Near Mount Solon in Augusta County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mossy Creek

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 22, 2007

1. Mossy Creek Marker

Inscription. Colonists first settled Mossy Creek in the 1740s. Mossy Creek Iron Works was founded by 1775, when partners Henry Miller and Mark Bird began operating an iron furnace, forge, and mills here. The ironworks became an important industrial enterprise and produced pig iron and finished pieces that were sold throughout western Virginia. Bird sold his interest in the ironworks to Miller in 1779. A community grew up around the ironworks, which likely ceased operation during the Civil War. By 1852 the Mossy Creek Academy was established by Jedediah Hotchkiss, later the cartographer for Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. The school remained in operation until about 1861.

Erected 2001 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number D-40.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1775.

Location. 38° 21.479′ N, 79° 1.759′ W. Marker is near Mount Solon, Virginia, in Augusta County. It is at the intersection of Iron Works Road (County Route 809) and Virginia Route 42, on the right on Iron Works Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Solon VA 22843, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rockingham County / Augusta County (approx. ¾ mile away); Bridgewater College (approx. 3 miles away); The Roscoe Burgess Riverwalk (approx. 3.1 miles away); a different marker also named Bridgewater (approx. 3.1 miles away); a different marker also named Bridgewater (approx. 3.1 miles away); The Litten Water Gardens at Edgebriar Park (approx. 3.1 miles away); In Honor and Remembrance (approx. 3.1 miles away); Dr. John G. Brown House (approx. 3.3 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Bridgewater (was approx. 3.1 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Additional commentary.
1. Mossy Creek Iron Works in the Civil War
This site marked the final spot of devastation by the 3rd Cavalry Division in Augusta County during the "Burning" of September-October 1864. Henry Forrer, also known for his iron works in Page County, ran this iron works site at the time of the war.

Here, Union troopers set to work destroying Forrer's barn and some of the buildings of the iron works. Damage was minimal, and curiously, the damage done to Forrer's works in Page County was also light, none

Marker on Iron Works Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 22, 2007

2. Marker on Iron Works Road

of the furnaces being recorded as having been destroyed. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted March 17, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,533 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.