Robert Huffard Porterfield (December 21, 1905 â€" October 28, 1971)
was an American actor and theatre director who was best known for
founding the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. The theatre was
founded in 1933 during the Great Depression. In 1946, it was
designated as the state theatre of Virginia. He served as artistic
director of the year-round repertory theatre until his death. His most
prominent, credited film role was in the 1941 film Sergeant York in
which he portrayed Zeb Andrews, a local rival of the title
character.Robert Porterfield was born in Austinville, in Wythe County,
Virginia, the fifth generation of Porterfields born in the United
States. His great-great-great-grandfather arrived in the American
colonies from Scotland in about 1760, probably through the port of
Philadelphia. Like many immigrants of Scots, Irish, Scots-Irish, or
German descent, he traveled from Pennsylvania down the Wilderness Road
into the lush and fertile Shenandoah Valley. Finding that most of the
best land was already staked out and occupied, he pushed on until
finding some "unclaimed" real estate in Southwest Virginia, what is
now called Glade Spring. All such colonists ignored the claims of
Native Americans to their traditional territories.Born December 21,
1905 near Austinville, Virginia, Robert was the third of six sons of
Daisy (Huffard) and William Breckenridge Porterfield.In 1909, Robert's
father accepted a position as overseer of some 20,000 acres (81 km2)
of land and moved the family to Saltville, Virginia. The family's new
home was a large farmhouse about a mile south of the town. Robert and
his brothers shared in all the work of the farm. At the age of seven,
Robert staged his first play for cousins, with extended family as
players and audience, in the family's two-story barn.
was an American actor and theatre director who was best known for
founding the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. The theatre was
founded in 1933 during the Great Depression. In 1946, it was
designated as the state theatre of Virginia. He served as artistic
director of the year-round repertory theatre until his death. His most
prominent, credited film role was in the 1941 film Sergeant York in
which he portrayed Zeb Andrews, a local rival of the title
character.Robert Porterfield was born in Austinville, in Wythe County,
Virginia, the fifth generation of Porterfields born in the United
States. His great-great-great-grandfather arrived in the American
colonies from Scotland in about 1760, probably through the port of
Philadelphia. Like many immigrants of Scots, Irish, Scots-Irish, or
German descent, he traveled from Pennsylvania down the Wilderness Road
into the lush and fertile Shenandoah Valley. Finding that most of the
best land was already staked out and occupied, he pushed on until
finding some "unclaimed" real estate in Southwest Virginia, what is
now called Glade Spring. All such colonists ignored the claims of
Native Americans to their traditional territories.Born December 21,
1905 near Austinville, Virginia, Robert was the third of six sons of
Daisy (Huffard) and William Breckenridge Porterfield.In 1909, Robert's
father accepted a position as overseer of some 20,000 acres (81 km2)
of land and moved the family to Saltville, Virginia. The family's new
home was a large farmhouse about a mile south of the town. Robert and
his brothers shared in all the work of the farm. At the age of seven,
Robert staged his first play for cousins, with extended family as
players and audience, in the family's two-story barn.
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