Description

“When Augusta County was formed in 1738, it was America’s ‘Wild West’ – stretching from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes.  Today’s more moderately sized county lies nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.  Virginia’s second-largest county has witnessed history ranging from frontier clashes to Civil War battles.  Daniel Boone, Thomas Jefferson, and Robert E. Lee slept here, Pres. Dwight Eisenhower’s mother was born here, and folk artist Grandma Moses farmed here.  The main road through the county, once known as the Warrior’s Path, the Great Wagon Road, and the Valley Pike, has been trod by Native Americans, settlers, travelers, and warring armies.  The influx of Scotch-Irish, German, English, and African American settlers who put down roots here turned the lush limestone valley into the grain-producing capital of the nation an created the country’s two leading industries: milling and distilling.

“Nancy T. Sorrells has selected the best images from the Augusta County Historical Society’s rich collection and has worked with private individuals and groups to discover amazing photographs that feature a wide spectrum of faces and places from the county’s storied past.

“The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country.  Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today.  Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.”  -(From Back Cover)