List of historical highway markers in Hampshire County, West Virginia

This is a list of Hampshire County Historical Highway Markers in Hampshire County, in the U.S. state of West Virginia.

= Capon Springs =

*Inscription: Capon Springs bears Indian name meaning the "Medicine Waters." Discovered in 1765. Famous resort of early days. President Franklin Pierce, Daniel Webster, and his guest, Sir Henry Bulwer, the British Minister, were among guests.
*Location: West Virginia Route 259, Capon Lake

West Virginia/Virginia

= West Virginia =
*Inscription: "The Mountain State"--western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863. Settled by the Germans and Scots-Irish. It became a line of defense between the English and French during the French and Indian War, 1754-1763.

Virginia

*Inscription: Named for Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England. Site of the first permanent English settlement, 1607, in America. One of the 13 original colonies. Virginia is the birthplace of eight Presidents of the United States.
*Location: West Virginia Route 259, at West Virginia/Virginia state line

= Northwestern Turnpike =
*Inscription: In 1784, Washington proposed the Northwestern Turnpike as an all-Virginia route to the Ohio. Authorized in 1827 and started in 1831, it remains a monument to the skill of its engineers, Charles Shaw and Colonel Claudius Crozet.
*Location: U.S. Route 50, Capon Bridge

= Fort Edwards =
*Inscription: Troops from this fort under Captain Mercer were ambushed in 1756 and many were killed. The French and Indians later attacked the fort but the garrison, aided by Daniel Morgan and other frontiersmen, repulsed the assault.
*Location: U.S. Route 50, near junction with WV Secondary Route 14 (Cacapon River Road), Capon Bridge

= Ice Mountain =
*Inscription: Huge natural refrigerator, five miles (8 km) north along North River, where ice is found for several hundred yards on the hottest summer days. Raven Rock, on North Mountain, offers one of the finest views in West Virginia.
*Location: U.S. Route 50, at junction with West Virginia Route 29 North, Augusta

= Mount Bethel Church =
*Inscription: The Presbyterians established a church near here in 1792. At first called the Mountain Church in 1808, it became the nucleus of Presbyterian work in Hampshire County under the auspices of the Rev. John Lyle. The Rev. James Black reorganized the congregation in 1812 and the newly formed congregation was named Mount Bethel. The present church, built of logs in 1837, is the oldest house of worship in this county.
*Location: WV Secondary Route 5 (Jersey Mountain Road), at junction with WV Secondary Route 5/4 (Three Churches Hollow Road), Three Churches

= Bloomery Gap Skirmish/Bloomery Iron Furnace =

Bloomery Gap Skirmish

*Inscription: February 14, 1862, Brigadier General Frederick W. Lander, commanding the 5th and 8th Ohio, 14th Indiana Infantry, and 400 men of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry, attacked a Confederate brigade of the 31st, 51st, 67th, and 89th Virginia Militia under Colonel J. Sencendiver. The Confederates were routed and fled toward Winchester. Lander returned to his camp at Paw Paw and Sencendiver again occupied Bloomery Gap.

Bloomery Iron Furnace

*Inscription: The furnace was built, 1833, by Thomas Pastly and later was owned by Lewis Passmor. He placed a Mr. Cornwell in charge who operated it until 1848 when it was sold to S. A. Pancost. He and his heirs operated it until 1875 when the furnace was closed down. It was operated for a short time in 1880-1881. Annual capacity was 8500 tons. The iron was carried on rafts and flatboats down the Cacapon River.
*Location: West Virginia Route 127 (Bloomery Pike), convert|2|mi|km east of junction with West Virginia Route 29, Bloomery

= Oriskany Sand =
*Inscription: The massive sandstone forming the top of the exposure and the great arch is the Oriskany and the limestone below it is the Helderberg of the driller and geologist. The "Oriskany Sand", an important gas sand, has produced in excess of a trillion cubic feet (28 km³) of gas in West Virginia.
*Location: U.S. Route 50/West Virginia Route 28, two miles (3 km) west of Romney

= Hampshire County/Mineral County =

= Hampshire County =

*Inscription: Oldest county. Authorized, 1753, in act effective, May 1, 1754. Formed from Frederick and Augusta. Lord Fairfax, owner, named it for the English shire of the same name. Ice Mountain and Hanging Rocks are among its many natural wonders.

= Mineral County =

*Inscription: Formed from Hampshire in 1866 and named for its great mineral deposits. In Mineral County is Fort Ashby, the only standing unit in the chain of frontier forts which were built in 1755 under George Washington's order.
*Location: West Virginia Route 28, west of Springfield

Hampshire County/Mineral County

= Hampshire County =
*Inscription: Oldest county. Authorized, 1753, in act effective, May 1, 1754. Formed from Frederick and Augusta. Lord Fairfax, owner, named it for the English shire of the same name. Ice Mountain and Hanging Rocks are among its many natural wonders.

