Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-23


delight of its owner, justly classed with
the chief of the iron.masters Of Virginia.
Around and about were the buildings,
offices, mills, barns, stablipg. &c. Every
acre of the broad ow-grounds, from which
were annually gathered from four to five
thousand bushels of corn, the same quantity
of oats, and over one hundred and twenty
five tons of hay, are also of the landscape,
viewed from the residence. Opposite and
in full view of it comes dashing down over
cascades and cataracts, through evergreens
and over the mari beds, the bounding little
stream which in its short run has 80 much
of wild beauty, and SO much of power to
move the wheels of enterprise. Tho col
, liery wagons, the tram railroad to the
North River canal, hauling up ore trans
ported from Green Forest to the terminus
of the road by boats, and taking down the
iron made at the furnace for shipment
East, and scores of busy teams and men
everywhere under systematic direction, in
all over one hundred of the latter, is but an
imperfect sketch as the scene could be
viewed from the Buena Vista mansion
where comfort, refinement, and a large
hospitality welcomed a constant gathering
of guests.
On the right of the road, as the journey
is made from Buena Vista to Lexington, as
cending through the old forest just before
the summit of the Western hill is reached
is one of those depressions in the general
surface frequently observed in limestone
countries. Its lower end terminates with
a natural dam between two hills, and on it
is the public road. The oblong Valley
| formed above is more than quarter of
mile in length with mean width of two
hundred and fifty yards. Here
LAKE THAT WOULD BE LAKE,
could be formed, for large ice cold springs
burst out of their rocky sources at the head
of the little valley and are lost at the lowest
point at the bottom of the depr ession. The
pretty little branch is seen no m ore, unless,
as legend tells the tale, when it makes its
appearance again in the Valley of the South
River two miles below, on the farm of the
late Mr.. John Davidson and opposite
"Tuscan Villa" the residence Of A. M.
Glasgow, Esq
As the lake on the top of large noun
tain in Giles county, first called the "Salt
Pond" but now, with The Improvements,
and as summer reEort, is known as
'tMountain Lake." was formed by cattle
tramplipg over and pudding the water-es'
capes, SO on the heights ct Buera Vista, a
smaller lake, but not necessarily inferior in
| future associations, could be made. One
man with shovel could cause the waters
to rise with natural overflow after fifty
| feet is attained which would chain by its
novelty and beauty. That place would
soon be summer resort. 1t is surrounded
by oak aud evergreen forest. The topog-
raphy offers location for natural road ways
and the whole surroundings, less than four
miles of Lexington, invite to this charming
future. From the summit little above
the lake the views are as grand as any not
taken on the mountain heights. Lexington
on its plateau situation flanked by the
buildings and grounds of Washington and
Lee University and the Virginia Military
Institute, fills the sense of delight as the
background of green hills and mountains,
only limited by the Western horizon, adds
to the richness of the scene. Looking to
the South East through depression in the
Blue Ridge Mountains, the Peaks of Otter
are observed. The landscape looking
Northward as the eye takes it in from the
mountain salient projecting tho watershed
across the Valley and away fifty miles or
more Southwark where the two great
chains Of mountains seem to commingle as
they divide the waters of the James and
New Rivers and those which flow TO Abe
marie sound, presents scenes of wonderful
grandeur in association with the location of
the lake near The summit affording such
magnificent scenery.
In June, 1864, the furnace and mills were
destroyed by fire. The order to burn was
Issued by General Hunter, commanding a
Federal army of Invasion.
Mr.. Jordan died in 1872 A few years
before his death, and after the works were
in ruins, and when not possessing the rail
road advantages as now, he was offered
through Major r. H. Catlett, of Staunton,
two bundled thousand dollars for this
splendid estate,