History of Rockbridge County Virginia

Description

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Rockbridge County
and the
City of Lexington
Early days in the City of Lexington and the County of Rockbridge, Virginia -- which encompasses the present and/or past communities of Brownsburg, Fairfield, Glasgow, Goshen, Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge Station, Raphine, Rockbridge Baths, and Vesuvius  -- are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this 34 page booklet.
The spiral-bound booklet is comprised of excerpts from three rare vintage books:
Historical Collections of Virginia
by Henry Howe (1845);
New Roads in Old Virginia
by Agnes Rothery (1929); and
Virginia, a Guide to the Old Dominion
, a WPA Writer's Program publication (1940). It is printed single-sided,  with the print enlarged to fit the 8 1/2 x 11" 60# paper. The front cover is a parchtex card stock, protected with a vinyl sheet.
The excerpt from the Howe history takes an 1845 look at the area, while  the WPA book, gives a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, with  interesting historical notes and sightseeing possibilities.  Rothery's  contribution shows a depth of knowledge, an understanding of the character of the people, and a love of Virginia.
Among the many subjects discussed are:
Beginnings of the county; John Lewis, John Mackey and other Early Settlers, where they came from, and the character of the people; Puritanical Morality and Churches; the University of Washington and Lee (formerly Washington College) and early student life; The Virginia Military Institute; Feuding between the two schools; Lee Memorial Chapel, burial site of Gen. Robert E. Lee; General Stonewall Jackson's home and gravesite; Alum Springs mineral baths; the Strange adventures of John Salling; Governor Gooch's strange pet; Devotion to the Cause of Liberty; a Plucky Irish girl named Polly Mullhollin; Sam Houston and other prominent residents;  Early Roads and Landmarks; an Early description of the county's scenery; Early impressions of The Natural Bridge; Reactions of Jefferson and Washington to the bridge; Account of James Piper's climbing to the top of the Natural Bridge; a Revolutionary War anecdote about the Rev. William Graham;James Ethan Allen Gibbs, inventor; James McDowell home; Matthew Fontaine Maury, who mapped the world's oceans and enabled the laying of the first Atlantic Cable; Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of the world-changing mechanical reaper; and other interesting bits of history and trivia.
Illustrations
(
from the 1845 book
) include Washington College at Lexington (full page), Alum Springs, the Natural Bridge (full page) and (
from the 1929 book
) a sketch of Stonewall Jackson's House.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift?