Discovering Page County Above and Below Ground
As written by James Allen
Redman Store
At one time there was a little ole couple, that ran a little ole store. As far as we know this couple didn’t have any little ole children, but they had a little ole house across from the store. Not surprisingly they had a little ole barn, with a little ole pasture. Now it would be perfect if they had a little ole cow, but I do not know that to be true. This store was very convenient at the time for folks that did not want to drive back into Luray, or over to Stanley. They sold milk, eggs and bread and a lot of other things. Yes, they sold candy and cold sodas for the kids to. Like all of us the couple grew old and passed away. I was not told how or why they past, only that they grew old and that the store went to one of their nephews who lived in New York. He did not want the little store, house or little barn, he had no use for them, so he sold them. I would love to tell you that the new owner restored the store, built a new house and put a cow in the field. However, that was not to be, as sometimes things sit to long and the land itself is worth more than the buildings that sit on them. The Little ole store is still there on the corner but barely. If you look real close across the street and into the trees, you can see what is left of the little ole house, and the little ole barn. The current owner gave me permission to take the photos and tell this story.
This Article Posted on Shenandoah Newz May 5, 2024, Hits 733.
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LAST STOP BEFORE LURAY
If you wanted to come to Page County to visit family in the early 1900s, you probably took a train. Perhaps you came in from Manassas, or Fairfax through Front Royal. Between Front Royal and the town of Shenandoah there were several little depots or stations along the way. Sadly, many of these communities are long gone, and with them their depots/stations. One such would be the Elgin Depot in Kimball Va. Last stop before Luray folks! In some cases, the train didn’t stop at all, they could snag the mail bag from a line on the way by. In 1910 the Elgin Depot was slated for expansion to help with the ever-growing N&W Railways freight business. Other than that, I found very little on this Depot, and so I have no idea if it ever did expand. We do know that it was not used that far into the future and in fact it has been long gone for some me now. Armed with an old map I set out to find the exact spot of its location. I believe that I succeeded. The house in the distance still stands. The Kimball Post Office which was on the other side of the Depot is also gone. Interestingly there are a few old non-functioning poles still standing in the area. Did you know that Kimball Virginia was named after a very early N&W railway president? “Frederick J Kimball” under Kimball N&W railway would become famous for their manufacturing steam locomotives in Roanoke Va. The following is provided by Wiki. “A request was made to rename the town of Big Lick, now Roanoke, in his honor, but Mr. Kimball turned it down. Kimball Avenue in Roanoke, Virginia, was named in his honor. A decorative fountain in downtown Roanoke was named for him and dedicated in 1907. The rail station Kimball, just north of the town of Luray, VA was originally named after F.J Kimball, but the name was later changed to Elgin to eliminate confusion with another station. Kimball Road in Luray still bears his name though.” The black and white photo was found in the “The Pictorial Heritage of Page County” book. Great book with lots of nice photos. The other images were taken and or created by the author.
This Article Posted on Shenandoah Newz May 5, 2024, Hits 733.
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Jimmy Bell
In April of 1862, Page Counties own Jimmy Bell, a 1st Lieutenant in the 7th Virginia Cavalry, was captured while guarding the Columbia Bridge near Alma Virginia. He was transferred to Winchester, then off to Baltimore, and finally he was sent to Fort Delaware.
There Jimmy remained while the war went on. It was not uncommon for both sides to exchange prisoners at various times early in the War, and so it was for Jimmy. He was sent to Aikens Landing for exchange however, he would finish the war as a private. While he served in various units, eventually Jimmy would once again join a Virginia Calvary regiment. On Nov 5th of 1864 he would go awol, only to return on December 31st.1864, no details were given. Jimmy would ride out the last few months of the war unharmed.
Who the heck was Jimmy Bell? Jimmy Bell was born on June 8th 1840 as James H Bell, and only child, his parents were John Westley Bell, and Rachel Keyser Bell. Jimmys father would be brutally murdered by a couple of his slaves in 1842 while Jimmy was two years old. No explanation was given in the records. Thus, the hauntings of the Shenandoah Rivers South Fork were born. Jimmy and his mother would soon move in with his grandfather, George Keyser on his farm the “The Green Castle”. Jimmy Bell had it good at his grandfathers and was surrounded by friends and lots of family. In 1859 George Keyser would pass, leaving his farm to his daughter Rachel, who in turn would pass five years later, leaving it all to Jimmy in Jan of 1864. The war would end the following year and he would return to the Green Castle.
Jimmy was pretty much set for life, he had a large farm with a beautiful small mansion built by his grandfather along the Shenandoah River. He had good people running and taking care of the farm.
He was well liked in the community, and would travel around staying with friends and family. Life was good for Jimmy, that is until June 1st 1866. He had just arrived home from an afternoon in Luray. To those that worked for him nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Later that evening Jimmy would retire to his chambers never to be seen alive again. Jimmy Bell would take his own life later that night, no notes, or letters, and nobody saw it coming. It is said that Jimmy used a service pistol to take his life.
On June 3rd the day of Jimmy Bells funeral, a Writer by the name F J.W. Wood wrote, “No young man in Page County ever began life with brighter prospects than Jimmy Bell, and none ever came to a sadder end”.
This image was created by the author James Allen.
Sources used include:
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles 1861-1865
The Page Courier article in 1896.
This Article Posted on Shenandoah Newz April 19, 2024 Hits 379.
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E.O.B writes back to Ohio - he is in Page County during the Civil War.
In early July 1862, a newly formed all volunteer Union Cavalry Regiment (6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry) was tasked with occupying the small town of Luray Virginia. Just three months earlier they were drilling in central Ohio. The 6th Ohio Calvary Regiment was put together from ten different counties across northern and north central Ohio. Interestingly the vast majority of the troopers were not proficient in riding at all. Most could drive a wagon sure but to ride, shoot, maneuver, hardly. They would learn quickly or they would not survive.
Below is an excerpt from a letter written by Union Trooper “ E.O.B” going back to Ohio to his parents. “Know that at this time only the 6th is left to occupy Luray and Page County. The rest of the Union Army has moved north. Also keeping in mind that this regiment is inexperienced and losing troopers to accidents regularly. Just the day before they lost the company Bugler when his pistol discharged into his knee as he mounted his horse”.
E.O.B. writes on June 15th 1862 from Luray Virginia.
“We have been highly complimented by Brigadier Gen. Lloyd and Gen Stienwehr for gallantly defending Luray and keeping our good position. The 6th is learning their style, will give them enough of their own play. But they have greatly the advantage, knowing every crook, turn, and hiding place in this mountainous country which is peculiarly adapted to guerrilla warfare, and then every citizen, men, women, (woman are the worse) act as spies, and inform them of our every move, troop strength etc.
Some means must be adopted to drive them out of these mountains or they will fight us for forty years.
The main source for this post came from “The Life and Times of
Colonel William Stedman of the 6th Ohio Cavalry.”
This image came from americancivilwar.com
This Article Posted on Shenandoah Newz April 14, 2024
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Another one of my hobbies is researching Urban Westenberger and his Mausoleum. Check out my Facebook page at the following link.
Urban Westenberger - Fact from Fiction
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