Elkton in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Displacement

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

1. Displacement Marker

Inscription.

Displacement. . This Memorial is dedicated to the Approximately 200 Families and Land Owners in Rockingham County Displaced by the Creation of Shenandoah National Park Names are Spelled as Found in Available Park Records of Displacement. The idea of establishing a national park in the populous eastern United States began in 1923 with a recommendation by the first director of the National Park Service. Paramount to conservation, business and political interests were a driving force. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill on May 22, 1926, that authorized the creation of Shenandoah National Park (SNP). A campaign was mounted in Virginia to raise money to buy land and encourage donations of land. In 1932, President Hoover gave the order to start building the Skyline Drive, the central attraction of the new park. Residents would not be displaced unless they were in the direct path of the highway. However, in 1934, a new Director of the Park Service stated that all inhabitants of the park lands would have to leave., President and Mrs. Roosevelt helped social workers develop plans for resettling the mountain people in "homestead communities." Small farms and homes were constructed just outside the park boundaries. According to the SNP Homestead Records, 51 families from Rockingham and neighboring counties were resettled north of Elkton in areas such as Homestead Road, Parkway, and Scenic Drive, named specifically for their previous resettlement populations. Other families settled at various sites along Huckleberry and Red Brush Roads., Five in Rockingham County were given lifetime rights to remain in their homes within SNP boundaries. Others refused to sell and authorities threatened forcible eviction, although it was rarely used. In order to return the land to its natural state and erase all signs of prior human habitation, homes, businesses, schools, churches, stores, one post office, and three gas stations in Rockingham County were destroyed. Unfortunately, some families witnessed the burning of their own homes., The majority of the mountain residents left the mountain on their own and adapted to life beyond the familiar hills of home. Many were skilled tradesmen who found jobs locally or moved to nearby cities for work. Others relocated further away to Washington, D.C., for government jobs, or to other states for employment opportunities. Regardless of paths taken by those who were displaced, their indelible legacy was marked by their resilience and perseverance. , Ambrose Shifflett of Simmons Gap refused to sell and was issued an ultimatum. "Get out by December 6 or you will be set in the road!" Last minute arrangements procured a temporary home in an abandoned house in Nortonsville. A car from the Episcopal Mission took his wife and young children there. As Ambrose and an older son drove their cows, sheep, and mules on the seven-mile trek down the mountain, the "Park People" came and burned their home.

This Memorial is dedicated to the Approximately 200 Families and Land Owners in Rockingham County
Displaced by the Creation of Shenandoah National Park
Names are Spelled as Found in Available Park Records of Displacement
The idea of establishing a national park in the populous eastern United States began in 1923 with a recommendation by the first director of the National Park Service. Paramount to conservation, business and political interests were a driving force. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill on May 22, 1926, that authorized the creation of Shenandoah National Park (SNP). A campaign was mounted in Virginia to raise money to buy land and encourage donations of land. In 1932, President Hoover gave the order to start building the Skyline Drive, the central attraction of the new park. Residents would not be displaced unless they were in the direct path of the highway. However, in 1934, a new Director of the Park Service stated that all inhabitants of the park lands would have to leave.

President and Mrs. Roosevelt helped social workers develop plans for resettling the mountain people in "homestead communities." Small farms and homes were constructed just outside the park boundaries. According to the SNP Homestead Records, 51 families from Rockingham and neighboring counties were resettled

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north of Elkton in areas such as Homestead Road, Parkway, and Scenic Drive, named specifically for their previous resettlement populations. Other families settled at various sites along Huckleberry and Red Brush Roads.

Five in Rockingham County were given lifetime rights to remain in their homes within SNP boundaries. Others refused to sell and authorities threatened forcible eviction, although it was rarely used. In order to return the land to its natural state and erase all signs of prior human habitation, homes, businesses, schools, churches, stores, one post office, and three gas stations in Rockingham County were destroyed. Unfortunately, some families witnessed the burning of their own homes.

The majority of the mountain residents left the mountain on their own and adapted to life beyond the familiar hills of home. Many were skilled tradesmen who found jobs locally or moved to nearby cities for work. Others relocated further away to Washington, D.C., for government jobs, or to other states for employment opportunities. Regardless of paths taken by those who were displaced, their indelible legacy was marked by their resilience and perseverance.

Ambrose Shifflett of Simmons Gap refused to sell and was issued an ultimatum. "Get out by December 6 or you will be set in the road!" Last minute arrangements procured a temporary home in an abandoned

State Notice to Vacate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

2. State Notice to Vacate

A copy of a notice to vacate, displayed on the left side of the marker.

house in Nortonsville. A car from the Episcopal Mission took his wife and young children there. As Ambrose and an older son drove their cows, sheep, and mules on the seven-mile trek down the mountain, the "Park People" came and burned their home.

Erected 2024 by Blue Ridge Heritage Project.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is May 22, 1926.

Location. 38° 24.365′ N, 78° 36.989′ W. Marker is in Elkton, Virginia, in Rockingham County. It is on Blue and Gold Drive, on the right when traveling west. Located next to the Elkton Area Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20593 Blue and Gold Dr, Elkton VA 22827, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 walking distance of this marker: Family and Community Life (here, next to this marker); Schools and Churches (here, next to this marker); Making a Living on the Mountain (here, next to this marker); Rockingham Memorial for Families Displaced (a few steps from this marker); Miller-Argabright-Cover-Kite House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jennings House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elkton 9-11 Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkton.

Also see . . .

Resettlement Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

3. Resettlement Home

Although trees are now mature and there is evidence of modern amenities, the addition of a front porch does not hide the structure of this original "resettlement home" near Elkton.

Blue Ridge Heritage Project. Website for the project which placed this and other memorials, with additional details about the displaced families and the creation of Shenandoah National Park. (Submitted on April 13, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Ambrose Shifflett Response image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

4. Ambrose Shifflett Response

Copy of a response from Ambrose Shifflett requesting support due to the relocation.

Shenandoah National Park Response image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

5. Shenandoah National Park Response

A copy of J.R. Lassiter's response to Shifflet, indicating the Park Service could not provide support.

Shifflet Family Revisits Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

6. Shifflet Family Revisits Home

They were children when the family was evicted and their home burned in 1935. Forty-one years later, Kenneth Shifflet and his sisters, Edna and Beulah, paused at the fireplace while visiting the remains of their old home near Simmons Gap. Since then the chimney has fallen into rubble.

Rockingham Memorial and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, September 16, 2024

7. Rockingham Memorial and Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 12, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 13, 2025, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7. submitted on October 26, 2024, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.