Longwood in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Forerunner of Wireless Telegraphy

Photographed by Craig Swain, June 18, 2007

1. Forerunner of Wireless Telegraphy Marker

Inscription. From nearby Bear's Den Mountain to the Catoctin Ridge, a distance of fourteen miles, Dr. Mahlon Loomis, dentist, sent the first arial wireless signals, 1866-73, using kites flown by copper wires. Loomis received a patent in 1872 and his company was chartered by Congress in 1873, but lack of capital frustrated his experiments. He died in 1886.

Erected 1948 by Virginia Conservation Commission. (Marker Number T-11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 6.983′ N, 77° 50.811′ W. Marker was in Longwood, Virginia, in Clarke County. It was at the intersection of Harry Byrd Highway (Virginia Route 7) and Blueridge Mountain Road ( Route 601), on the right when traveling west on Harry Byrd Highway. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 232 Harry Byrd Hwy, Bluemont VA 20135, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Mt. Airy Fight (here, next to this marker); Appalachian Trail and Bears Den

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); The Lives And Times Of The Snickersville Academy (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Snickersville Academy (approx. 0.7 miles away); Bluemont (approx. ¾ mile away); Snickersville Turnpike (approx. ¾ mile away); Bluemont Historic District (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Snickersville Turnpike (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Longwood.

Other markers no longer nearby. Crook and Early (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing); Clark County / Loudoun County (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. The Loomis Patent. (Submitted on June 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Mahlon Loomis Biography. (Submitted on June 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Virginia Markers T 10 and T 11 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, June 18, 2007

2. Virginia Markers T 10 and T 11

Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,842 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.