Blog-Beiträge - Friends of Shenandoah Mountain

History of Shenandoah Mountain: Flood of 1949

8/28/2018

Photo: The Emmett house in Stokesville, just downstream from North River Gap, was washed off its foundation and lodged against an apple tree, with the family trapped on second floor. Miraculously, no one was injured. Photo courtesy of Gay Michael and Dorwon Emmett Collection

The June 1949 cloudburst over the Reddish Knob area was a significant event in the history of Shenandoah Mountain with 15 inches of rain falling in one day. The little town of Stokesville was wiped out, and Bridgewater experienced a historic flood, as did farms and homes along the North River. The families who were affected have stories they have passed down to their children and grandchildren. After the Flood of 1949, dikes and reservoirs were constructed to prevent another devastating flood of this magnitude. The mature, deep-rooted forest that grows on the steep slopes of Shenandoah Mountain today will also help reduce the severity of future floods.

The Little River Watershed, where it rained 15 inches on June 17, 1949, causing 75 landslides and flooding communities downstream. Photo © Brad Striebig

Lynn Cameron, Co-Chair of Friends of Shenandoah Mountain, and Caroline Whitlow, a JMU Social Work major, teamed up to research the flood and interview survivors. The result is a series of stories about what happened on Shenandoah Mountain and in the Stokesville area.

We are grateful to Bridgewater College Special Collection, James Madison University Libraries, the Augusta County Historical Society, the Bridgewater Historical Society, and the George Washington National Forest North River Ranger District for their assistance and use of their photographs and other resources. We are especially grateful to all the flood survivors and their decendents who shared their stories and their photographs: Alan Cramer, Gay Michael Emmett, and Dorwon Emmett, Lee Beam, Mike and Bootsie Twitchell, Leslie Bulken, and the late Harry (Doc) Jopson.

"Stokesville: Early History", Presentation by Clarence Geier

5/24/2018

Map of Stokesville in the early 1900s. Courtesy of Dr. Clarence Geier (click to enlarge)

Dr. Clarence Geier, Professor Emeritus of James Madison University, gave an engaging presentation on the early history of Stokesville on May 23, 2018, in Bridgewater. Dr. Geier has given Friends of Shenandoah Mountain permission to share his presentation with those who were unable to attend.

Many thanks to Dr. Geier for presenting research that he, Dr. Carole Nash, and Dr. Skip Hyser did this boom town at the base of Shenandoah Mountain. It's a fascinating story!

Dr. Geier and Dr. Nash are writing a book on Stokesville that will be published by the Archaeological Society of Virginia with the permission of the U.S. Forest Service.

2018 Wildflower Walks a Success!

5/7/2018

Gaywing. Photo © Jeannie Holden

Almost 70 participants and guides gathered at the base of Shenandoah Mountain on Saturday, April 28, to go on our annual wildflower hikes. Participants had a choice of three hikes:

Hone Quarry
North River Gorge
Todd Lake area

The wildflowers were a little late to bloom this year, but we were able to find some real beauties and the scenery was stunning. Enjoy this gallery of photos, all from the 2018 Shenandoah Mountain Wildflower Walks.

Headwaters Master Naturalists and Friends of Shenandoah Mountain cosponsored this event. Stay tuned. We plan to offer wildflower hikes again next April.

Stokesville: Early History - Presentation by Dr. Clarence Geier on May 23

5/4/2018

Dr. Clarence Geier, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at James Madison University, will reconstruct the town plan and the lumber industry that supported this North River Gap boom town. Stokesville is located at the foot of Shenandoah Mountain in western Augusta County.

According to the Stokesville historical marker:

The village of Stokesville, established by 1901,
became a boomtown after the Chesapeake Western Railway was extended here in 1902. Tram lines into the mountains brought timber to the rail head. Lumber mills, bark tanneries, a stave and heading factory, and other enterprises attracted many workers, and the town's population reached 1500 by 1905. A passenger depot, post office, hospital, hotels, stores, and a church served the community.
Stokesville declined after 1910 as the area's timber supply dwindled.

A flood in 1949 destroyed most of its remaining structures."

The quiet community of Stokesville now serves as a gateway to the proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area.

