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This series consists of articles that have emerged from scholarly sources in Lexington and the Rockbridge area — mainly the two discussion societies, the Fortnightly and Ignorance Clubs (each now in existence for more than a hundred years), as well as Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute. In all cases, the papers meet three criteria:
The Rockbridge Epilogues series is published with the blessing of the area's two history organizations, Historic Lexington Foundation and Rockbridge Historical Society. These articles are published here with the kind permission of the authors, heirs, or copyright holders. There are no restrictions against quoting them with attribution. Many papers have a link at the end that will let you print them a single page at a time to allow convenient reading. The papers themselves, however, may not be further reproduced without permission. Numbered endnotes are the author’s. Footnotes using roman numerals or symbols, and comments in square brackets, have been added by the editor. This project would have been impossible without the help of the Special Collections librarians at Washington and Lee University, in particular Seth McCormick-Goodhart and Lisa McCown. Originals of many of the papers reprinted here are held in the W&L Special Collections. The editor is Bob Keefe. An informal kitchen cabinet reviews suggested topics and final papers: Beverly Tucker and Suzanne Barksdale Rice, each a past president of Historic Lexington Foundation, and Dr. Neely Young, historian, author and a former director of the Rockbridge Historical Society. We invite you to write us at epilogues@HistoricRockbridge.org |
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African Americans at
Lexington Presbyterian Church, 1789–1861 Part I — Davy’s Story: “Sexton for Fourty Years” Davy Buck, well-regarded African American, was not free, but he became an “independent contractor” as sexton of the Presbyterian Church — in whose cemetery he was buried, extraordinary for that day. Dr. Young’s article examines his career and the larger issue of black congregants in a white church that was conflicted over the issue of slavery. |
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The Wonderful Wizard of Rockbridge In 1974, an utter stranger swanned into Lexington and filled everyone’s head with smoke dreams of movie stardom. When he was caught, he was terrified of being tarred and feathered. Little did the con artist know — he was a hero who brought more fun and excitement than he ever cost in money or regret. Free Mel Greenberg! |
A Visit to Denmark
By Reed Belden
Louise Daura: Rockbridge Days
By Robert Keefe
Pierre Daura: Local Treasure
By Lynn Lowry Leech
Washington and Lee in the National Football League
By Neely Young
‘Jockey’ John Robinson: Washington College Benefactor
By Ollinger Crenshaw
Washington College and the University of Virginia
By Ollinger Crenshaw
Portrait of an Orator: W&L’s Francis P. Gaines
By William Buchanan
“Ignorance Is Bliss”: Lexington’s Women’s Discussion Club
By Laura Moore Stearns
Stagecoach Travel in Rockbridge
By Richard Halseth
Lexington’s Alexander-Withrow House
By Royster Lyle Jr.
South River from Marlbrook to Old Buena Vista
By Reed Belden
Washington and Lee in the Baseball Bigs
By Neely Young
When the Orchestra Came to Town
By Suzanne Barksdale Rice and Anne Drake McClung
J. T. L. Preston: A VMI Founding Father
By Richard Halseth
Not Your Ordinary Book Report: ‘Marty Markham’ by Lawrence Watkin
By Anne McClung
Vesuvius: A Pictorial History
By Richard Halseth
Marble Valley and
Other Thoughts About Dams
By Royster Lyle Jr.
“Affectionately Your Uncle”
Edited by Suzanne Barksdale Rice
Othello Richards in Rockbridge
by Neely Young
Designing the New Lexington-Rockbridge Courthouse
by Frank Parsons
Two Early Rockbridge Settlers
by Rose Mary Whiting Moseley:
Benjamin Borden
Diary of John Peter Salling, 1742-44
Historic Springs of Rockbridge
by Erich Faber
Ellen Graham Anderson: Artist Rediscovered
by Kathryn Gephart Benedict
The Way It Was . . . I Think
by W. W. Pusey
Matthew Fontaine Maury
by Stuart Moore
Rationing in Rockbridge During World War II
by Joel Enterline
A Judge’s School: The Story of
John White Brockenbrough
by M. W. Paxton
Darst, Jordan, Stono and Lexington
by Caroline Amason Adams
The North River Navigation Company and
Iron Valley: The Railroad Comes to South River
by Douglas E. (Pat) Brady
The Secret Ladies’ Basement at W&L
by William Buchanan
Madison Dunlap, David Lowman and Miller’s Mill
by Nanalou Sauder
The WPA in Virginia and in Rockbridge
by William Dana Hoyt
The Saga of Hamilton’s School House (1823)
by George West Diehl
Rockbridge County’s Earliest Barns
by Anne McClung
I Was There: Subsidized Football Ends at W&L, 1954
by Frank A. Parsons
Images of the Rock Bridge
by Richard Hubbard
‘Education First’: Lexington’s Public Schools
by Suzanne Barksdale Rice
Irish Creek: History and Diversions
by D. E. Brady
A. J. Davis: Creator of VMI Gothic
by M. W. Paxton
Gay at Washington & Lee: 1980s and 1990s
by Emily Robideau
New Cages for the Zoo:
Fraternity Renaissance at W&L
by Frank Parsons
‘The Little Comet’:
A Children’s Christmas Play in Four Scenes
by The Rev. Thomas van Braam Barrett
From Springfield to Zack: Obscure Rockbridge Communities
by D. E. Brady
Michael and Henry Miley’s Pioneering Color Photography
by Mame Warren and Henry Miley
W&L in 20th-century fiction
by William W. Pusey III
Matthew Maury’s Goshen Pass and Threats of “Development”
by M. W. Paxton Jr.
Hurricane Camille, 1969
by D. E. Brady
Chief Cornstalk and the Indian Raids at Kerr’s Creek in 1759 and 1763
by Henrietta Dunlap
Jonathan Daniels’s prudent rebelliousness
by Sean Dadson
The Lexington Presbyterian Church fire of 2000 and reconstruction
by Frank Parsons
Dr. Ephraim McDowell, pioneer surgeon, and Jane Todd Crawford, his pioneer patient
by Patricia Irving
Vietnam-era student unrest at Washington & Lee
by William Webb Pusey
The modern-day historic preservation movement in Lexington
by M. W. Paxton
W&L Library Special Collections (historical archives) search
W&L Library general card catalogue
Rockbridge Regional Library card catalogue
Historic Lexington Foundation black history oral interview transcripts
“Proceedings” (papers delivered to the Rockbridge Historical Society) (after page opens, scroll down)
Lexington Gazette, 1898 to 1912 (not indexed or searchable, alas)
Rockbridge Historical Society website
Historic Lexington Foundation website
Miller's House website
(19th-century transportation and industry)
Lexington News-Gazette web site
