Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-02-17
SEARS HILL WHEN
sTAUNTON WAS YOUNG
ITS EARLY RESIDENTS
Some Interesting Though Little
Known Facts Descriptive of
Community Long Ago

AQOWu dCtS 0CoSAiPhsS "a
Community Long Ago
SEARS HILL (so.caIIed) EFT cETESA
Until comparatively few yenrs
ago, this hill constituted the southern
boundary of the town Of Staunton.
Extending to the Greenyille road on
the east to the Middlebrook roEd on
the west, and being very steep and
rugged, it seemed to be barrier to
the extension of the town southwark.
But the Split Of improvement ieapad
the barrier, and now a considerahle
and very attractive part of the "Oisy
of StauE toni may be found bsyond tie
ridge. This addition is ont of sight
of most of the town, and many a
stranger sojourns at tle hotels for
days in ignorance Of it's existence.
All we can see of it on looking mp, is
the gable of a dwelling, wiEdow in
which seems to be pseping down 80
zee what u going on here below.
The hill now cAlled s'sears." is,
like ancient Gaul, divided into three
parts -evsry school boy having a
smattering of Latin. knows about that;
and each part was formerly designa.
ted 5,..c separate name. The west
ern section, covered by q growth of
native oaks, was csiiel Stuart's
hill as it belonged to Judge AEchi-
bald Stuart. and confronted his resi-
oence which was across narro "
valley. The Rev. DR.. Sears having
come to- Staunton and living fer
several years in q house he found
built on this western section, gave
his name to the whole hill.
The eastern section, fenced of to
itself, was known and always called
kbney's hill. High up on ths side of
the hill, in a clump of bushes, in
full view of the Virginia Hotel, is
the entrance to the cave which has
several times in the history of Staun
ton been brought to prominent attsn.
tion, particularly in the year 1888.
See annals of Augusta county, page
357.
The middle section, formerly called
Gal bsr's Hill, is much more pronin
ent than the other two 1t has always
within my knowledge been fenced in
on both sides like cleared field. bu
is too steep and rugged for any usefn
purpose. Clothed perennially il
green grass, it is alWay a plsasan
sight to the eye, especially when othel
fields arc parched and Drowned by
excessive drought. The grass is tor
short for pasturage, SIS the soil is tot
poor for cultivation One object OF
the apex of the mill particularly at
tracts my attention. 1t is solitary
tree of large size ana graceful proper
tions, which overlooks both sides O.
the hill. Many native forest tree
are in the other sections. but this tre'
stands solitary and alone like q sen
tinel upon the outrosts. Other tree
probably grew originally in this sec
tion, but all Of them were long agi
felled by the woodman's axe. 1e
this was scared to battle with tn
stor ms OF simmer and winter, an en-
blem of utter ionesomeness Th'
Oldest inhabitaat does not renembe
when its general siza was any les
than at present 1t does not gro7
larger from year to year. nor does /
become smaller by decay. 1t probab
ly stood there when Columbus dis
covered America, and unless ruthless
Inv cut down by che hand of man, /
will stand there until many genera
tious of men pass away. 1t is OF tn
species called sugar nut, and is tn
largest of the kidd have ever seen
i In days of yore small iron can
non, six FOUNDER, relic OF til
war of 1912, lay prostrate on the TO
of CARRIERS hill, the gun carriag
having rolled away. 1t served a use
full purpose at the 4th of July and
Christmas, and the town boys nevn
failed to load it up and fire sevsra
salutes. From some caprice, the boy
i concluded TO change the position c
the ordnance. and with great labc
, they carried it to the top of Gree
Hill, the highest point in Marks
street. There it continued to do il
duty, till a very particular Governs
Of Virginia had it seizsd and carrie
to the state arsenal at Lexington.
the great disgust OF the boys and pro-
3 ably the relief of some nervol
grown psopie.
Several years ago the United Stat
Coast Surveyors planted small stoI
3 monument on CARRIERS hill, whicl
8 in connection with similar mon
b ment on another eminence mile {
+ to the northward, marks the meridil
I lire.
In old times this hill was q famo
10 place for bonfires at night. bat it
u ~narv voore aiuco ono has haan XII