Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-06
MANY LANDMARKS
SEEN BY TRAVELLER
ON VIRGINIA ROADS
Old Ivy-C0vered Taverns
Adorned With Gables
Are Encountered.
WILLIAMSBURG POST ROAD
WAS ONCE INDIAN TRAIL
State Has Been Scene of Social
and Commercial Activity
for 3l4 Years.
ny EDITH TINIS SALE.
tCopyright.J

mond. historic houses and old taverns
ar. mot, some covered with ivy and
adorned with gables. but all stand
ing preserved and cree, as monu-
ments to the sturdy F:nglishmen who
punt them more than two hundred
years ago. Each road which is
traversed for miles out Of the city is
romantic and 1t is refreshing TO
rdmblc along Il: TO 70 back TO the
time OF stage coach and pack horse
for "a glim.s Of those delightful and
FAR away days which were purely
Colonial
/, liz too bad that the roads now
Linking these picturesque highways
are usually in such condition that il
IL practically Impossible to cover even
on" day, and though more than two
centuries have interviewed. they are
but li,tlc improved since the times
when the RIitish marched confidently
along them with buglcs sounding
and proud banners flying.
How few people who have always
lived In Virginia ever stop to CON
template that the wonderful state
and its old post roads have been the
scene OF a social and commercial
activity for three hundred and four
Teen years. And yet. "" all know
tina, In 1907 the colonists landed at
Jamestown.
Old Indian Trails.
Al that time rcnturcsome explorers
could see the dust OF the Indian
mocassin rising from tran leading
westward from the island. Later
when more colonists came from Eng
nd mi
widened into n road over which
passed the pack horse train. used In
pioneer days to supply the settlers
with the necessities o! life.
Contrasting this primitive method
OF traffic with that we know today. IL
is interesting 10 note that such
train consisted OF five or ten horses
tethcrcd one behind the other by
long line the master Of the train
riding to the fore or IN the rear.
Each horse could carry a burden OF
two hundred pounds and fifteen miles
/. day could be made by steady
travel.
The motor Of this new century has
made it possible TO cover many more
than that with ease. and yet, owing
TO the unfortunate condition OF both
cid and new roads, time made now
is but little better than in the days
o. the pack horse train. AS carly as
1872 the General Assembly OF Nir-
ginia ordered that: The Governor
and council or commissioners for the
courts or parishioners OF parish.
shall lay out highways" The first
name for these was. "cart-ways."
which did not develop into post roads
until late in the seventeenth century.
nl746 traveller through this coun-
try pronounced one OF the roads out
of Williamsburg better than any In
England He follows this assertion
by saying: THE roads are. as I said
before some OF the best ! ever saw.
and Infinitely superior to most in
England. The country surrounding
is thickiy overspTead with planta-
iions, and the planters live in man
ner equal TO men of the best for
tune"
Became williamsburg Road.
That cart-way which began as an
Indian trail later became the VIII
liamsburg post road. Along it's sides
the modest homes OF the earliest
colons,s were built. AS time went
on. these were supplantcd by more
pretentious homesteads. and ii was
about 1850 that the first brick house
appeared. Fifty years later a finer
type became apparent. and in short
while many large manor houses were
scattered along the river as far as
what is now Richmond
Fortunately. the majority OF these
iatcrcsting homes arc Still! we'll pre-
served and all are delightfully."- pic
turcsauc. Ii modern tourists can
ever find The combination of ample
time and good roads. they will be
repaid ten-fold by tour along
any OF tho thoroughfarcs. which have
developed out of the old Williams
burg post road.
After crossing the viaduct on Broad
Street. st. Johns Church is always
the first stopping point OF interest.
aud here even iconoclastic travellers
bow reve-4n: ncads in the old grave
yard. where so many of Virginia's
IGNORED sons are sleeping through
out the ages.
on. over Church Hill. the road
winds to break into forks: one fol-
loving the river to Wilton, the other
TO Seven Pines. Wilton. the LANDS
nd OF early records. was built about
l5'5. the brick house rising upon
road terrace overlooking the James |
i:Iilt by William Randolph, I'll. the
inc old mansion Is rich In hand
made pannelinE5 and treasures among
other hallowed memories, stories OF
the girlhood OF Nancy Wilton" as
ono daughter OF tho house was
known.
Then Comes Vnrinn.
Just beyond Wilton lies -Varina |
tho home TO which John Ro.fc
brought PRINCESS Pocahontas, and
where their orc chilli; was born. vari.