Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of VirginiaWillis, Carrie Hunter
History
Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia
Willis, Carrie Hunter
Shenandoah National Park (Va.); Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History
Hebron is the oldest Lutheran church not only in Virginia but in the
South. About 1733 the nucleus of the congregation met and sent a
representative to England for a pastor. It seems a bit surprising that
no English parson felt the call to tend the flock in an outpost of
Virginia, but it is true that no one was possessed of the missionary
spirit to that extent.
In 1735 a Hessian who had come to America eight years before, the Rev.
Casper Stoever, left his home in Pennsylvania and became the first
pastor. His annual salary, by the way, was four thousand pounds of
tobacco or just about forty dollars in currency. This was paid by the
congregation in addition to the taxes which were required of the
Non-Conformist churches towards the upkeep of the established English
church.
Everyone in Madison is vastly proud of the old pipe organ at Hebron. It
was built in 1800 at Philadelphia and brought to its present place on
wagon--a journey which took a long time and infinite pains. Jacob and
Michael Rouse were entrusted with the task of hauling. The organ cost
two hundred pounds sterling. Interesting, too, is the complete old
communion service which dates back to the church's early beginnings.
In recent years visiting concert organists have played on the fine old
instrument at the request of the congregation.
Hoover's Camp on the Rapidan River
During the administration of former President Hoover a fine camp was
built on the banks of the Rapidan River in Madison County where the
Chief Executive, his family and friends enjoyed the trout fishing and
rustic life that the camp afforded. A main lodge was erected for the
President. Guest lodges for the Cabinet members and others were located
nearby. This retreat is within easy driving distance of the White House
and was in constant use for week-ends during the summer months. From
Washington the Presidential parties took route 211 to Warrenton and from
there two routes were offered: either a continuation of route 211 to
Sperryville, then south to Criglersville on route 16, or from Warrenton
to Culpeper to Criglersville.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hoover became very much interested in the life of the
mountaineers who grew to be their friendly neighbors. You have heard
the story, no doubt, of the small unlettered boy who brought a gift to
the President and who aroused in him and Mrs. Hoover the desire to see a
school built in the neighborhood which would serve a large mountain
area. An excellent little frame building nestles among the sloping hills
which attracts the children of all ages within a radius of many miles.
One part of the building is used for class instruction and the rest for
living quarters for the teacher. This school was made possible largely
through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Hoover.
One may see the school and the entrance to the Rapidan Camp by following
the road which leads from Big Meadow, a plateau on the Skyline Drive, to
Criglersville.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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