The Deep River Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII (17th) Century presented a framed copy of its charter to the Moore County Historical Association recently to display in the Shaw House historic dwelling and office for the MCHA.

Lora Buelow, of Seven Lakes, president of the chapter, handed the charter over to Vickie Rounds, co-president of the MCHA, at the Shaw House. Also present were the state society President Hollie Holland, of Greensboro; Libby McAtees, organizing secretary general of the National Society, of Monroe; Bernice Snuggs, state insignia chairman; Sue Aceves, state music chairman; and Bobbie Lou Ray, honorary state president. Representing the MCHA were Vickie Rounds and Steady Meares, co-presidents, Beverly Offutt, docent chairman, and Greg Zywocinski, a board member.

"We are glad the charter has a home," said Holland.

The Deep River Chapter was chartered Nov. 21, 1991, and now has 33 members. A person may become a member as long as they have ancestors that can be documented to North Carolina from before 1701. The members must be descendants of someone or family members who were free and contributing members of Colonial society.

Offutt told the group the MCHA is "very glad you brought this ... we'll do our best to give it a good home."

The charter contains the names of founding members. There are 46 states out of the 50 in the U.S with chartered Colonial Dames. Offutt welcomes new members, adding that people may join the Association no matter where they are from. She gave a short history of the MCHA, which was founded in 1946.

Offutt said the Shaw House site has a corn crib, a smoke house and a tobacco barn on the premises from the old days, along with two settlers' cabins from northern Moore: the Britt Sanders Cabin and the Garner House.

The Shaw House itself was built in 1821 and was lived in by descendants of the original builder until 1948, when it was given to the MCHA. The Sanders and Garner dwellings date back to the 1700s and the Shaw House to 1821.