The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-16
some Historic Nooks In Old Dominion

4, .IsH# ~ r. le .rrI. \
Some Historic Nooks in Old Dominion.
The ordinary traveller through what Is
known as the Piedmont region of Vir-
ginia will be struck by the unusual
beauty OF the country as seen from the
ca r window. The mountains form q wall
or blue against the western horizon.
broken only by the irregular outlines Of
the cliffs which rise ono above another
until their submits seem to meet and
melt into the paler azure OF the SKIES s.e,
The landscape between Ia broken by hills
and valleys. while here and there are
smaller mountains rising abruptly from
extensive plains OF cultivated lowlands.
Now and then may be seen an old home
stead. with its many gabled roof tall
chimneys, and dormer windows, set In
grove OF venerable oaks or locusts. the
outlying buildings Of which swarm with
dusky urchins, In varying shades OF color,
ranging from ebony to the brightest yell
low. sometimes, but rarely now. white
| turbaned "mammy'' adds interest to the
scene. whose dcferentlnl courtesy be-
| speaks the Unborn reverence for Quality"
! which years Of freedom from servitudc
| has not extinguished.
| the names Fairfax. Culpeper. Rapi-
| dan will suggest nothing more or less
to him than stations where the train
| stops to take on or put off passengers.
He will probably not BIO aware that this
part OF the Old Dominion. though set
tied at later period than the TidoWater
portion. which has so long been the theme
of writer's OF colonial lore, is yet rich
In historical nssocatlons, and has given
birth to many who have helped to shape
the destnysof this land OF ours. ssst
| Between the rivers Potomac and Ran
pahannocls lies what Is commonly known
as the Northern Neck Extending to the
| foot Of the mountains. that portion 70
knownftas Piedmont Virginia, and en-
braces some OF the most beautiful and
| ptcturesuii he scenery In the world. This
tract was granted viking James to Lord
Culpeper. II t. afterwards became theaprop-
ertyitof Lord Fairfax who married the
daughter OF Lord Culpeper and succeeded
to tho propretorshIp Of this fair domain
Near the Junction OF tho north branch of
! the Rappahannock with It's south branch,
| Rapidan (named for Queen Anne) was
| situated tho town OF Germanna, set
| Element OF Germans brought to this coun-
| try by Sir Alexander Spotswood to Work
in his iron furnace, the first ever estab-
| lished In the new world 1t was here also
that Governor spotswood erected fls "en-
| chanted CASTLE" and 1t was from hero
| that no led his knights of the Golden
| Horseshoe, an order Instituted by him.
and around whose exploits has hung such
| a glamor of romance, along the river to
| tho Blue Mountains and crossing
over those mountains, lifted the blue
veil which had hitherto hidden from the
eyes of the white man the beautiful
| Valley OF Virginia." For this expedition
they we're obliged to provide a number
| OF horseshoes. and on their return Gov
| ernor Spotswood presented each of the
| knights and gentlemen with golden
horseshoe studded with precious stones. as
n token OF their success. bearing this
motto: oslo juvat transcendere montes' =.
It is from these knights and their noble
leader that many Of the most dlstln-
gulshed men and families OF Virginia
are descended.
ever been ready to sacrifice life and
property at tho call OF duty and in the
cause OF right. In the words OF southern
poet, let lis hope that
"stll the Golden Horseshoe knights
Their Old Dominion keep"
Sir Alexander spotswood, colonial Gov
ernor of Virginia. died in 1740, and was
buried near Yorktown, since celebrated
as the place where Lord CORVALLIS sur
rendered his army to that OF General
Washington. His name Is one when
VirglnIans delight to honor and to when
Virginia accords an honored place IN the
annals of her glorious past.
The Germans, from Germnnna, after-
wards followed tho route taken by the
Knights OF tho Golden Horseshoe and
moved higher up the river, forming Tue
first German colony In Virginia. Here
they erected what Is now known as me
old Lutheran Church, where the de-
| scendnnts of these Germans stu wor-
shin. 1t Is said that the organ or this
church was presented by the King OF
sweden, and was brought from Ph!ladel-
phla In q wagon.
The county of Culpeper lies between tina
rivers Rappahannock and Rnpidan,
It was surveyed by George Washington.
In the year l749 who was then young
man, and lodged In small house Just
on the outskirts of the village OF Fairfax.
now the town OF Culpeper. which Is
picturesquely situated In depression or
basin, with an nmphtheatre of surrounds
Ing hills, and has been at different times
the abode OF men who have served their
country with honor on the field OF bat
tle In the, Senate Of our own land. and IN
foreign diplomatio service,
The Culpeper minute Men We're Justly
distinguished for their bravery In the
Revolutionary War, Their f>s represent
ed a white field. on which was collen
rattlesnake In the act Of striking. Under
meath were the words Don't tread on
me-, Ono OF the officers of this gallant
n ffnf q q