Grayson County Formed in 1792 from Wythe. Named for William Grayson, one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. Headwaters of New River are in this county.
Carroll County Formed in 1842 from Grayson, and named for . . . — — Map (db m228312) HM
The original “New River Train” song was claimed
by the Ward family of Galax as part of their
repertoire as early as 1895. The song was believed
to refer to the train that ran on the New River
Line in 1883 as part of the Norfolk and . . . — — Map (db m65723) HM
Fries is named for Colonel Francis H. Fries of
North Carolina, founder of the Washington
Mills Company. By 1900, Fries and his
associates had determined that the New River
could power a textile mill. The town was
incorporated in 1902, and by . . . — — Map (db m65695) HM
On 10 Dec. 1923, millhand Henry Whitter of
Fries, Virginia, recorded nine songs in New York
City for OKeh Records. Released early in 1924,
the coupling of “Wreck on the Southern Old 97”
and “Lonesome Road Blues” became one of the
first . . . — — Map (db m65717) HM