Come and enjoy this rare opportunity to hear Dr. Geier present his research on Stokesville.
When: Wed., May 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bridgewater Municipal Building, Arey Assembly Hall, 201 Green St., Bridgewater, VA 22812

Short Hikes on Shenandoah Mountain

4/5/2018

Hiker at overlook on Cliff Trail at Hone Quarry. Photo by Lynn Cameron

Have you been wanting to explore the proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, but aren't sure where to start? Friends of Shenandoah Mountain has developed a web page with several recommended short hikes on Shenandoah Mountain. For each hike you will find a hike description, directions to the trail head, photos, and a map.

Go to:  Short Hikes on Shenandoah Mountain

We have also developed a "Short Hikes on Shenandoah Mountain" brochure (shown below), which is available at local outdoor stores and at White's Wayside on Rt. 250.

Mushroom and Lichen Hike - April 29

4/5/2018

Mushroom and lichen enthusiast Jack Wilson of White's Wayside will lead this easy 1-2 mile hike in the George Washington National Forest near Braley Pond Rd. The pace will be slow to give time for participants to discover the rich diversity of fungi and learn from Jack. Bring lunch, water, and your camera.

This is a great opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time, but beware! Jack's enthusiasm about mushrooms and lichens is contagious.

Registration required.

Learn more and sign up.

Wildflower Walks on Shenandoah Mountain - April 28

3/25/2018

Painted trillium. Photo by Lynn Cameron

Our annual spring wildflower walks will be held o Saturday, April 28 this year. These walks are a great opportunity to explore the beauty of Shenandoah Mountain and find a variety of wildflowers. Each hike will have a wildflower expert to help identify flowers.

Choose from three walks:

Hone Quarry - 4 miles. Hike to a waterfall and see wildflowers along the way.
Todd Lake area - 1 mile.
North River Gorge - 2 miles

Register to attend at headwatersmn.org/2018-wildflower-walks-on-shenandoah-mountain/

Cosponsored by Friends of Shenandoah Mountain and Headwaters Master Naturalists

Native Americans at the Western Edge of the Shenandoah Valley: Program by Dr. Carole Nash on March 31

3/5/2018

Dr. Carole Nash, Associate Professor, Department of Integrated Science and Technology, James Madison University, will give a presentation on "Native Americans at the Western Edge of the Shenandoah Valley."

The high mountains that border the western Shenandoah Valley drain to three watersheds that were occupied by Native peoples for thousands of years. Join us as we explore how the Shenandoah Mountain system was first settled by the First Americans.

When: Saturday, March 31, 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Where: Bridgewater Municipal Building, Arey Assembly Hall, 201 Green St., Bridgewater, VA 22812

This program is free and open to the public.

Come and learn more about Shenandoah Mountain!

Sponsored by Friends of Shenandoah Mountain

Milestone: 300 Endorsements by Organizations and Businesses

2/10/2018

Starry night sky near Flagpole Knob by Christy Kauffman

The campaign to designate Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area has reached a new milestone. Over 300 businesses, organizations, and faith groups have endorsed our proposal. New endorsements include:

Massanutten Trout Unlimited
Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza, Harrisonburg
Bella Gelato & Pastries, Harrisonburg
Capital Ale House, Harrisonburg

These 300 endorsements show evidence that our proposal is gaining broad public support. With each new endorsement we move closer to our goal of Congressional designation of Virginia's most outstanding natural areas. Many thanks to all our endorsers!

Enjoy these beautiful photos taken by Steven David Johnson's Conservation Photography class at Eastern Mennonite University, fall semester of 2017. Many thanks for their work which illustrates what's special about Shenandoah Mountain.

History of High Knob Fire Tower

12/18/2017

Gerald Fawley, first fire watch at High Knob, with Terry Slater of GWNF. Photo by Lynn Cameron

High Knob Fire Tower sits on the crest of Shenandoah Mountain, a stately reminder of an important era in the history of our national forests. James Madison University students Caroline Whitlow and Tyler Gingrich partnered with Friends of Shenandoah Mountain this fall to research the history of High Knob Fire Tower. They dug through Forest Service archives, conducted interviews, and wrote an informative and interesting piece about the history of the tower and its first fire watch, Gerald Fawley.

Read History of High Knob Fire Tower

The article includes directions for a hike to High Knob Fire Tower.

High Knob Fire Tower, newly renovated in 2003. Photo by Lynn Cameron