This marker is located in front of the Carroll County Courthouse. There is some street parking…read moreavailable and there are parking lots nearby. The marker reads, "This place became the county seat when Carroll County was formed. The first court was held here, 1842; A. W. C. Nowlin was the first judge. The courthouse, built in 1872, was remodeled some years ago. The town was incorporated in 1900 and rechartered in 1940." The town is located at the intersection of US Routes 52 and 221. The famous Blue Ridge Parkway passes about 9 miles to the south. The town's primary claim to fame is its Hillsville Flea Market which has been called the largest American flea market to the east of the Mississippi River. [Review 13831 overall, 1153 of 2020, number 1264 in Virginia.]

A piece of history in my back yard. The docents were great. Take the kids/grandkids.read more

This is a great side trip for anyone in the area sightseeing. Tours are offered from April to…read moreOctober on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but the grounds are open for touring even when the tours are not going on. I haven't made it to a tour yet but I really enjoyed walking around the grounds. Things to see include: the main house, a smoke house, a creamery, the family cemetery, a tobacco barn, the African American cemetery, and the friendship garden. They have been working on the African American cemetery, which needs a lot of help/maintenance. There is also a short woodland trail that goes to a platform within a dense grove of pines. If you can make it out in the fall, this place is absolutely stunning but it's pretty all throughout the year.

Where the Little River is crossed by State Road 8 is the border between these two Virginia counties…read moreand this two sided historical marker. On the side facing Floyd County, it reads, "Montgomery County was named for Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the American assault on Quebec on 31 Dec. 1775. The county was formed from Fincastle County in 1776, and parts of Botetourt and Pulaski Counties were added later. The county seat is Christiansburg. William Preston, a Revolutionary officer, Indian fighter, and member of the House of Burgesses completed Smithfield, one of the county's outstanding historic houses, in 1774. His son James Patton Preston and a grandson John Buchanan Floyd, born at Smithfield, both served as governors of Virginia." And on the side facing Montgomery County, it reads, "Floyd County was named for John Floyd, governor of Virginia from 1830 to 1834. The county was formed from Montgomery County in 1831, with a portion of Franklin County added later. The county seat is Floyd, formerly Jacksonville. Admiral Robbey Evans, hero of the Spanish-American War, was born here in 1846. Congressman William Ballard Preston and Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, C.S.A., served the county as commonwealth's attorneys. Henry Dillon, a noted area builder, using architect Asher Benjamin's pattern book, The Practical House Carpenter, constructed the old Floyd Presbyterian Church in 1850." The marker is on the other side of a metal barrier and there is little room to stop. [Review 13761 overall, 1082 of 2020, number 1196 in Virginia.]

I absolutely adore Spencer Penn. It is a community center that offers live monthly blue grass…read morenights, weekly exercise classes at little to no charge, and at least two major community festivals during the year. It has a good library, a book club, and a photography club. It also has some of the nicest people that you'll meet in Henry County.

Along Virginia Route 100, this marker is located at the border of Wythe and Carroll Counties. It is…read moremarked on both sides. The marker reads on one side, "Wythe County. Formed in 1789 from Montgomery, and named for George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River flows through this county." and on the other side, "Carroll County. Formed in 1842 from Grayson, and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River runs through this county." The county seat of Wythe County is Wytheville. It was formed from Montgomery County in 1790. It was named after George Wythe, the first Virginian signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War the Battle of Cove Mountain was fought in the county. The county seat of Carroll County is Hillsville. The first European settlers arrived in the region in the mid 18th century. These were primarily Scotch-Irish pioneers, who were used to high mountain altitudes. However, early settlement was slow, mostly due to the poor agricultural soil of the area. As a result, lead mining was one of the first economic activities in the region. There is an intersection with a minor road here at the sign if you're wanting to stop. [Review 13830 overall, 1152 of 2020, number 1263 in Virginia.]

Erected in 1976 by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission, this marker reads…read more.. "The Blue Ridge Mission School was established by the Virginia Baptist General Convention in 1916 at a site just to the southeast. It provided general education and religious training, on both the elementary and secondary level, to day and boarding students. Its program was increasingly coordinated with, and in 1941 superseded by, that of the newly-developed public school system." Online, there is more information. The Blue Ridge Mission School was the first institution to offer a high school education north of Bull Mountain. By the beginning of the 1919-1920 school term, 103 students had enrolled. By 1921-22, the school had 152 students, the highest enrollment ever achieved at the school. Most years, enrollment numbered in the 120 to 150 student range, including both elementary and high school students. Results for the Blue Ridge Mission School were quite impressive. During its 25 years of service, this school made a tremendous impact on its students and the Buffalo Ridge Community. It provided learning and recreational activities with school programs, including drama and music, with socials every Sunday afternoon and on special occasions. The school's greatest contribution was providing education to northern Patrick County and to areas from which students came. It opened doors for enrichment and development that would not have been possible for most of its students. Over 200 students graduated from the high school and hundreds of others attended for some time. An accurate survey of vocations followed by its students is not available, but its graduates included a medical doctor, an attorney, three college professors, at least six ministers, one member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, 10 public school administrators, several dozen teachers and successful business men and women, in addition to a host of admirable solid citizens. [Review 13753 overall, 1074 of 2020, number 1188 in Virginia.]

This marker stands at the main intersection in the center of the town of Floyd, in front of the…read moreFloyd County Courthouse. It reads, "This place became the county seat when Floyd County was formed in 1831. First called Jacksonville for Andrew Jackson, its name was changed to that of the county. The courthouse was built on land given by the Phlegar family. The town was incorporated in 1892 and rechartered in 1936. Here was born Admiral Robley D. Evans, hero of the Spanish-American War." Floyd County's recorded history began with the arrival of traders and trappers in the 18th century with settlers during the 1740s. The county was named for then governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, John Floyd. [Review 13758 overall, 1079 of 2020, number 1193 in Virginia.]

On the way to the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower state park, we spotted this marker on the roadside just…read moreoff I-77. The marker points out the border between the two counties and provides some history of each. On one side, "Carroll County Formed in 1842 from Grayson, and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River runs through this county." And on the reverse, "Wythe County Formed in 1789 from Montgomery, and named for George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence. New River flows through this county." This is marker number Z-103. It was erected in 1929 by Virginia Conservation & Development Commission. There is room to stop and read the marker. [Review 534 of 2025 - 1473 in Virginia - 24095 overall]