Botetourt History

2011-12-16T07:56:00.000-05:00

The Town of Fincastle, on the night of December 15, 2011.

Christmas lights on the Voter Registrar building.

Christmas lights on Main Street.

Fincastle Methodist Church

The town from the Godwin Cemetery.

Fincastle Presbyterian Church from Godwin Cemetery.

The Courthouse from Godwin Cemetery.

Another shot of the town from Godwin Cemetery.

Buchanan's Swinging Bridge

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The pictures below are of the swinging bridge in Buchanan. The bridge is used for foot traffic and crosses the James River.

It has an interesting history.

This is the only such structure to cross the James River. The bridge was initially constructed as a toll bridge by the Buchanan Turnpike Company. The toll was a nickel per person, wagon, or animal.

The bridge is 366 feet long. Some parts of the bridge, most notably the rock piers, date back to 1851, and Civil War troops used it to cross the river.

The bridge, then a covered bridge, was burned in 1864 by General John McCausland in an effort to keep Union troops from using the bridge to cross into Buchanan to burn parts of it during Hunter's Raid.

After the Civil War, the bridge was rebuilt, but a flood washed it away in 1877. The bridge subsequently has been replaced several times, finally becoming a pedestrian bridge in 1938.

The bridge is featured on the Town of Buchanan's official seal.

The Botetourt County Courthouse

2011-06-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

Botetourt County's Courthouse reopened in 1975 following a devastating fire in 1970. A story about the fire, along with a picture of the old courthouse and a photo of the courthouse burning, may be viewed here.

The county's records, fortunately, were in a fire-safe room-sized vault, and saved. As a result of this fire, the Virginia General Assembly in 1975 passed the Virginia Records Act, which mandates microfilming and otherwise archiving records so that they may be stored at a second site, the Library of Virginia in Richmond, for safekeeping.

The county's courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Courthouse was rebuilt in the Greek Revival style, and this courthouse and the one before it are thought to follow plans initially created by Thomas Jefferson, though this is has not been proven to everyone's satisfaction.

The original log courthouse was built in 1772 before being replaced around 1848 by the brick courthouse that burned.

This is the courtroom as seen from the balcony. Note that the jury is seated around the judge's bench, and thus the defendants must face the jury when they are in the stand, which is the space at the far lower right of the photo.

The Botetourt County Museum

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The Botetourt County Museum is located in Fincastle in what is called "Courthouse Square," at the rear of the courthouse. The building used to be a law office, and one room is set up to resemble that. The structure also was part of a hotel complex at one point.

Botetourt County was created in 1770 from Augusta County. It was named for Norbourne Berkley, Lord Botetourt, who was a beloved governor of Virginia from 1768 to 1770. As you can see from the photo of the map above, at one time the county went all the way to the Mississippi, taking in Kentucky to the south and going as far north as a little piece of Wisconsin. People who lived far away were excused from jury duty, by the way.

The museum has many period pieces from prominent families. Displays include housewares, toys, clothing, and utensils, among other things.

This is difficult to see because of reflections, but this houses what is believed to be the original bell from the first courthouse. The county has had at least three different courthouses. In 1970, the courthouse burned but the records were saved because they were inside a massive room-sized fireproof vault. The courthouse was rebuilt from plans that are said to have originated with Thomas Jefferson, though no one is 100 percent certain of this.

As a piece of trivia, my husband's father fought the courthouse fire as he was a volunteer fireman at the time.

Speaking of relatives, this coffee grinder belonged to Philip Firebaugh, who is my husband's great, great, great, great grandfather. Philip Firebaugh came to Botetourt in 1818, allegedly with saddlebags full of gold, and purchased property known today as Stonelea (or the old Philip Firebaugh place if you're an old timer). It is no longer in the family.

This is a portrait of James Breckinridge. Breckinridge was a lawyer and statesman, and the museum is located in what used to be his law office. Breckinridge also fought in the American Revolution. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates and in Congress. He assisted Jefferson with the construction of the University of Virginia. He owned a vast amount of property, which was and still is called "Grove Hill."

One of his descendants, Lucy Breckinridge, lived at Grove Hill and kept a diary during the Civil War, which is sort of famous. I've read it and it's quite an interesting look at life during those turbulent times. The book is for sale at the museum.

