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78-877: The heavily traveled Great Wagon Road was the primary route for the early settlement of the Southern United States, particularly the " backcountry ". Although a wide variety of settlers traveled southward on the road, two dominant cultures emerged. The German Palatines and Scotch-Irish immigrants arrived in huge numbers because of bloody religious conflicts and persecution of Protestants by monarchies in Great Britain and Europe. The mostly Protestant German Palatines (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch ) tended to find rich farmland and work it zealously to become stable and prosperous. The other group, mostly Protestant Presbyterians known as Scotch-Irish , tended to be restless, clannish, fiercely independent, and hosted

156-580: A Council-Manager form of government. It is governed by the Common Council, an elected body within a ward system. The city is composed of four wards, each with 2 councilmen, with the city's mayor serving as the ninth representative and leader of the council. While the council began as a 13-member board, it transitioned from 13 to 9, beginning in 2006 and ending in 2008. Winchester Public Schools operates public schools, including John Handley High School . The most prominent highway serving Winchester

234-603: A centuries old animosity to the British Crown. The Scotch-Irish made up a substantial portion of the Continental Army and the state militia in the American War of Independence. They went on to form what became the backbone of Appalachian Culture . Partly because of the language difference, the two groups tended to keep to themselves. Beginning at the port of Philadelphia , where many immigrants entered

312-533: A good portion of his young life in Winchester helping survey the Fairfax land grant for Thomas Fairfax, Sixth Lord Fairfax, as well as performing surveying work for Colonel Wood. In 1758 Wood added 158 lots to the west side of town. In 1759 Thomas Lord Fairfax contributed 173 more lots to the south and east. General Edward Braddock 's expeditionary march to Fort Duquesne crossed through this area in 1755 on

390-827: A group of wagon travelers reported that "the good road ended at Augusta" (now Staunton, Virginia ), although they did keep going all the way to Winston-Salem. By all accounts, it was never a comfortable route. The lines of settlers' covered wagons moving south were matched by a line of wagons full of agricultural produce heading north to urban markets; these were interspersed with enormous herds of cattle, hogs, and other livestock being driven north to market. Although there surely would have been pleasant areas for travel, road conditions also could vary from deep mud to thick dust, mixed with animal waste. In general, travelers preferred high and dry roads, but they also needed regularly spaced water sources for their horses (and for themselves). Inns were generally built near flowing springs, but provided only

468-631: A large wagon, noted that they passed by the tavern and stopped briefly at the "German" inn on October 16, 1753; they were on their way from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania , to Wachovia (now Winston-Salem ), North Carolina. Continuing south at Winchester, Virginia: Before November 1753, however, the Great Wagon Road turned westward here (VA-796) as described below. The road to North Carolina continued south here, however, following US-220 as described below. The road to North Carolina turned south here, following VA-605 as described below. Also, there

546-577: A new record processing plant. Along with this plant they built several houses, bought a few small businesses and later built a tape production plant. The Winchester plant began construction in 1968 and production in 1969. The plant initially had a workforce of 250 people. This plant complemented the other existing manufacturing facilities of Capitol Records in Scranton, PA, Jacksonville, FL and Los Angeles, CA. In 1969 Capitol Records' Pressing Plant in Scranton began phasing out its vinyl manufacturing in favor of

624-727: A railroad and interstate highway.) John Mushet's property (deeded August 10, 1743) was adjacent to Adam Hoops's property (deeded September 30, 1751), but the 1751 tax rolls had Mushet in Guilford Township and Hoops in Antrim Township ; this indicates that the junction was almost at the township boundary line. The map also implies that the Hoops inn was on the west side of the road, approximately at present-day address 6451 S. Main St (US-11). Fifteen Moravian settlers, traveling with

