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Information on Civil War Markers
 Stevens Cottage (Shenandoah VA) The original office of Shenandoah Land and
Improvement Company during the railroad boom in the late 1800's, later
used as a printing office and private school, the cottage was
purchased by Misses Mary and Edna Stevens, sisters, as a private residence
in 1902. After their death, the cottage was purchased by the
Shenandoah Heritage Center in 1974 and is listed on the Virginia Historic
and National Historic Landmarks Registry. The cottage serves a
satellite office for the Chamber of Commerce during the summer and fall
months. 
Calendine (Hamburg Road, Luray VA) Built
in 1840 for Townsend Young who ran a general store and stagecoach stop in
the adjacent building. Calendine is best known as the residence of the
renowned Barbee family. William Randolph Barbee (1818-1868) was famed as a
classic sculptor whose life-sized statues were highly praised by the
critics. He was commissioned to complete the frieze on the west wing of
the U.S. Capitol, but, the outbreak of the Civil War interrupted his work
which he was never able to resume.
William Randolph's son, Herbert Barbee, (1848-1936)
was born in Page County. Like his father, he studied art in Italy,
producing various bas-reliefs, statues, and busts. After his return to America he had
studios in New York, Baltimore, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Washington City,
and Luray where he used the adjacent store at Calendine. His legacy to Page County is the Confederate Monument on
Luray's East Main Street. It was unveiled with great celebration on July
21, 1898.
The Page County Heritage
Association purchased the property in the spring of 1988 for the
restoration and development as the Page County Heritage Museum. Many items
of interest are already housed there. Monetary gifts are sincerely
appreciated, as are the donation, or loan, or vintage furniture, clothing,
linens, books, photos, documents, or other items for display.
Massanutten
School (Opposite Inn Lawn Park, Luray VA).
This school was in use from 1875-1937. The restored one-room
school was moved from its original site in 1972, restored and
furnished through citizens donations. Inside are sixteen
original double desks; a one hundred year old cast iron stove; a
handmade teacher's desk and chair; a flag pole used during the
Civil War, an 1880 school house bell; and numerous photos and
displays. Open by appointment only. ( 540-743-3915).
The School was a donation from Page County residents, Tommy and
Barbara Jennings.
Hamburg Country Store (Route 766-Hamburg
Road-Luray VA) Step back in time by visiting this refurbished
country store. Experience "going to the store" of the
1940's rural Page County. The original store was established in
the early 1900's and as the population of the community grew, so did the
store. Open on Saturdays from Memorial to labor Day 10:00-4:00 or
by appointment. (540-743-3915)
 The White
House Bridge (US Hwy 211 West, Luray VA)
The White House Bridge takes its name from the small white building which
can be seen today, located immediately west of the present-day bridge on
US Hwy 211. This early structure was the first home and a meeting house of
pioneer Martin Kauffman, who for a time served as minister to a small
Mennonite congregation. White House and White House Bridge played a
critical Civil War role during Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862.
The Bridge was burned at 4AM on June 2, 1862, just an hour before the
arrival of Union forces attempting to overtake and block the forces of
General "Stonewall" Jackson. General Jackson later went on
to defeat both General Fremont and General Shields separately at Cross
Keys and Port Republic on June 8-9. 1862.
 The Mauk Meeting House ( Route
766-Hamburg Road-Luray VA) Built for religious purposes by the
"Neighbors," mainly Mennonites from Switzerland and southern Germany. The
outside of the pine log walls were covered in 1851 with white
weatherboards and the structure was roofed with chestnut shingles. A
central heating chimney and tin roof were installed later. Heat was
provided by a large six-plate stove made at the local iron furnace and
inscribed "D. Pennebacker - 1799." Early Mennonite ministers were John
Roads; Martin, David and Michael Kauffman; Jacob Strickler and Abraham
Heiston. Early Baptist ministers were James Ireland and John Koontz. Mauck
Meeting House was used by the Baptists from 1790 until 1899.
The first land speculator in the Massanutten area was Jacob Stover who
bought two 5,000-acre tracts from the Virginia Colonial Council and
undertook an obligation to move settlers to the area as a condition of the
sales. Jacob Stover was a native of Switzerland who came to Virginia by
way of Pennsylvania. Stover brought his first settlers to the South Fork
of the Shenandoah in 1727. Jacob Stover is reported by the Page News and
Courier of Luray, Va. (Sept 24, 1959 issue), to be a great-great-great grandfather of the late President Dwight David Eisenhower.
Willow Grove Mill at Old Mundellsville on the west branch of the Hawksbill
Creek is typical of flour mills found in this area in the late 1800's and
early 1900's. The place is of special interest because Mundellsville was
the birthplace of Dr. Henry Ruffner, who was the first state
superintendent of schools in Virginia under the constitution of 1869.
Peter, the first Ruffner in Page County, owned the land from the mouth of
the Hawksbill Creek up both sides for 6 or 8 miles. Joseph's farm lay next
to his father's on both sides of the Hawksbill and included the north fork
of the creek where the two branches unite. He had a grist mill and a saw
mill. The place is now known as Willow Grove Mill. Flour was produced here
from about 1885 to 1943. |