2010-02-22T10:27:00.000-05:00

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."

2010-02-21T00:22:00.000-05:00

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"

2010-02-20T00:27:00.000-05:00

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.

2010-02-19T00:13:00.000-05:00

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.

2010-02-18T17:11:00.001-05:00

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.

2009-09-28T10:35:00.002-04:00

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

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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.

Major Kent

2009-09-07T11:08:00.001-04:00

From The Roanoke Times
Historical Community Calendar
September 7, 2009

1934 (75 years ago)

"Apparently as indifferent as any person in the packed courtroom, Major Robert C. Kent, Jr. ... sat in circuit court here [Fincastle] this afternoon at 3:30 and heard read a jury verdict that said he was guilty of kidnapping Mrs. Mary Jane Hastings, 50, from Blue Ridge Springs."

2009-05-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

1959
"'Miss Botetourt County of 1954' has been named Mrs. Virginia of 1959.' Down at Virginia Beach yesterday, Mrs. Bruce Ikenberry of Roanoke ... walked off the winner over eight contestants in a day-long contest."

-- The Roanoke Times, "Your Community," printed on Monday, May 25, 2009

2009-05-25T15:27:00.002-04:00

1959
"Greenfield, historic Botetourt County landmark where George Washington visited when he was a surveyor, was razed by fire early today."

-- From The Roanoke Times, "Your Community" on Monday, May 25, 2009

Botetourt's Beginnings

2009-05-18T00:03:00.000-04:00

From History of Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, By Lewis Preston Summers, copyright 1903, p. 106

Quote

[I]n the year 1769, the House of Burgesses of Virginia passed an act for the division of Augusta county, and all that part of Augusta county lying south and west of the North river, near Lexington, Va., was given the name of Botetourt county, and thus a new county was formed, which included all that part of Virginia in which we live and about which I write.

The act establishing Botetourt county provided that from and after the 31st day of January next ensuing, 1770, the said county and parish of Augusta be divided into two counties and parishes by a line beginning at the Blue Ridge, running north 55 degrees west to the confluence of Mary's creek, or the South river, with the north branch of James river, thence up the same to the mouth of Carr's creek, thence up said creek to the mountain, thence north 55 degrees west as far as the courts of the two counties had it extended, and further.

Whereas the people situated on the waters of the Mis- sisippi in the said county of Botetourt will be very remote from their courthouse and must necessarily become a separate county as soon as their numbers are sufficient, which probably will happen in a short time, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that the inhabitants of that part of said county of Botetourt which lies on the said waters shall be exempted from the payment of any levies to be laid by the said county court for the purpose of building a courthouse and prison for said county.

It will thus be seen that the organization of the county of Bote- tourt was intended to be temporary only.

End Quote

Germans of the Valley

2009-05-18T00:02:00.003-04:00

From: "The Germans of the Valley," by John Walter Wayland,The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume X,No. 1, July 1902, pp 38-39.

Quote:

The German Lutherans, German Reformed Mennonites, Cal-vinists, Dunkers, etc., forced their way up through the Valley, and furnished a varying percentage in the population of Augusta, Rockbridge. Botetourt, Roanoke, Craig, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe counties. Prof. M. F. Maury{Physical Survey of Virginia,,\9>"i$) says: "This county, Augusta, as well as Rock- ingham, Shenandoah and Frederick, was settled up in a great measure by Germans, and the population has retained its German character." In Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery and Craig counties the Germans met a number of Swiss who emigrated from North Carolina to Virginia. Schuricht quotes Captain R. B. Moorman, of Roanoke, assaying: " Rockbridge, Botetourt, Roanoke, Craig, Montgomery and Pulaski present a grateful field to the German-American historian." Salem, in Roanoke county, was for many years almost the exclusive domain of the Lutherans, and some think that a large number of German Chapels and other meeting houses may have formerly existed in the more remote valleys of the mountains.