702-598: A road from here to Chambersburg; it was approved in 1772 and ordered built in 1786. Eventually, in 1811 it became part of the Gettysburg to Chambersburg Turnpike (now US-30), a principal route to Pittsburgh. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (estab. 1730), 11 miles (18 km) west of here, became a fork of the Great Wagon Road after 1786. This is the junction with the Harrisburg-Carlisle-Shippensburg-Chambersburg (US-11) branch of

780-569: A satellite view of the area. Note: The segments and distances are approximations; actual paths varied constantly with fallen trees, floods, etc. In 1734, a segment of the original Great Wagon Road, the King's Road, now PA-230 (Old Harrisburg Pike), was built from the center of Lancaster through Mount Joy to Pine Ford (now a bridge) across Swatara Creek at Middletown , and past the Harris ferry (established 1712, now Harrisburg). Also, in 1736 there

858-468: A staple of news reporting. Some United States jurisdictions have discussed placing limits on human access to the backcountry during times of particular danger. Winchester, Virginia Winchester is the northwesternmost independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia , United States . It is the county seat of Frederick County , although the two are separate jurisdictions. As of

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936-614: A subset of all backcountry lands. Wilderness and backcountry lands also exist outside of US national parks on public lands managed by the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In New Zealand , "backcountry" often refers to land that is not accessible by public access. For example, it is common for a farmer to have some remote parts of their land left in scrubland or forest. This

1014-488: A tire dump in the area containing over seven million tires burned for nine months, polluting nearby areas with lead and arsenic . The location was cleaned up as a Superfund project between 1983 and 2002. Winchester is located at 39°10′41″N 78°10′01″W  /  39.178°N 78.167°W  / 39.178; -78.167 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has

1092-611: A total area of 9.3 square miles (24 km ), virtually all land. It is in the Shenandoah Valley , located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains , and is 15 miles north-northeast of the northern peak of Massanutten Mountain . I-81 passes through the city, along with US 50 , US 522 , US 17 , which ends in the city, and SR 7 , which also ends in the city. The city

1170-549: Is Interstate 81 . I-81 extends northeast to southwest, connecting Winchester to eastern Tennessee , southwestern Virginia, eastern West Virginia , western Maryland and central Pennsylvania . Other highways passing through Winchester include U.S. Route 11 , U.S. Route 17 , U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 522 . These four highways follow city streets through downtown Winchester, with U.S. Route 17 coming to its northern terminus. Virginia State Route 7 also serves Winchester, terminating in downtown. Virginia State Route 37 bypasses

1248-606: Is 9/10ths of the law , built a home here (in present-day Clarke County) in 1748. In February 1752, the Virginia House of Burgesses granted the fourth city charter in Virginia to 'Winchester' as Frederick Town was renamed after Colonel Wood's birthplace in England. In 1754, Abraham Hollingsworth built the local residence called Abram's Delight, which served as the first local Quaker meeting house. George Washington spent

1326-659: Is another fork; VA-654 continues over the hill in a shortcut to join US-460, a branch of the old "Warwick Road" to Lynchburg and Richmond, Virginia . Continue south at Roanoke, Virginia: Franklin Rd (US-220 Bus) continues onward, becoming Electric Rd (VA-419), which forks south after 1 mile to Starkey Rd (VA-604) leading to Merriman Rd (VA-613). VA-613 leaves the Great Valley, crossing into Franklin County through Maggoty Gap in

1404-618: Is approximately 250 miles (400 km). Backcountry In geography , a backcountry , back country or backwater is a geographical area that is remote , undeveloped , isolated , or difficult to access . These areas are typically rural or mountainous and sparsely populated . The National Park Service (NPS) generally uses the term "backcountry" to refer to "primitive, undeveloped portions of parks". Developments within backcountry areas are generally limited to trails, unpaved roads, and administrative facilities associated with dispersed recreational use. Dispersed recreational use

