at it more thoroughly myself.''
Open house was too busy a time to fully view the display, he said.
``It's very important to us, and important to the governor, that these things be preserved and accessible to the public,'' Monette said. ``It is such an important part of Suffolk.'' MEMO: The Mills E. Godwin Jr. Permanent Exhibit is on display at Riddick's
Folly, 510 N. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays
and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 934-1390.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Color on the Cover: Former Gov. Albertis S. Harrison, left, joins
former Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. for the dedication of the Godwin
exhibit at Riddick's Folly.
Former Gov. Godwin's official portrait and other historic
photographs are part of the exhibit at Riddick's Folly.
Godwin addresses guests at the opening Sept. 18.
TOP: The formal attire that then-Gov. and Mrs. Godwin wore at the
inaugurals are the centerpiece of one of the displays.
RIGHT: The collection also includes Katherine Godwin's wedding
portrait, the couple's cake top and the wedding invitation.
ABOVE: Political cartoons from Godwin's two terms as Virginia's
governor are also on display.
by CNB