Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-09-30
SPOTSWOOD TRAIL LEADS IN
CHARM

The Spotswood Trail, the scenic
shortcut to Richmond from the Val
ley through Elkton, embraces all the
"interest and charms" of all other
highways. it is stated in a booklet
just published by the Virginia De-
partment of Agriculture and Immi-
grafton entitled "Along Highways in
Old Virginia"
The booklet is beautifully illus
trated with scenes from all parts of
Virginia. 1t gives brief sketch of
each highway in the state. telling of
their historic interest and scenic
beauty and then pays a tribute to the
sweeping scenery that is given the
motorist when he travels across the
Blue Ridge mountains over the
Spottswood Trail. This tribute is as
follows:
'The interests and charms of other
highways have been dilated. Their
names have suggested character and
actions of great men, geographical
eXpanses, days primeval. and storied
romance. The Spottswood Trail en-
braces all. Our thoughts flow easily
and swiftly to the man whose name it
bears. his accomplishments and the
romance that envelops him, before
the turn Of the touring car brings I'M
folding the route.
"Of the six Colonial governors who
gave their names to Virginia coun-
ties, Alexander Spottswood is prob
ably the most interesting and pic
turesque. He built a fort and
palace at Germanna on the Kappa
hammock river There are stories of
his spacious and hospitable home.
Above the falls on the river was his
iron furnace In 1716, while COVER
nor, he made an exploring tour
through the country from Williams
burg, the Colonial capital, along the
idol rivers to which the early set
tiers chung, across the middle coun-
try to which they gradually ventur
ed, and to the top of the mountains
so long a barrier to the Valley be-
yond. The journey was six weeks
and a jolly time. On their return
each tourist received golden horse
shoe as souvenir of the trip. and
thus was instituted the order of the
knights Of the Golden Horseshoe
A horseshoe was chosen as a badge
of knighthood because the horses
which at home needed no shoes had
to be shod in order to withstand the
rocky regions of the mountains.
with the story in mind the tour
list NAV pleasantly revert to the other
DAYS when knighthood was in flower.
and speed along Highway Route No.
IL from Gordonsville to Barbours-
vile, to Stanardsville and Fuckers
vile in Greene county. to
Elkton, to Harrisonburg. to Church
vile, to Goshen, to Warm Springs. to
Hot Springs. to Covington and on to
the West Virginia border.
THE journey will not be for six
weeks; there will be no stop to have
the horses shod in transition from
sandy tidewater to rough mountain
region. The trip will be jolly. if
proposed, will be drunk with water
precipitous mountain tops will he
reached by carefully engineered as
cents. The top of the pass will dis
close the matchless Shenandoah Val
ley of Virginia with fertile fields
beautiful homes and hill top and dale
crowned and covered with fruits and
grain perfected by the white mans
civilization. The tourist will not turn
back to report the first step in the
Winning of the West; he viii pro-
coed onward to the West won in
country triumphant in the world to-