General

On October 8, 2025, the consulting firm of Arnette Muldrow and Associates presented the final results of their study to develop and deploy a brand that will help define the identity of Chatham and the adjacent area. The branding effort is the culmination of over six months of work, funded by a grant obtained by the Chatham Rotary Foundation and administered by Reimagine Chatham.

The most obvious feature of the study will be a set of primary logos and tag line, augmented by variations on the theme, that can be used by local civic groups, businesses, and the town in promoting the area and its events and to aid in marketing the assets and attractions of the local area. Much more than simply logos, the branding plan defines colors, fonts, and various adaptions of the theme to add versatility while maintaining a standard that is consistent across various uses.

The brand was developed only after extensive local input in the form of public meetings, stakeholder discussions, and an on-line survey. This input shaped the parameters that led to the selection of the color pallet, the fonts, the theme, and the “tag line”. The objective was to capture as much of the local character as possible. The consultants indicated that Chatham presented an interesting challenge because of the variety of local assets. Items such as history, architectural diversity, natural beauty and the two local boarding schools helped define the uniqueness of the town and adjacent area, and the consultants endeavored to distill this, as best possible, into the visual and graphical information that is used within the brand and associated logos. The final product also included a prioritized implementation guide for deploying the marketing the brand in the short, mid, and long term.

Widespread use of the brand and logos will be encouraged. This will allow items like the town seal and civic club logos to be modified, if desired, to fit the branding guidelines. The brand guidance and materials can also be used in promotions of businesses and area events. An example of this is shown in the graphic of the recent promotional banner for the October “Buzzard Fest” festival in town. However, before full deployment can be made, some structure to manage and guide the process will be established.

The following graphics show the primary logo(s) and some examples of variations. The primary logo features two structures similar to local churches, the court house, and private school administrative buildings. It contains an oak tree from the town seal with a heart in the center silhouetted by a rising sun. The tagline of “Just Imagine” was chosen to remind us of the possibilities that exist in our community and can be adapted for many other uses as shown in the final report. Once some structure is put in place to begin deploying the plan, the report will be available on-line at ReimagineChatham.org.

Primary Logos

Logos for the Historic District, Walking Trails, and Community Events

Buzzard Fest Banner

Respondents who helped shape the Growth and Renewal Strategic Plan asked for more local festivals. Here is a fun filled pre-Halloween event being led by Chatham First. Come out and enjoy the family oriented fun. There will be food vendors, rides through the historic “ghost infested” cemetery, and a beer garden.

“Big thanks to Reimagine Chatham, for bringing a check for $21000.00 toward the Haymes Brothers invoice for the Depot St cleanup! This project was another meaningful cost-share project between the Town and Reimagine Chatham & the Chatham Rotary Foundation. Council voted to include this in the 2025-26 budget, as well as several other cost sharing projects.”

Every community has a story. Will you help us tell Chatham’s?

The Reimagine Chatham initiative is developing a brand identity to help share who we are and where we’re headed. But we can’t write this story without YOU.

Share what makes Chatham special in our quick survey:

Your perspective will help shape how we present ourselves to visitors, businesses, and future residents. Join us in creating Chatham’s next chapter!

We’re working on something BIG — and we need your help!

As part of the Reimagine Chatham initiative, we’re creating a fresh new brand for our beloved community — one that reflects who we are, what we value, and where we’re going. 💬✨

Take the quick community survey and tell us what makes Chatham special to YOU!

Your input will help shape the story we tell to visitors, businesses, and future generations.

Let’s build Chatham’s future together. 💙

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the big day! Join us for a community meeting to help shape the new brand for Chatham and the surrounding area. Your input is essential as we develop a unique graphic identity and marketing strategy that will highlight the town’s assets and attract residents, visitors, and investors.

Please note that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the new location for the meeting is the Gallery Room at the Community Center in Chatham (115 S Main Street).

Event Details:

• Date: Tomorrow, April 8, 2025
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• New Location: Pittsylvania County Community Center’s Gallery Room,115 S Main Street, Chatham, VA

This meeting will be a chance to share your thoughts on what makes Chatham special and what you’d like to see in the new brand. Your feedback will play a crucial role in creating a cohesive identity that reflects the heart and character of our community.

We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make Chatham shine!

See you tomorrow!

As part of the Reimagine Chatham initiative, we are excited to announce the start of a new project to develop a graphic identity and marketing strategy that will highlight the unique assets of Chatham and the surrounding area, from Tightsqueeze to the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex.

We want to hear from YOU!

