WV Historical Markers - Let's Find All 700

Located on Rt 50 between Winchester, VA. and Capon Bridge, WV on the south side of the road. Photos taken right at dusk. I seem to run out of daylight before I run out of ride.
Looking west:



Looking east:

Located on East Main St., Romney, WV.

Info links:
http://wvsdb2.state.k12.wv.us/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_Schools_for_the_Deaf_and_Blind

A little backround:
The Romney Literary Society, formed about 1819 to start a system of education and establish a library. The Society founded the first institution of higher education in the area, the Romney Academy, around 1820 for the teaching of the classics. It amassed probably the largest library west of the Blue Ridge Mountains with over three thousand volumes. The foundation of the original school and library building is believed to be located under the present building known as Literary Hall. The Literary Society began to raise funds for a new building and, in 1832, the Virginia Assembly authorized them to raise $20,000 by lottery. In 1846, they opened a seminary called the Romney Classical Institute. Hampshire County’s location on the ‘border frontier’ for the entire Civil War caused people to lose much of their private property. Desperate soldiers on both sides resorted to taking money and valuables as they marched through. There was also an organized band of robbers running about the area who were not members of either army, but stole from all and sold to the highest bidder. During this time the library collection of the Literary Society was almost all destroyed or carried away.
The Romney Classical Institute did not reopen after the Civil War and the remaining members of the Literary Society offered the building and its grounds to the state of West Virginia. They accepted it to house the West Virginia Institute for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. This had to be established because West Virginia students were no longer eligible to attend the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind and the state had been paying tuition for some its deaf and blind students to be educated out of state while many of the rest were not being educated at all. Today the ‘Institute’ stands as the central part of the Administration Building of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney.

Thanks - I'm just trying to keep up with the high standards you guys have set. (You may retract your statement after my next posting, though. I couldn't find any information on it.)

Thanks to all of you who are contributing!

Along Rt 50 just east of Grafton and across from the Grafton Hospital (not a good omen :eek1 ) lies the Old Catholic Cemetery. No luck finding more information about Sarah Fetterman. I guess the sign tells the story for this post. Sorry.



Historical Marker along Rt 50 east of Grafton (looking west from this angle)





Looking west on Rt 50 toward Grafton.



A view of part of the cemetery.

Another no flavor marker. This one is located on Route 9 at the WV / VA state line east of Charles Town, WV.



Looking west:


Looking east:

Located on Route 9 east of Charles Town, WV on the south side of the road.

This 895 foot elevation gap is one of the lowest crossings of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Virginia into West Virginia. During the colonial period, the main road between Alexandria and Winchester ran through the gap. During the War of Northern Agression, it was utilized as a back way to Harpers Ferry. The ride from this marker west to Charles Town is a twisty blast.

Located on Route 51 in Charles Town, WV, near the intersection of 51 and 340. In front of Charles Town Races and Slots.










I stop for a cuppa, and whoa..waz' this?



Mountain View Diner, across Route 51 from the race track.

Representative from Virginia; born in Scotland, October 20, 1728; completed preparatory studies and was educated at the Royal College of Edinburgh; immigrated to the United States and settled in Berks County, Tenn., and subsequently moved to Virginia; delegate to the conventions in Richmond and Williamsburg, July and December 1775 and May 1776; served in the state senate 1776-1790; elected as an Anti-Administration candidate to the Third Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1793-March 3, 1797); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1796 to the Fifth Congress; settled on his estate “Flowing Spring” near Charles Town, Va. (now West Virginia) and resided there until his death in October 1803; interment on “Flowing Spring” estate near Charles Town.
I did not locate "Flowing Springs" estate. I found one source that stated Rutherford was buried in an unmarked grave. I will put more effort into locating the estate and / or grave.

Marker located on Route 51 in Charles Town, near intersection of 340 / 51 in front of Charles Town Races and Slots.

Delaney became known for his opposition to chattel slavery and his call for Black youth. Delaney was among the small group of Black medical students that attended Harvard Medical School in 1850 and 1851. Although white supremacy and racism forced Delaney to withdraw, he went on to distinguish himself as an outstanding physician specializing in chronic diseases of women and children. Martin Delany was a radical pre-War abolitionist, black nationalist, explorer of Africa, and veteran of the War of Northern Aggression. His father was a slave, and all four of his grandparents had been captured in Africa and brought to America as slaves, but his mother was free, and by law this meant Delany was born free. From earliest childhood, he was told by his parents that his ancestors were African royalty. His family fled north when his mother faced prosecution for educating her children. Delaney died Jan. 24, 1885 at Exenia, Ohio of tuburculosis. Buried at Massie's Creek Cemetery, Cedarville, OH
.

Marker is located at the intersection of 340 and Huyett Rd south of
Charles Town
The estate is about 1.5 miles west on Huyett Rd on the left.



Privately owned, this estate appears to on the market with a listing price of 2.4 mil.
This the third of seven Washington family homes in this area.