Through the kindness of Judge W. B. Simmons, of Fincastle, Va., I am able to give the names of a number of German families that located in Botetourt county immediately after the Revolution. These, however, are evidently not the first Germans to settle in that county. " The earliest deeds to the German element in this [Botetourt] county," says Judge Simmons, " bear date from 1783. The first, or among the first, German settlers
were the Graybills, Simmons, Keplers, Gishs, Broughs, Sniders, Harshbargers, Bechmers. Amens and others. The Amens now spell their name ' Ammen.' All came in the '8o's. These Germans came into this county directly after the Revolutionary war, from Pennsylvania and Maryland,—mostly from Pennsylvania. The German element I think you will find came into Virginia about the same time all along up the Valley, a great many of them stopping in what are now Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Augusta, and the lower counties. I do not think many stopped in what is now Rockbridge. The Germans looked for good land, and have, as a general rule, held on to it. They evidently had
money and seem to have paid cash for 1heir lands, and paid as much for their lands then as the same lands are worth now. As a rule the German element are a frugal, sturdy, honest folk. For many years they made the mistake of not educating their children;* but for some years many of them are educating their children, many of whom are filling the various professions with ability."

End Quote

1785. BOTETOURT SEMINARY: BOTETOURT COUNTY.

2009-05-17T14:00:00.002-04:00

The following information came from The Beginnings of Public Education in Virginia, 1776 - 1860, by A. J. Morrison, Issued by the State Board of Education as a Report Introductory to the Series of Annual Reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1917.

Quote:

An act incorporating trustees for establishing and conducting a seminary of learning, at the town of Fincastle, in the county of Botetourt:

"Whereas it is the interest of all wise, civilized and free govern'* ments, to facilitate as much as may be, the diffusion of useful knowledge among its inhabitants: And whereas to this end sundry persons of the county of Botetourt have given considerable donations, for the purpose of endowing and supporting a seminary of learning, at the town of Fin- castle, in the said county, and have represented to this present general assembly, that their designs would be much accelerated were a law to pass incorporating them into a body
politic, etc., etc.

The said president, wardens, and directors, or any seven of them, shall have full power and authority to meet at such times as they shall think proper, and determine in all cases where a greater number of poor and indigent apply for admissioa than the funds ean support, (to whom the preference shall be given) and to continue those so admitted for
such length of time as they, or a majority of them, shall think necessary, having regard to
the genius and capacity of the students, and of directing the study of such to any branch of
.literature, to which in their opinion the genius of the student is best adapted. . . . The
treasurer, previous to his entering on the duties of his office, shall give bond, with security
to be approved by the corporation, in the penalty of three thousand pounds.'1

This act of incorporation was amended and re-enacted in 182*4, provision being made for
a new board of trustees (as if the institution hact lapsed); the powers of the new board were the same as those of the old. Botetourt Seminary, as planned was an institution of extraordinary designs.

Martin's Gazetteer gives the town of Fincastle an academy in 1834. This may or may not
have been the seminary, for in their first report to the second auditor, the trustees of the
seminary state that the institution "opened in May 1837," with forty students, the Rev. Thomas Brown, principal, and that there were fifty to sixty students in sight. This report may be taken to mean that Botetourt seminary had been closed for some years before 1837. The next report of the trustees gives the seminary fifty students, a principal and assistant, supported by the tuition fees, plus an appropriation of $500. Apparently the
guaranteed salary was from endowment. In their report for the year 1841, the trustees give the number of pupils as fifty-seven. Major Joseph W. Anderson (b. 1836), was a pupil at Botetourt seminary about 1845: "When not yet ten years old, he was sent to the Botetourt seminary, then under the charge of a graudate of the Virginia Military Institute."

It is regretted that more information is not to be had regarding this interesting foundation.*

In 1838 the James River Academy, Botetourt county, was incorporated.

Hening, Statutes at Large, XII, 201.
Acts of Assembly, 1824, p. 75.
Martin, Gazetteer of Virginia, p. 328.
Doc. No. 4, in Journal and Documents, 1839, 1841-42, 1842-43.
Johnson, The University Memorial, Baltimore, 1871, p. 3S3.

1909

2009-05-11T13:12:00.003-04:00

"By the formation of of the Botetourt Canning Association perfected at a meeting held yesterday in Troutville by the majority of the substantial growers and canners of the county, a step was taken which is expected to be of great benefit to the canning interests of this part of the state."

