Old Graveyard in Stephens City

Perhaps I wouldn't have noticed this cemetery if the sun hadn't been shining right on it. I had left a gas station and was avoiding traffic by taking Mulberry Street when I saw it and stopped to take a look.

Some of the markers are broken or unreadable. I see on FindAGrave that the fence was erected by a Boy Scout as a project. That article shows stones leaning against a tree, but since then the tree has been cut down.

One thing I've noticed consistently is that old cemeteries belie the myth that people did not live long until recently. Here's a David Wilson who lived to be 80. The belief in short lives is based on averages that are skewed by a large number of childhood deaths, plus deaths from epidemics or women who died in childbirth. But if a person escaped all those, he could easily live to be 80 or more.

The town has changed names over the years, being called Stephensburg and Newtown before getting the current name of Stephens City.

"The Old Graveyard" is composed of town lots number 76 & 77, each a half acre in area. On January 17, 1799 they were sold by Lewis Stephens, Jr. to the following thirteen Trustees: David Wilson, William McLeod, William Elsea, Ebenezer Potter, Richard Barton, Joseph Fawcett, Jacob Leonard, Jacob Moires (Myers), David Mittinger, Lewis Stephens Jr., Bryan Martin Stephens, Henry Stephens, and Andrew Pitman. The deed read, "in behalf of the freeholders of the Town of Stephensburg." Both lots sold for the sum of 5 shillings and were described as being commonly called the graveyard and schoolhouse lots, suggesting that the property was already in use. prior to the dedication of the trustees.

   Inez Virginia Steele wrote 1906: "The dust of the first settlers rests in the graveyard, but being generally marked by common limestone rocks, their graves are not distinguishable." The Stephens family plot is in the southwest corner, adjacent to Mulberry Street. South of these graves is the older part of the cemetery referred to by Miss Steele in her book Methodism in the Early Days of Stephens City.  

The first house of worship in "Stephensburg" was built in the northwest corner of the cemetery. As described in 1850 by Pastor Rueben A. Funk, "This old log church ... was a homely structure with plain board pews and a common floor." Miss Steele further describes this structure as "the old schoolhouse, which stood on the northwest corner, having three windows looking east, west and south; they were about six feet wide and three feet high and were protected by board shutters. When light was required, these were propped up as high as possible by wooden sticks or pins. It was sometimes called the East Academy."

These ground are maintained by the Town of Stephens City.

Views in Stephens City and Nearby

Founded in the 1730s, Stephens City has had several names including New Town. Not so much as city as a town surrounded by subdivisions and farms, Stephens City has a historic district along the Valley Pike (US 11). It also hosts tourist facilities at an exit on I-81.

See more posts about Stephens City

Sharing with Good Fences and Skywatch

Living History in Newtown, VA

These people are dressed in Civil War-era costumes as part of a living history event in Stephens City. Once known as Newtown, Stephens City lies along the historic Valley Pike south of Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley.

Earlier Posts:

• Marker: Town almost Burned by General Hunter
• More Pics of Historic Stephens City
• Field Trip Starts in Stephen's City

Lagrange Farm

I'm using the Random-osity format tonight but this time I'm posting two photos for each of the three categories.

The Good: It was a privilege to be able to visit this beautiful farm in Stephens City. I've admired the stone house on the hill when passing it on the Valley Pike, so I was pleased to visit the grounds on Saturday. Lagrange dates to around 1780 and witnessed action in the Civil War.

Sharing with Tuesday Treasures

The Random: The tour was part of a Civil War seminar at Lord Fairfax Community College. Our professor was Jonathan Noyalas (far right), and I have taken a number of his day-long classes. He'll be leaving the community college soon to take a position at nearby Shenandoah University.

The topic was "Sigel and Hunter in the Lower Shenandoah Valley, Spring 1864." After a lecture at LFCC, we visited several sites in Winchester and a few other sites in Stephens City. However, Lagrange was a highlight for me since it is a beautiful place. Note the fine barn (below).

Sharing with The Barn Collective

The Fun: My classmates turned out to be a fine group of people! I enjoyed chatting with them. Several were folks I recognized from previous classes and events.

It was a beautiful day except for some strong winds.

