Bath County Timeline

 

• 1727: First Bath County surveys petitioned.
• 1745: Augusta County is formed, with Staunton as its county seat.
• 1749: Fort Dinwiddie built. This is later a western outpost in the French and Indian War, and will be visited by George Washington.
• 1754: John Johnston participates in the colonial military against the French.
• 1755: George Washington again visits Fort Dinwiddie.
• 1755 (approx.): John Johnston works as a scout for the Virginia military in the area.
• 1756: George Washington again visits Fort Dinwiddie.
• 1756: First authorized road to Warm Springs.
• 1759: The area west of the mountains is closed to settlement by the English due to treaties with Native Americans.
• 1763: The area is reopened to settlement, with many pioneers, including the Johnston family, moving in.
• 1772: Fort Cockley, later known as Fort Kockley or Cackley, built.
• 1774: First mention of schools in the area.
• 1790: Local courier service established.
• 1791: The County of Bath is officially organized.
• 1793: First Bath County Court is organized.
• 1800: Warm Springs is well-developed as a resort area.
• 1818-1825: Thomas Jefferson visits Warm Springs multiple times.
• 1818: Mail is being delivered to the area three times a week.
• 1839: First Lindcove Church built.
• 1843: First Bath County Court House and Jail built.
• 1849: Farm House at Mountain Grove built.
• 1855: Christ's Church-Warm Springs Built.
• 1858: "New Market" at Hidden Valley opens.
• 1858: Hotel at Millboro Springs opened.
• 1861: 11th Virginia Cavalry Squadron formed.
• 1861-1865: American Civil War
• February 15, 1863: The 17th Battalion of Cavalry is formed into a regiment and known as the 11th Virginia Cavalry, consisting of ten companies.
• 1863 (April 21st): Jones' Brigade of Cavalry, including the 11th Virginia Cavalry, goes into battle on the North Western Virginia raid.
• 1863: The 11th Virginia Cavalry captures prisoners and horses at Jefferson in Fauquier County in the course of the war.
• 1863: Col. Lomax assigned command of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• 1869: C & O Railway Branch line is built to Hot Springs.
• 1870-1875: The Up and Down sawmill operates profitably.
• 1892: Bath House at Hot Springs is completed.
• 1899: Golf at Hot Springs begins.
• 1901: Homestead Burned
• 1901: The Warn Lumber Company is created.
• 1904: Hot Springs Presbyterian Church is rebuilt at present location.
• 1913: "Three Hills" is built by Mary Johnston
• 1914: Court House Burns.
• 1915: Current Court House Built.
• 1922: Fay Ingalls president of Virginia Hot Springs
• 1931 (December 31): Lieutenant E. H. Bobbitt, Jr. goes missing in a plane over mountainous West Virginia. Army and civilian searchers are called out in force in efforts to find the wreckage.
• 1941: Up & Down sawmill is torn down and rebuilt as a gristmill.
• 1942 (April): The Greenbrier Inn in White Sulphur Springs is used as a sort of internment camp for Axis diplomats.
• 1942 (May): Bath County Rationing Board authorizes tire purchases for various community members.
• 1942 (July): Two men from the Bath County are drafted.
• 1942 (multiple dates): Various tire rationing requests are approved and the names listed in the local papers.
• 1959 (June): Green Bank Telescope is operating 24/7.
• 1960: Division of Industrial Development recommends the establishment of 2,200 acres for future industrial use and parks in Bath County.
• 1963 (June): R. W. Bruffey writes to Col. L. W. Jackson detailing his experiences in the Civil War.
• 1968 (January): County planning commission drafts zoning ordinance.
• 1973: The Bath County Board of Supervisors begins public meetings to discuss the proposed zoning ordinance.
• 1973 (September 10): The Bath County Board of Supervisors voted to hold a zoning hearing.
• 1973 (September 13): Bath County Board of Supervisors amends the zoning ordinance.
• 1973 (September 27): The Zoning Ordinance is formally proposed by the Bath County Planning Commission, as amended.
• 1973 (October 2): An informal meeting takes place between the Bath County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission.
• 1973: Zoning issues debated in Bath County, with a 3-2 vote for passage after amendments.
• 1973 (Multiple): Various public hearings held to discuss zoning laws.
• 1997 (October 31): Acquisition Celebration Ceremony for West Virginia Central Railroad.
• 1999: Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad is in operation.

