Everything was reduced to rubble…
That is the legacy left by the Civil War for most towns I’ve visited in Virginia so far. Strasburg was different. While it played a role in the war, a number of buildings dating to the the 1700s managed to survive.
In Strasburg, I started out by following the river walk trail. The gravel path followed the north fork of the Shenandoah River, but offered only a passing view of its banks. Nevertheless, it made for a flat and easy run. After that, I ran around parts of the historic district where I passed a number of structures more than 200 years old.
Strasburg became known for its pottery around the same time as when it was founded in 1761. An important railroad line (the Manassas Gap) intersected with a major North-South overland route (the Valley Turnpike), making it a strategic hub during the Civil War. The Signal Knob mountain peak that overlooks the town was used by confederates to keep an eye on union troop movements. As far as actual battles are concerned, there were a couple of smaller ones in the area.
We (Col and I) came to Strasburg during its Mayfest celebration. It consisted of a small crafts fair and carnival attractions. They even had a duck race down a small creek.
Strasburg is the largest town in Shenandoah County, near the northwest corner of Virginia. It has a population of about 40,000 and a median household income of $48,000.
18 runs down, 116 to go.
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