Stony Point History

Taken from Caroline March-Longs account on Stony Point Central - I will keep editing this! 

Stony Point is part of the Southwest Mountain region initially settled in the late 1720s and 1730s.  Known historically as an agricultural region with highly productive soils, Stony Point's farming continues to be viable.

Stony Point Road - or Route 20, as it's known today - is our main connection to and from Charlottesville and is highly regarded as the President's Road - one that Jefferson, Madison and Monroe would have used to get to and from Washington DC. 

Stony Point sits on the highest point of land almost exactly between Charlottesville and Barboursville, a land thrust upward by forces of earth where much of the normally buried subterranean bedrock has been pushed to the surface - ever notice all the rocks around here?

Stony Point then has been historically a crossroads community - site of an Inn before the Revolutionary War owned by Richard Burch (who later was host at Michie's old tavern) and then the site of Stony Point Tavern run by Nathaniel Burnley from 1820-1829, when he became a miller for Hydraulic Mills on the Rivanna.

Historical Buildings/Famous Homes  (Just a few are mentioned below ---more to come.  See map to locate some of these sites)

STORES

White's Store:  When you come to the distinctive "bend in the road" on Route 20 that intersects Route 600, or Watt's Passage, you had better turn or you'll run right into a house that comes up right in front of you.  This wasn't always just a plain residence.  Right next to this house used to be White's Store - a post office (wouldn't that still be nice), a general store and gas station.  It closed in 1985, but we can still enjoy seeing the donkey outside every time we pass by. 

I hear from a local that there used to be a mill diagonally across the street from the old White's Store (on the right as you navigate the 20/600 curve).  It is now just a patch of grass with a fence around it.  Mr. Shackelford of Dovedale told me that he used to take his corn to this mill.  He'd get the corn milled and then leave some behind to the owner, Mr. Wells, for payment.  I'm also hearing information about other mills in the area - one on Stony Point Pass owned by a Mr. Broadhead and one down where Watt's Passage crosses the railroad/short tunnel.  

Bell's/Bobbi's/Grand Junction/Stony Point Market:  Our local country store and restaurant has been around since January 1950 by Edwin and Frances Bell.  This store was opened after the closing of Powell's store (see below).  The community was called Rosena at that time. but like many old towns is now under the umbrella of Charlottesville. Speaking of Rosena, that town incorporated into the Barboursville mailing district.  According to a long-time Stony Pointer, Keswick mail came across Turkey Sag, turned left (south on Rt 20), went to Stony Point proper (old White's Store which had Post Office at sharp corner on Rt 20/600) then came back to Rt 600 E on Stony Point Pass. 

The market was first owned by the Bell's - C. Edwin Bell, Sr. and his wife Frances and then his son Skip - through the late 1970s.  John and Bobbi Rudischhauser bought the store in 1984 from Frances Bell, although they operated the store as Bell's Store. Then from 1990 until April 2006, it was known as Bobbi's Store. For a while it was called Grand Junction and now, we know and love it as Stony Point Market, owned by Mary and Jason Earles, who are figuring out how to make it even better! 

Powell's General Store:  Before and during Bell's store, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Powell operated Powell's General Store and Post Office directly across the road, from 1933 until Mr. Powell retired and closed his business in 1949.   So, if you are standing on Stony Point Market's doorstep, and you look across the street, it was right there at the corner of Turkey Sag Road and Route 20.

The store was demolished to make way for the widening of Route 20.  As a matter of fact, the old, unpaved road was actually closer to Stony Point Market.  When they paved Route 20, they set the road further away from Stony Point Market; if you stand on the doorstep there and look to the right, you'll see a stone marker that was the "edge" of the unpaved Route 20 road. 

The Powell family lived next to the store-actually their house was attached to the store.  As you can imagine, at that time, the store was a gathering place. Kids would meet at the store in the summer and make plans, and in the evenings, the men would meet to discuss the day's activities such as crops, weather, cattle, gardening and politics.  Favorite purchases: cigarettes and soda.

 

Eastham Market: There used to be a general store, gas station and post office off Route 20, four miles up from Pantops. Built in the 1920s, it is named after an "old hamlet' that was located here around Redbud Creek (Near Hammock Gap Road).  It was bought in the late 70s and turned into a residence.

 

Taverns

Pinch-'Em Slyly: You've probably driven by this road a million times wondering what in the world does that mean.... This road used to lead to a 1792 inn that was torn down in 1827.  It contained a tan yard and a tavern - and also according to an Albemarle County book written by a Reverand in 1901, a muster ground next to it where the militia company of the district performed their exercises.  This area just on the west side of Stony Point was called Barterbrook. The term Pinch'em-slyly is spelled differently in the various sources.

line/tunnel.