1482-564: Is approximately 75 miles (121 km) to the west of Washington, D.C., 24 miles (39 km) south of Martinsburg, West Virginia , 25 miles (40 km) north of Front Royal , 118 miles (190 km) south of Harrisburg, PA and 180 miles (290 km) north of Roanoke . The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Winchester has depending on which isotherm

1560-574: Is generally only used for mountainous areas where snow falls in Australia, whereas other remote areas are usually called "the bush" which can cover both national park areas and farming areas. Australian Hiker The backcountry may contain many hazards including rough terrain, life-threatening weather, avalanches , and wild animals. In the United States, tragic accidents and dramatic backcountry rescues of stranded hikers, climbers, or skiers are

1638-557: Is known of specific tribal movements before European contact, the Shenandoah Valley area, considered a sacred common hunting ground, appears by the 17th century to have been controlled mostly by the local Iroquoian -speaking groups, including the Senedo and Sherando . The Algonquian -speaking Shawnee began to challenge the Iroquoians for the hunting grounds later in that century. The explorers Batts and Fallam in 1671 reported

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1716-412: Is normally under about 18 inches (460 mm) of water, but subject to sudden flooding that may last for days. The Shallow Ford was in regular use until a bridge was built in 1920 about a mile north of the ford. The eastern approach to the ford is now a vineyard. The wagon road on the west side was probably in the vicinity of present-day Canterbury Lane and Cornwallis Drive. The road south of Shallow Ford

1794-496: Is often adjacent to other areas of backcountry which are yet to be developed or protected from development. Trampers and other explorers sometimes need to get farmers' permission to access parts of the national parks of New Zealand or other natural phenomena, if they intend to pass over backcountry. Hunters can ask for permission from farmers to hunt in their backcountry. Backcountry in Australia Backcountry

1872-729: Is the most prevalent human use in backcountry areas, although research activities may also occur. The NPS defines wilderness within US national parks as any "backcountry areas which have been specifically designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System or any other area that has been determined to possess the characteristics of wilderness as defined by Section 2(c) of the Wilderness Act". Section 2(c) states in part that wilderness: (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by

1950-655: Is used, either a humid continental climate or a humid subtropical climate , abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hardiness zone is 6b/7a. Winchester is one of the only cities in Virginia to have a humid continental climate. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. Companies based in Winchester include American Woodmark , Trex , and Rubbermaid Commercial Products . Federal agencies with operations in Winchester include

2028-828: The 2020 census , the city's population was 28,120. It is the principal city of the Winchester metropolitan area with a population of just over 145,000 extending into West Virginia , which is a part of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area . Winchester is home to Shenandoah University and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley . Indigenous peoples lived along the waterways of present-day Virginia for thousands of years before European contact. Archeological , linguistic and anthropological studies have provided insights into their cultures. Though little

2106-542: The Army of Northern Virginia . He laid the foundations for the future Geneva conventions regarding the treatment of medical doctors during warfare. Winchester served as a major center for Confederate medical operations, particularly after the Battle of Sharpsburg in 1862 and the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Among those who took part in battles at Winchester were future U.S. presidents McKinley and Hayes , both as officers in

2184-493: The Blue Ridge Mountains ; this route provided wagon access to North and South Carolina and Georgia. The road here was called Bryant's Road on the 1771 Wachovia map of "East Part of Surrey County". The original Moravian settlers of Wachovia may have camped here November 13, 14, and 15, in 1753, waiting for the floodwater to recede. The land on the west side of the Dan River has been altered significantly for agriculture, but from

2262-717: The Catawba Indian land, and also eliminated the need to cross the Catawba River to reach Camden. At the end of Zion Church Road, the route apparently followed NC-1132 (Flowes Store Road) across the Rocky River ford, then south in Mecklenburg County and Union County via Ferguson Road, Indian Trail Road, and Mill Grove Road, through a golf course and Goose Creek Airport, then on Rocky River Road (NC-1514 + NC-1007) and Lancaster Highway ( NC-200 ) to

