Commercial C enter For over 50 years, Warminster was

Commercial C enter For over 50 years, Warminster was one of the most important points m internal commerce in Virginia. Warminster was estab lished as a town by an act of Assembly on the land of Nicholas Cabell. Col. William Cabell was one of the trustees who estab lished anNicademy in the town of Warminster from Oct, . 1791. to June 23. 1795. The Cabell family and Horsley family migrated from Warmins ter. England, and settled on land granted from the king, the Ca bells on the Nelson side of the James River and the Horsleys on the Buckingham side of the river. Almost all o ft he land is in the name of the two same lamilies. Warminster was destroyed when General Sheridan made his raid up the James River Valley during the War - Between - the - States. The story goes that when Sheridan was told there was a Masonic Lodge in the town, lie gave orders for that building to be left. George Lodge No. 52 A F and A M has been established Acre in 1784 and was later moved lo Norwood (then New Market1 and later moved to Howavdsville. where it is now active under the same name and number. Canal Route James River-Kanawah Canal operated packet boats from Rich mond to Lynchburg, with boats drawn by mules which served Warminster prior to the coming of the trains. The railroad was built in the tow-path of the old canal, and Warminster has been an important station. It was a water station for many years with a wood tank and pump house, where water was pumped from Swan Creek, and all trains stop ped for water When the wood tank became old and not large enough to accommodate the larger engines. C <V O built a large steel tank with a capacity of 100 - 000 gallons. The depot was at one time a two - story building, with the agent-operator's office in the tower with steps leading from the outside. There were three rooms downstairs for freight and pas senger waiting rooms. ■ For many years, their were three operators on duty working eight, hours each. During World War 1. this station was an im portant shipping point of iron, ore. which was mined nearby and hauled to the town by horse and wagon and loaded on cars. In later years, the ore was not plen tiful enough for mining Warminster has also been a 1 joint for shipping lumber and pulp wood.