Historical Group

Historical Group

Takes First Tour i -

A five-car caravan led py Park Ranger James R. Johnson left from the courthouse In Washington Sunday afternoon for the first planned tour sponsored by the Rappahannock Historical Society. The tour included a visit to Mt. Salem Church, Laurel Mills, Fletcher's Mill and tea with the T. J. Pillars. A pleasant ride through Tiger Valley and along the edge of Long Mountain brought the visitors to the old Church. Mt. Salem is the proud mother of Baptist churches in Rappahannock County. However, the historic building is being reduced to ruin by vandalism. Practically every window has been broken and unless damages are repaired soon, another landmark will be lost to posterity. The cavalcade moved south to Laurel Mills, stopping along Aaron Mountain at the site of an abandoned church road and then visited Laurel Hill Farm with its log house. The farm, owned by the Lindsays prior to the American Revolution, has since been owned by the Roberts and the Hughes families. Gen. Daniel Noce who has owned the farm for a number of years, recently sold it to Oscar Lindgren. The Lindsay family had extensive land holdings in Prince William County and in Maryland in addition to Laurel Hill, which was in Culpeper County at that time. Fletcher's Mill near Sperryville was the next site visited. This is the last mill to operate in Rappahannock County. An old mill site in the F. T. Valley was also visited, but only the foundations remain there. The mill was operated by the grant! father of Mr. A. H. Buckner. An English tea was served by Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Pillar at their residence in Jenkins Hollow. The Pillar home is apparently situated on the site of an Indian village and the collection of Indian relics found there by the Pillars is impressive as to quality and variety.