Gainesville Daily Register (Gainesville, Tex.), Vol. 127, No. 213, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Page: 5 of 10
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 -5
GAINESVILLE DAILY REGISTER
Travel
History permeates Shenandoah Valley gateway
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MAGNOLIAGROVE
We have discovered during decades of
travel that nearly every community, however
small, has a story worth telling.
It may be a tale about an individual who
once resided there or a long ago battle
fought nearby Perhaps it is a bridge with a
rich history or a house where something of
consequence took place. Unique museums,
monuments, stores and people offer insight
about a community’s character and history.
Discovering these stories makes travel more
enjoyable.
This proved true yet again during an early
June visit to Virginia’s Rockbridge County,
home to small towns, scenic vistas, multiple
universities, friendly residents and some
interesting history.
During our four-day stay we visited
an historic farm, toured a couple of fine
museums, visited with the newly-minted
owner of a 1700s grist mill, dined at some
excellent restaurants, knocked back a few
cold ones from local craft breweries and
learned about a restored drive-in theater.
Rockbridge County, flanked by the
Blue Ridge Mountains (a section of the
Appalachians) to the east and the Allegheny
Mountains to the west, is at the southern
terminus of the famed Shenandoah Valley.
Lexington, with 7,500 residents, is the
county’s largest community.
As you might expect in a rural and
mountainous region of Virginia, recreational
possibilities are plentiful, with hiking,
canoeing, kayaking, golfing, fishing and
horseback riding. One of the county’s best-
known features is the mammoth 215-foot tall
limestone arch that is part of Natural Bridge
State Park. The property was once owned
by Thomas Jefferson, who purchased 157
acres and built a cabin that would serve as a
retreat.
What we didn’t anticipate was the degree
to which the county is steeped in history.
It is home to military museums, Stonewall
Jackson’s home, the farm where Cyrus
McCormick developed the mechanical
reaper, and three universities, one of which
employed Robert E. Lee as president.
We gained an excellent overview of
Lexington during a narrated horse-drawn
carriage ride with owner Shana Layman,
who served as driver and guide. The ride
included numerous stops during which
David and Kay Scott are authors of "Complete Guide to
the National Park Lodges" (Globe Pequot). Visit them at
mypages.valdosta.edu/dlscott/Scott.html
Wade's Mill,
a working
mid-1700s
grist mill, is
open to the
public.
Kay and
David Scott/
CNHI Travel
Writers
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The northern part of Rockbridge County
boasts several interesting historical sites.
Cyrus McCormick’s farm and workshop,
where he improved and patented the
mechanical reaper, is located at Steel’s
Tavern. We enjoyed part of a quiet afternoon
exploring the workshop, gristmill, and
McCormick family home that are National
Historic National Landmarks.
Nearby, Wade’s Mill is a working grist mill
built in the mid-1700s and recently purchased
by an interesting fellow who purchased the
property. Three floors of the mill are open to
visitors and the water wheel is operated on
Shana offer insights on the town’s history.
The tour through downtown also included
residential areas with beautiful homes built
in the early and mid-1880s.
Lexington serves as home to two
university campuses — Virginia Military
Institute (VMI) and Washington and Lee
University — both of which enjoy a rich
history. VMI, founded in 1839 as the nation’s
first state-sponsored military college has an
interesting museum with exhibits relating
the school’s graduates to the nation’s history.
Famed Confederate general “Stonewall”
Jackson taught and drilled the cadets at
VMI. A second interesting museum honors
the accomplishments of George C. Marshall,
VMI’s most famous graduate.
Washington and Lee, founded in 1749,
enjoys a beautiful campus. The Lee Chapel
and Museum is named in honor of Robert
E. Lee, who served as president of the
university from 1865 until his death in 1870.
During his tenure, Lee made dramatic
changes to the university including the
addition of a law school. He and his family
members are buried in a mausoleum under
Lee Chapel. Lee’s favorite horse, Traveler, is
buried next to the chapel.
Saturdays and Sundays.
The sleepy village of Brownsburg was
once on a main stagecoach route and appears
today much as it did in the late 19th century.
The small museum is a gem and a stroll
down the main street is fun.
So, there you have it — a scenic and
uncrowded region of Virginia filled to
overflowing with some of our country’s most
storied history. Don’t wait to take advantage.
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Armstrong, Mark J. Gainesville Daily Register (Gainesville, Tex.), Vol. 127, No. 213, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 28, 2017, newspaper, June 28, 2017; Gainesville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1324004/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Cooke County Library.