The Road to the Stickley Farm

The Stickley farm house dates to around 1775. For years the Valley Pike (US 11) ran past it, but you could take a picture of it from a pull-off that had historical markers.

At one time there were picnic tables at the wayside here, as I recall. Eventually they were removed but Civil War Trails signs and a state historical marker for Fort Bowman remained. Not long ago they were all moved. The road that served the wayside remains and can be reached from the Valley Pike just west of Cedar Creek.

Wayside location Pinned at HMDB using Google Maps. (2018 Configuration.)

After the new bridge across Cedar Creek was opened to two-way traffic (June 2018), the old bridge that carried the westbound lanes was removed. A newly-widened road carried traffic in both directions and the old west-bound lanes were actually dug up and hauled off. I drove over those lanes many times and now they are covered with grass. How strange it felt to look at the road that is no longer there!

Heading toward Strasburg and Interstate 81.

Facing Cedar Creek (not visible through the tall grass).

Fences.

The wayside road is now a lane that just leads to the Stickley farm. The farm is privately owned but sometimes it is open to Civil War tour groups.

After the Battle of Cedar Creek (1864), the farm house served as a field hospital.

The now missing Civil War Trails signs were "Cedar Creek — Strategic Crossing — 1864 Valley Campaign" and "Cedar Creek — Strategic Crossing— 1862 Valley Campaign." My understanding is that they will be installed at another location. I would not be surprised if it were at the old campground across the creek, recently acquired as part of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park.

See my 2014 Post on the Stickley Farm.