7th stop: 15 south through Aldie and Warrenton VA

Tuesday, July 17 2012.  It was a very hot day (a hundred degrees!) so Eddie and I went out for another ride along 15 South.  This trip took us through southern Loudoun and Facquier Counties.  The extreme heat dissuaded us from venturing out of the air-conditioned car, but we enjoyed the scenic ride.  Route 15 has been widened in places, giving a more cosmopolitan look to small communities such as Haymarket.  A double rotary has been added, so now Gilbert's Corner has ceased to be a corner, but is now a loop-de-loop kind of thing!  In most places,  Route 15 is a busy, heavily traveled road, so we couldn't sightsee as well as we could in other sections of the route.

Tuesday was not the best day to try finding antique stores.  The antique stores in Aldie were not open. Aldie was rather a mess, due to some major construction in town.  The shops and the Aldie Mill are worth touring. Antique shops in Buckland also appeared closed. [Read the article about how the tiny town on Buckland is fighting extinction.]   However, the Fox Den Antique store in Warrenton (Rte 29 @ Waterloo Station) was open and we spent some time there.  Eddie bought more record albums.  At Waterloo Station, we also visited BJ's Books, a favorite haunt of Eddie's dad. Then we enjoyed soft-serve cones at the Carousel stand.  Doesn't my boy look good with an ice cream in each hand??

Heading into Old Town Warrenton, We discovered the Red Truck Bakery on Rt 211, where we got the cutest frosted sugar cookies, decorated as (guess what) RED TRUCKS!

On a cooler day we plan to visit the museums and attractions in historic Old Town Warrenton.  There is a lot of Civil War history to explore.  John Marshall, the famous chief justice of Supreme Court, lived and worked in Warrenton.

Several good important roads meet in Warrenton: US-17, US-29, US-15 and US-211.  Virginia is to be commended for its fine well-maintained roadways, many of which date to colonial times and have historic or cultural significance.

We passed by Oak Hill, summer home of President James Monroe, located below Oatlands.  He designed it, consulting with James Hoban, the famous designer and architect of the White House.  Oak Hill is not open to the public.

(President James Monroe, 1758-1831)

On the way back we detoured onto Rte 50W, going through Middleburg and Upperville, where the elegant people and their fancy horses hang out!

Click this link to view the video clip of The Civil War at Mt. Zion Church & Aldie Mill"  
 http://youtu.be/GzEV6E9e6lc

6th stop: Oatlands Plantation

 Friday, June 15.  Went with Eddie and Dad and Alison to see this lovely old home and the gardens, just outside Leesburg VA. Oatlands is located right on US-15.  What a great place!  I'm ready to move in!  The home dates to 1803 and it has been lovingly maintained and added on to by three [wealthy] families.  The last family (Eustis} used it as their summer home!  These are some of Eddie's pictures.  Unfortunately, they would not allow photography of the interior.  This is the trail leading to the mansion.

The Oatlands mansion.  Built in 1803 by a guy so wealthy he was known as "King" Carter.  Upon his death, it was inherited by his son, the 12th or 13th of his fifteen children.  The style is influenced by Greek architecture, and also by such neighbors as presidents Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and James Monroe.  Before the Civil War, 500 slaves worked on the plantation.  They were emancipated before the War began.

The view looking out from the front of the house.  That is Bull Run Mountain far in the distance..



Check out the website for a more complete view.

Exploring the Countryside: Antietam Battleground

Some friends came to visit from Vermont.  We spent the afternoon in the Antietam Battleground, near Sharpsburg MD.  [September 17, 1862 was the single bloodiest day in American history.]  Before leaving town, we hit Nutters Ice Cream on Potomac Street.  Here I am with my handsome boy up in the observation tower.

   These are Eddie's pictures.

