"If this Valley is lost, Virginia is lost"

"If this Valley is lost, Virginia is lost." So said General Stonewall Jackson in 1862.  Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley bore the brunt of the Civil War -- more battles were fought here than anywhere else.

As the 150th anniversary of that sad chapter in America's history is commemorated, Virginia tourism is offering "Bugles Along the Shenandoah Valley" as a guide to events and locations.

Look across the battlefields where valiant young men from the North and South fought and died ... visit museums that tell the story and house the artifacts ... remember the sacrifice of thousands while visiting military cemeteries.

The Civil War 150 years later ... understanding our past ... embracing our future.

Virginia is for lovers ... of history.

Photo from Virginia Tourism

Middlebrook General Store for sale

Middlebrook General Store ... Shenandoah Valley
New Year's Day 2010
Photo taken from Dr. Marsh's medical office across road.

What is it about old country stores that is so comforting? Is it the worn wooden floors? The crackling fire in the potbelly stove on a cold winter day? The friendly greeting when walking in the door?

A country store is a little like the heart of a village ... and Middlebrook General Store fits that description. A meeting place ... a place to hear local news ... a gathering place for musicians on Friday nights ... and a place to pick up light groceries or a soft drink or bowl of hot soup or Virginia-made goodies ... the atmosphere was always heart-warming and welcoming.

Located in western Virginia, Augusta County's Middlebrook General Store, lovingly restored and brought back to life by Tom and Poppet Nelson, has lost its proprietors who have moved to Yorktown. The store is now for sale, waiting for someone new to love it and bring it back for those who live in the community and those passing through to enjoy once again.

Listed by James Wm. Moore Real Estate Company, it is offered for $175,000. It needs new owners ... and the community needs its general store again.

Previous posts:
- Middlebrook General Store owners say goodbye
- Christmas at Middlebrook General Store in Shenandoah Valley
- U.S. Navy Commander Tom Nelson (Ret) ... rich Virginia history
- In and about Staunton and Augusta on a cloudy day
- Driving the backroads of Augusta County collecting petitions
- Snowy Augusta County on New Year's Day 2010
- Backroads of Augusta County ... New Year's Day 2010

More backroads photos of Shenandoah Valley ...

Photos by SWAC Girl

Backroads of Augusta County ...

Vesuvius ...

Rt. 254 heading toward Buffalo Gap ...

Swoope ...

Crawford Mountain in the Alleghany Mountain Range ...

Crawford Mountain ...

St. Mary's Wilderness in southern Augusta County ...

St. Mary's has recovered nicely from wildfires earlier this year ...

Swoope ...

Photos by SWAC Girl

October 6, 2008

Churchville woman, 85, found dead at isolated Buffalo Gap car accident

Old Parkersburg Turnpike

The old Parkersburg Turnpike is a gravel road that turns off Rt. 42 in Buffalo Gap and climbs up into the national forest and crosses the mountains, eventually ending up in Deerfield or a variety of other locations depending on which crossroad you take. It is isolated and generally not where one would expect to find an 85-year-old lady driving alone.

Apparently Virginia Stokes Harris missed a sharp curve and plunged over the edge of the road, hitting a tree, but the exact time and cause is unknown because her vehicle was discovered by another motorist after the fact, and Ms. Harris was already dead when the wreck was found.

This road is a favorite route for me when I'm traveling the backroads of Augusta County so it is sad to think the place that brings me so much pleasure and solitude was tragic to someone else. Our prayers go out to her family and friends.



Photos by SWAC Girl

Back roads of Augusta County on Primary Day....

Primary Day -- February 12, 2008

Photos by SWAC Girl