Botetourt History

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:27:00 +0000

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."

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:22:00 +0000

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"

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:27:00 +0000

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.

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:13:00 +0000

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.

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:11:00 +0000

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.

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:35:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:11:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:08:00 +0000

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."

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:01:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:27:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:03:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:02:00 +0000

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.

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:00:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:12:00 +0000

"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).

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:32:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:49:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:49:00 +0000

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."

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:58:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:48:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:43:00 +0000

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

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:20:00 +0000

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.

Colonel George Hancock

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:37:00 +0000

George Hancock’s first appearance in Botetourt is in 1781 when he married Margaret Strother of Fincastle. He appeared again in 1782 when he obtained a license to practice law in the county.

In 1785, Hancock was appointed a colonel in the county militia; he also served as Botetourt County’s Commonwealth Attorney. He was the first citizen of Botetourt County to serve in the Congress of the United States. He later moved from Fincastle to Fotheringay in Montgomery County, where he died in 1820.

Hancock’s daughter Julia, known also as Judith, was born to Hancock and his wife Margaret on November 21, 1791, in Fincastle.

She wed William Clark, the famous explorer, in January 1808. Clark reportedly named the Judith River in Montana after the young girl he left in Fincastle while he sought a route to the Pacific.

Santillane

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:38:00 +0000

Santillane is the grand ol’ dame of Fincastle.
The pre-civil war estate was once home to Judith Hancock Clark, wife of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

As of 2008, the home had been restored and turned into a bed and breakfast.

The home is structurally very sound. During renovations, much of the decorative trim turned out to be plaster instead of painted wood as originally thought.

The house has 14 rooms, counting foyers and bathrooms. All have been restored.

The house boasts extremely high ceilings, a staircase that looks like something out of Gone with the Wind, a pewter chandelier with a date of 1726 etched into it, hardwood floors, original wallpaper in the living room, original glass in the windows, and elegant touches around the ceilings.

Legend holds the original Santillane burned and was rebuilt. However, signatures on the plaster, which has held up remarkably well, date back to the very early 1800s.

Santillane is on the National Register of Historic Places.

A marker on US 220 calls it “one of Botetourt County’s most distinguished properties. The Greek Revival house sits on a tract of land originally owned by Colonel George Hancock, a member of the United States Congress from 1793-1797. In 1808 Hancock's daughter, Judith, married General William Clark. Clark served from 1803 to 1806 as a leader of Thomas Jefferson's famous Lewis and Clark expedition which was instrumental in opening the West for American settlement.”

Troutville

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Botetourt County’s youngest town is Troutville.

The town is larger than the county’s oldest town, Fincastle, by about 100 people. Troutville has around 430 residences; Fincastle has 350.

Troutville was incorporated in 1956. The community is older than that, though.

The Troutville Town Hall was rebuilt in the late 1980s following a disastrous fire. The town hall also houses the town’s volunteer emergency services.

Troutville has a budget of over $310,000, including its utility services. The town has 202 housing units. Those residents have a per capita income of $17,807 and 54.2 percent of them are employed. They spend 21.3 minutes getting to work every day.

The community of Troutville existed well before 1900. One source indicated there was a “Troutsville” post office in the area as early as 1868; a 1879 article in The Fincastle Herald lauds the community for its ability to grow fruit.

One report said the name was changed to “Troutville,” removing the “s,” in 1881, when the railroad came through. In any event, the name apparently refers to families named “Trout” who lived in the area.

Hunter's Raid in Buchanan

AFirebaugh@gmail.com (CountryDew) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:37:00 +0000

The Town of Buchanan in Botetourt has three markers commemorating the 1864 Virginia Raid of Union General David Hunter.

Hunter's Raid began on June 5, 1864, with the Battle of Piedmont. He proceeded to Staunton, burning government buildings and supplies as he went.

Hunter's orders indicate he sent troops ahead of him into the town. His soldiers captured prisoners and canal barges loaded with supplies. However, a bridge across the James River was ruined in the process. Eleven dwellings also were burned.

Approximately 30,000 Union soldiers camped around the area. Mount Joy, one of the larger plantation homes, also burned.

Hunter took his men away from Buchanan via the Peaks of Otter, to Bedford. The raid ended at the Battle of Lynchburg on June 17-18, 1864 where Confederate General Jubal Early defeated the Union forces.

Following the Union defeat, Confederates forces pursued Union forces back through Bedford, then to Salem where they fought again at the Battle of Hanging Rock.