The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-12-07

The historic Fairfax Stone. mark
ing the headwaters of the Potomac
river, was not planted by George
Washington despite common belief.
Fairfax Stone is not given among
his siyty-seven authenticated trips in
Maryland Washington was much as
ISOLATED with the Potomac river. his
home Mount Vernon being on the
stream, and some think nothing could
happen in connection with the Poto-
mac about Georges time unless he
had something to do with it.
The famous Fairfax Stone, to which
reference is made frequently by Mary
land and West Virginia historians.
marks the division between West Viz
ginia and Maryland at the northwest
cln corner Of Garrett county, but lore
searcherS. mountain climbers and per-
sons for whom events away back have
an appeal, like to think of it first as
marking the headwaters of the Poto-
mac river. Many visit the historic spot
with the idea that Washington was
there, but it happens that he was in
swaddling clothes when Fairfax Stone
was planted.
Scrapbook has several stories of To-
cal cast. These historians, native and
to the manor born, enthusiastic, dug
deep and evolved facts that set to
naught claims Of some professional
historians.
Located Is Miles From Cumberland
Fairfax Stone is located about Is
miles from Cumberland, and not far
from Thomas, W. Va. The Western
Maryland Railway abolished Fairfax
station where the visitor to the stone
would leave the train and walk about
a mile. Standing at the stone and
looking down, the first meanderings of
the Potomac can be noted in the great
panorama.
September 30, 1907, "Uncle john"
who visited the stone with Jim" and
win Roderick, related his expert
ence in the Keyser Echo, writing from
Schell
He says: "After eating our lunch
and drinking from the head of the
water supply of our National Capital,
we commenced to take notes."
I'VE now find ourselves at an alti-
tude of $3.50 feet whence the mighty
Potomac rolls down to the sea. The
spring is not at the head Of the IA
vine as might naturally be supposed,
but is on the side of the hill about 200
yards from the top where the hill (the
watershed Of the Alleghenies,) slopes
toward the northwest at grade of
about three degrees. At the head of a
string Of ground slightly lower than
the surrounding land, the spring flows
from under a bank about two feet
high There are two streams about
Is feet apart that flow together at a
distance Of IS feet below and from
there flow northwest gradually cir
cling toward the north and east. We
have often been told that either of
these streams would flow through an
inch pipe When we were there, either
Of them would have flown through a
pipe the size Of a common lead pencil.
The Stone Stands
BetwiXt Two Springs
"Betwixt those two springs and di-
rectly north Of the most westerly one
stands the Fairfax Stone There are
two rocks placed side by side which
form a foundation about two feet
square These rocks have been rough
ly dressed with hammer and placed
50 as to extend about eight inches
above the surface Of the ground; upon
this is placed cut stone just two feet
square and eighteen inches deep and
capped off on the top to a square of
Is inches. There had been another
stone or shaft placed upon this which
has been destroyed.
"All four sides of this stone have
cut on it the letters F. S. and one face
is covered with an inscription but time
has so obliterated it that we could
read nothing but date, april, ia"
the fourth figure being either 3, 5 or
S. These rocks have been brought
from the top of the hill some distance
back as there are not rock Of this kind
or of any size near the spring.
$50 after ten years Of time and
big sight Of red tape, the Northetn
Neck Of Virginia was established.
For over 70 years have been told
that George Washington ran these
lines and planted the Fairfax Stone.
Now it will be seen from these dates
that he was just four years old when
the Potomac was explored and IA
years old when the western line was
run. SO you see this story is like
many others we hear of Uncle George
such as the little Ratchet and cherry
tree incident and many others told of
him-all myth"
Historian Roderick
EXplodes Fallaceis
Some years back j. W. Koderick of
Elk Garden, W. Va, wrote the Oak
land Republican relative to the Fair
fax Stone. He said in part: an my
schoolboY DAVIS about Is wears gao, |