 

Loudoun County clips

Holly Morris (Fox 5 news) visits Mom's Apple Pie in Leesburg The Battle at Balls Bluff (Oct 1861). This was an early battle in the Civil. It occurred shortly after the Union defeat at Manassas. East met West (Virginia regiments meet California line) for the first time in the War. Again, the Union troops were beaten badly. Lincoln ordered that "Someone must pay".

Itenerary: The Plan for the 2nd Leg of the Tour

Traveling south on Route 15 through Loudoun and Prince William Counties, VA. (37 miles)

 5. Lucketts and Leesburg VA. Including Balls Bluff National Cemetery.

 6. Oatlands Manor and Banshee Rocks.

7. Oak Hill, home of President James Monroe

8. Aldie Mill Historic District, Mount Zion Church, and Buckland. Passing through Haymarket.

5th stop: Lucketts and Leesburg, VA

We are now on the 2nd leg of the Journey. Our 5th stop included shops in and around Lucketts, Leesburg, and the Balls Bluff Battlefield and National Cemetery.

This is the statue of General George C. Marshall, who had a summer home in Leesburg (Dodona Manor). We arrived too late to tour, but not too late for Mom's Pie at the tiny little shop across the street. We hope to tour Dodona Manor and the gardens another time. It was just Alison and I on this trip. Eddie is vacationing in Vermont, no doubt having his own fun. We came down Rt 15 through Point of Rocks and made a visit to the antique shops in and near Lucketts. I bought 2 great lamps, one decorative and one functional. As suggested in the biik, we shopped at My Wits End Antiques (near Point of Rocks Bridge) and The Old Lucketts Store. Now that the weather is nicer, the vegetable stand in Lucketts was open, with lovely strawberries. Its easy to recognize the place, because of the statue of the horse.

In Leesburg we found the visitor center at the Tuscarora Mill. After picking up plenty of literature, we had a delicious "girls' lunch" at a trendy restaurant. Balls Bluff Battleground and Cemetery was our next destination, since we had already spent plenty of money. There was no admission at this small historic site, and we arrived just in time to join the interpretive tour. It is truly amazing that a battle, considered inconclusive at the time, influenced how generals and military leaders proceed (even today). {Check out the link. It is very interesting.}

On the way out of town, we stopped at Mom's Apple Pie Company. It's a teeny tiny shop in the Y intersection coming into the historic part of town. We passed by the many great antique shops and other elegant shopping in Leesburg in the old section of town. Leesburg is great, but it's too easy to spend money there. Then again, there are so many great places to spend that money!!! Next stop: Oatlands VA!

Mom

Sadly, we didn't do much touring in April and May. My mother's condition was worsening, and we stayed around to help. She passed from this life on Saturday, May 12 2012. We will miss her dearly. She enjoyed daytrips and history in her younger days. Love you, Mom!

Way off the tour... Fairmont, WV

On May 11-13, we traveled to Fairmont State University, where I received my Masters degree! Finally done!

Hank Snow- I've Been Everywhere

Hank delivers his immortal song with stunning accuracy!  Catch that American pride!!!

4th stop: Frederick, Point of Rocks and Lucketts

You can't miss the BF diner--Look for the giant candy canes on Rt 40.

Feeling the need to get out of town for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, we made this afternoon trip to see a few more places on the Tour.  Following the recommendation pf the book, we ate at the Barbara Fritchie Restaurant in Frederick.  This 50's-style diner is actually on US-40W (West Patrick Street), just past the so-called "Miracle Mile".  Great atmosphere and the home-style food was delicious, though service was somewhat slow.

After lunch, we headed back down Rt. 15 to Point of Rocks, MD.  This quiet village had two alluring features:  a railroad and a bridge over the Potomac.  The bridge that connects Maryland and Virginia was a tantalizing prize for both sides in the Civil War.   Several encounters occurred as the armies harassed one another for control of the Potomac Crossing bridge and the railroad.  Gen. John Mosby (aka "The Gray Ghost") fought for the Confederacy here..
 

