rural roads & byways
Photo : sarah huntington ; inset : Peter weeks
Snickersville Turnpike ’ s Historic Recognition
By Peter Q . Weeks
The State of Virginia is imbued with history , but it is not often that we associate it with a particular roadway . That changed in March of this year when Snickersville Turnpike in western Loudoun County was recognized by the National and State Register of Historic Places .
Long before this honor was officially bestowed on this humble thoroughfare , residents and visitors in newspaper polls had consistently chosen this 16-mile stretch extending north from the historic villages of Aldie to Bluemont as their most popular scenic drive in the county .
What is it about Snickersville Turnpike that casts an aura , a feeling of awe even , as we drive our horseless carriages over this roadway in the 21st century ? Is it the old stone walls , the one-lane bridges , the open vistas stretching to the mountains , or the numerous historic markers dotting the roadside ?
In the end , perhaps it is the distant memories of our forbearers invoked deep within us by over four centuries of continual use : farmers taking grain to nearby mills and settlers heading westward in their wagons across the Blue Ridge towards Ohio and beyond .
Originally a narrow path winding through thick forests used by Native American hunting expeditions , its history is well documented by the earliest mapmakers . Today , the Snickersville Turnpike Association oversees this treasured scenic byway . The STA boosts over a hundred members who wish to preserve its rich history through education , annual celebrations , and maintaining its iconic stone walls .
wander I FALL • winter 2022 27