Elkton Va..

Steve and I took a day trip November 4.  We wanted to see the leaves before they finished turning and most already done  so.   Pretty drive to the mountains.

Elkton, an incorporated town in Rockingham county Virginia.   Formerly known as Conrad's store built by George Conrad.
 Adam Miller  was one of the first European -  Americans to settle here and a native of Germany.   Miller purchased 820 acres in 1741 which included a large lithium spring near Elkton.   He sold 280 acres to his son in law, Jacob Baer.  The spring on Millers land is still known as Bear Lithium spring.
We ate at this little diner and across the street had to get a closer look at this old home.  Beautiful I am sure in its day as is the beautiful picturesque farmland that surrounds it.

I hope it will be restored.  Looks the worst for wear though.

Pretty fields and barns surrounding it.

On the way back home we took a more scenic route.  We noticed the signs Swannanoa.  We haven't been able to visit this place which has been about 23 or 24 years ago.  Happened to be it was the last two day week end it would be open until May of 2019.  So excited to be able to tour it.
More on the Mansion in next post.

Swannanoa.  The summer home of  James and Sallie Mae Dooley.  Their Richmond Virginia home is Maymont.

scenic views to Raphine Va.

On our way to Raphine Virginia to see the mill

Caught a glimpse of this wreck on our way to Raphine.    Gave pause and prayer

 sharing with

Our World Tuesday

Orchard trip

A side trip to Carter mountain a week ago to check out the apples and pumpkins.    

Nice gift shop with some interesting gifts.     

Steve and I enjoyed an icy or icee made from apple cider - so good.

 I am standing in back of the shop taking a picture of the orchard.

Interesting history of the mountain

the Honorable John Carter,  Esquire obtained by grant - 9,350 acres of land which embraced the whole of what is called "Carter Mountain in 1729.

Check out this site where information is found

 http://www.cartermountainorchard.com/about history

vineyard

these were huge

gourd pumpkins

Something for everyone here.   There wine tasting here , made from their grapes

Smithfield Virginia Church

Known as the "Old Brick Church" as it was called prior to the Revolution.    Historic St. Luke's Church is the oldest existing church of English foundation in America circa 1632 and the only surviving Gothic structure in the nation.

  It was  Anglican originally and after the Revolutionary war it became Episcopal.

windows in the east end 

 

About 99 percent of the brick you see here is original 

A wicket door you can see here

No Virginia colonial church had stained glass windows.  The original was diamond paned leaded glass.  Windows were replaced in the 1900's.   The  Victorian style remains in place today. 
Interior Jacobean finishing has  Tuscan columns formed from the trunk of a tree.
I didn't get pictures of the inside because it seems as usual for us it wasn't open the day we were there. 

  Immediately surrounding the church is the historic  graveyard.

Historical graveside Angel

The detail after so many years remain

I am sharing with inspired Sunday

Port Royal Va.

Following are  pictures that Steve and I took around  Port Royal early in the fall of 2011.   We go maybe once a month.  We enjoy the food at the Tavern across the street where we have lunch.  The  prices are reasonable, plus  a stroll around  the neighborhood  in the historical area to walk off the lunch is a good idea.   

Brockenbrough-Peyton house

Regarded as the finest mansion in Port Royal

Once owned by Champ Brockenbrough and then the Peyton family before 1865

here is where John Wilkes Booth and David Herold came for lodging

Sarah Jane Peyton after serving them tea,  didn't like the looks of them

She suggested they try the farm of Richard Garrett which is two miles south of Port Royal

--=We all know what happened after that----

decaying out building

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Masonic bldg 1852

A pleasant day for walking and this shot has some of the pretty clipped box on the way to the lodge

A multi purpose structure -  the ground floor served as an Academy

Port Royal town hall and then a General Store

The second floor was home to the Kilwinning Crosse Masonic Lodge

Chartered in 1754 , it is the second oldest in Virginia

Since many members came on horseback the meetings were held on or before the full moon,  so the riders would have moonlight to ride home by.

Check out the brick work - layer on layer

This home had one of  the prettiest yards with clipped hedges - Dally house

Dally house 1850

Records are lost to this pre - civil war home

Typical of the post colonial era is the way the gardens and yard is laid out and planted

brick edged walkways and geometric topiary reminds me of Williamsburg gardens

pretty side view from the street

Timberlake (oldest part 1750) didn't get a picture of the whole house.   Felt strange taking pics with people in the yard.

expanded over the years to 15 rooms , it was a small cottage in the beginning

didn't get the name of this one

Cattlet house 1760- first recorded owner was a John Buckner

Remained in Buckner family til 1805

Farish printing circa 1750

Believed originally to ba a tavern,  taverns were plentiful .  Converted to a print shop in 1929 and lasted into

the 1980's

Fox Tavern 1767 - A Port Royal sea captain , William Fox received a liscense to operate a Tavern in his home in 1755.    George Washington and Thomas Jefferson often visited this Tavern and there are receipts recording their stays. Bought by John Catltet in 1816 and turned into a private residence.

I like the worn steps

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below is  Riverview -Built on a 1757 foundation - shelling from Union gunboats damaged the home during Civil war

In 1865 - John Wilkes Booth fleeing after assassinating President Lincoln ,  crossed the Rappahannock and landed here.  He was invited in but declined and made his way to Brockenbrough - Peyton house

The only female commissioned nurse during the Civil War - Sallie Thompkins "Nurse of the Confederacy" bought this home

and lived here til 1905

Murray house circa 1750

Hard to believe it's still standing,  you can see it tilted some in the siding

May be one of the towns oldest structures.    Built by James Bowie who operated a ferry that crossed the Rappahannock to Port Conway.  Sits on a high bluff and is sited into the slope.  Large sandstone boulders are contained in the interior of the foundation

I didn't get picture of the house

Above is Pearson house c. 1775

the first structure on this property was in place before 1787

John and Elizabeth Pearson bought the property in 1804

and completed the present structure.

When Port Royal was platted in 1744 it was in the English colonial parish of St. Marys formed in 1677

In 1835 St. Peters was built in the Gothic Greek Revival style



Townfield 1745-50   1790 and 1837

The original one and a half story Georgian central passage dwelling was built by a wealthy merchant and businessman Robert Gilchrist.   Before his death in 1790 he added a new wing.

In a small cemetary on the property some members of the Gilchrist as well as some lightfoot family are buried.

Tennant house c. 1760

Tennant was a Port Royal doctor

This home was constructed in two phases,  one nearer the corner is the oldest part

The Dr. was chosen to quarrantine sailors suspected of harboring smallpox

One room became Caroline countys first hospital

sold for $500.00 in 1847 To a Baltimore merchant

Another fine home is the  Hord House 1819

Just a barn in someones yard in the neighborhood I liked.   I do love barns.

Care - Holloway House c. 1770

Built by Scottish Immigrant - Andrew Leckie

Served as the Port Royal Tavern - later became a retail store

Merchant and land speculator John Hipkins and his wife Elizabeth purchased the structure  and turned into a home in 1784

House was purchased by William and Margaret Care in 1825

beginning in 1878 - Frances Brockenbrough Holloway

lived all of her 92 years here.

There were a few more homes I did not get a shot of or that didn't turn out

I want to ride through at Christmas to see how the places are decorated.

Happy Sunday

betsy