Photos From The Roads

Shimano’s Hiroshi Matsumoto, Assistant Manager for Shimano Bicycle Components along with a large groups of local riders tour some of the historic gravel roads in Western Loudoun. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

A cyclist crosses the low water bridge on Beaverdam Bridge Road. The road is closed due to heavy flooding this year to motor vehicles but cyclist and walkers use it almost daily to cross Beaverdam Creek just outside the village of Philomont. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

A little day after Christmas horse back ride through downtown Morrisonville. Christiane Meister and her son James had cabin fever and decided to take a little ride during the holiday break in their pajamas. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Jeb Stuart Road outside of the Village of Philomont. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Work has started for the paving of Williams Gap road in Western Loudoun that will forever change the character of this historic road. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Storms clouds and fog rolling in along Williams Gap Road on the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western Loudoun. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Yellowschool House Road outside of the Village of Bluemont. (Photo by Douglas Graham/ WLP)

A doe and her fawn stop to look at the photographer on Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Woodtrail Road outside of the Village of Unison. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Bob Caines walks his dogs as he reads the morning newspaper along the half paved historic Williams Gap Road in Western Loudoun. Caines, who grew up in Loudoun and went to Broad Run High School says he walks the road daily but now its not going to be so safe, with the asphalt laid you can no longer hear traffic coming and that traffic is going to be moving twice as fast. Canes said, paving the road was unnecessary and not needed and worst of all makes the road unsafe for children to play, walk, ride a horse, or a bike. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Work has started for the paving of Williams Gap road in Western Loudoun that will forever change the character of this historic road. Laura Anthony takes a walk with her children Mandy, Brady, Alli, Shane and R.J. over the road bed that George Washington and Load Fairfax rode their horses on to survey land in the Shenandoah Valley. An hour after this photo was taken the road was completely covered making the Anthony’s the last people to walk over the original road. Today, most residents of Loudoun County know nothing about Williams Gap, even those living on Williams Gap Road (Route 711). Knowing who “Williams” was, why a gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains was named for him, and why the rural character of historic Williams Gap Road should be preserved are all significant to our heritage, particularly to those living in Western Loudoun. (photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Paving work continues on Williams Gap road in Western Loudoun that will forever change the character of this historic road. Today, most residents of Loudoun County know nothing about Williams Gap, even those living on Williams Gap Road (Route 711). Knowing who “Williams” was, why a gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains was named for him, and why the rural character of historic Williams Gap Road should be preserved are all significant to our heritage, particularly to those living in Western Loudoun. In the early 1700s, settlers moving west sought farmland along the old Indian trail roads. In 1731, Robert “King” Carter took out a land patent for his 13-year-old son George. In it, the “Indian Thoroughfare” (now Snickersville Turnpike) was described as running from “Williams Cabbin in the Blew Ridge” to the Little River, at now Aldie. The fact that there was a squatter’s cabin at the Gap means that it was there before 1731. In 1743, George Carter owned 2,941 acres as part of the Manor of Leeds “at the lower thoroughfare of the Blue Ridge known by the name of Williams Gap, alias the Indian Thoroughfare of the Blue Ridge, including the same and the top of the ridge.” In 1748, 16-year-old George Washington accompanied George William Fairfax to survey Lord Fairfax’s properties in the Shenandoah Valley. On his return trip in April, he wrote “Tuesday 12th. We set out of from Capt. Hites in order to go over Wms. Gap.” A connecting road from Williams Gap to Leesburg was established in 1764. Known as the Williams Gap Road, it later was called the Leesburg Turnpike. After the Revolutionary War, Edward Snickers’ Shenandoah River ferry was reestablished by the Legislature in October 1786 on “the land of Edward Snickers at Williams Gap.” Later that year Williams Gap became Snickers Gap. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Paving work continues on Williams Gap road in Western Loudoun that will forever change the character of this historic road. Today, most residents of Loudoun County know nothing about Williams Gap, even those living on Williams Gap Road (Route 711). Knowing who “Williams” was, why a gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains was named for him, and why the rural character of historic Williams Gap Road should be preserved are all significant to our heritage, particularly to those living in Western Loudoun. In the early 1700s, settlers moving west sought farmland along the old Indian trail roads. In 1731, Robert “King” Carter took out a land patent for his 13-year-old son George. In it, the “Indian Thoroughfare” (now Snickersville Turnpike) was described as running from “Williams Cabbin in the Blew Ridge” to the Little River, at now Aldie. The fact that there was a squatter’s cabin at the Gap means that it was there before 1731. In 1743, George Carter owned 2,941 acres as part of the Manor of Leeds “at the lower thoroughfare of the Blue Ridge known by the name of Williams Gap, alias the Indian Thoroughfare of the Blue Ridge, including the same and the top of the ridge.” In 1748, 16-year-old George Washington accompanied George William Fairfax to survey Lord Fairfax’s properties in the Shenandoah Valley. On his return trip in April, he wrote “Tuesday 12th. We set out of from Capt. Hites in order to go over Wms. Gap.” A connecting road from Williams Gap to Leesburg was established in 1764. Known as the Williams Gap Road, it later was called the Leesburg Turnpike. After the Revolutionary War, Edward Snickers’ Shenandoah River ferry was reestablished by the Legislature in October 1786 on “the land of Edward Snickers at Williams Gap.” Later that year Williams Gap became Snickers Gap. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Western Loudoun’s historic gravel road known as Allder School Road outside of the Village of Round Hill. Many of the dirt roads in Loudoun are important heritage resources that represent the migration, settlement and travel patterns of the County’s early populations. Historic travel routes are also essential components of the County’s historic landscape as it associates with standing structures, linking early settlements. Alder School Road, dating back to the late 1700’s is now under construction and will be paved over. Approximately 8,300 feet of Allder School Road (Route 711) from Woodgrove Road (Route 719) to Hillsboro Road (Route 690) will be improved for high traffic loads. The scope includes a new bridge over the South Fork of the Catoctin Creek, undergrounding of utilities, drainage improvements, and a roundabout at the intersection of Allder School Road and Short Hill Road. The total cost of the project is $8.3 million. Construction is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2019.(Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Western Loudoun’s historic gravel road known as Allder School Road outside of the Village of Round Hill. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)

Western Loudoun’s historic gravel road known as Allder School Road outside of the Village of Round Hill. Many of the dirt roads in Loudoun are important heritage resources that represent the migration, settlement and travel patterns of the County’s early populations. Historic travel routes are also essential components of the County’s historic landscape as it associates with standing structures, linking early settlements. Alder School Road, dating back to the mid-1700’s is now under construction and will be paved over. Approximately 8,300 feet of Allder School Road (Route 711) from Woodgrove Road (Route 719) to Hillsboro Road (Route 690) will be improved for high traffic loads. The scope includes a new bridge over the South Fork of the Catoctin Creek, undergrounding of utilities, drainage improvements, and a roundabout at the intersection of Allder School Road and Short Hill Road. The total cost of the project is $8.3 million. Construction is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2019.(Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)