New guidebook showcases the many historic markers located throughout Virginia

Some celebrate triumph. Others tell of tragegy.

All over the Old Dominion, silver-and-black signs pay tribute to historic events and places.

Like settlers who squabbled with Indians in Tazewell County or the great hunter, James Burk, who planted potatoes and had his name bestowed – jokingly – on a lost valley called Burke’s Garden.

A series of historic markers stand huddled along Abingdon’s Main Street, between Barter Theatre and the Barter Green.

One here pays tribute to the Stonewall Jackson Female Institute.

The what?

Well, this marker tells us, this college took its name from the famous Civil War general known best as "Stonewall Jackson."

Yet it did not survive. The college has been out of business since 1930 "when it closed because of mounting debts."

ON THE ROADSIDES

Sharing the history of landmarks is the mission behind the 81-year-old program to erect historic markers on Virginia’s roadsides, writes Scott David Arnold, who compiled the recently released "A Guidebook to Virginia’s Historical Markers" (University of Virginia Press, $19.95).

Arnold is manager of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources’s historical highway marker program.

The idea to put historic markers along roadsides dates back to the 1920s.

"The program began after the general assembly created the Conservation and Economic Development Commission in 1926," Arnold writes.

"The original intent of the program was to foster interest nationwide in Virginia’s history and to encourage tourism through a uniform system of noting historic events."

Between Richmond and Fredericksburg, the first signs showed up in 1927 on U.S. Highway 1. Since then, the markers have retained essentially the same look.

And some local markers are still standing since being erected in the 1930s.

HISTORY CLARIFIED

What you might call a nest of many historic markers sprouts from the roadside at Big Moccasin Gap, between Weber City and Gate City.

Among these is one placed in recent years, noting the importance of The Carter Family’s music career:

"After their first recording session in Bristol for the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1927, the trio enjoyed tremendous popularity, appearing on the radio, and recording more than 250 songs until 1943."

Across Smyth County, meanwhile, markers remember such points of interest as the founding of Chilhowie; the Civil War’s Battle of Marion; Saltville’s history; Seven Mile Ford; Sherwood Anderson; Hungry Mother State Park; and the grave of William Campbell, who is buried at Aspenvale Cemetery.

You can read about "Carl Martin – Early Musical Pioneer" at Big Stone Gap.

And, at Nora, you’ll find a marker noting the history of the "Old Buffalo School."

No longer must you squint through your windshield, however, or take notes.

The text emblazoned on more than 1,850 markers is included in the text of this 366-page book. This third edition also contains nearly 900 new and replacement markers erected on roadsides since the last edition was this book was published in 1994.

jtennis@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0704

HOW TO ORDER

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  What: "A Guidebook to Virginia’s Historical Markers"
  


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  Author: Scott David Arnold, published in association with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources
  


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  Publisher: University of Virginia Press
  


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  Info: (434) 924-6070
  


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  Web: www.upress.virginia.edu
  
  
  

BOOK NOTES THE SPIRIT OF TOWNS

... or Lou Ann Wallace, it’s all there in a book – the wit, the wisdom, the words. These words come from Wallace, along with Frank Kilgore, Kathy Shearer and LeRoy Hilton. Such local folks had something to say, and so did many others, when Peter Crow came calling. Crow, an English professor from Ferrum College, wanted to capture the story of Dante and St. Paul. And he wanted to blend what everyone had to say into "A Tale of Two Appalachian Towns."

Today, that is the subtitle for Crow’s paperback book. The main title, screaming, "DO, DIE, OR GET ALONG," in giant red letters, is imposed over a vintage black-and-white photograph of Dante’s Clinchfield Inn. Published by the University of Georgia Press, this book is a collection of oral histories.

Wallace, one of more than 20 people quoted in the book, has worked for years on projects to beautify St. Paul and redevelop the town, just as a group called Dante Lives On has worked to polish the once-prosperous nearby village of Dante.

The efforts of Wallace’s group, St. Paul Tomorrow, have helped draw thousands every year to Clinch River Days, held each June. Still, amid the spotlight of such success, St. Paul has simultaneously made headlines for its political discord – especially in 2007.

Wallace, though, dismisses such struggles as "growing pains" and remains optimistic about the future of this railroad town, lying at the gateway of Virginia’s coalfields. And why not?

"Lou is an attractive woman whose blonde hair and southwestern Virginia drawl are consistent with a Daisy Mae stereotype," writes Crow in "Do, Die, or Get Along."

Wallace nearly blushes as a friend, Suzy Harrison, kids her about that description.

And Crow adds more:

"While she (Wallace) embraced marriage and family life, she also became a member of the St. Paul town council, challenged the status quo, and founded the St. Paul Tomorrow movement with a goal of sustainable, environmentally friendly, economic development."

Wallace smiles, reflecting on those words. And then she talks, in turn, about that book title – and how prophetic it might be – as 2007 becomes 2008. "Yes, we are going to have to do – or we’re going to die," Wallace said. "And, we’re all going to have to just learn – to get along."

JOE TENNIS is a features writer for the Herald Courier. Call (276) 791-0704 or e-mail jtennis@bristolnews.com