Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-10
The Crab Tree Falls.

PUBLIC INTEREST INCREASING IN Then
THEIR EXISTENCE NOT GENERALLY
KNOWN TILL LATELY THE WONDERFUL
CURIOSITY CLAIMS ATTENTIoN-wRITTE
AccoUNTs-H1sToRY OF OWNERSHIP
THEIR FUTURE ASSOCIATIONS.
A few days since a highly esteemed
gentleman, recognized for his fine tastes
and the appreciation be has, and can 30
happily impart, of the pleasures enjoyed in
association with rural scenes and homes de-
sired to obtain particular information of the
opportunities and comforts of shelter and
food large party could have at the Grab
Tree Falls, wishing to crafty desire to
see them as they are. The enquiry pos
sesses more, great deal more, significance
than be was aware of. If an assuring
answer could have been returned that his
party of fifty or more could be comfortably
entertained there, 1t is no conjecture 10 say
that its realization would have influenced
thousands during the coming season to
learn of and appreciate visit to that
wonderful curiosity. Nor is it alone upon
the falls that nature has lavished its singu-
lar richness, for the views from the ele-
waited mountain peaks to the East and the
West and far up and down the great Val
ley of Virginia in association with th'
panorama of the ever-chapging scenery
and other attractions of that locality would
so charm visitors that summer residence
would be too short to take them in. J.
would end more in increasing the desire
for a return of the time when mind and
soul and body could revel in the delights
which neither pen nor art can adequately
portray.
LOCATION AND WRITTEN ACCOUNTS.
Until the introduction of railroads and
the opening of the James River and Kama
wha Canal, there was no general thorough
fare If travel across he Blue Ridge noun
tairs between Rockfish ard Buford 8 Cars
The pass.way at Tye River Gap was merely
local as we'll as difficult, till improved
about 1885 with turnpike road from MID
way and Vesuvius to Massie's Mill in Mel
son county, distance of twenty-five miles.
The Falls are located on the eastern side OF
the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Nelson
county, about four miles from the top -
The waters collect from springs of summit
valleys, and fall over a bread end of
mountain facing North into Tye River
along which the turnpike is located. The
longest of the sections of the cataracts aDo
cascades is in full view Of the travelle'
passing along the pike. The volume OF
water would fill space about the size OF .
-four barrel.
It is Just fifty one years since the writer
first visited the Falls. The fact that they
existed was not generally known outside OF
that section of the State, and there but sci
dom referred to. Their name was oftene'
associated with trout-fshing than Other
wise, as the upper sources of Tye Rive
have always been famous resorts for tina
sport. The height of the Falls, too, was {:
matter of conjecture, about which there
were wide differences OF opinion even in tbs
neighborhood and by those reared to man
hood within sound of the torrent as ito
voice is increased during rainy seasons
The first known measurements were madt
in 1883.
The first known written sketches Of tht
Falls wore occasional references by trav
cling correspondent Of the Richmond
Wh,g. After that, Methodist minister o.
the Virginia Conference 10 charge of tb'
Nelson Circuit wrote of them. His yer!
interesting sketch appeared in the Rich
mond Christian ADVOCATE. Of late year.
fuller and excellent accounts of them hav'
appeared in the Nelson EG0miner, thu
county paper, and DR.. A. 81. Weir, Of tb'
medical staff of the Western Lunat,'
Asylum, whose home is on the summit
the valley watershed commanding grat'
view of the tall mountains above the Falls
and who from youth has been regula
visitor to the locality, has written of Their
In his charming style. One of his article
appeared il the indicator in 1888.
After the Hon. William G. Rives re
turned from his second mission as Minister.
representing our Govern ment at the Frencl
Court, he participated actively in the et
forts then making to extend the Orange {
Alexandria NOW the Virginia MdlaD'
railroad) from Charlottesville to Lynch
burg. Ia one or more of his addresst
before the people, when describing TIL
resources and attractions of the COUNT,
the railroad would pass through, the era :
Tree Falls, as great curiosity and il
viting az a summer resort to follow In
proved methods of travel, was referred to
As he spoke of Nelson county as his ti't
and early home, and adverted to the Fsl
retrospectively as early as 1924 when l..
represented the county in the Legislator.
his audiences werc charmed by the graz
and eloquence characteristic of his uttes
ances, which, if possible, were still NOR
ornate as his subject aroused reflections
the past.
The Shenandoah Valley railroad wa
completed in 1882. Short y after that, :
sketch of the road, noting all objects o
interest along the line of its route throug
Rockbridge county, was published in tn
Lexington Gdzette. The narrative Of thi
article commenced, as stated, at the count
line betwe en- Augusta and Rockbridge,
Vesuvius being the first station reached.
In speaking of that locality and railroa'
station which is the nearest point thu
mode of travel approaches the Falls, te'
miles distant across the mountain, the,
were included with brief description il
the sketch as a coming attraction which
would be enhanced by the railro4d.
This article in the Gazette also referred
TO the lumber and iron.res nurces Of th.
section. TWAS observed by man nance
Rittephouse, then about Luray buyiD,
lumber products. He made his way imn'