2026-04-23T16:12:32-04:00 Zend_Feed_Writer https://shenandoahstories.org/ Shenandoah Stories https://shenandoahstories.org 2017-11-16T11:09:39-05:00 2018-10-19T11:46:22-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/294 The Shenandoah Stories Team In the spring of 1997 a group of citizens in Mt. Jackson gathered together in an effort to preserve the former Burkett Store building on Main Street and other portion's of the community's history. On September 27th of that year they opened the Mt. Jackson Museum in that structure after leasing it from the Shentel Corporation. Today the Mt. Jackson Museum remains dedicated to the historic preservation of Mount Jackson and surrounding areas. It maintains presence in the town visitor's center which is open year round and in the Burkett building which is open on special occasions. The museum's collections include large holdings of documents, military items, books, furniture, photographs, and Civil War materials. They also retain Billy Landis artwork and Bird Haven items. The museum is open Thursday and Friday 1-4PM and Saturdays 10-4PM. Contact them at (540)477-3951 for more information. For more, view the original article. 2016-05-11T10:48:15-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:21-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/39 Shenandoah County Library-Woodstock Museum In 1777 public records show that a house on this lot was willed to Anthony Knicely’s wife upon his death. This is most likely the first reference to the structure that is now known as the Wickham House. The original portion of this house is on the west side of the building. It was a two story affair that was built of log and featured two chimneys and four fire places. There was also a root cellar that was accessed through a door in the kitchen floor. Logs were used for the foundation which over time led to its destruction and eventual replacement by current the current limestone affair. Around 1900 the house was drastically altered when a portion of the house was modernized, a bow window was added, and the front porch was constructed. These changes were facilitated by the decision of the Williams family to open a law office in the house. In the 1930s the house was again changed when a room was added to the rear of the house. Long time Woodstock residents and community leader Edward “Dick” Wickham willed the house to the Woodstock Museum of Shenandoah County in 1989. Since then, the museum has added a large number of artifacts and historic furniture to the house. Their exhibits include a spinning room, loom room, period bedchamber, and sitting room. The rear room features the large Baughman Collection of 18th century artifacts. They also interpret the house’s unique architectural features including distinctive front entrance doors, interesting hardware, 19th century windows with original blown glass, and an outhouse that was originally used at a county school. Tours of the Wickham House are given upon request by Docents. The site is also open for special events. For more (including 2 images), view the original article. 2016-05-11T10:24:57-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:21-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/38 Shenandoah County Library-Woodstock Museum Around 1772 the front portion of this house, made of dressed limestone, was built on Muhlenberg Street in Woodstock. It was one of the few houses in town that was not a log structure. This fact highlights the wealth and privilege associated with the families that lived there. As was customary during the period, visitors and officials associated with the courts were often boarded in local homes. This structure was one in Woodstock that accepted these individuals who were in town when court was in session. According to local stories, one of the individuals who stayed in this house during those times was Thomas Marshall, Circuit Court Clerk and father of future Chief Justice John Marshall. While there is no evidence showing that John ever stayed in this home, this association led locals to name this building the “Marshall House.” In 1823 Greenberry Samuels, Circuit Court Judge and later member of the State Court of Appeals and a local congressman purchased the house. His family added a brick wing to the rear of the house in the 1890s. Not long after this H.B. Chapman, Woodstock Agent for the Southern Railway Company and later owner of Shenandoah Caverns acquired the house. During the early 21st century the house again changed hands. The Woodstock Museum of Shenandoah County purchased the home from Clara Coffman, who had purchased the site from the Chapman descendants. The museum moved to the site in 2004. Founded in 1961, this organization is dedicated to preserving the history of Woodstock Virginia and surrounding areas of Shenandoah County. Originally it operated in the former town office, a brick building on Court Street. Their decision to expand to the Marshall House allowed them to fully display their large collection. Their displays includes the Schmitt’s Drugstore counter, the Morrison Photograph Studio set, Civil War relics, local Frakturs, quilts, ceramics, furniture, farm equipment, the town pump, moonshine still, and much more. Today the Marshall House and museum are open to the public Thrusday-Saturday, 1:00-4:00PM, May through October or by appointment. For more (including 3 images), view the original article. 2016-05-10T15:57:03-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:21-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/37 Shenandoah County Library In 1750 George Keller, husband of Barbara Hottel, received a land grant from Lord Thomas Fairfax. This 400 acre portion of land became the Keller home when he and his family settles there ca. 1760. Surrounding this property was land owned by Barbara’s father and brothers George, John, and Charles Hottel. Together these land grants, encompassing over 2,000 acres, define what is commonly called the Hottel-Keller homestead. During the Civil War this land would be the center of some heavy fighting. The Battle of Toms Brook partially occurred on this land. Both Confederate and Union forces raided structures and families who lived on this tract during the conflict. Apart from the war, this land has seen a vibrant history related to this area’s agricultural heritage. The farmers who tilled this land, Hottels, Kellers, and others, raised wheat, corn, apples, cattle, and numerous other items. Today most of the property is still part of active farms. The core portion of the homestead is currently owned by Hottel-Keller Memorial Inc. They maintain the Keller house, built ca. 1800, several other historic structures, and ruins that are related to the original Hottel and Keller immigrants. Their 391 acre tract is also the home to annual reunions, festivals, and the Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum. For more (including 3 images), view the original article. 2016-05-10T10:02:14-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:21-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/34 Shenandoah County Library Around 1890 the building that now houses the Strasburg Museum was constructed by the Strasburg Stone and Earthenware Manufacturing Company. Organization by Strasburg resident Dr. Granville Brown, this company operated a large steam pottery plant on the site. This was one of the numerous pottery operations Strasburg was known for in the 19th century. The building was constructed by David Milton Crabill of Toms Brook. It would operate as a steam pottery during the 1890s and first part of the 20th century. These decades were part of a boom period in Strasburg’s history during which the railroad and other commercial establishments grew exponentially. However the boom did not last and around 1909 the pottery closed. Four years later the Southern Railway Company obtained the building and opened a passenger and freight depot inside. From then until the early 1960s it was the center of the railroad’s expansive presence in Strasburg. In 1970 the Strasburg Museum obtained a lease from the railroad to convert the then abandoned structure into a museum. That same year the building became a National Historic Landmark. Later the organization acquired the structure. Today the former pottery/depot still houses the town’s museum which contains thousands of authentic items from the area’s history, railroad items including a caboose, a working model railroad depicting the area, local artwork, and many other attractions. The museum is open seven days a week, May 1-October 31. The site is staffed by volunteer docents. Admission is $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for teens, and 50 cents for children. For more (including 4 images), view the original article.