Rt 76 is a nice ride between Bridgeport and Rosemont/Flemington. Here is the County line marker located about 5 miles south of Rt 50.


EDIT: THIS MARKER WAS REFURBISHED IN 2013. PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 92, POST #1380.



Northbound on Rt 76 entering Harrison Co. (Sign could use some TLC)




Southbound on Rt 76 entering Taylor Co. Hey, now I know who Bailey Brown was (see earlier post on National Cemetery). I can just feel myself getting smarter doing this project!!

EDIT: THIS MARKER WAS REFURBISHED IN 2013. PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 92, POST #1380.




View northbound on Rt 76 into Harrison Co.

John Powers' Fort was located in Bridgeport, on nearby Simpson Creek. The following excerpt also explains (possibly) the origins of the town's name.

From the North American Forts website:

Bridge Fort
(1774 - 1780's), Bridgeport
A settlers' fort on Simpson Creek, with access provided by a log pontoon bridge over the creek, hence the name. Site located on Davis Street. This may have been John Powers' Fort (1771), or another site. The town was originally named Bridge Fort, but was mis-spelled on an early map.

********************

For some interesting reading on VA Governor Joseph Johnson, click here.

For the Wikipedia article on Benjamin Wilson, click here. He appears to have been more of a politician than a soldier/settler.




Historical Marker, located on Rt 50 in Bridgeport. Sign is across from Ace Hardware, about 2 miles east of I-79. (Also very close to Leeson's Suzuki, a GREAT family-run shop ) The actual location of the fort was unknown for years until one of the local historians discovered some documents that show it was about 3 miles from here at the I-79 Exit 121 (Meadowbrook Mall).




Rt 50 looking eastbound.




Looking at Exit 121 on I-79. It was at this interchange area where it is believed the original fort stood. I guess the chances of searching for clues around here is lost forever. Progress?

Marker is at the entrance to the estate 1827 Earle Road, about four miles west of Charles Town, WV. Originally part of the Harewood estate, the property remained in the Washington family until 1802, has had several additions and owners. Privately owned.
This is the fourth of seven Washington family homes in this area of WV.

Benedum Civic Center is located in the heart of Bridgeport where Rt 50 crosses the railroad tracks, and next door to the city pool. I was surprised to read about Michael Benedum.

From an article by Linda Fluharty: (in yellow)

Michael Late Benedum, born in Bridgeport, Harrison County, West Virginia on July 16, 1869, was the son of Emanuel Benedum and Caroline Southworth. Michael was the namesake of Dr. Michael Late, the physician who delivered him.

Early in his career, Michael worked in flour mills and sold milling machinery, but he got involved in the oil business soon after giving up his seat on a train to a stranger. The man was John Worthington, the general superintendent of South Penn Oil Company. Michael eventually became a leasing agent for Worthington but resigned in 1898 to begin an independent company. With his partner, Joseph Trees, he owned and operated one of the most successful oil and gas corporations in the United States.
On May 17, 1896, in Monongalia County, West Virginia, Michael L. Benedum married Sarah Nancy Lantz, born in September 1870. They lived in Cameron, Marshall County, West Virginia and are found there in the 1900 census with their two year old son, Claude W., born in Cameron on January 13, 1898. Michael Benedum's occupation was "Superintendent Oil Company."
Later, Benedum quit his position with the South Penn. company and with other men took up a number of leases in the Cameron district and began to do his own drilling. An office was opened in Cameron and Parriott, who was born and reared there, was placed in charge. Since then they had worked together in the industry. They moved their headquarters to Wheeling in 1903 and went from there to Pittsburgh where the partnership was dissolved a few years ago.

The Benedum family moved to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1907. In the census of 1910, Michael Benedum, an Oil Producer, resided with his wife of fourteen years and their only child, Claude, age twelve.
According to his draft registration card, dated September 12, 1918, Claude Worthington Benedum, 20, born January 13, 1898, was a resident of 3021 Macomb Street, Washington, D. C. He was employed by the Federal Government at American University and worked as a "Laboratory Assistant Chemical Warfare." He was medium height, with light hair and blue eyes.



About three weeks later, on October 3, 1918, Claude was in a motorcycle accident:

"A motorcycle, ridden by Claude Benedum, 3021 Macomb street northwest, ran into Clyde Edwards, 35 years old, of 5304 Eighth street northwest, yesterday, seriously injuring him about the head and breast. The accident occurred on Macomb street near Thirty-third. Edwards was taken to Georgetown University Hospital. Benedum, who was slightly injured, refused hospital treatment." - Washington Post, Oct 4, 1918.



​

Just two weeks later, on October 17, 1918, Claude Worthington Benedum died. The news of his death was published in the Moundsville Journal (West Virginia) the next day, and, if accurate, reveals that he was born in Cameron, Marshall County.