2340-695: The Federal Emergency Management Agency , the Federal Bureau of Investigation , and the United States Army Corps of Engineers . According to the City's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Winchester was home to Capitol Records ' East Coast Pressing Plant. Capitol Records Distribution Corporation announced in 1968 the purchasing of land in Winchester, Va for

2418-775: The National Road (US-40) was completed to the Ohio River in 1818 and the Erie Canal was completed to the Great Lakes in 1834. The earlier Great Wagon Road to the south from here, however, continued as described below. A 1770 map by William Scull showed the road bypassing Chambersburg and running directly from here to intersect with the Harrisburg road (built 1744) in the vicinity of Marion, Pennsylvania (north of Back Creek and Muddy Run). A 1775 version of

Great Wagon Road - Misplaced Pages Continue

2496-642: The Ohio River where flatboats were available for further travel into the Midwest and even to New Orleans . From Big Lick/Roanoke, after 1748, the Great Wagon Road passed through the Maggoty Gap (also called Maggodee) to the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains . Continuing south through the Piedmont region, it passed through the present-day North Carolina towns of Winston-Salem , Salisbury , and Charlotte , and sites of earlier Indian settlements on

2574-711: The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Shenandoah University is located in Winchester and has numerous male and female sports in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Winchester is also home to the Winchester Speedway, a 3/8-mile clay oval track, which plays host to a number of touring series, such as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series , and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series . Winchester's follows

2652-547: The 1766 Moravian map by C. B. Reuter it appears that wagons rolled through in the vicinity of NC-1718 (Saura Farm Road) and made their way up the hill (now Oldtown Road) to the Townfork settlement (now Walnut Cove and Germanton ). In 1759, the Moravians cut another new road, now NC-1681 (Bethabara Rd), to Bethania from Bethabara. As shown on a 1766 map of Bethania Town Lots by Christian Gottlieb Reuter, it passed just north of

2730-607: The Anglican Frederick Parish (for purposes of tax collection). Colonel James Wood , an immigrant from Winchester , England, was the first court clerk and had been a surveyor for Orange County, Virginia . He contracted for his own home Glen Burnie homstead around 1737, and it may have been used for early government business. Wood laid out 26 half-acre (2,000 m ) lots in 1744. The County Court held its first session on November 11, 1743, where James Wood served until 1760. Lord Fairfax, understanding that possession

2808-685: The Carolinas in the early 18th century) finally ceded their nominal claim to the Shenandoah Valley at the Treaty of Lancaster (1744), arranged by British officials. The treaty also established the right of colonists to use the Indian Road through the valley, later known as the Great Wagon Road . The father of Shawnee chief Cornstalk had his own court at Shawnee Springs , near today's Cross Junction, Virginia , until 1754. In 1753, on

2886-561: The General Forbes army, which was based in Carlisle. (The 1751 Fry-Jefferson map is inaccurate for western Pennsylvania, showing only the approximate placement of segments of roads. For example, it shows the road from Shippensburg running too far west and ending at present-day Fort Frederick, Pennsylvania.) Much later, in 1806, a group of Conestoga wagon craftsmen moved from Lancaster to the Harrisburg area where they set up business;

2964-718: The Great Wagon Road that had been built to the Potomac River in 1744. The French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) disrupted traffic on the Great Wagon Road from 1756 to 1763. The population of Franklin County (the Chambersburg area) in 1756 was 3,000; by 1760 it was down to 300. The Forbes military wagon road (now US-30), built in 1758 to attack the French, branched west from Chambersburg through Fort Loudon and McConnellsburg to present-day Pittsburgh . Improved in 1785, it then carried heavy pioneer traffic to Ohio until

