MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Pembroke barber Clate Dolinger cuts the hair of Donnie Kirk of Staffordsville. Dolinger has been cutting hair in Pembroke since 1962. A Civil War and family history fanatic, Dolinger can trace for a visitor to his tiny shop along U.S. 460 the detailed route of Union troops who marched through the area, skirmishing with Confederate forces.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

David Kanode of the Pearisburg public works department assembles a portion of a temporary stage for Living History Days on the grounds of the Andrew Johnston House in downtown Pearisburg. Each year the Giles County Historical Society puts on Living History Days, and this year's event coincides with the town's bicentennial.

PEARISBURG -- Happy 200th birthday.

Technically, Pearisburg residents have been celebrating their bicentennial since January with town council resolutions and activities.

But today and Sunday, this town of about 2,800 will throw itself a birthday party complete with Civil War re-enactments, parades, genealogical research, ice cream, barbecue and music.

Much of the action will happen downtown near the historic courthouse and on the grounds of the Andrew Johnston House, headquarters of the Giles County Historical Society. Each year the society puts on Living History Days. This year the event coincides with the town's bicentennial.

The house, built in 1829, belonged to Johnston, owner of the town's general store at the time. It is believed to be the oldest brick home in the county.

During the event, the society will offer genealogical research help and access to the county's archive for those interested in family history. Civil War and other re-enactors will also offer programs and tours on the grounds. The museum and the house will also be open for interpretive tours, and live bands will perform.

The town, chartered in 1808, was named for George Pearis, who settled in what is today Giles County after the American Revolution, said Temple Lawrence, a researcher with the society.

One of the area's first white settlers, Pearis -- whose Huguenot family was expelled from France along with other Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries -- came to Giles from South Carolina and started a ferry service in the community of Bluff City near present-day Pearisburg, Lawrence said.

Eventually, he became a successful businessman and prominent citizen, and the town he helped found became a thriving destination.

The location of Pearisburg at the juncture of what is now U.S. 460 and U.S. 11, contributed to its growth. But "the courthouse attracted people," Lawrence said.

It's said to be the second-oldest courthouse in Southwest Virginia.

In the days of the horse and buggy, people traveling to the courthouse often had to stay overnight to conduct their legal business. Law offices, hotels, restaurants and shops sprang up to serve this steady stream of visitors, making "Pearisburg ... a successful town for many, many years," Lawrence said.

"I remember going to the theater, the shoe store. You could buy just about anything you wanted at one time," said Clate Dolinger, a Pembroke barber who grew up in Giles County and since 1962 has kept the locals clipped and shaved.

A Civil War and family history fanatic, Dolinger can trace for a visitor to his tiny shop along U.S. 460 the detailed route of Union troops who marched through the area, skirmishing with Confederate forces.

"I'm glad to see them trying to preserve the history over there," Dolinger said of bicentennial organizers.

But by the 1960s, new roads were making it easier for people to shop in Roanoke and other areas, Lawrence said.

Businesses eventually faltered, and the town slipped into decline.

In the past few years, however, the town has experienced a kind of renaissance. New restaurants have opened, including The Bank, an upscale gourmet eatery, and the more casual, quirky Courthouse Cafe.

Both have brought new visitors and new energy to the town, Lawrence said.

Every summer, business owners and townspeople work to welcome the gaggles of Appalachian Trail hikers who have come to know the tiny town as good place to stop for a hot shower and an Internet connection.

Federal grant money has made possible the refurbishment of more than a dozen downtown storefronts. A new dress shop -- something Lawrence said the town hasn't had in 25 years -- has also opened.

This weekend, Lawrence and numerous other volunteers will get to show off the progress their community has made.