[Note: Here's the interesting part ]

An article in the Washington Post, dated October 18, lists the name of Claude Benedum among the ninety-one deaths from Spanish Influenza that occurred in a 24-hour period in Washington, D. C. Claude's death occurred at Walter Reed Hospital.
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed between twenty and forty million people, making it more devastating than the Bubonic Plaque and taking more lives than the 15,000,000 lost during the four years of World War I.

Which proves riding motorcycles is less dangerous than the Spanish Influenza!





The Historical Marker located in front of the Civic Center on Rt 50 in Bridgeport.



View from across the street (along with the obligatory bike shot).



Better view of the Civic Center.

Marker is on Rt 51 at the intersection of Earle Road, Charles Town, WV.





This was close enough for me...they have security.



1937 photo:



Cedar Lawn has also been known as Berry Hill and Poplar Hill. Built in 1825 for John Thornton Augustine Washington. In the 1940's, the property was bought by R.J. Funkhouser, and remains in the Funkhouser family. It is now part of O'Sullivan Farms, a Funkhouser venture.
This the fifth of seven Washington homes in this area of WV.

This marker is located with the marker for Blakeley, at the intersection of RT 340 and Huyett Rd south of Charles Town, WV. The estate is about 1.5 miles west, directly across from Blakeley.





Facing Blakeley estate.



This photo was included with a 1937 survey document.



The back door:



90 slaves built this palatial 34-room mansion called Claymont, that faces Blakeley some 600 yards away. It is the grandest of the Washington homes.
In 1943, the house was purchased by R.J. Funkhouser, an industrialist who owned and rehabilitated several of the Washington homes in the area.
Claymont Court is currently the home of The Claymont Society for Continuous Education. More info on this organization can be found here:
http://www.claymont.org/aboutus.htm

This is the sixth of seven Washington homes in this area.

Jefferson County, West Virginia
This marker is on County Road 14, Hite Road, west of Wilshire Road.



This church and cemetery are at the marker site. No other signs of a community are readily visible.

Located on Rt 20 just southeast of Clarksburg and Nutter Fort is the location of one of the area's oldest churches, Center Branch Church.

The following excerpts : Copyright 1997 by Jane Hodgson. Jane Hodgson grants USGenWeb Archivesthe right to post this information. This information may be freely copied, but may not be sold.

The Church of Jesus Christ in Harrison County, Virginia, called the
Center Branch Baptist Church was formally organized Sept. 26, 1818.
Members of the Simpson Creek Baptist Church at Bridgeport residing in
this Center Branch area found it a hardship to attend services so far
away, necessitating travel over roads which were scarcely more than
bridle paths.

On Sept. 26, 1818 nineteen members constituted the original organization
and entered into the usual covenant at this session. They became the
first members of the church. Elder John Bailey acted as
moderator and David Holden as clerk at the initial session.
One month later, Oct. 24, the first business session of the new church
was held.

The original church building of the Center Branch Church was an old log
house which stood in the grove below the road near the present structure.
It was later used as a schoolhouse. The old church answered the purpose
of the congregation until December 1853, when it was decided to build a
new meeting house.

Enjoying a steady increase of membership the church and an enrollment of
218 members in 1845. The old records show 'people of color', using the
language found in the old church minutes, had been admitted to
membership. The latter were mostly slaves in the Devers, HOLDEN, Stout
and other families. They occupied rear seats of the services. It is
also learned slaves later demitted from the Center Branch Church to unite
with the Clarksburg Church, which likewise had opened its doors to
colored people.

The Center Branch Church celebrated their 150th Anniversary of its
founding on September 29, 1968 with a homecoming dinner and special
dedication service.

There can be no complete history of this church as the ruthless
hand of theft broke into the edifice the summer of 1931 and committed to
destructive flames. Many of its most valuable records covering a period
of years of possibly its greatest activities though perhaps, not of its
almost insurmountable problems for its very existence and yet it has
survived and is today a striking example of what faith, work and devotion
can accomplish.

[End of Quote]



Historical Marker located on Rt 20 between Nutter Fort and Quiet Dell.




View north/west on Rt 20 going into Nutter Fort. Present day church is up on the hill to your left about 100 yards.



Present-Day Center Branch Church.

nice work. keep it going

Located on RT 51 between Middleway and RT 11

Marker is located on the west side of Leetown Rd, Jefferson County,
south of Leetown, WV.








The property was originally acquired in 1731 by Han Yost Heydt (or Hite), who built a log cabin on the property he called "Hopewell". Heydt's son Jacob expanded the cabin in 1733. In 1774 Jacon Heydt sold the 3,000-acre plantation to General Charles Lee, who renamed the estate "Prato Rio". During the nineteenth century a number of additions were built.

Undated photo from the US Park Service archives



General Charles Lee, having fell into disfavor with General George Washington, was "retired" from military duty and led a life of solitude with his dogs, servants and butler here at Prato Rio. Considered eccentric, his will stipulated that he not be buried in any churchyard or within a mile of any Presbyterian or Anabaptist meeting house, stating that " I have kept so much bad company while living, that I do not wish to continue it when dead".