3042-958: The Potomac River Valley. For instance, in 1861, Stonewall Jackson removed 56 locomotives and over 300 railroad cars, along with miles of track, from the B&;O Railroad. His attack closed down the B&O's main line for ten months. Much of the effort to transport this equipment by horse and carriage centered in Winchester. During the war, Winchester was occupied by the Union Army for four major periods: by Major General Nathaniel Banks (March ? May 12 to 25, 1862, and June 4 to September 2, 1862), Major General Robert Milroy (December 24, 1862, to June 15, 1863), Major General Philip Sheridan (September 19, 1864, to February 27, 1865), and Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (February 27, 1865, to June 27, 1865). Major General Sheridan raided up

3120-524: The Quakers purchased several tracts on Apple-pie Ridge from the natives, who did not disturb those settlements. The first German settler appears to have been Jost Hite in 1732, who brought ten other families, including some Scots-Irish. Though Virginia was an Anglican colony, Governor William Gooch had a tolerant policy on religion. The availability of land grants brought in many religious families, who were often given 50-acre (200,000 m ) plots through

3198-517: The Shawnee were contesting with the Iroquoians for control of the valley and were losing. During the later Beaver Wars , the powerful Iroquois Confederacy from New York (particularly Seneca from the western part of the territory) subjugated all tribes in the frontier region west of the Fall Line . By the time Anglo-European settlers arrived in the Shenandoah Valley around 1729, the Shawnee were

Great Wagon Road - Misplaced Pages Continue

3276-658: The Shenandoah Valley in 1861, Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863, and the Valley Campaigns of 1864 . Including minor cavalry raids and patrols, and occasional reconnaissances, historians claim that Winchester changed hands as many as 72 times and 13 times in one day. Battles raged along Main Street at points in the war. Union General Sheridan and Stonewall Jackson located their headquarters just one block apart at times. At

3354-664: The Shenandoah Valley, the road reached the Roanoke River at the town of Big Lick (today, Roanoke ). South of Roanoke, the Great Wagon Road was also called the Carolina Road. At Roanoke, a road forked southwest, leading into the upper New River Valley and on through Abingdon, Virginia to the Holston River in the upper Tennessee Valley . From there, the Wilderness Road led into Kentucky , ending at

3432-565: The Siege of Boston. He led the 96 men of "Morgan's Sharpshooters" from Winchester on July 14, 1775, and marched to Boston in 21 days. Morgan, Wood, and others also performed duties in holding captured prisoners of war , particularly Hessian soldiers . Hessian soldiers were known to walk to the high ridge north and west of town, where they could purchase and eat apple pies made by the Quakers. The ridge became affectionately known as Apple Pie Ridge. The Ridge Road built before 1751 leading north from town

3510-554: The South Carolina state line ( Lancaster County ), then SC-200 (Monroe Highway) to Lancaster, South Carolina , where it joined another branch of the Great Wagon Road to Camden, South Carolina. Continue south at Charlotte, North Carolina: Continue south at Charlotte, North Carolina: Continue west from Union, South Carolina after the Broad River crossing: Total distance from Charlotte to Augusta via this route

3588-771: The Union IX Corps . The United States assigned military presence to Winchester and other parts of the South during Reconstruction after the war. Winchester was part of the First Military District , commanded by Major General John Schofield . This period lasted until January 26, 1870. Winchester was the first city south of the Potomac River to install electric light . In 1917 the Winchester and Western Railroad connected Winchester with Rock Enon Springs , moving both vacationers and supplies to

3666-607: The Winchester plant. Winchester is the location of the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival , which has existed since 1924. It is usually held during the first weekend in May. The festival includes a carnival, firework show, parades, several dances and parties, and a coronation where the Apple Blossom Queen is crowned. Local school systems and many businesses close the Friday of Apple Blossom weekend. Winchester has more than 20 different "artistic" apples that are made of various materials including wood, rubber pipe, plaster, and paint. These apples were created in 2005 by occupants of

3744-435: The city and were placed at a specific location at the artists' request after being auctioned off. For example, a bright red apple with a large stethoscope attached to it was placed beside a much-used entrance to the Winchester Medical Center. Winchester is home to the Winchester Royals , which is part of the Valley Baseball League , a National Collegiate Athletic Association -sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league in

