1910

"A force of men is busily engaged installing the large crusher at the Catawba mines of the Cooper Silica and Glass Co." - The Roanoke Times, February 1, 2010, in "Your Community."

1909-1910

"The first snow of the season fell Christmas day. It was not a first-class snowfall, but it was sufficient to cover the streets [of Fincastle] by night and to make the trees resemble the Chistmas of days that old and young delight to recall." - The Roanoke Times, December 28, 2009, in "Your Community"

1909

"The Breckinridge home, one of the most attractive and one of the most costly homes in Botetourt County, was entirely destroyed by fire Sunday morning." - The Roanoke Times, October 26, 2009, "Looking Back"

The Breckinridge family settled in Botetourt County prior to the American Revolution. Members of the family fought in the Revolutionary War and served in the Virginia House of Delegates and in the United States Congress. Their home was called "Grove Hill."

See The Political Graveyard for a synopsis of information.

See Wikipedia for a profile of James Breckinridge.

See Google Books for exerpts of Lucy Breckinridge: Diary of a Young Girl, published by University of South Carolina Press.

1984

"Botetourt County's historic Tinker Mill was sold at auction Saturday for $63,900 to A&E Investment Properties." - The Roanoke Times, November 2, 2009, in "Your Community."

Tinker Mill, also called Nininger's Mill, is located in Daleville on what is now called Tinker Mill Road. At various times the mill has served as dinner theater and restaurant, an antiques shop, and a mill. The structure reportedly was built around 1847.

Visit this blog for a 2008 photo of the structure.

This structure is on the National Register of Historic Places:

Nininger's Mill ** (added 1980 - Building - #80004171)
S of Daleville, Daleville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Architecture, Industry
Period of Significance: 1825-1849, 1850-1874
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Agriculture/Subsistence
Historic Sub-function: Processing
Current Function: Commerce/Trade
Current Sub-function: Restaurant

The picture above was taken from the National Historic Register site.

1959

"The people of Troutville are grimly silent over the state's decision to build a convict camp within two miles of the town." - The Roanoke Times, November 30, 2009, in "Your Community"

2009

The Commonwealth of Virginia closes Camp 25, the Botetourt Correctional Unit located outside of Troutville, due to budgetary issues.

1984
"The Salem Publishing Co., owned by Ray Robinson and his wife, Jeanne, is purchasing the Vinton Messenger and the Fincastle Herald effective Oct. 1."

From The Roanoke Times, "Your Community", September 28, 2009

The Phoenix Bridge

This historic bridge is located about 2.6 miles from Eagle Rock in Botetourt County, Va. It is one lane across Craig's Creek on Rt. 685. The roadway is made of wood.

The bridge was constructed in 1887 and was one of the first steel bridges in this end of Virginia. It is called a Phoenix Bridge because it was built by The Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Iron instead of timber use in bridges began around 1840; two iron bridges were built across the Erie Canal in New York about that time.

In 1850 an iron railroad bridge collapsed, which set the use of iron back a bit.However, by the 1860s it was in demand and after the Civil War there was a boom in bridge-building.

Many companies formed to take advantage of the need, including the Phoenix Bridge Company.

The Phoenix Company's distinctive product was the Phoenix post, a compression member composed of four flanged segments riveted together, which is used in this bridge.

It is formed of rolled wrought iron.