Picture of the day - July 7, 2005

Old Bridge Across Laurel Creek

Bridge over Laurel Creek - Damascus, Va

Today's picture is an old one, most likely taken sometime during the late 1800's. It shows the old original steel bridge that crossed Laurel Creek in Damascus, Va during the town's early days.

Damascus has a very rich history that few people are fully aware of. If you mention Damascus, several things come to mind right away: friendly people, the Appalachian and Virginia Creeper trails, Backbone Rock, Trail Days... Damascus is well-known for these things and rightly so. But the town's history helps explain the way it is today...

In 1759, Daniel Boone blazed a trail from East Tennessee to Kentucky that passed right through the areas where present-day Damascus and Abingdon are located. A gentleman by the name of Henry Mock and his family were following the trail on their way to Kentucky when they fell in love with the Damascus area and decided to stay. They bought many acres of land and built a house. They then built a grist mill (now known as The Damascus Old Mill) on Laurel Creek and the community appropriately became known as "Mock's Mill".


In 1886, General John D. Imboden purchased much of Mock's land with the intention of turning the community into a "steel city". Imboden renamed the town Damascus because he thought the mountains surrounding it contained vast amounts of iron ore that he could mine for producing steel. There was indeed iron ore in the mountains, but in much smaller quantities than he had predicted. The "steel city" idea turned out to be a bust.

But Damascus did flourish for several years as a bustling logging and sawmill complex. There was much work to be found in and around Damascus for the next few years, but it was very hard work for very low pay. Damascus' population swelled and many new houses were built along the rudimentary roads and railroad tracks that ran through the town. Besides the freight trains that hauled timber into the town (and lumber out), the only other methods of travel were horse and buggy and walking.

Within a few years the area's logging operations began to wind down, leaving the residents of Damascus looking for new ways to make a living. Some turned to farming, some found work in the area's new factories, and some simply left in search of a better life elsewhere.

Life was hard in Damascus' early years, and the people who lived there were hardy souls. They worked very hard just to survive and raise their families, but they were also thankful for what they did have: a roof over their heads, food on their tables and friendly neighbors to turn to in times of need.

This history of hardship and love has helped the present-day residents of Damascus appreciate the wonderful town that God has given them, and this attitude is reflected in the way they welcome the hordes of hikers and bikers that visit Damascus throughout the year. In fact, Damascus has been given the moniker "The friendliest town on the trail" by the numerous Appalachian Trail hikers that pass through the town and stop there for rest and supplies.
 

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