Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-09-04
For the Spectator.
Staunton in Old Times.
(CONTINUED.)

At the close of my last piece, I expressed
wish to tell about some of the public improve
ments of Staunton in old times. Readers who
bear in mind that was born in ITO, will un-
derstand that | do not profess to remember
things so far back as hundred years and more
but l tell the story as it was told to me by my
father and other old people. This l can say,
whatever assert may be relied upon as true.
All my statements are made upon good author
ity.
In 1762-I am fond of going back to that
that year-in 1862, [ say, we had no railroads,
telegraphs, gas works, water works and such
like things. But | forget myself we did have
important water works, and it would take long
history for me to give full account Of them
To begin at the beginning-When white settlers
first came here the creek running by the tan
yard and Fackler mill, took Southeasterly
course at or near the former place, crossed Au-
gusta Street between Frederick and Beverly,
and emptied into the main branch near the
Washington Tavern. Mrs. Cowden told me
that in l7S7-she was living then In 1862,
however, when my father came to Staunton, the
creek pursued the same channel it does now,
but there were marks OF an ancient water course
such as Mrs. Cowden described. When or how
the creek was diverted from it's original course
into the present channel, no body ever told, if
anybody ever knew. My opinion is that the
creek changed itself. 1t is fortunate that it did
so, on account of Fackler's mill and Breezes
carding machine; but it always happens that
streams Of water pass by mills, unless the OWN
ers prefer steam engines or horse power
When the course of the creek was changed,
it is presumed a small portion Of water con-
tlnued to flow, occasionally at least, In the old
channel, and the enterprisng people of Staun-
ton took a hint from it. They concluded that
it would be highly useful to have stream, even
if it Was a little one, passing through the heart
of the town. Accordingly wooden troughs were
laid down and the water was conducted from
the creek to Matthew's Stable lot, west corner
of Augusta and Frederick streets, where Dr.
Waddell afterwards lived. There the main
trunk branched-one branch crossed Augusta
Street, passed through the Ordinary premises
afterwards the Ireumper property and through
James Hargrove' S lot, and across New Street,
and ended-I don't know where. The other
branch came down through Mrs. Woods lot
afterwards Mr. Cowan's) to Mrs. Cowden's,
crossed Augusta street, went back of Mathewss
Store 1.-THE old Post Office, passed between the
store and the widow Hughes s, crossed Beverly
street about where the Marble Yard is now, and
then on and on to Lewiss creek. These two
branches were in full and successful operation
when my father came to Staunton, and the lat
ter continued to flow, through the times Of the
Indian wars, the old Revolution, thewar of1Sl2
the Florida war &c., for nearly hundred years.
till water was brought to town in iron pipes
from the Buttermilk Spring. William Bowyer
opened ditch, in 1885, to water his lands, and
twenty years afterwards it gave rise to a great
law suit In which all matters about the water
rights of the town were brought out. If any
body doubts the truth of what have been tell
ing, he can look at the dispositions in that suit.
ho | -ofc rs Eo .,,11x
contented with its new channel, till the year
1885, when, am told it took notion to re-
turn to its former course, and leaping the banks
which confined it went dashing through the
streets and houses in a torrent. Every body
remembers that and also the similar freaks in
the years 1855 and 1860 The carding machine
had long before disappeared, and the mill was
fast falling to pieces, and what use was there
for the creek to keep on in the same way? 1t
will no doubt be better satisfied now, since the
new tangled iron works have been built below
the old mill seat.
Facklers mill was long one Of the institutions
of Staunton. | remember it when l was boy |
Michael Fackler was then the proprietor. He |
was the father of Mr.. Jacob Fackler, who was
considered an old man when he left Staunton
nearly thirty years ago. The mill stood there, |
and the wheel turned in 1885. | remember |
that well, for when Col. Bowyer opened his
ditch, old Mr.. Fackler was very much put out
because it took so much water from his mill
How long it had stood | do not know. never
thought to ask my father. Mrs Cowden told
me that man called John David Wilpert;
came to Staunton in 175l, and soon proved him
self bustling settler In the same year he pc
titioned the County Court, setting forth that
''he had been at considerable trouble and ex-
pense in coming from the Northward and set
tling in these parts, and that he had rented
three lots in the new erected town of Staunton,
through which runs good and convenient
stream of acofer for bNilding a milr' &c.-he