Cast of Characters:

• Andrew Lewis: Captain in the Virginia militia, served as an aid to Captain Lewis
• John Johnston: Early settler in the area, served in the colonial military, Indian scout
• Colonel George Washington: Visited Fort Dinwiddie multiple times between 1754-1756.
• George Braddock: Commanded a British expedition that met with disaster in 1755.
• Col. A. C. L. Gatewood (1843-1919): Author of "History of the Bath County Squadron"
• Capt. Myers: Commander of Company "A" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. W. Harness: Commander of Company "B" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. Harper: Commander of Company "C" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. E. H. McDonald: Commander of Company "D" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. Hess: Commander of Company "E" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. A. J. Ware: Commander of Company "F" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. Foxhall A. Dang: Commander of Company "G" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. Pierce: Commander of Company "H" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Capt. Weems: Commander of Company "K" of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Lt. Col. R. W. Rinston: Military leader in the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Col. L. L. Lomax: Graduate of West Point and commander of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Lt. A. J. Ware: Military leader in the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
• Col. L. W. Jackson: Civil War military leader, the recipient of a letter from R.W. Bruffey.
• R. W. Bruffey: Civil War soldier who wrote a letter detailing his experiences to Colonel L.W. Jackson
• Stuart L. Hall: Supervisor representing the Williamsville District, opposed to the zoning ordinance.
• Roy M. Cleek: Supervisor Chairman of the Board and representing Warm Springs District, favors zoning.
• John M. Trimble: Supervisor who suggests meeting informally to discuss zoning.
• Clarence F. McMullen: Supervisor representing Valley Springs District, favors zoning and is a member of the planning commission.
• Charles A. Lowman Jr.: Supervisor representing the Millboro District, opposed to the zoning ordinance.
• M.G. O'Farrell: Member of the county planning commission that drafted the zoning ordinance.
• Frank Wade Evans: Tax assessor hired by the county for reassessment.
• Duncan M. Byrd Jr.: Appointed chairman of a water and sewage study committee.
• Gen. Hugh Judy: Appointed to the water and sewage committee.
• Elmer L. Smith: Author and curator of the "Bath County Museum" series of historical writings.
• John G. Callender: Chairman of the Department of Administration for Associated Universities
• Owen G. Morton: Author of "A History of Highland County, Virginia".
• Erwin S. Solomon: Attorney who stated that no referendums can be held on zoning issues due to Code of Virginia.
• M.L. Dalton: President of the Bath County Chamber of Commerce.
• Dr. Ira T. Hornbarger: Doctor in Hot Springs who favors zoning.
• Billy Thorne: Supervisor who is considering a switch in political affiliation due to zoning debates.
• Edward T. Walters: Opponent of zoning who argued it would hurt the people.
• Lieutenant E.H. Bobbitt Jr.: Army pilot who went missing in a plane over West Virginia.
• E. H. Bobbitt Sr.: Father of the missing pilot who directed search operations.
• Fergus McRee: Postmaster in Richmond, warned citizens of a "Spanish Swindle".
• Frank C. Walker: Postmaster-General who sent out a warning about a scam.
• Jean Alexandre LeMat: Creole physician who patented a nine-shot revolver.
• John H. Ruckman: Pioneer builder of the Up and Down Mill.
• James Smith: Builder of the Up and Down sawmill.
• John Smith: Historian who is mentioned on the "Lost Colony" stone.
• James G. Lester: Associate professor of geology at Emory.
• Dr. Pearce: Historian and archaelogist.
• C. W. Price: Source of geological information for one of the West Virginia Writers Projects.
• J.C. Morrison: Source of geological information for one of the West Virginia Writers Projects.
• Paul Price: Writer of the geological survey of West Virginia.
• Thomas Jefferson: Visited Warm Springs multiple times.
• Mary Johnston: Author who built the historic "Three Hills" house.
• William Strachey: Secretary of the Jamestown colony, whose writings are quoted in the lost colony stone story.
• Jacob Schaffer: German man who emigrated in 1728, subject of fortune-seeking lawsuits.
• Herman Kretshcaw: First cousin of Ms. Garrett, seeking a share of Schaffer's fortune.
• Peter Christian Schaefer: 92 year old German man who is in contention for Shaffer's fortune.
• Henrietta Schaffer Garrett: American relative of Jacob Shaffer and object of a fortune-seeking lawsuits.
• James Talman: Owner of land where the old part of a cemetery is located.
• Jacob Rumbaugh: Owner of land who conveyed property where a cemetery is located.
• John G. Callender: Chairman of the Department of Administration for Associated Universities.
• Col. Joshua Fry: Colonial leader.
• Dr. William G. Sharp: Author of the historical account of the Johnston Family
• Marvin C. Smith: Source of geological information for one of the West Virginia Writers Projects.
• Edgar L. Smith: Source of information for one of the West Virginia Writers Projects.
• James R. Ruckman: Source of information for one of the West Virginia Writers Projects.
• Samuel G. Smith: Research worker for the West Virginia Writers Projects.