3822-494: The colonies, the Great Wagon Road passed through the towns of Lancaster and York in southeastern Pennsylvania . Turning southwest, the road crossed the Potomac River and entered the Shenandoah Valley near present-day Martinsburg, West Virginia . It continued south in the valley via the Great Warriors' Trail (also called the Indian Road ), which was established by centuries of Indian travel over ancient trails created by migrating buffalo herds . The Shenandoah portion of

3900-435: The eve of the French and Indian War ( Seven Years' War ), messengers came to the Shawnee from tribes further west, inviting them to leave the Valley and cross the Alleghenies , which they did the following year. The Shawnee settled for some years in the Ohio Country before being forced by the US government under Indian Removal in the 1830s to remove to Indian Territory . French Jesuit expeditions may have first entered

3978-495: The forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value. Wilderness lands within US national parks are

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4056-489: The future cemetery in Bethania and is now named Loeschs Lane at its end. There are two alternative detours from this fork. The Shallow Ford road actually continued west from here in the vicinity of Winona St, Velinda Drive, Flyntdale Avenue and Yadkinville Road; its detour ends on Yadkinville Road at the Muddy Creek bridge. The Trading Ford road actually branched south in the vicinity of Speas Road and Midkiff Road, from where it joined present-day Reynolda Road; its detour ends at

4134-422: The historic Indian Trading Path . The Great Wagon Road ultimately reached Augusta, Georgia , on the Savannah River , a distance of more than 800 miles (1,300 km) from Philadelphia. Despite its current name, the southern part of this road was by no means passable by wagons until later colonial times. The 1751 Fry-Jefferson map on this page notes the term "Waggon" only north of Winchester, Virginia . In 1753,

4212-400: The junction of Reynolda Road and Midkiff Road. Continue south at Wachovia, North Carolina: Continue south at Wachovia, North Carolina: The 1776 Mouzon map has no mention of Shallow Ford, but instead shows a road continuing almost due south from Lewisville possibly to a ferry location on the Yadkin River. The Great Wagon Road continued south and west as described below. Edward Hughes

4290-419: The land in Virginia between the Rappahannock and the Potomac rivers", an old grant from King Charles II which overlapped and included Frederick County. It took some time for land titles to be cleared among early settlers. By 1738 these settlements became known as Frederick Town . The county of Frederick was carved out of Orange County. The first government was created, consisting of a County Court as well as

4368-434: The late 1720s, Governor William Gooch promoted settlement by issuing large land grants. Robert "King" Carter , manager of the Lord Fairfax proprietorship, acquired 200,000 acres (810 km ). This combination of events directly precipitated an inrush of settlers from Pennsylvania and New York, made up of a blend of Quakers and German and Scots-Irish homesteaders, many of them new immigrants. The Scots-Irish comprised

4446-413: The map by Robert Sayer and J. Bennett showed John Mushet's tavern at this Marion intersection. Jeremiah Dixon (of Mason-Dixon fame) suggested this be a wagon road in 1767. This route would correspond roughly to present-day Bikle Road to Duffield and onward, south of Falling Spring, to the vicinity of present-day New Franklin and Marion. (The original path of the road has been broken by the construction of

4524-417: The most basic food and a space to sleep. Today, it is possible to experience many segments of the old road by car, by bike, or even on foot. Although most of the road has seen profound changes, some areas retain scenery much as the pioneers encountered it. The following tables summarize the segments of the Great Wagon Road, with links to details on each section and a Google map showing the current roads and

4602-430: The most numerous group of immigrants from the British Isles before the American Revolutionary War . The settlement of Winchester began as early as 1729, when Quakers such as Abraham Hollingsworth migrated up (south) the Great Valley along the long-traveled Indian Path (later called the Great Wagon Road by the colonists) from Pennsylvania. He and others began to homestead on old Shawnee campgrounds. Tradition holds that