Mineral County

*Inscription: Formed from Hampshire in 1866 and named for its great mineral deposits. In Mineral County is Fort Ashby, the only standing unit in the chain of frontier forts which were built in 1755 under George Washington's order.
*Location: U.S. Route 50/U.S. Route 220, Junction

= Hampshire County/Hardy County =

Hampshire County

*Inscription: Oldest county. Authorized, 1753, in act effective, May 1, 1754. Formed from Frederick and Augusta. Lord Fairfax, owner, named it for the English shire of the same name. Ice Mountain and Hanging Rocks are among its many natural wonders.

Hardy County

*Inscription: Formed in 1786 from Hampshire. Named for Samuel Hardy, distinguished Virginian. In 1725, John Van Meter of New York visited the South Branch Valley. He praised it highly so his sons acquired lands and settled at Old Fields.
*Location: U.S. Route 220, south of Purgitsville

= Oriskany Sand =
*Inscription: The massive, nearly vertical sandstone that outcrops at this location, and also forms the arch is the Oriskany of the driller and geologist. The "Oriskany Sand", an important gas sand, has produced in excess of a trillion cubic feet (28 km³) of gas in West Virginia.
*Location: W.V. Route 28, about convert|1.5|mi|km south of Springfield

= Hanging Rocks =
*Inscription: Perpendicular cliffs rising nearly 300 feet (90 m) above the South Branch of the Potomac. The scene of fierce battle between Delaware and Catawba Indians about 1736. Also scene of skirmishes between Northern and Southern troops in 1861.
*Location: West Virginia Route 28, convert|4|mi|km north of Romney

= Fort Forman =
*Inscription: Frontier outpost. From this county, Captain William Forman (Foreman), in 1777, led a company to the relief of Fort Henry at Wheeling. He, two sons, and many others were killed in an ambush by Indians at the "Narrows" near Moundsville.
*Location: West Virginia Route 28, convert|3|mi|km north of Romney (at Vance)

= Col. Claudius Crozet/Mechanicsburg G

Col. Claudius Crozet

*Inscription: Col. Crozet, born in France, 1790; came to America, 1816. He taught mathematics at West Point six years. Named chief engineer of Virginia (1824); surveyed Northwestern Turnpike, 1825. Died 1864; buried in Shockee Hills, Richmond.

Mechanicsburg Gap

*Inscription: Scenic canyon cut through Mill Creek Mountain by Mill Creek. Here an old Indian trail was the pathway from the Valley of Virginia to the Alleghenies, then the Northwestern Turnpike, now the George Washington Highway.
*Location: U.S. Route 50/West Virginia Route 28, convert|2|mi|km west of Romney

= Indian Mound =
*Inscription: The Indian Mound Cemetery, which is convert|7|ft|m high and about convert|15|ft|m in diameter, is one of the largest remaining mounds in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. This mound has never been excavated but similar mounds of area dug by Smithsonian Institution suggest this mound might date between A.D. 500 and 1000, and have been constructed by Hopewellian peoples.
*Location: Just west of Romney, U.S. Route 50 (Main Street)

= "Stonewall" Jackson/Romney in 1861-1865 =

= "Stonewall" Jackson =

*Inscription: Jackson arrived here Jan. 13, 1862, after capturing Bath (Berkeley Springs). Leaving Gen. Loring, he returned to Winchester. Loring's protest caused Jackson to resign but he reconsidered and his Valley Campaign followed.

Romney in 1861-1865

*Inscription: Sitting astride the natural invasion route from the Shenandoah Valley to the Potomac and B. & O. Railroad, Romney was scourged by both armies. No great battles were fought here, but during the War the town changed hands 56 times.
*Location: Romney, Courthouse Square, West Virginia Route 28 (High Street) & U.S. Route 50 (Main Street)

= Romney/Early Memorial =

= Romney =

*Inscription: Incorporated as a town, 1762. Owned and laid off as a town by Lord Fairfax. Named for one of the five English Channel ports. Not far away was Fort Pearsall, built, 1756, as Indian defense. Town changed military control 56 times, 1861-1865.

Early Memorial

*Inscription: In 1866, Confederate Memorial Association was formed here, which on September 26, 1867, dedicated a monument to Confederate soldiers, one of the first erected anywhere. This was site of Indian cemetery long before white men came.
*Location: Romney, Courthouse Square, West Virginia Route 28 (High Street) & U.S. Route 50 (Main Street)

= W. Va. School for Deaf and Blind =
*Inscription: Established, 1870. The Classical Institute was donated by the Romney Literary Society as the initial building unit. Co-educational school giving academic and vocational training to the State's deaf and blind youth.
*Location: Romney, U.S. Route 50 (Main Street), in front of school

= Hampshire County/Virginia =

Hampshire County

*Inscription: Oldest county; established by the Virginia Assembly, 1754. Formed from Frederick and Augusta. Lord Fairfax, owner, named it for the English shire of the same name. Ice Mountain and Hanging Rocks are among its natural wonders.