 Today, the is a MARC Train station (Brunswick Line) in Point of Rocks.  There is also another site of the C&O Canal park, with walking trails and picnic places.  Very pretty.




We made a brief stop at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Ballenger Creek Road.  This was part of the Underground Railroad system, although the church itself was constructed by enslaved people.  This ends the first "leg" of Hallowed Ground Tour.

                Looking out from the churchyard           
St. Paul's Church
Continuing south on Rt 15, we Stopped at one of my favorite antique places,  The Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts VA.  The building has several stories of interesting consigned antiques, priced reasonably.  In season, there are 2 farm markets in Lucketts.                                                                          

Back on south 15, we passed through Leesburg, but didn't stop today.  Leesburg is a lovely old city and well worth spending a whole day.  That waill be our next destination!

3rd stop: Frederick, MD

When Eddie and Alison were younger, Frederick only meant one thing... Check E. Cheese's!!  Occasionally, we would also stop at the "big box stores" near to CEC.  I'm so glad we are past those days because there is so much more to see in Frederick!

Frederick is in western Maryland, about where US 340 meets US 15.  It is on the roadway known as "The Great National Road" (US 40 and 144).  My 4th great-grandfather Dominick Bradley resided in Frederick County before the American Revolution.  My ancestors must have traveled along the National Road when traveling from Harford and Frederick Counties (MD) to Fayette County PA in the late 1700's and early 1800s.   

Saturday, February 25, 2011:  We made our 3rd destination on the Hallowed Ground Tour:  Frederick MD.  Highlights included historic downtown, Monacacy Battleground, Triple T Diner and Great Stuff by Paul Antiques.

Always the history buffs, we went to the battleground first.  It is surprisingly close to those box stores I mentioned on Urbana Pike.  The fighting occurred on July 9, 1864.  Although this was a relatively small Civil War battle (is it ever small when lives are lost?), Monacacy has come to be known as the "battle that saved Washington".  The Union forces were outnumbered and lost to Jubal T. Early's Confederates.  Yet the one-day battle slowed the Confederates in their goal of attacking Washington DC, giving Union forces time to reinforce the borders of the capital city.  The Southern Army was foiled in their attempt to march on the capital city.

We went first to the Visitor Center, and the museum.  Afterwards, we took the short auto tour, only 6 nearby stops.  If you do this, be extremely careful.  Traffic moves fast on Rt 355 and visibility is poor when entering and leaving the stopping points.  It was an interesting visit, and not too long for Eddie and Alison.  I bought another souvenir pin for my battleground collection, this being the 10th.

Next, of course, was lunch.  We ate at the Triple T Diner, a 50's style place.  Breakfast is served all day and there is a large menu selection.  I had a delicious mushroom and spinach omelet with great home fries.

After lunch, we drove downtown.  Frederick has one of the most thriving downtown areas I have seen.  There are interesting shops, historic homes, and an atmosphere of culture.  Unlike some other downtowns we've seen, there were not many boarded-up storefronts.  Happily,  we saw a pervasive vibrancy in both the new and the older sections of towns.  I wanted to go into the Barbara Frietchie home, but we were out of season.  We did a drive-by, in honor of this cool 95-year-old lady who was not afraid to yell at the entire Southern army about respecting the flag.

                          " 'Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
                           But spare your country's flag,' she said. "
(Click to read Whittier's poem)

Way downtown, there are many great antique places.  First we went to Great Stuff by Paul, an antique store which defies description.  His 2 stores could be destinations for a day trip!  The other store is on nearby Carroll Street.  We got a lot of brochures at the Visitor Center on East Street.  There are many events in Frederick throughout the year.

After having our fill of history and antiques, we went home.  Frederick is about 25 miles from us, so the entire day trip only used about 1/4 tank of gas.

     Great Stuff by Paul               
                                                                                                                     Monacacy Battlefield

   downtown Frederick