Vacation - August 2008 - DAY EIGHT

The last day of our vacation arrived and we were heading home. What a great trip we have had. Kit and I didn't want to just drive home. We wanted to take in a few more historical places as we traveled home. Our first stop was one more part of the Fort Necessity Park - Jumonville Glen. George Washington led his men to a hidden, wooded area, where a Native American had shared that a small group of French were hidden. Washington and his men moved quietly toward the French as they were just waking up to surprise them. There are two stories about who shot first, but a skirmish was the result. This battle lasted only 15 minutes. Among the dead Frenchmen was their leader, Jumonville. This was the beginning of the first world war according to many. It was the beginning of the Seven Years War between two world powers of the time, the French and the British. Actually, this skirmish led to the killing of Braddock who was building the new road and the defeat of the British at Fort Necessity.






Possibly part of the first national road.


Down the path toward the glen.


The glen protected by a high wall of rocks.




What a funny French woman!


Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson

Our next stop was in Clarksburg, WV, birthplace of Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson. We went to the town's library to get information. From there we were sent next door to a historical old home to talk with a historian. He was interesting and so knowledgeable. The actual home where Stonewall was born stood for many years. Unfortunately, it was torn down replaced by another building. The plaque below is on that building.


From Clarksburg, we traveled a bit further south
to Jackson's Mill. This mill was originally built and
used by Stonewall's grandfather. But when Thomas
was young, he and his sister went to live here
with their Uncle Cummings Jackson. Today, this
site is owned by the University of West Virginia.
It is a 4-H Camp, the largest in the country. The
historians have tried to return the mill area to be
as original as possible. A working mill was moved
to the site and continues to mill corn and wheat
to this day. The original mill run by the Jackson
Family is the only building from former times.




Blaker's Mill - original mill moved to this location


Stone used for grinding






The original Jackson Mill.


Jackson Mill - another view


The river that made the mill work

We arrived home later than we had planned on this last day of our trip. But we were doing our best to include as much as possible. And we did! But we thank our God for the opportunity to travel and see this great world that He created. We also thank our God for our wonderful home and family. It was good to come home!