Virginia

*Inscription: Named for Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England. Site of the first permanent English settlement, 1607, in America. One of the 13 original colonies. Virginia is the birthplace of eight Presidents of the United States.
*Location: West Virginia Route 127 (Bloomery Pike), at West Virginia/Virginia state line

= Hampshire County/Morgan County =

Hampshire County

*Inscription: Oldest county; established by the Virginia Assembly, 1754. Formed from Frederick and Augusta. Lord Fairfax, owner, named it for the English shire of the same name. Ice Mountain and Hanging Rocks are among its natural wonders.

Morgan County

*Inscription: Formed, 1820, from Berkeley and Hampshire. Named for Gen. Daniel Morgan of the Revolutionary Army. Many of his renowned "Riflemen" were from the Eastern Panhandle, where he once lived. Famed Berkeley Springs here.
*Location: West Virginia Route 9 West, Paw Paw

= "Caudy's Castle" =
*Inscription: Named for James Caudy, pioneer and Indian fighter, who took refuge from the Indians on a mass of rocks overlooking Cacapon River during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). From his position on the Castle of Rocks, he defended himself by pushing the Indians, one by one with the butt of his rifle, over the precipice as they came single file along the narrow crevice of rocks. They fell 450-500 feet to the base along the edge of the Cacapon.
*Location: West Virginia Route 127 (Bloomery Pike), convert|1.5|mi|km east of West Virginia Route 29

= Braddock's G

*Inscription: To the north, route of General Braddock's army in May, 1755, on way to attack the French at Fort Duquesne. His troops encamped at both Fort Capon and Fort Cox near here before resuming the journey which ended in defeat and death.
*Location: U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 29, near Pleasant Dale

= Oriskany Sand =
*Inscription: The pure massive sandstone forming Hanging Rock is the Oriskany of the driller and geologist. The "Oriskany Sand", an important gas sand, has produced in excess of a trillion cubic feet (28 km³) of gas in West Virginia.
*Location: U.S. Route 50 and County Road 21, about convert|2|mi|km east of Pleasant Dale

= Blue's Gap Battle =
*Inscription: Confederate troops under Captain George F. Sheets were defeated by Colonel S. H. Dunning's 5th Ohio Infantry here, Jan. 7, 1862. North River Bridge and a number of buildings were burned by the Federals.
*Location: U.S. Route 50, convert|14|mi|km east of Romney

= West Virginia/Virginia =

West Virginia

*Inscription: "The Mountain State"--western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863. Settled by the Germans and Scotch-Irish. It became a line of defense between the English and French during the French and Indian War, 1754-1763.

Virginia

*Inscription: Named for Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England. Site of the first permanent English settlement, 1607, in America. One of the 13 original colonies. Virginia is the birthplace of eight Presidents of the United States.
*Location: U.S. Route 50, at West Virginia/Virginia state line

= Hampshire County/Hardy County =

Hampshire County

*Inscription: Oldest county; established by the Virginia Assembly, 1754. Formed from Frederick and Augusta. Lord Fairfax, owner, named it for the English shire of the same name. Ice Mountain and Hanging Rocks are among its natural wonders.

Hardy County

*Inscription: Formed from Hampshire in 1786. Named for distinguished Virginian, Samuel Hardy. In 1725, John Van Meter of New York visited the South Branch Valley. He praised it highly, so his sons acquired land and settled at Old Fields.Location: West Virginia Route 259, at county line, Intermont

= High Knob =
*Inscription: This peak on Hampshire-Hardy line rises a thousand feet above the surrounding hills to a height of more than half a mile. From it can be seen points in three counties. It overlooks "The Trough," famed for its history and scenery.
*Location: U.S. Route 220 (northbound) south of Hickory Hill Road, near Hampshire-Hardy border

= Pin Oak Fountain =
*Inscription: Pin Oak Fountain - Built by State Road Comm. and local artisans in 1932; land given by H.R. Edeburn. Crystal quartz quarried from behind nearby Bloomery iron furnace, and stone from hillside behind the fountain. Spring water, gravity fed from hill above, supplied area residents and travelers. Fountain was popular site for picnics, dances, courting, & auctions. Restored in 1988 and maintained by Pin Oak Extension Homemakers Club.
*Location: West Virginia Route 29, convert|8|mi|km southeast of Paw Paw in Hampshire Co., in community of Pin Oak

= Ice Mountain =
*Inscription: Huge natural refrigerator, five miles (8 km) north along North River, where ice is found for several hundred yards on the hottest summer days. Raven Rock, on North Mountain, offers one of the finest views in West Virginia.
*Location: U.S. Route 50, at junction with West Virginia Route 29 North

External links

* [http://www.historichampshire.org/signs/histsign.htm Historic Hampshire's historic markers photographic tour]