[From the class description: "A morning lecture at Lord Fairfax Community College’s Middletown Campus will ably set the stage for an afternoon carpool tour of sites between Winchester and Stephens City which will examine the Union presence in Frederick County, irregular operations, and efforts of Union Gen. David Hunter to burn civilians’ homes in order to control increased activity from Confederate irregulars and bushwhackers. Sites visited include site of Sigel’s headquarters at Hollingsworth’s Mill, site of the Market House in Winchester, Hull’s Store, Locust Hill, Oliver M. Brown house, Rev. Dr. Andrew H.H. Boyd house, McLeod’s Hill, and Stephens Run as well as other sites."]

Parade in Stephens City (Encore)

We went to the Newtown Heritage Parade in 2008 and decided to go again this year. Below is a brief video of some parade highlights.

 

Before I built the video, I looked up "fair use" information to figure out if I'm violating any copyrights. Since the band music is heard in excerpts as part of a report on the parade and does not compete with any commercial uses, I'm sure this falls under "fair use." (Posting an entire music video would not fall into that category.)

If you'd like to see more about Stephens City's celebrations of history, see all my Newtown posts. (Newtown was once the name of Stephens City.) You might also want to view pictures of this parade in May 2008 and a short video of the Sherando High School Band in that parade.

Parade Pictures, Stephens City

I snapped these pictures at the Heritage Day Parade in late May. Stephens City is located on the Valley Pike (US 11) south of Winchester, Virginia. It's right off I-81 and has expanded in recent years to the point where it has seemingly endless suburbs. But the historic core of the town is pleasant and interesting. The town dates back to 1758. We were fortunate to discover that the local bargain outlet was providing free seating and even free water to those of us who turned out to view the parade.

Town of Stephens City Website

Two More Pics from Historic Stephens City

I took these photos after the parade and a block away. First, a couple who drove their old tractor in the parade make their way home.


Stephen's City is not really a city so much as it is a town. The Wikipedia page on Stephen's City estimates its 2006 population at 1,446. [There's a surprising amount of detail about the town's history on that page, check it out!]

I've mentioned Stephen's City on this blog before, particularly at a Spring field trip with LFCC and a Greek Restaurant (which is actually across the interstate from the town).

Today is Memorial Day so I'm posting the grave marker of a Revolutionary War veteran who was buried behind the Stephen's City UMC. John B. Tilden "served his country during the revolutionary war as Captn" and "was a minister of the gospel." He lived from 1762 to 1838.

New Signs in Stephens City and Winchester

Signs 2

AMVETS has a new office in Stephens City. I noticed the grieving soldier silhouette and stopped to take a picture. I've seen this figure before, in Stanardsville.

AMVETS provides services to veterans. This location is about to have their official opening.

Next to them on Green Street is a store selling CBD products. These are free of THC and are used for calming and pain relief for both people and pets.

I drove to Winchester today for a podiatry appointment, my first since the lockdown. I've learned to slow down when I pass this animal hospital to read the sign because sometimes it's humorous.

When I turned around I noticed that they are greeting customers in the parking lot. Other veterinarians are doing this also, as a way of avoiding exposure to the coronavirus. A staff member comes out and fetches your pet in from your car so you don't have to come inside. "Sit, Stay!"

My podiatrist's office has a park and call procedure now also. A nurse came out and checked my temperature and saw that I had a mask before I went inside. Normally I go to their Front Royal office but it is being remodeled.

I miss the old days when we didn't need to worry about a pandemic, but I appreciate all the efforts being made to keep from spreading the virus. So far my state has slowed the spread but many have not, with tragic results.

Greenway Spirit and Word Fellowship

This church is near Stephens City, a small town with a really large post office area. Places like this, on Tasker Road, have a Stephens City address but are well outside the boundaries of the historic town.

Sharing with InSpired Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Historical Marker, Stephens City

This marker is in front of the Stephens City Post Office on Route 11 just north of the historic district.

General David Hunter ordered the burning of this town on May 30, 1864; but Major Joseph Streans of the First New York Cavalry prevented it.

Sounds like there's more to the story, doesn't it? Read the rest at the Newtown History Center page of the Civil War.

