Near Valley Grove in Ohio County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Roney’s Point
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
1. Roney’s Point Marker
Here is located the historic “Heimberger House,” one of the first and most famous of the numerous stopping places which sprang up to server the traffic on the National Road. Still standing, it is now called the “Old Stone House.”
Erected 1953 by West Virginia Historic Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the The Historic National Road, and the West Virginia Archives and History series lists.
Location. 40° 4.432′ N, 80° 35.893′ W. Marker is near Valley Grove, West Virginia, in Ohio County. Marker is on National Road (U.S. 40) near Dallas Pike (County Route 41), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9800 National Rd, Valley Grove WV 26060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Historic National Road in West Virginia (approx. 1.7 miles away); Triadelphia (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Triadelphia (approx. 2.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away); Ray’s Arithmetic
this page online
Regarding Roney’s Point. This federal-style stone tavern was constructed in the 1820s.
Also see . . .
1. Stone Tavern at Roney's Point - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History website entry (Submitted on April 13, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
2. August Heimberger. Biography at the West Virginia Genealogical Society. (Submitted on April 13, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Additional commentary.
1. August Heimberger
Mr. Heimberger ran the hotel at Roney's Point from 1869 until his death in 1889. His widow Catherine Mingle Heimberger continued the business until 1892. (see the Heimberger Biography at the West Virginia Genealogical Society)
— Submitted April 13, 2013, by 
Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 27, 2006
2. Roney’s Point Marker
2. Searight on Roney's Point
Thomas Searight in his 1894 book, The Old Pike, gives this capsule history: "Roney's Point is next reached, a stage station ten miles from Wheeling. The original owner of the land here was Roney, and its peculiar conformation, a high ridge ending in a point on the south side of the road, gave it the name of Roney's Point. It is a familiar name, and was a lively place during the palmy days of the road. On the north side of the road, at Roney's Point, a large stone tavern was kept by one Ninian Bell, prior to the year 1828. He was succeeded by James Beck, Mrs. Sarah Beck, Moses Thornburg, and Jacob Beck, in the order named. James and Jacob Beck were not relatives. The old Simms line of stages stopped at this house when it was kept by James Beck, and it was the stopping place of the Good Intent line, when kept by Jacob Beck."
— Submitted July 10, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 27, 2006
3. Former Heimberger House, Now Known as the Old Stone House
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
4. Stone Tavern
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
5. Stone Tavern
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
6. Cat in the Window
Marquart, Inc. General Contractors Rt. 40 Roney's Point Triadelphia WV
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
7. Old Trails Road
This marker placed by Wheeling Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, 1921.
In 1912, the DAR began a project to mark a string of historic trails such as the Santa Fe Trail and the Old National Road as a "Coast-to-Coast" highway to be called the "National Old Trails Road" running 3,000 miles from Washington DC to Los Angeles California. Plaques like this one on the Old Stone Tavern and the Madonnas of the Trail are reminders of this early automobile era route.
In 1912, the DAR began a project to mark a string of historic trails such as the Santa Fe Trail and the Old National Road as a "Coast-to-Coast" highway to be called the "National Old Trails Road" running 3,000 miles from Washington DC to Los Angeles California. Plaques like this one on the Old Stone Tavern and the Madonnas of the Trail are reminders of this early automobile era route.
Photographed By J. K. Laycock
8. Old Stone Hotel at Roney's Point, W. Va., built in 1820, and still doing business (1916)
This J. K. Laycock photo appears in Robert Bruce's 1916 Book The National Road.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
9. Modern Stone House Motel
This motel on the same property as the Stone Tavern, is a remnant of the revival of the National Road in the automobile era, first as the "National Old Trails Road" and then as its successor, US Route 40.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2005
10. The Stone House Auto Court
"This motel was built by Frank Ehrhart in 1922. After the advent of the automobile in the early twentieth century, travelling by car became a popular national pastime. The National Road became more heavily used than it had been in days when lines of wagons waited to cross bridges. Like the tavern, the stone House was built to cater to the needs of travelers. The long building has ten units with billboards along the road promoting individual baths and steam showers, plus the garage for the automobile below each unit." -- National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.
Photographed By Curt Teich & Company
11. Greetings From Stone House Tour-Rests Tavern
Famous since 1819
Equipped to Handle Special Parties of all Kinds.
Specialty: Chicken, Waffle, Steak, and Lobster Dinners
For a real nights rest and good food stop at the
Stone House (Tour Rest s)
Roneys Point, West Va., ten miles east of Wheeling on
the National Highway.
Each room with private bath, and private Garage.
Fireproof, none equal, rates reasonable, open all year.
The original buyer of the this post-card stayed in the motel on Aug. 26, 1930 in the room marked with an X.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,133 times since then and 269 times this year. Last updated on July 13, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on April 13, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on December 10, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 13, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 8. submitted on July 12, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 9, 10. submitted on April 13, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 11. submitted on July 27, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
