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Archiver > VASHENAN > 2004-06 > 1086916767


From: "Mary Miller" <>
Subject: Re: [VASHENAN] Trip from DC to Moorefield, VA in 1828
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 21:19:32 -0400
References: <e4.50317ba0.2dfa193c@aol.com> <003801c44f2d$f2b83e60$e235a3d8@DGS13821> <6.1.0.6.0.20040610190141.02a58e60@incoming.verizon.net>


I have only been to Staunton once, so it being a center of education,
religion, and art are just a feeling I got while there.

The main thing about it is - its court house was not burned during the Civil
War! Chalkley's Chronicles are on line by the way - go to Augusta Co Genweb
page. Since Augusta was once a much bigger area, those early records are a
gold mine for reseachers. It was settled by Scotch-Irish, Welsh, and German
speaking people. The first homestead was built by - I think - a Lewis in
early 1730s. The town was established in 1747. So it has been there a long
time.

They are building some kind of Art-History center, and also a Presidental
Library for Woodrow Wilson. His father moved into the Staunton Presbyterian
Church manse in 1855, Woodrow was born there in 1856. I think the manse was
built sometime mid 1840s.

I know that the area was full of Presbyterians, there is old Trinity Church.
I think most of the buildings are from 1860 - 1920, but there are some
older.

I see the town in 1840s as a place of culture for the time. Thru Rockfish
Gap you get to Charlottesville which is a beautiful city - and Thomas
Jefferson's stomping grounds. He helped built U. of Virginia in 1819 within
site of his house. So I think the education and culture just traveled thru
the Gap and into Staunton.

1791 the Staunton Academy was established - it was one of the first private
schools for boys in the Valley. 1790 saw religious meetings being held in
the Gospel Hill area. 1828 Western State Lunatic Asylum was built in
Staunton, and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind was built I know
before the Civil War and is still there. Stuart Hall (affiliated with
Episcopal Church since 1844), and Mary Baldwin College are both still there,
but there were several others in early years. Baldwin was begun in 1842 as
the Augusta Female Seminary and Stuart was a couple of years later as the
Virginia Female Institute.
Schools which no longer exist were Weslen Female institute, Staunton Female
Seminary and Staunton Academy. (Robert E Lee at one point sent his
daughters to Staunton). The 1870s say a boys military academy established
and also one of the first schools for the African-American community.

The first fire department had a female member - it was established I think
about 1790 or so. The railroad came thru in mid 1850s and really opened up
the town, but I think it was always the place where the families who could
afford to educate their children (including their daughters) from the 1840s
on sent them to Staunton.

It seems to have always been a center of art and music.....the band from
Staunton were allowed by Grant to keep their instruments at Appomatax and
marched in Grant's inaugral parade years later. I cannot remember their
name - something like Stonewall Brigade Band or something. Military bands
were very popular from 1840s on....think of Sousa.

I typed this fast from memory - so excuse any errors in information, dates,
or spelling. I was just really impressed with the city and having just come
from Woodstock (which is another gem) I could just see my ancestors passing
thru the town, perhaps even going there to the court house since their land
in Shenandoah Co at one point is registered in Augusta. And we are so lucky
they have so many of their records left.

Mary


----- Original Message -----
From: "Walt" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 7:07 PM
Subject: Re: [VASHENAN] Trip from DC to Moorefield, VA in 1828


> At 05:00 PM 10/06/2004, Mary Miller wrote:
> >... Staunton (a center of learning) ...
>
>
> Mary
>
> What was the "center of learning" in Staunton?
>
> I enjoyed your discussion of the current roads and the gaps they go
through
> into the Valley. The only one I recalled was Ashby Gap, which we could see
> from our front porch.
>
> Walt
>
>
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