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Member Feature: By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages

Built in 1790, By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages is a historic bed & breakfast that is anything but dated. With its juxtaposition of history and modernity, it is a perfect lodging option if you’re going to be in and around Harrisonburg, VA.

Fullscreen capture 9152014 32453 PM.bmpSince the Bed & Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley are all about history and lodging, how about a bit of By the Side of the Road’s history? This establishment certainly has a rich history. Before it was a B&B, By the Side of the Road served both as the home of a Mennonite pacifist and then later as a Civil War hospital: “Well-known Mennonite Bishop Peter Burkholder and his son and successor, Martin, was the author of a Confession of Faith including a reflection on non-resistance.” In 1864, “this once pastoral abode was transitioned to a makeshift Civil War hospital” during General Philip Henry Sheridan’s burning of the Valley.

By the Side of the Road calls itself “an enduring reminder of War & Peace in Virginia’s Historic & Hospitable Shenandoah Valley,” and if you’d like to see his portrait of history for yourself, their lodging options are at the ready:

Fullscreen capture 9152014 32439 PM.bmpThe Manor House Suites: These suits are elegant pieces of history, furnished with historic décor, fireplaces, WiFi, iPod docks, coffeemakers, and more. Modern amenities meet history in these gorgeous suites.

The Luxury Cottages: These aptly named, modernly furnished accommodations are here to spoil you. From the whirlpool tubs to the flatscreen TVs and iPod docks, your every whim is taken care of.

The Spring Water Cottage Suites: Bask in the luxury showers, catch your favorite movie on the flatscreen TV, and rest your head on a featherbed.

Click here to check availability and make your reservation at By the Side of the Road.

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Loudoun County’s Recognition of African American Civil War Veterans

“A century and a half after fighting in a war that transformed their country, four African-American veterans of the Civil War whose remains are buried at Mount Zion Community Cemetery in Leesburg have been formally recognized for their role in Loudoun County’s history” (TimesDispatch.com).

There is a lot of Civil War history in Virginia, particularly in the Shenandoah Valley, but how often do we specifically commemorate the African-Americans who served in the War Between the States? Loudoun County, Virginia has just recently released its first historical marker to recognize the “the service of African-American Civil War veterans.” These four men on Loudoun County’s new Civil War sign are the following:

John W. Langford– Langford was a member of the U.S. Navy, having enlisted in Baltimore in 1864 at the age of 22. He held the rank of Ordinary Seaman.

Joseph Waters– Waters was a member of the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry. He is now laid to rest in Leesburg, Virginia’s Mount Zion Cemetary.

William Taylor– Taylor was a member of the 1st U.S. Colored Infantry.

James Gaskins– Gaskins was a Private in the 39th U.S. Colored Infantry.

If you would like to read more about the role of African-Americans in Loudon, VA during the Civil War, check out From Loudon to Glory by local author and historian Kevin D. Grigsby. Grigsby stated that the Loudon sign dedication “gives these men the proper acknowledgment that they never got 150 years ago” (TimesDispatch.com).

Photo by Lee Phillips

Photo by Lee Phillips

Planning to visit Loudoun County for yourself? Make a lodging reservation at one of our historic B&Bs.