History
W. N. “Billy” Fulwider, Old Dominion Postcard Club Founder
A History and Tribute by John Whiting
A History and Tribute by John Whiting
As we celebrate the thirtieth year of the Old Dominion Postcard Club, it is an opportune time to
recognize our least well known, but perhaps, most important “Founding Father”.
Witness the fact that only one member of our club was ever awarded a free lifetime membership.
That speaks for itself and suggests the significance of this person in the Club’s history.
W. N. “Billy” Fulwider will not be known to most of the newer or more distant club members. He
had not been active in club affairs for several years prior to his death in December, 1987.
But, in the beginning, 1978, Billy was a catalyst, provider, encourager, whose generosity and
enthusiasm created an atmosphere and a place for the creation of ODPCC.
As in all ventures, it takes the right ingredients to make something happen. In 1976, Roy Cox
and Bill Martin came to Richmond, set up and sold cards at a local motel and promoted the idea
of a club through advertisements and information at the motel. They collected names, addresses
and a dollar from people attending. The dollars were “seed money” for initial mailings to start a
club. Roy, Ben Duncan, Sylvia Regelson, Jean Trevett, Jim Stubbins, L. E. Haynes, Ricky
McMullin, myself and others talked about the idea of a club from time-to-time after that. But,
other ingredients were necessary. It was two years before they were forthcoming.
In 1971, Billy and Charlotte Fulwider opened an antiques and collectibles center north of
Richmond on U. S. 301. It was the first venture in this region that pulled many dealers together
under one roof. They named it “Antique Village.” Billy’s vision was broad and sweeping. He
liked just about everything under the wide umbrella of antiques and collectibles. He bought and
sold antique and classic cars, old tools, advertising signs, fine furniture, glassware, tobacco
tins.....just about anything old and interesting.....including, yes, you guessed it, postcards!
While not a postcard dealer in the modern sense, Billy always had a rack with cards in it, or a
shoe box with cards, or if you asked, he might have a stack tucked away in one of his many
“secret” drawers behind the counter in the snack bar area at The Village.
In 1977, I went to work for Billy at Antique Village and simultaneously opened a shop there. I
quickly learned that Billy was a serious collector of many things and his enthusiasm for collecting
carried over to his discussions with young and old alike. He promoted collecting not primarily as
a businessman who had items to sell to collectors. He believed in hobbies; saw them as
something good. He liked people who collected old things and encouraged everyone else to
start collecting.
In 1978, Billy was fully aware of my interest in postcards–both as a collector and dealer. When
discussions about a postcard club emerged, Billy’s mind started clicking. Antique Village could
serve the community in a new way. It could be the home base for various collecting groups. He
would provide space, open up in the evenings and do, as he would say, “whatever was
necessary” to provide for clubs who wished to meet at Antique Village. This would be another
way in which he could contribute to collecting and the growth of hobbies in this region. To start
the process, he would do everything he could to launch a successful postcard club. From 1978
until early 1980 Billy did just that.
Billy pulled out all the stops! He arranged and re-arranged different sections of the building so
that our organizational meeting April, 1978 and then, our monthly meeting would have plenty of
space, chairs, tables, etc. He kept his camera flashing to record the events of the first year.
When some rental space opened up in the back of the building in later summer 1978, he held
that space unrented for about four months so that we could be certain of having space for our
first annual show in December. He donated cards for fund-raising auctions; he bid actively at the
auctions. He allowed me to use “work time” as his employee to perform many of the duties
required to get the club off the ground–newsletters, arranging for programs and visiting dealers,
correspondence, show promotion, etc. Directly and indirectly, Billy contributed hundred of dollars
between April, 1978 and early 1980 to assure that there would be a successful Old dominion
Postcard Club. The “dollar” factor seldom crossed his mind, was practically never mentioned and
then only as a truly worthwhile expenditure. It was good for the hobby and good business.
When we had our first Annual show at The Village in December 1978 with 10 dealers, 17 exhibit
boards and enthusiastic collectors from far and wide, we really knew that things were falling into
place. The fact that all 10 of the dealers wanted to return in 1979 was another indicator that
things were going right. In April 1979, when we had about thirty-five people at our first
anniversary dinner meeting in the somewhat crowded quarters of The Village Snack Bar, Billy
knew and we all knew that his efforts and those of others had paid off. Postcard collecting was
an active organized hobby in central Virginia. The Old Dominion Postcard Club had a nucleus of
about forty members, a comfortable atmospheric meeting place and an organizational structure
that assured its continuation and growth.
In a very large way, W. N. “Billy” Fulwider’s vision and actions had created this reality.
(Footnote to History: In 1979, the Fulwiders sold Antique Village. In 1980 they created a new
antiques and collectibles center, “Little Dodge City,” on U. S. 1 north of Richmond.
At the conclusion of Old Dominion Postcard Club's first year, April 1979, there were 57 club
members. Club by-laws designated the first 25 members as Pioneers. All who were members on
the clubs' first anniversary were called Charter Members.
How many of those Pioneers and Charter Members are still active in the club or as non-members
are
still active in the hobby?
Pioneers:
John Whiting (2)
John McClintock (10)
Sylvia Regelson (20)
Jim Morrison (22)
Charter Members:
The four Pioneer members plus
W. H. "Ham" Bryson (40)
Jim Stubbins (42)
Bob "Dr. Nostalgia" Gardner (56)
In the first years of the club each new member was given a number as noted in parentheses
above.
recognize our least well known, but perhaps, most important “Founding Father”.
