Tara Wassing walks her dog in early morning fog near Hillsboro in Western Loudoun County Virginia. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Catoctin Creek Bridge was originally located at a crossing of nearby Goose Creek, carrying the Leesburg Turnpike, later Virginia State Route 7, but was relocated in 1932 to its present location at Catoctin Creek. The Catoctin Creek Bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 1974. Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Featherbed Lane outside of the Village of Waterford. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
The intersection of John Wolford Road and Ash George road in Northern Loudoun County near the village of Waterford. The bridge is on Ash George and the creek is not named but feeds the Catoctin Creek. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
A star light sky over Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Ridgeside Road outside of the Village of Bluemont. 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Tail Race Road in Western Loudoun County near the village of Aldie follows the Little River and is one of Loudoun many dirt roads dating back more then 200 years. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
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)
Rodeffer Road in Northern Loudoun County near the village of Waterford. 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Vultures fight over roosting spots on the two chimneys of this old abandoned farmhouse along Old Wheatland Road in Western Loudoun near the village of Waterford. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
A school bus makes its way along Western Loudoun’s historic gravel road known as Poor House Road. Many of the gravel 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
A tractor hauling hay moves slowly down Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Paxson Road outside of the Village of Airmont. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Quaker Lane at the Beaverdam Creek bridge outside of the Village of Unison in Western Loudoun County Virginia. 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
This view looking East along Nixon Road just outside of the village of Morrisonville. Nixon Road is the next old gravel road in Loudoun to be paved over. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
This view looking East along Nixon Road just outside of the village of Morrisonville. Nixon Road is the next old gravel road in Loudoun to be paved over. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
The Hunt hounds take a swim in a farm pond off of Newlin mill Road near the village of Unison. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Northern Loudoun’s historic gravel roads known as Richard Road outside of the Village of Lovettsville. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Paxson Road outside of the Village of Airmont in Western Loudoun County Virginia. Most Western Loudoun’s historic gravel roads predate America and are important heritage resources that represent the migration, settlement and travel patterns of the County’s early populations. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Millville Road outside of the Village of Bloomfield. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Julia Kasdorf walks by her bank barn along John Wolford Road in Northern Loudoun County near the village of Waterford. 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Heavy rain and fog set in along Hogback Mountain Road in Loudoun County Virginia. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
John Wolford Road in Northern Loudoun County near the village of Waterford. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
A hay tractor makes its way along Purcelllville Road near Morrisonville in Loudoun County. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
John Wolford Road in Northern Loudoun County near the village of Waterford. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Hollow Oak Road outside of the Village of Bluemont. (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)
Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Millville Road outside of the Village of Bloomfield. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Old Waterford Road in Northern Loudoun County near the village of Waterford. 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Allen Cochran moves his sheep along Foundry Road to a feeding pasture using his sheep dogs. Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Foundry Road outside of the Quaker settlement of Lincoln is one of many roads in Loudoun County that are historic. The vast network containing 300 miles of dirt roads in Western Loudoun are important heritage resources that represent the migration, settlement and travel patterns of the County’s early populations. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Foggy Bottom Road outside of the Village of Bluemont. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
A white-tailed deer crosses Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Greggsville Road outside of the Village of Philomont. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Motorcyclist take a break as they ride some of the hundreds of miles out in Western Loudoun’s historic dirt roads. This is Mountville Road near Unison. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Old Waterford Road, Loudoun County, Virginia. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
The old historic road bed of Downey Mill just outside the village of Taylorstown runs along the Catoctin Creek. History goes back a long way in Loudoun County and Taylorstown is one of the county’s oldest settlements. State historical markers say the estate of Hunting Hill dates back to 1737, Foxton Cottage, in the mid-eighteenth century, and Taylor’s Mill built circa 1800. The area situated off of Catoctin Creek, also originally had fieldstone construction houses built by German Quaker descendants. In the Civil War, despite being part of the south in Virginia, these same people were loyal to the Union, hence Loyalty, the name of the region. The area today is about as rural as it gets anywhere in eastern Virginia. Located in-between ridges east (Catoctin Mountain) and west (Short Hill Mountain), and the Potomac River to the north, the area gets little car traffic. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
An old barn sits off the side of Digges Valley Road outside of the Town of Hamilton. Western Loudoun’s historic dirt roads in 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. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
An equestrian rides along Furnace Mountain Road near Taylorstown in Loudoun County Virginia. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Western Loudoun’s historic dirt road known as Furr Road outside of the Village of Bloomfield. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
Shimano’s Hiroshi Matsumoto, Assistant Manager of the Planning Section for Bicycle Components Bicycle Components Division along with a large groups of local riders from Veloville bikes & coffee and Haymarket Bicycles tour some of the historic gravel roads in in Western Loudoun. Shimano will be touring much of the U.S. in the coming weeks researching for ideas on possible new groupsets for gravel riding. (Photo by Douglas Graham/WLP)
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)