A key part of this branding effort is gathering input from the community to ensure the new brand reflects what makes Chatham special. We invite you to join us at a public meeting on April 8 at 6:00 PM at the Pittsylvania County Community Center‘s Gallery Room, located at 115 S Main Street, Chatham.

This meeting will give you an opportunity to share your thoughts about Chatham’s unique qualities and what you envision for the town’s future identity. Your input will help shape the branding that will be used for marketing materials such as signage, websites, brochures, and more, making Chatham an even more attractive place for residents, visitors, and investors.

Event Details

• Date: April 8, 2025
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Pittsylvania County Community Center’s Gallery Room, 115 S Main Street, Chatham, VA

This branding is part of a broader vision to strengthen and celebrate the region’s identity. We look forward to hearing your ideas and working together to create something truly special for Chatham and the surrounding area.

If you have any questions, please reach out to:

• John Harris at moc.liamgobfsctd-41b5e6@sirrahnadnhoj
• Aaron Arnett at moc.wordlumttenraobfsctd-502df2@noraa or 864-233-0950

Stay tuned for more updates, and we hope to see you there!

The last bulletin announcement discussed Reimagine Chatham beginning to move ahead with its “Phase 2” effort to implement the growth and renewal strategic plan. The structure working on the implementation, a steering committee, was mentioned, but names were not provided. Here are those involved in leading and working toward implementing the improvement initiatives.

Steering Committee:

• Consultant – Rachel Gatewood, River District Consulting (RDC). A Chatham firm. 
• John Harris – RDC – Chairman
• Janet Bishop – Town of Chatham
• Nick Morris – Town Manager, Town of Chatham
• Phil Mauger – Chatham Rotary Club and local business owner
• Richard Camp – Chatham Rotary Foundation
• Joe Rogers – Chatham Rotary Foundation
• Kathy Ramsey – Chatham First and NAACP
• Frank Fox – Chatham First
• Delilah White – Area Business
• Eric Peterson – President, Hargrave Military Academy
• Sara Stephenson – Rector, Chatham Hall
• David Mitchell – Bridge Web Solutions

The Chatham Rotary Foundation is the grant recipient and has fiduciary responsibility for the grant.

Anyone wishing to be involved in this work should contact John Harris, Chairman, via River District Consulting. 

Since completion of the area growth and renewal strategic plan in early October, Reimagine Chatham has turned its attention to “Phase 2”, a process for implementing recommendations contained in the plan’s vision for community improvements. A new steering committee, consisting of representatives from civic groups, the town, local businesses, and service organizations, has been formed to work on this phase. Unlike the first phase, the effort will not be totally led by volunteers. Given the amount of work required, the group will be led by a firm that can routinely devote time to planning, prioritizing, and coordinating the effort. An interim contract has been drawn up with a Chatham company, River District Consulting. They will be supported by the organizations represented on the steering committee.

This week, the group announced a major milestone in moving ahead with the community improvement initiatives. A local Trust awarded Reimagine Chatham a grant in the amount of $146,450 to begin work on a variety of high-priority study recommendations.

The funding will allow work to begin on a feasibility study for a designated walking trail, help develop a town “brand” that can be used for marketing and public relations, help fund the management of the effort, and provide funds to assist the town in a number of areas, pending council approval. The town projects include improvements at Silas Moore Park, Harris Field, and clean-up and beautification of the town entry point on Highway 57 West. Funds also will support revisions to the town’s historic district, pending the results of an ongoing feasibility study.

Area residents should begin seeing the results of these efforts in early 2025. Work under the grant funding is to be completed by September 1, 2025.

Those who are not presently signed up for routine progress updates can go to ReimagineChatham.org and register for email updates as the work proceeds.

This old photo from about 1918 shows young women from what would become Chatham Hall making donations to the war effort during WW1. The war would end in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month with the signing of an armistice agreement between the victorious allies and Germany and their alliance members. The day would be commemorated as Armistice Day. We now know the holiday as Veterans Day and it is celebrated with parades and other ceremonies honoring those who have served our country.

Chatham will join in the observances this year. Please come honor our vets by attending this year’s parade on Monday, November 11, at 11 am, along North Main Street between Hurt Street and the Courthouse. As in 1918, our local schools (including Chatham High School, Hargrave Military Academy, and Chatham Hall) will be participating.

Hey Reimagine Chatham followers, many of you responded to the online survey saying you wanted more local festivals. You asked for it, and here is one brought to you by the good folks at Chatham First. Share this, spread the word, and come out for a fun event.