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ways since before our ’ grandfathers were bom. In 1850, there were almost 10,000 people in this county, with mills, tanneries, factories, taverns and a half dozen fine hotels about. Despite the fact that the roads weren’t paved, and there was no railroad here, Rappahannock was a much busier place back then. That was just a little before my time, though.
I remember coming here in the late 1940s and seeing motels, fruit stands, and gift shops all along Highway 211. There are only remnants of that now. When Interstate 66 hooked up with Interstate 81, our old scenic route was bypassed for the quick and easy route to the hills. A lot of the oldtimers can tell you all about that. That, and the loss of so much of our large orchard and other agricultural business, really laid a lick on families out this way.
Another factor is the decline in visitation to the Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive. Our national parks in general have suffered from serious budget cuts at the federal level, and the Shenandoah has declined as a result.
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