Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090076
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Three hundred years is a long time to wait between visits.
Back in 1671, when the first known explorers passed through, there wasn't much to see hereabouts - just a winding stream valley and a grassy meadow, the last stop before climbing a tall mountain chain.
Participants in Shawsville's first modern-day Historic Tour on Saturday will see that, over time, things have changed.
Since the early days, this community has been attacked by Indians, inspected by George Washington and visited by cure-seekers. Now the world passes by this village on U.S. 460 or Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.
Vestiges of Shawsville's past remain, however, and that's what history buffs can inspect during the tour.
"It's our moment to shine," said villager Pam Lane, one of the tour's organizers.
Sponsored by the Montgomery County Museum, the event begins at 9 a.m. at the White Memorial Church, and may last until 4 or 5 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 18. You need to provide your own transportation and lunch.
During the day, the tour will stop at a number of locations in and around Shawsville, including:
Alleghany Springs and Crockett Springs, the sites of two 19th century resorts that brought thousands of seasonal sojourners to the area for the medicinal mineral waters.
Fort Vause, the site of an 18th century frontier outpost that the Father of Our Country evaluated during the French and Indian War. Washington called the fort "a place of very great importance." Evidently the marauding Indians who destroyed the facility in 1756 agreed.
Walnut Grove Farm and its 19th century mill, which ground a lot of grist in its time.
Thomas Lewis' grave, where this participant in the ill-fated 1808 Lewis-McHenry duel resides. That affair of honor resulted in the deaths of both men and influenced Virginia's General Assembly to ban dueling with rifles.
Other historic buildings along Oldtown Road, including an 18th century tavern, an original Presbyterian manse and the original White Memorial Church, will also be stops along the way.
At 11:30 a.m., a ceremony will be held to dedicate a marker that notes the designation of Shawsville's center commercial and residential area as a Historic District. The area was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, but the official plaque is only now being displayed.
Guides from the Montgomery Museum will accompany the tour to give talks and answer questions at each stop. There will be brochures and drawings for souvenirs will also be held.
The tour will happen Saturday rain or shine, organizers said.
All are welcome to attend. In particular, Lane hopes that folks who live in or around Shawsville will come to learn more about their community's heritage. "There's such a wealth of history here" that newcomers to the area might not know about, she said.
"It's the first time this has been done in Shawsville. We hope this will generate interest and get people's attention."
For more information about the tour, contact the Montgomery Museum at 382-5644.
by CNB