Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-01-09
HUNTER B. CHAPMAN
BUYS SHENANDOAH CAVERNS


payment Of $4,000 for the Manor
holdings.
Mr.. Manor re.ires from the partner
ship because of other large business
interests which require his attention,
and the sole ownership by MIR Chap
man means that these famous Caverns
will be operated under his personal
direction.
The Caverns farm, underneath which
lie the ''Grotto of the Gods, was pur-
chased by Messrs. Manor and Chapman
from the Neff Orchard Company in the
fall of 1921, and following the purchase
work was Immediately begun to de-
velop the grotto in order that its hid
den beauties would be made accessible
to the public. The presence OF the
Caverns under the Neff hill was mat
ter of knowledge to the earlier settlers
of the Valley, and their location was
interviewer in the lore of the Catawba
and other Indian tribes whose domain
embraced this area.
However, their extent was never
realized until after the purchase by
Messrs. Manor and Chapman, when
hazardous and perilous subterranean
explorations were made, often through
crevices in the strata over a hundred
feet below the snrface, and frequently
through assures scarce large enough
to permit the passage of those who had
the hardihood to dare a journey INTO
their stygian and unknown depths.
DEVELOPMENT.
These explorations were made by
and under the direction OF Mr. Chap
man, and Mr.. Hugh A. Kneisley of
Woodstock, Va, who had charge of
engineering and labor incident to the
development of the Caverns, and who
is credited with having located several
of the rooms therein and brought TO
light several of the outstanding feat
ures. The adverse circumstances un-
der which these explorations were
made may be best appreciated when it
is considered that only crude para
phenalia and lights could be used by
the explorers and their intuition was
the only guide amid the pent up gloom
of thousands of centuries.
After tedious months Of incessant
labor, which included the installation
of the best indirect electric lighting
system to be found in any Caverns in
the world, and after subtcrranean pas
sages had been opened SO that the
journey through the grotto could be
made without discomfort and with per
feet safety, on May 20, 1922, the Shen-
andoah Caverns were opened 10
the public and the first excursion
to the Cayerns was operated from
by the Southern Railway
on that date.
Those who came caugnt the impress
Of the gorgeousness of the grotto and
here followed an ever increasing
stream Of tourists who made the Cav
ems their mecca and who told others |
Of its marveIs. A modern hotel was
constructed at the entrance to tile Cav |
srns Tor the convenience OF visitors, !
md every effort was made by the own
ers TO make Shenandoah Caverns, what (
is marvels entitled it to be, the great. ,
est attraction of its character in the /
Southland.
AS their fame spread visitors from /
he four corners of the earth came to |
Zee this wonderland and in 1924 these
Visitors were numbered by thousands. i
Among these visitors have been scien- |
lists, authors, statesmen and other |
public men whose names are familiar
III over the world The commentator
which the Caverns received from this !
lass OF visitors added to their fame, and !
low Shenandoah Caverns ranks among |
he first of the earth's great grottoes.
Since their acquisition by Manor and
Chapman a hard surface road was !
to the Caverns entrance !
rom the Valley turnpike, the main
artery in the Virginia highway system,
4 distance Of but little more than A
mile. A large landing platform was
built by the Southern Railway for the
eff excursionists, and since
its opening the Baltimore and Ohio r.
R. has operated special trains to the
Caverns from points as distant as
Pitt burg and the Pennsylvania has
run excursions from Philadelphia and
other northern points. The Southern.
on whose lines, the Caverns are locat-
&c, the entrance being but several
hundred yards from the station. has
operated a number of excursions To-
Caverns.
Tentative plans are now being for
mulated by Mr.. Chapman to add 10 the
comfort of visitors, which, with a corps
OF guides and employees whose first
consideration will be courteous treat
ment to the public, will make Shen-
andoah Caverns one Of the most pop
ular and sought out attractions in the.
Shenandoah Valley.
Mr.. Chapman is a native of Win
chester, and came to Woodstock forty
years ago as agent of the Baltimore.
and Ohio Railroad. He has been in
railroad service since that time and
went with the Southern as agent here,
when the B. & 0. surrendered its lease
on this line.
He has been pioneer in the de-
velopment Of industries ad attrac-