Notes from Deer Rapids

Yesterday's post showed a few pictures from a property in Deer Rapids. The story was from Charlie’s point of view so I thought I’d fill in a few details.

The brick house was built in 1792. The central section is the original house and was built of bricks that were handmade on the property. The additions were built in the 20th century. The property is now called Edgewater Farm. It is built on a rise next to the North Fork of the Shenandoah.

We wondered why people chose to live on this side of the river at the base of the Massanutten Range. It would’ve been hard to reach before the bridge was built. The river can be forded in some spots when the water is low, as it often is in a late summer, but when spring rains come, you can’t get there from here. I guess they would’ve until flooding subsided and then crossed in a boat.

Until recent years, high water was still a problem because the only access road crossed a low bridge and it would flood for days at a time. There is a swinging bridge for pedestrians that was built high above the water so you can walk in and then hike the rest of the way to your home. 

Another house in Deer Rapids was also on the Strasburg Holiday Homes Tour. This contemporary home was built in 1997 and features beautiful views of the river.

We also visited a couple of homes in the town of Strasburg on the other side of the river. I neglected to take pictures of the exteriors, and interior photos of homes are discouraged unless you get specific permission.