John Poole House

John Poole House. Witness to War. During the Civil War, more soldiers passed through Poolesville than any other town in Montgomery County. Located at the intersection of two main roads, with several fords and ferries across the Potomac, this town of more than 300 people prospered until its strategic location made it an epicenter of war., The town was occupied by Union forces throughout most of the war, with 15,000 infantry, artillery, and cavalry troops encamped nearby in August of 1861. In the fall of 1862 residents with southern sympathies rushed to nearby White's Ford to welcome Confederate Gen. Jeb Stuart's forces on their way to the Battle of Antietam. A few days later on September 5th, a running cavalry engagement swept through town, resulting in the capture of 48 Union troopers. In June of 1863 war again visited Poolesville, when the Army of the Potomac made the town a temporary headquarters as they marched toward Gettysburg., The John Poole House in front of you bore witness to all of this. Built in 1793 by John Poole Jr., the home served as a trading post and eventual post office for those living in the surrounding countryside. In 1820 the Poole house was one of only four buildings in town, but by the mid-19th century the town was the second largest settlement in Montgomery County., The John Poole House just one of the sites preserved by Historic Medley District; to learn more about both the Poole house and their other efforts, visit historicmedley.org, (captions) , Poolesville, photo taken by the soldiers of the 1st Minnesota, Fall 1861 Courtesy Montgomery History , Map of Poolesville drown by Union soldier, 1863. - Courtesy Historic Medley District