4680-408: The new Winchester plant. Records pressed here include the Talking Heads ' Remain in Light , Dead Boys ' Young, Loud and Snotty , and Yoko Ono 's Fly (Yoko Ono album) . Capitol Records announced in late 1987 that it would end tape duplicating production in the US, in favor of offshore manufacturing, including in Winchester by early 1988, putting more than 500 employees out of work when they closed

4758-483: The next, led to long-term stifling of the Quaker population. Winchester became a gateway to Quaker settlements further west; by the mid-19th century, the Quaker population was a small minority here. During the war in 1758, at the age of 26, Colonel George Washington was elected to represent Frederick County to the House of Burgesses . Daniel Morgan later served as a ranger protecting the borderlands of Virginia against Indian raids, returning to Winchester in 1759. Following

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4836-407: The north end of the lower Shenandoah Valley, Winchester was a base of operations for major Confederate invasions into the Northern United States. At times the attacks threatened the capital of Washington, D.C. The town served as a central point for troops conducting major raids against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , Chesapeake and Ohio Canal , and turnpike and telegraph paths along those routes and

4914-473: The principal occupants in the area of the Shenandoah Valley that developed into Winchester. During the first decade of white settlement, the valley was also a conduit and battleground in a bloody intertribal war between the Seneca and allied Algonquian-speaking Lenape from the north, and their distant traditional enemies, the Siouan Catawba based in the Carolinas. The Iroquois Six Nations (the Tuscarora people had joined them by 1722 after losing battles in

4992-463: The resort that is now Camp Rock Enon with far greater speed. Winchester is the location of the bi-annual N-SSA national competition, keeping the tradition of Civil War era firearms alive. A three-block section of downtown Loudoun Street was closed to vehicular traffic in the 1970s and is a popular pedestrian area featuring many boutiques and cafés. The street was repaved with brick and landscaped in 2013. Apple Blossom Mall opened in 1982. In 1983,

5070-412: The road is also known as the Valley Pike . The Treaty of Lancaster in 1744 had established colonists' rights to settle along the Indian Road. Although traffic on the road increased dramatically after 1744, it was reduced to a trickle during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) from 1756 to 1763. But after the war ended, it was said to be the most heavily traveled main road in America. South of

5148-472: The settlement was named Mechanicsburg in 1820 because of all their shops there. Continuing west at York, Pennsylvania: However, the Monocacy Road continued as described below. Continuing west at York, Pennsylvania: Continuing west at York, Pennsylvania: From York, however, the Great Wagon Road continued west (US-30) as described below. The alternate path of the Great Wagon Road, however, continued west from here (after 1747) as described below. It

5226-502: The site of numerous battles during the American Civil War , as the Confederate and Union armies strove to control that portion of the Shenandoah Valley . Seven major battlefields are in the original Frederick County: Within the city of Winchester: Near the city of Winchester: Winchester was a key strategic position for the Confederate States Army during the war. It was an important operational objective in Gen Joseph E. Johnston 's and Col Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's defense of

5304-567: The sponsorship of fellow-religious grant purchasers and speculators. As a result, the Winchester area became home to some of the oldest Presbyterian , Quaker , Lutheran and Anglican churches in the valley. The first Lutheran worship was established by Rev. John Casper Stoever Jr. , and Alexander Ross established Hopewell Meeting for the Quakers. By 1736, Scots-Irish built the Opequon Presbyterian Church in Kernstown . A legal fight erupted in 1735 when Thomas Fairfax, Sixth Lord Fairfax came to Virginia to claim his land grant. It included "all

5382-415: The valley as early as 1606, as the explorer Samuel de Champlain made a crude map of the area in 1632. The first confirmed exploration of the northern valley was by the explorer John Lederer , who viewed the region from the current Fauquier and Warren County line on August 26, 1670. In 1705 the Swiss explorer Louise Michel and in 1716 Governor Alexander Spotswood did more extensive mapping and surveying. In

