Historical Markers and War Memorials in Berryville, Virginia
Berryville is the county seat for Clarke County
Berryville is in Clarke County
Clarke County(75) ► ADJACENT TO CLARKE COUNTY Fauquier County(119) ► Frederick County(230) ► Loudoun County(345) ► Warren County(45) ► Berkeley County, West Virginia(106) ► Jefferson County, West Virginia(349) ►
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The house to the north is the home of Nellie Parke Custis, George Washington’s ward, who married his nephew, Major Lawrence Lewis. After her husband’s death in 1839, Nellie Custis Lewis settled here, and here she died in 1852. — — Map (db m69004) HM
Warner Washington, a first cousin of George Washington, acquired land in this area in the 1760's. His namesake son established a plantation later known as Audley and built a house just north of here ca. 1796. Lawrence Lewis, George Washington's . . . — — Map (db m134605) HM
Established in 1881, Bank of Clarke County opened for business at 18 North Church Street in Berryville. On December 2, 1906, the bank moved to this site and has been operating continuously ever since.
Bank President Ammashaddi Moore . . . — — Map (db m157721) HM
As it maneuvered against Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s Army of the Valley, Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s U.S. Army of the Shenandoah marched south from Halltown, reaching Berryville on 3 Sept. 1864. Finding part of Brig. Gen. George Crook’s corps . . . — — Map (db m1781) HM
Benjamin Berry, son of Henry Berry of King George County, settled in what is now Clarke County prior to the Revolution, and in 1798, he procured the formal establishment of the town of Berryville, the town having been platted by him, and consisting . . . — — Map (db m1810) HM
Initially known as "Battletown" for the Saturday night brawls that took place at the local inns, the town of Berryville was officially chartered in 1798 and named for Benjamin Berry, a local businessman. The new town became the county seat when . . . — — Map (db m157717) HM
The town was laid out in 1798 on land of Benjamin Berry and was first known as Battletown. Here at “Audley” lived Nellie Custis, Washington’s adopted daughter. Here at “Soldiers Rest” lived General Daniel Morgan, who built . . . — — Map (db m1788) HM
Before 1798 Berryville was known as Battletown, a name that perhaps originated from a local tavern famous for its fistfights. The General assembly incorporated the town of Berryville on 15 Jan. 1798. Located at a major crossroads of the Shenandoah . . . — — Map (db m1811) HM
Just after dawn on 13 Aug. 1864, Col. John Singleton Mosby and 300 of his 43rd Battalion Partisan Rangers attacked the rear section of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s 600-vehicle wagon train here. The train, headed for Winchester, carried supplies . . . — — Map (db m1785) HM
Organized near this spot by Wm. and Daniel Fristoe in 1772. Constituted by elders John Marks and John Garrard, the later serving as its pastor. James Ireland served as pastor from 1778–1806 and is buried here. — — Map (db m1831) HM
The short story of "Our Land is Our Legacy" begins with Virginia's Tidewater planters migrating to the northern Shenandoah Valley to take advantage of the fertile lands and abundant water. What we now know as Clarke County was primarily colonized . . . — — Map (db m157715) HM
1861 1865
Erected to the memory of the Sons of Clarke who gave their lives in defense of the rights of the states and of constitutional government
Fortune denied them success but they achieved imperishable fame
Co. D 6th Va. Regt. Cav. . . . — — Map (db m209783) WM
The year after Clarke County was formed in 1836, construction began on a brick courthouse based on county justice David Meade’s design. The courthouse was remodeled in the Neoclassical style about 1850 when the portico and cupola were added. . . . — — Map (db m1296) HM
Harry Flood Byrd Sr. (1887-1966), governor of Virginia (1926-1930) and U.S. senator from Virginia (1933-1965), was a conservative Democrat who led a political machine that directed state politics for four decades. As governor, he instituted . . . — — Map (db m123655) HM
Harry Flood Byrd Sr. (1887-1966), governor of Virginia (1926-1930) and U.S. senator (1933-1965), was a conservative Democrat who led a political organization that directed state politics for four decades. As governor, he reorganized state . . . — — Map (db m138398) HM
Clarke County is proud to be home to two historic driving tours. They include all four of our historically designated towns and villages. Combined with the National Register Historic Districts of which they are part, they make up over 38 percent . . . — — Map (db m157718) HM
In memory of
1746 James Ireland 1806
Minister of the Gospel
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland and converted in Frederick County, Va.
Baptized and ordained at Sandy Creek, N.C. Imprisoned at Culpeper,
Va. for preaching the gospel organizer . . . — — Map (db m221644) HM
To improve the lives of former slaves, Ellen McCormick, widow of Edward McCormick of Clermont, established this African American community of 31 one-acre lots early in the 1870s. The lots, laid out on either side of the 16-foot-wide street that . . . — — Map (db m1805) HM
Early in the 1870's African Americans established Josephine City, a community originally composed of 31 one-acre lots lining a 16-foot-wide street. Twenty-four former slaves and free blacks purchased the lots at $100 an acre from Ellen McCormick, . . . — — Map (db m85942) HM
Much of Clarke County was literally built by enslaved Africans. The 1840 census revealed 55 percent of the County's population was "colored". Those men, women, and children, whose forebearers came as property came as property of the first . . . — — Map (db m157720) HM
Wheat farming and flour milling were the backbone of the Clarke County economy for more than 150 years. Throughout those years, we were home to at least 60 mills and tiny Clarke County contributed mightily to the Shenandoah Valley's . . . — — Map (db m172247) HM
Gen. Robert E. Lee bivouacked near here on 18-19 June 1863, as he began his invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Part of his Army of Northern Virginia marched north toward Winchester, while Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s corps camped here with Lee. . . . — — Map (db m1786) HM
This 16-square-mile scenic landscape illustrates the changing patterns of rural life since the 1730s as shown in its plantations, farms, mills, churches, and African American communities. The first settlers came from various places, including New . . . — — Map (db m5595) HM
Lucy Slowe, educator, was born in Berryville.
In 1908, while attending Howard University,
she became a founding member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, the first Greek letter organization
for African American women, and was elected
its first . . . — — Map (db m104725) HM
ORIGINAL STOCKHOLDERS: T.T. Brown, Coon Reed,
George Blair, Samuel Robertson, Frank Randolph, Robert
Hall, Howard Coxen, London Mitchell, George Tokus,
Emanuel Blackburn, Joseph Thornley, Joseph Webb, Edmund
Jackson, Thomas Laws Jr., Jerry . . . — — Map (db m104756) HM
Every year, hundreds of acres of land are placed in conservation easement by the citizens of Clarke County (see light green parcels in the map). These citizens are new landowners, second and third generation landowners, and descendants of the . . . — — Map (db m157716) HM
In 1882, the former slaves and free colored people of this community built the Josephine City School to provide their children with a grade school education. Under the leadership of Rev. Edward Johnson, a new building was completed in 1930 to . . . — — Map (db m5513) HM
Traveler was tethered on this spot June 21, 1863, as General Robert E. Lee paused on his march to Gettysburg. He attended services here in Grace Episcopal Church. Tablet placed by Sycamore Society 1986 Replaced by E.V. White Chapter, MOSB and . . . — — Map (db m173645) HM