Witness the fact that only one member of our club was ever awarded a free lifetime membership.
That speaks for itself and suggests the significance of this person in the Club’s history.
W. N. “Billy” Fulwider will not be known to most of the newer or more distant club members. He
had not been active in club affairs for several years prior to his death in December, 1987.
But, in the beginning, 1978, Billy was a catalyst, provider, encourager, whose generosity and
enthusiasm created an atmosphere and a place for the creation of ODPCC.
As in all ventures, it takes the right ingredients to make something happen. In 1976, Roy Cox
and Bill Martin came to Richmond, set up and sold cards at a local motel and promoted the idea
of a club through advertisements and information at the motel. They collected names, addresses
and a dollar from people attending. The dollars were “seed money” for initial mailings to start a
club. Roy, Ben Duncan, Sylvia Regelson, Jean Trevett, Jim Stubbins, L. E. Haynes, Ricky
McMullin, myself and others talked about the idea of a club from time-to-time after that. But,
other ingredients were necessary. It was two years before they were forthcoming.
In 1971, Billy and Charlotte Fulwider opened an antiques and collectibles center north of
Richmond on U. S. 301. It was the first venture in this region that pulled many dealers together
under one roof. They named it “Antique Village.” Billy’s vision was broad and sweeping. He
liked just about everything under the wide umbrella of antiques and collectibles. He bought and
sold antique and classic cars, old tools, advertising signs, fine furniture, glassware, tobacco
tins.....just about anything old and interesting.....including, yes, you guessed it, postcards!
While not a postcard dealer in the modern sense, Billy always had a rack with cards in it, or a
shoe box with cards, or if you asked, he might have a stack tucked away in one of his many
“secret” drawers behind the counter in the snack bar area at The Village.
In 1977, I went to work for Billy at Antique Village and simultaneously opened a shop there. I
quickly learned that Billy was a serious collector of many things and his enthusiasm for collecting
carried over to his discussions with young and old alike. He promoted collecting not primarily as
a businessman who had items to sell to collectors. He believed in hobbies; saw them as
something good. He liked people who collected old things and encouraged everyone else to
start collecting.
In 1978, Billy was fully aware of my interest in postcards–both as a collector and dealer. When
discussions about a postcard club emerged, Billy’s mind started clicking. Antique Village could
serve the community in a new way. It could be the home base for various collecting groups. He
would provide space, open up in the evenings and do, as he would say, “whatever was
necessary” to provide for clubs who wished to meet at Antique Village. This would be another
way in which he could contribute to collecting and the growth of hobbies in this region. To start
the process, he would do everything he could to launch a successful postcard club. From 1978
until early 1980 Billy did just that.
Billy pulled out all the stops! He arranged and re-arranged different sections of the building so
that our organizational meeting April, 1978 and then, our monthly meeting would have plenty of
space, chairs, tables, etc. He kept his camera flashing to record the events of the first year.
When some rental space opened up in the back of the building in later summer 1978, he held
that space unrented for about four months so that we could be certain of having space for our
first annual show in December. He donated cards for fund-raising auctions; he bid actively at the
auctions. He allowed me to use “work time” as his employee to perform many of the duties
required to get the club off the ground–newsletters, arranging for programs and visiting dealers,
correspondence, show promotion, etc. Directly and indirectly, Billy contributed hundred of dollars
between April, 1978 and early 1980 to assure that there would be a successful Old dominion
Postcard Club. The “dollar” factor seldom crossed his mind, was practically never mentioned and
then only as a truly worthwhile expenditure. It was good for the hobby and good business.
When we had our first Annual show at The Village in December 1978 with 10 dealers, 17 exhibit
boards and enthusiastic collectors from far and wide, we really knew that things were falling into
place. The fact that all 10 of the dealers wanted to return in 1979 was another indicator that
things were going right. In April 1979, when we had about thirty-five people at our first
anniversary dinner meeting in the somewhat crowded quarters of The Village Snack Bar, Billy
knew and we all knew that his efforts and those of others had paid off. Postcard collecting was
an active organized hobby in central Virginia. The Old Dominion Postcard Club had a nucleus of
about forty members, a comfortable atmospheric meeting place and an organizational structure
that assured its continuation and growth.
In a very large way, W. N. “Billy” Fulwider’s vision and actions had created this reality.
(Footnote to History: In 1979, the Fulwiders sold Antique Village. In 1980 they created a new
antiques and collectibles center, “Little Dodge City,” on U. S. 1 north of Richmond.
At the conclusion of Old Dominion Postcard Club's first year, April 1979, there were 57 club
members. Club by-laws designated the first 25 members as Pioneers. All who were members on
the clubs' first anniversary were called Charter Members.
How many of those Pioneers and Charter Members are still active in the club or as non-members
are
still active in the hobby?
Pioneers:
John Whiting (2)
John McClintock (10)
Sylvia Regelson (20)
Jim Morrison (22)
Charter Members:
The four Pioneer members plus
W. H. "Ham" Bryson (40)
Jim Stubbins (42)
Bob "Dr. Nostalgia" Gardner (56)
In the first years of the club each new member was given a number as noted in parentheses
above.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
John Whiting
Pioneer Member
Pioneer Member
Sylvia Regelson
Pioneer Member
Pioneer Member
John McClintock
Pioneer Member
Pioneer Member
Jim Stubbins
Charter Member
Charter Member
"Dr. Nostalgia"
Charter Member
Charter Member
Old Dominion Postcard Club Richmond, VA