Taking A Walk

by Dwayne Phillips

Today we walked through the village of Fairfield, Virginia (that’s what their sign read – “village”). That was the only town or village or anything we transited). We covered about 13 miles. Rain was forecast, but except for some drizzle in the morning, we were dry.

The three miles north of Fairfield and the ten miles south of it were all rural. Beautiful farm land with much more livestock grazing and much fewer crops. There were times when I wondered if I would see anything of note. Mile after mile of cows and pastures.

Then I came upon a couple of historic markers. The first one was about a Captain John McDowell who died in an encounter with Iroquois Indians at that spot on December 18th, 1742. That was a long time ago, and it happened right here where Route 11 passes. I don’t know what army Captain McDowell was a Captain in – Her Majesty’s Army? McDowell, and a few relatives, is buried near the marker in the pasture 50 yards off the road.

Next to this marker was another dedicated to Ephraim McDowell (born November 11, 1771). He started studying medicine in Staunton, Virginia and then continued his studies in Edinburgh, Scotland. How do you get from Staunton to Edinburgh??? I know, family connections. Anyways, Ephraim is known as the Father of Abdominal Surgery. I guess he was the first guy who could cut open my belly and know what went where. All kidding aside, that is significant.

I am amazed that this route I am walking carried such people such a long time ago. This is a natural route through the valley. Maybe politics had less influence on road routes in those days.

More history a few miles down Route 11. Here is the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church. This building was constructed in 1756. I am getting good at the math – the building is 20 years older than America. By the way, the congregation began in 1746. They waited ten years to collect the stones and raise the building.

Enough really old things. Now to some mid-twentieth century cool stuff – another drive-in movie theater. Here it is, just south of I-81 and about six miles north of Lexington, Virginia. Hull’s Drive-In. They are still showing movies in the fall. Great stuff!