Mural in the Stephens City Walmart

Last week I stopped at the large Walmart near Stephens City and noticed that there is a mural at the entrance where the motorized carts sit.

The mural shows the drive-in theater, farmland, distant mountains, and the Welcome sign. Here are photos I took a couple of years ago of the Family Drive-in and that sign. The reason there’s a covered wagon on the sign is that the town was once known for constructing good quality wagons.

Murals / Mosaic Monday

Old Farm Wagon

The Newtown History Center in Stephens City consists of several buildings. One of them houses large equipment, particularly this old wagon.

This one is not a Conestoga wagon, which has more of a banana shape in order to keep cargo centered. It does not even appear to be one of the many wagons that were built in Newtown (Stephens City) back when it was well-known for the the wagons built there. However, I have seen a Newtown wagon in Luray, VA.

Earlier Post: Covered Wagon in Pennsylvania

See also Newtown History, 2nd Oldest Town in Shenandoah Valley

Veterans Flag, Stephens City

This structure caught my eye as I drove up Route 11 through Stephens City, Virginia. It's in a town park near the road. The flag mural is very straight, unlike the one I saw in Front Royal.

I parked and walked closer. I could see that there is a stage and that there is writing on the painted flag. A few steps took me up onto the stage, where I could see that the writing named veterans.

Since tomorrow is Veterans Day here in the states, this seems like a good time to share this with Monday Murals.

Historic Newtown (Stephens City)

On Saturday I visited the history museum in Stephens City. In addition to their main building in a graceful brick house, they provide tours of a couple of nearby buildings. I was impressed by the interior of Steele's Store, pictured below. It's shelves are full of authentic old merchandise, neatly displayed as though ready for customers. All this is a short distance from busy I-81, providing a sharp contrast between the noisy and pressure of heavy traffic and the more gentle pace of the past, at least as we imagine it.

Unity of the Shenandoah Valley

This modest-looking church sits along the Valley Pike between Middletown and Stephens City.

Link: What is Unity?

This building is not as tiny as it looks from the front.

Sharing with Inspired Sunday and Sundays in My City

My 1031 Exchange

I finally purchased an investment property to replace the rental house I sold in Dale City. I had it handled as a Section 1031 Exchange for tax purposes, which basically means that taxes on the profits of the first property are deferred, transferred to the new property.

It took months to find the house and go to settlement, mostly because I tried to purchase a townhouse in Stephens City which did not work out. (Dealing with bank-owned property can be frustrating!) Finally I gave up on that one and made an offer on this one which is in Woodstock. The picture on the left shows the rear view of the home and the ones adjoining it. As you can see the first picture (above), the front of the house is brick.

A foreclosure, the house needs some improvements, the most serious being repair to the furnace. It also needs painting and some carpeting. Once those items are completed, we'll put it up for rent. It's a nice house and has two master suites.

It isn't a dream house like the one we found for Frank's 1031 exchange but it was a lot cheaper and should be a good investment long-term. I feel this is a good time to buy property for investment because prices are very low.

See also the post on selling my previous property and FHA.

The White Post.

Willy Nilly Friday.

1. It's the first of a new month and City Daily Photo's theme day challenge is "White." I'm building my entire post about the color white, beginning with the white post in White Post, Virginia. Yes, the town was named for a sign post, but this is not just any sign. It was originally erected in the 1750's or 60's, supposedly by George Washington under the direction of Lord Fairfax. The signs point the way to Battletown (now Berryville), Berry’s Ferry, Stephens City, and Greenway Court, the nearby home of Lord Fairfax. This post was recently rebuilt after being hit by a vehicle.

Previous Posts: Lord Fairfax, White Post.

2. These icicles are up on Skyline Drive. They form on the road-cut cliffs. I almost used this as a black and white photo but decided I like the touch of color, and the next photo was naturally black and white.

3. Black and White Weekend: Shadows of tall decorative grass on snow. There's some tracks of a small critter that hopped through, either a rabbit or squirrel.

4. This is an old photo of Sophie in a white dress. She was my foster daughter back in 1994. She was from Eritrea, which was in a war when she left as a refugee.

5. Skywatch: The white cloud is streaming out of the modern power plant near Front Royal. Much of their fuel is natural gas so the smoke is not dark.