This marker is relatively new and is in excellent condition. Mrs. Lee seems like she was quite the…read morecharacter and someone who would have been worth knowing. The marker is right near the pedestrian mall in downtown Winchester. It reads: On this site lived Mary Greenhow Lee, whose extensive diary survives as one of the most informative records of daily life in Civil War Virginia. Lee chronicled military engagements, homefront hardships, and the erosion of slavery. An ardent supporter of the Confederacy, she stockpiled supplies for the army, ran an underground mail service, aided wounded soldiers, and hosted Confederate officers, including Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. In Feb. 1865, U.S. Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan expelled Lee from Winchester, citing her "constant annoyance." She settled in Baltimore. After her death, she was buried in Winchester's Mount Hebron Cemetery with her husband.

Along US-11, which they call Winchester Avenue here, this marker points out the local town that was…read morenamed for a Revolutionary era hero. There is a small spot to stop. The marker reads, "Darkesville. Named for Gen. William Darke, veteran of the Revolution and the Indian wars. He saved the remnants of St. Clair's army from massacre in 1791 when badly defeated by the Miami Indians. His son, Capt. Joseph Darke, lost his life." Online, there is more information. Darkesville is an unincorporated community in Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States. Established in 1791, Darkesville has been nationally recognized as a historic district. Darkesville was recognized for its historic architecture, which includes approximately twenty-five buildings constructed as log cabins in 1810 or earlier. Darke served with British regulars commanded by Major General Edward Braddock in his 1755 expedition to the French-controlled Ohio Valley, as part of the French and Indian War. The British forces were defeated and Braddock died. Darke survived to be commissioned as a captain at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. He was made prisoner at the Battle of Germantown. He was commanding colonel of the Hampshire and Berkeley regiments at the capture of General Cornwallis. Darke was often a member of the Virginia legislature and, during the convention of 1788, voted for the Federal Constitution and served as a major-general of the Virginia militia.. [Review 15117 overall, 619 of 2021, number 38 in West Virginia.]

While I am not a member of this Country Club (I'm not a member of any CC for that matter!), it is a…read morenice place. I went over here last evening to attend a concert that is part of the "Haymarket Summer Concert Series." The concerts are free, but there is food and beverages available - folks are encouraged to buy tickets for the food - with the funds going to the preservation of the Evergreen Manor House - which is on the grounds of the Evergreen Country Club. The Evergreen Manor House has a history going back to the Civil War and is is on the National Register of Historic Places. It's a very scenic setting, the concert was on the front lawn of the Manor House, the location is right at the foot of Bull Run Mountain, the sun was setting, it was a nice time!

Tony and I spent the night in Harper's Ferry WV. We were going to tour the Historical Park but…read moredecided to comeback at a later date to devote our time and a full day here. There is so much to see. It cost $20 for 1-3 consecutive days per vehicle. We did stop at the Shenandoah Pulp Factory Ruins to explore and investigate. Be sure to spray down with your Buggie Spray or be prepared to be dinner for the insect wildlife!!! It has a small pullover parking area for about 2 cars to share. There is some signage about it's history. Highly recommend if you're in the area. I'm definitely going back!!!

There isn't much out here where Virginia Route 7 crosses over the Shenandoah River, but I spotted…read morethis historical marker and stopped to check it out. The marker reads: "One and a half miles north is The Retreat, home to three distinguished generations of the Parker family. Thomas Parker, a general in the War of 1812, constructed this imposing Federal-style house in 1799. Richard Parker, his nephew, was a U.S. senator, justice of the state Supreme Court of Appeals, and jury member at the trial of Aaron Burr. His son, Richard Elliot Parker, served in the U.S. House of Representatives and presided as a federal judge at the trial of John Brown. During the Civil War, the Battle of Cool Spring was fought near The Retreat on 18 July 1864." I didn't have enough time to drive down Parker Lane and check it out. Maybe next time.

We spotted this library on Main Street in The Plains. Youd have to be blind to miss it with the red…read morepaint on all sides and the blue sloped top on it. It stands in front of The Plains Community League and is easily accessible. A single door secured with a twist catch, inside were two stuffed shelves of books. Mostly paperbacks with some children's books, some young adult, some fiction and more. Lots of good reading at this library. It is charter number 69726 and the online listing in the Little Free Library database map includes this caption: "This Library is a gift to our community through the efforts of our local non profit organization, The Plains Community League." [Review 1026 of 2025 - 1511 in Virginia - 24580 overall]

Want to step into a time portal? Rent this place. Meet the ghosts. Escape modern life. If only…read morefor a weekend. Beautifully preserved pre-Civil War Lockhouse. Make sure you bring candles and/or lanterns because there is no electricity. Or running water. Bring that too. Forget charging your phone, if you're staying more than a night do yourself a favor and turn it off until you re-emerge into civilization. Maybe going 19th century it's not your cup of tea, and that's fine. But if you want to "primitive camp" with young children in your family this is a nice option because at least you won't get rained on. It's two stories, four walls, and roof, with beds for up to 8 people. Not to mention the rich history of the place. Very cool experience. If you're into this sort of thing, this is a great place for your family to stay over the weekend. Please note that it is about 3/4 of a mile from the closest parking lot on the C & O canal trail. Anything you want to bring with you (food, water, bedding, etc.), your best bet is to bring a wagon or two (Radio Flyers are ideal for this) to cart your stuff to and from. And don't worry, they have a modern port-a-pot on site, so you don't need to bring a shovel. Although importing your own TP isn't a bad idea since riders and hikers on the trail also have access to it. Seriously this place is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Quaint, historical town that is clean and enjoyable . Great nearby shopping ( outlets) and parks. I…read morelove the cleanliness and and people are very friendly. If you like biking, hiking, cute downtown with good restaurants and history, this is a town not to miss. Also, nearby wineries and great golf.