Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-11-14
Something About the Noted Fairfax Stone.

Nearly all maps and not few his
torians give the famous Fairfax Stone,
situated about half mile in q south
westerly direction from the station at
Fairfax, Va, as the starting point of
the mighty Potomac river and also as
marking the beginning Of the Mary.
land State line. While asa matter of
fact the Potomac river does have its
origin near the Fairfax Stone, yet the
streams flow in two branches from a
spring in the mountain side, about
two hundred feet from the top of the
Alleghanies, and both streams flow
around the historic spot, joining about
IS feet further down the mountain
side in a stream not large enough to
crowd a one inch pipe. Aud SO far
as the Maryland State line is concern
ed it is not closer than within one
half mile Of the Fairfax Stone. which
mark stands entirely on West Virginia
territory. The spring from which the
Potomac river has its scource and
flows onward to the sea is at an alti-
tude of 1850 feet. From the point at
which the two streams Join they how
northwest, gradually circling toward
the north and east. From q little
distance above the spring the Mary.
land. West Virginia State line may be
seen for miles. as there is q strip clear
ed about one rod wide, which was
done few years ago, when tbs line
was re-run. After the Potomac
crosses this line about one.half mile
from the stone, it is a few hundred
yards from there met by another rivu.
let from the Maryland side, which is
flowing nearly due south. They then
flow around q hill in an eastern direc.
ton until they reach a point about
one and a.half miles below Fairfax
Station. There this rivulet is met by
a stream from the Maryland side, and
quite near this place one from West
Virginia side. Here it forms quite
brook, and mesnders for miles in a
northeasterly direction.
The Fairfax Stone was built of two
rocks placed side by side which form
a foundation about two feet square,
roughly dressed with hammer and
placed so as to extend about eight
inches above the surface of the ground.
Upon this stands cut stone just two
feet square and eighteen inches deep,
and capped of on top to a square OF
thirteen inches. There has been an-
other stone or shaft placed upon this
which has been destroyed. All four
sides Of this stone has cut on it the
letters "E. s." and one face is cover
ed with an inscription which time has
obliterated. These rocks were brought
from the top of the hills some distance
back, as there are no rocks Of this kind
any size near the spring. Maryland
has nothing whatever to do with the
Fairfax Stone, except that it is the
starting point from which to run the
western line to point at the begin
ming of the Maryland State line.
Some historians state that George
Washington explored this country,
located the stone and ran the line from
here due north to the Pennsylvania
line. But this can hardly be true,
for the records show that this stone was
placed here and the line was run in
1745, which the date on the stone
would indicate, by the corps Of sur
veyoru in the employ Of Lords Balti.
more and Fairfax. At that date
Washington was only a lad in his
teens.