Feb. 4, 2010
BYRD'S EYE VIEW: George Washington Slept in West Virginia
By Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-WV
In February, our Nation celebrates the birthdays of two of our greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. West Virginia was born from the Civil War conflict during which Abraham Lincoln was President. However, George Washington made little known, but notable contributions to our state before it was a state.
In 1748, at the age of 16, George Washington ventured into the land that would become West Virginia for the first time to survey the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands.
By the time he was 20 years of age, Washington had purchased several tracts of land in what was to become the State of West Virginia, with Rock Hall Tract, just west of Charles Town, being the first. Within a few years, he had acquired extensive land holdings. As a result of his service in the French and Indian War, Washington was granted thousands of acres along the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, and titles to land around Belle and Moundsville.
Washington became a promoter of the early development of our State. In 1775, he sent an expedition to colonize his holdings along the Kanawha River. The colonists cleared the land, planted orchards, and built houses. But after a few years, the colony mysteriously disappeared, becoming Washington=s and West Virginia=s ALost Colony.@
Washington also promoted our State=s early infrastructure. He proposed the building of various canals and roads, including the Staunton (Virginia)-to-Parkersburg turnpike. In 1785, Washington secured funding for a route from the Atlantic Ocean to Cedar Grove which was eventually designated Route 60, and became a part of one of America=s first trans-continental highways. The Washington Heritage Trail is a 137-mile highway that was inspired by a trip Washington made through what is now the Eastern Panhandle.
George Washington was a regular visitor. In 1770, he made a trip that began in Wheeling and followed the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, making camp and hunting along the way. He enjoyed the spas at Berkeley Springs, which still features Washington's bath tub. And he was also fond of visiting his brother Charles, the founder of Charles Town, at his house there, "Happy Retreat."
Washington also made West Virginia an integral part of our national security. As a Colonel of the Virginia Regiment (1755-1758), he ordered the construction of Fort Edwards (Hampshire County), Fort Ashby (Mineral County), and Forts Seybert and Upper Tract (Pendleton County). And, it was President Washington who selected Harpers Ferry as the site for the federal arsenal, thus setting the stage for John Brown=s uprising.
Happy Birthday, President Washington and thank you for your contributions to our great State.
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BYRD'S EYE VIEW: George Washington Slept in West Virginia
By Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-WV
In February, our Nation celebrates the birthdays of two of our greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. West Virginia was born from the Civil War conflict during which Abraham Lincoln was President. However, George Washington made little known, but notable contributions to our state before it was a state.
In 1748, at the age of 16, George Washington ventured into the land that would become West Virginia for the first time to survey the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands.
By the time he was 20 years of age, Washington had purchased several tracts of land in what was to become the State of West Virginia, with Rock Hall Tract, just west of Charles Town, being the first. Within a few years, he had acquired extensive land holdings. As a result of his service in the French and Indian War, Washington was granted thousands of acres along the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, and titles to land around Belle and Moundsville.
Washington became a promoter of the early development of our State. In 1775, he sent an expedition to colonize his holdings along the Kanawha River. The colonists cleared the land, planted orchards, and built houses. But after a few years, the colony mysteriously disappeared, becoming Washington=s and West Virginia=s ALost Colony.@
Washington also promoted our State=s early infrastructure. He proposed the building of various canals and roads, including the Staunton (Virginia)-to-Parkersburg turnpike. In 1785, Washington secured funding for a route from the Atlantic Ocean to Cedar Grove which was eventually designated Route 60, and became a part of one of America=s first trans-continental highways. The Washington Heritage Trail is a 137-mile highway that was inspired by a trip Washington made through what is now the Eastern Panhandle.
George Washington was a regular visitor. In 1770, he made a trip that began in Wheeling and followed the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, making camp and hunting along the way. He enjoyed the spas at Berkeley Springs, which still features Washington's bath tub. And he was also fond of visiting his brother Charles, the founder of Charles Town, at his house there, "Happy Retreat."
Washington also made West Virginia an integral part of our national security. As a Colonel of the Virginia Regiment (1755-1758), he ordered the construction of Fort Edwards (Hampshire County), Fort Ashby (Mineral County), and Forts Seybert and Upper Tract (Pendleton County). And, it was President Washington who selected Harpers Ferry as the site for the federal arsenal, thus setting the stage for John Brown=s uprising.
Happy Birthday, President Washington and thank you for your contributions to our great State.
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