Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-09
WA.YNESBORO'.
Preliminary-TOwna and Vieinify-Ear'
1y HistOry-Rai lrOaLs-Scenery ana
Changing Views-Mercantile,M Man.
ufacturing, and Trade Inter-
ests-LOcal Affairs, etc.
No. l..

uAaCIuElMtss anu 1Taut 1ASoA
ests-LOcal Affairs, etc.
No. 1.
If an Augusta man will carefully listen to
the general discussions, often occurring on the
lines of travel and in public places, as citizens
| of different sections of the State meet and In
troduce topics of conversation, he will often
hear his own county come in for good share
| in the consideration. whenever agricultural
matters, mercantile progress, and material ad-
vancement are taken up.
The prevailing impression with all who have
observed and are informed of the habits of our
people-their manner CT business and other
striking features rejecting strength of charac-
ter and their unity in progressive develop
ment. is that to such causes, the county is
made to stand the foremost of the State in the
number of towns and villages representing so
many prosperous districts, all contributing to
the growth of the central figure in the group
which has risen to be city.
Augusta county, and all the varied interests
within her widely extended borders, furnish
| material for journalistic work, exceeding,
doubtless, any other in the State. 1t is no light
task to portray through the medium OF the
press all worthy of record. The mountains
and valleys; the streams and water-power
the farming area. and crops. and mineral
wealth; the mills and manufacturing enter
prises, and railroad facilities; the towns and
villages and district trading points; the city
in the centre, with it's attractions in business,
its high schools, and State institu tic ms, form
SO many subjects of appropriate work. as the
toiiing journalist proceeds along his often dfs-
ficult pathway. II
Augusta county and Staunton should have
central institutions fol obtaining and tabula-
ting information of their mercantile, manu-
featuring, and agricultural interests. The plan
submitted recently by a "Mer chant" If made
to work in connection with a department I'M
der the authority of the Baldwin Augusta Fair.
would soon accomplish all that is needed
The SPECTATOR has planned for itself consid-
cradle work on the line indicated above, 1t will
require actual visits to every section of the
coun ty, cons inning valuable time. The infor-
nation needed can now only be obtained by
patient enquiry end exercising unfaltering en-
ergy in successfully securing it.
The reader has now sufficient explanation
of the design. We commence with Waynes-
boro' and vicinity.
The south river having its head springs on
the watershed west of Greenville. meanders
in its course along tho gradually widening val
Ii
river at Port Republic, the two there forming
the Shenandoah river. Its waters are dark
green, made so by contact with the grassy
fields and meadow lands through which it
flows. Though it may be termed mountain
stream in many features, it resembles the 81
lently running rivers just above tidewater.-.
The gently falling valley gives the river many
stretches of placid smoothness, with a sufh-
I, cheney of ripping falls, however, to break the
monotony it would otherwise present. Be-
| tween the Blue Ridge, broad topped mou11-
| tains, on the east, and the Valley plateau ON
the west, the area of the South river country
| forms, in picturesque scenery, fine farms and
general thrift, all that its intellight and pro-
gressve population could ask. 1t is more; for
| it combines the richness of delta soils with
plateau pursuits. Along the entire length, the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad has its easy
grades between North and South, and across
it the Chesapeake and Ohio has long since con-
nected the East with the West 81
The foot of the mountains on the great high
| way of Rockfish Gap naturally suggested the
location of a town. In 1898, Samuel and Jean
Estele owning the land, laid off lots. and sell,
| ing the same. the history of Waynesbcro
! commences. 1t remained under Village regu-
lations till April 2sth. 1874, when charter or
ganiz alton was granted by the Legislature.
The Town Council, as provided for in the char
ter, was constituted by the following named
persons: VIM. Withrow. G. W. Greiner, T. ii.
Antrim, Ell. II. Shack elford, ]. S. Myers, j. st.
p. Gibson, E. G. Fishburne. Mr.. Withrow was
chosen Mayor and Mr.. Antrim Secrel&Iy. The
first Friday of each month was established
as the day OF regular sessions. Passing over
the interval to the present time the governing
power is entrusted to the following Council
DR.. Jones being the Mayor and Mr.. Huff Secre-
tary: DR.. w. j. Jones, Philip KiIlian, j. H.
| Lambert. III, L. Gallaher, Jr, ]. w. Ellison, II.
r.. Wright. l.. Kemper Huff The population
| is estimated to be from one thousand to twelve
hundred
like all towns located on q water course
building commenced near the stream, and
| -, ,t.., -. - a., - :.