As reported in The Roanoke Times, "Your Community," as part of its Looking Back section, May 11, 2009 (from the newspaper archives).

2008-09-01T06:32:00.000-04:00

1983
"Most of Botetourt County was isolated from the rest of the world Wednesday as a result of a breakdown in the Roanoke and Botetourt Telephone System."

From The Roanoke Times, Looking Back, August 31, 2008

2008-08-25T06:49:00.001-04:00

1958 (50 years ago)
"The 92-year-old Fincastle Herald published at the Botetourt County seat has been sold. Hayden Sublett, publisher of the New Castle Record, said today he purchased the Fincastle paper."

From The Roanoke Times, Looking Back, August 25, 2008

2008-08-04T06:49:00.001-04:00

From The Roanoke Times

1998 (10 years ago)
"Although construction on a welcome center for the Botetourt Center at Greenfield is a while off, county officials already are collecting and storing artifacts to display in it. The artifacts, some dating back to 6,000 B.C., include arrowheads and spearheads, flakes, hammerstone pieces, pottery, bottle fragments and an 1889 Liberty Head nickel. They were unearthed by Preservation Technologies Inc., which conducted a cultural resource management study of the entire 922-acre proposed industrial park/ business complex that also will include an education and training center and historic preservation area."

2008-07-28T06:58:00.000-04:00

Looking Back
Roanoke Times - Roanoke,VA,USA
1908 (100 years ago)"It is reported that two parties came to Roanoke several days ago from Chicago and closed a deal with Mr. K. Stoner, of Fincastle, Va., for the exclusive rights to the wonderful wheat which Mr. Stoner has developed within the past few years."

Fincastle

2008-06-10T11:48:00.000-04:00

Fincastle is Botetourt County’s oldest incorporated town, and the smallest. It has about 350 people.

The current Fincastle Town Hall was built in the early 1990s. The town has a water and sewer system.

The town’s total budget, including utilities, is about $450,000. The town residents have the highest per capita income of Botetourt County’s three towns, at $19,954. There are 142 total housing units in the town, and 62.4 percent of the citizens are in the labor force. These folks travel 22.2 minutes to their jobs.

The town was originally called Miller’s Mill, then Fincastle, in 1772. In 1794 the town changed its name to Monroe, but that didn’t stick. The town incorporated in 1821.

The town is the county seat of Botetourt and houses the Botetourt County Courthouse and a multitude of historic records. Many of the historic structures are listed on the National Register.

Thirty-six Confederate soldiers are buried at Fincastle Presbyterian Church and a walking tour of this quaint town is available, guided or unguided, through Historic Fincastle, Inc.

Buchanan

2008-06-09T11:43:00.000-04:00

As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Buchanan was Botetourt County’s largest town with 1,233 people.

Buchanan offers garbage collection to its citizens along with additional police protection, paid mostly by a state grant.

The town has an annual budget of about $750,000, the most of any of the three towns. That includes its water system fund and a real estate and personal property tax. Neither Troutville nor Fincastle charge real estate and personal property taxes.

While Buchanan has the largest budget of any county town, its citizens have the smallest per capita income at $16,238. There are 579 total housing units in the town, and 61.7 percent of the folks are in the labor force. Most have to travel 26 minutes to get to their jobs.

The town was nearly devastated by the 1985 flood. Revitalization efforts begun in the early 1990s have turned the town into a true Main Street area.

The town in its early days was a major James River crossing.

Downtown Buchanan contains the county’s highest concentration of historic homes, stores and churches and makes up the county’s largest National Register Historic District.

The town was established in 1811-12 and in 1881-1882 Buchanan incorporated, bringing the nearby community of Pattonsburg, on the north side of the James River, into its boundaries. Buchanan adjusted its boundaries in the early 1990s in order to take in more people.

Blue Ridge Springs

2008-06-09T10:20:00.003-04:00

1933: "Purchase of the Blue Ridge Springs Hotel by Major Robert Kent, of Beacon, N.Y., dissolved the Blue Ridge Springs Hotel Co., Inc. ... and placed the resort under new management."

From Looking Back: The Roanoke Times, June 9, 2008.