5460-409: The valley from Winchester, where his forces destroyed "2,000 barns filled with grain and implements, not to mention other outbuildings, 70 mills filled with wheat and flour" and "numerous head of livestock," to lessen the area's ability to supply the Confederates. Numerous local men served with the Confederate Army, mostly as troops. Hunter McGuire was Chief Surgeon of the Second "Jackson's" Corps of

5538-422: The war, from 1763 to 1774 Daniel Morgan served in Captain Ashby's company and defended Virginia against Pontiac's Rebellion and Shawnee Indians in the Ohio valley (that part now in West Virginia ). During the Revolutionary War, the Virginia House of Burgesses chose local resident and French and Indian War veteran Daniel Morgan to raise a company of militia to support General George Washington's efforts during

5616-477: The way to Fort Cumberland . Knowing the area well from work as a surveyor, George Washington accompanied General Braddock as his aide-de-camp. Resident Daniel Morgan joined Braddock's Army as a wagoner on its march to Pennsylvania. In 1756, on land granted by James Wood, Colonel George Washington designed and began constructing Fort Loudoun , which ultimately covered 0.955 acres (3,860 m ) in present-day downtown Winchester on North Loudoun Street. Fort Loudoun

5694-530: Was built a well-used wagon road (now US-222 and US-422 ) from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania , to Harris ferry. Eventually from Harrisburg the King's Road continued to Carlisle , Shippensburg , and Chambersburg , then on to the Potomac River . In 1758 the Forbes military wagon road was built, branching west from Chambersburg to Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania , and on to Pittsburgh . Heavy wagon traffic carried supplies from Philadelphia through Lancaster and Harrisburg to

5772-752: Was occupied and manned with guns until the start of the American Revolutionary War . During this era, a jail was built in Winchester. It occasionally held Quakers from many parts of Virginia who protested the French and Indian War and refused to pay taxes to the Anglican parish. While their cousins in Pennsylvania dominated politics there, Virginia was an Anglican colony and did not tolerate pacifism well. The strong Quaker tradition of pacifism against strong Virginia support for this war and

5850-453: Was ordered in 1763 to be improved from a pack horse trail to a wagon road, which was completed around 1764 to Salisbury, North Carolina. In 1770, another road was ordered cut west to "Mulberry Fields" (now Wilkesboro ), which was extended later to Kentucky as the "Daniel Boone Trail" and which turned Shallow Ford into a major north-south and east-west crossroad. Continue south at Salisbury, North Carolina: This route bypassed Charlotte and

5928-425: Was probably the first settler at this location. He owned the land on both sides of the road approaching the ford from the east and was already operating a tavern here in 1753, which also served travelers for many years thereafter. (Hughes lived here for over 50 years). Shallow Ford itself is a gravel bar below a natural stone ledge, smooth, wide and flat, and capable of supporting large heavy wagons and automobiles. It

6006-481: Was renamed Apple Pie Ridge Road . The local farmers found booming business in feeding the Virginia Militia and fledgling volunteer American army. Following the war, the town's first newspapers, The Gazette and The Centinel , were established. Daniel Morgan continued his public service, being elected to one term in the U.S. House of Representatives (1797–1799). Winchester and the surrounding area were

6084-555: Was shown on a 1776 version of a 1770 map by William Scull. After 1790, another main wagon road (now Black Gap Road, PA-997) ran northwest from here through Upper Strasburg , Fannettsburg , and Burnt Cabins , then followed the present-day Pennsylvania Turnpike as far as Breezewood and followed US-30 from there to Pittsburgh . This route bypassed Chambersburg and Fort Loudon , saving considerable toll and forage expenses for Conestoga wagon teamsters traveling between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In 1768, valley settlers petitioned for

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