The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-11-04
A Virginia Town.

A correspondent of the Baltimore Sue,
writing from Eagle Rock, Va. Oct. Is,
says
selves familiar with all of the Old Dominion's
resources for entertaining and invigorating
the summer wanderer will, perhaps, be graf
flied to learn that among the mountains that
inclose the upper waters of the James there
are still in reserve charming and easily Access
sible regions rich in attractions for the an
gler, the deer hunter and the lover of picture
esque scenery and romantic surroundings.
Eagle Rock, q new town on the Richmond and
Allegheny Railroad, seventeen miles south of
Clifton Forge. in Botetourt county, is the CEN
tire of such region. The town itself is so
that its history deserves notice. Eight years
ago it did not exist. The locality then called
Sheets or Rat Hole" was known only as
here, after forcing its way through the North
mountain, spreads out its waters to, a very
which the river passes is quite narrow
and the mountains on either hand rise precipi-
tously to great heights, producing an effect on
that of the rent in the Blue Ridge at Harper's
Ferry. just beyond the pass the James is
infOrced by Craigs creek, a large stream to
which Senator Hampton, in his character as a
great fisherman, resorts every summer, MAX
operations. In the pass ITSELF to a distance of
two miles or more, the water is smooth and
deep: This stretch is famous for its black bass,
which are taken of weights ranging up to five
pounds. The beauty of the place and its splen-
did angling facilities cause it to be much fire.
quented by lovers of the quiet art Other
pleasure seekers come also from distant
points on the Richmond and Allegheny and
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroads to spend a day
| and enjoy the romantic trip through the pass
in the sailboats that are kept here for the pur-
| pose, The passage of the James through the
Blue Ridge at Balcony Falls, famous as it is, is
| to my mind less interesting than this rent in
| the North mountain just above Eagle Rock A
| little below the town on the other side of the
/ river, where the granite that constitutes the
| mass of the mountain is replaced with lime
stone, is a handsome cave, with bold stream
| of water, which falls into the James in q beau
| tiful cascade. The spot is the paradise of pic
nickers and lovers of mint juleps-a species of
beverage very dear to the heart of the irginian
A handsome bridge constructed for the county
by the railroad spans the river at Eagle rock,
and not far distant. on the southern side, is the
place parties go prepared to spend week or
two shooting deer among the mountains
drained by the creek, and come back usually
loaded with game and material for wonderful
yarns to spin by the winter Preside. AS has
been stated, eight years ago Eagle Rock did not
exist. 1t owes its origin and growth to two
things-the discovery of q remarkably fine
the construction of the Ricmond and
Allegheny Railroad. which made the lime
marketable. A productive section of Bote-
tourt county ships its product at the station
here. but the prosperity of the place is due
almost wholly to large lime kins built and
operated by parties from Maine. These gen.
tlemen assert that the lime they produce here
is as good as the Roc2land lime, when has 10
equal elsewhere in the United States. At any
has put large amount of money in circula-
/ ton.