May 2013 Rivah - The Rappahannock Record

History
Middlesex County was formed around
1669 from Lancaster County, making it
one of the oldest English settlements
in the United States. Many plantation
homes still stand from the Colonial era.
Bordered by the Rappahannock and
Piankatank rivers and the Chesapeake
Bay, much of its history centers around
the water. The town of Urbanna was
formed in 1680 as a center for shipping
tobacco from surrounding plantations.
Urbanna was the county seat until
1852 when it was moved to Saluda.
Throughout the county are homes built
in the 1700s. Wartime stories abound
dating back to the Revolutionary and
Civil wars. During these wars, plantations
such as Providence and Rosegill were
bombarded and looted.
Stingray Point near Deltaville gained
immortal fame as the spot where Captain
John Smith was nearly killed by a
stingray.
Three centuries ago ships from London,
Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow
were common sights on Urbanna Creek.
Just across the creek from Urbanna is
Rosegill, one of the oldest plantations
in America. Home to five generations of
Wormeleys, it was for many years a center
of influence in the Colony and a power
History
Northumberland County is called the
Mother County of the Northern Neck.
Settled by the English in 1648,
Northumberland was officially established
by an act of the Burgesses in Jamestown
in 1648. It was later divided into three additional
counties, Lancaster, Richmond and
Westmoreland Counties.
At its heart is Heathsville, the county
seat. Located between the headwaters of
the Coan and the Great Wicomico rivers,
in 1679 it was chosen as the site of the
county courthouse. The building was completed
and county justices were moved in
1681.
In 1797, citizens established a 20-acre
town around the courthouse square naming
it in honor of citizen leader John Heath
who lived just down the road at Springfield,
an historic plantation mansion still standing
and occupied today.
In 1992, the National Register of Historic
Places designated Heathsville an Historic
District, along with the original courthouse
and tavern, now a restaurant, gift shop and
museum. The courthouse square also includes
a blacksmith shop, transportation
museum, old jail and carriage house.
Northumberland was once dependent
upon tobacco as its major cash crop and
currency. Later, most of its residents relied
on the water for their livelihoods. Today,
there are many charter boat captains. And
Working Waterman’s Weekend, April 26-27, is the official season-opening event for the
Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park. Above, visitors stroll through
Saturday’s farmers’ market overlooking Mill Creek.
in the political and commercial life of this
area.
During the Civil War, General George
McClellan formulated a plan of attack to
take Richmond starting from Urbanna.
Named the Urbanna Plan, it was never
instituted.
In 1862, several Yankee warships
bombarded the town but legend has it
that the only thing the Yanks killed was
cruises, like those to Tangier and Smith Island,
are major tourist attractions.
The quaint fishing village of Reedville,
with its “Millionaire’s Row” of Victorian
homes, remains a tribute to the area’s
heritage. The Reedville Fisherman’s Museum
provides a comprehensive overview
an old hare. One of the cannonballs did
hit the old courthouse, which today is the
Middlesex Woman’s Club building on Virginia
St.
During the bombardment, townsfolk
congregated on the creek bank at the
current site of the Urbanna Bridge. Legend
has it an old man stood at the hilltop
and whenever he saw a flash of a cannon
firing would scream “squat” and the
Started in 1881, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s annual Strawberry Festival takes place
this year on Saturday, May 25. This popular event attracts over 3,000 strawberry lovers
and a wide variety of art and craft vendors. It is open 9 a.m. -- 3 p.m. on the church grounds
on Route 360 in the heart of Heathsville.
of the village’s fishing industry, both past
and current.
Burgess is home to the Northern Neck
Farm Museum, which features the area’s
agricultural history, from the Indians who
roamed the lands to the large commercial
canneries that once lined the shores. Visi-
Middlesex County
townsfolk would squat to the ground.
Today Middlesex County has a population
of 9,600 and is home to the popular
Urbanna Oyster Festival, which draws
thousands for a weekend of music and
mollusks every November.
Government
Middlesex County offices are in the
Woodward Building at the Courthouse
Complex in Saluda. 758-4330. Middlesex
has one town, Urbanna: 758-2613.
Libraries
Middlesex Public Library Urbanna
Branch, 758-5717. Deltaville Branch,
776-7362.
For Visitors
Old Tobacco Warehouse, 45 Cross St.
in Urbanna. Listed on the National Register
of Historic Places. Serves as a visitors
center. 758-2613.
Don’t Miss
s May 4-5—Middle Bay Boat Show
and Deltaville Dealer Days
s May 11—Urbanna Farmers’ Market
s May 25—Deltaville Farmers’ Market
Northumberland County
tors can learn about agriculture, view the
tools that assisted the farmers and learn
the impact of these industries on the people
of this region.
With more than 556 miles of scenic
shoreline, more than 12,300 call
Northumberland County home.
Government
The Northumberland County seat is
on Rt. 360 in Heathsville. 580-7666 or
co.northumberland.va.us. The sheriff’s office
can be reached at 580-5221.
Libraries
Northumberland Public Library is at 7204
Northumberland Highway in Heathsville,
580-5051. High speed wireless internet
access available.
For Visitors
The Northumberland County Chamber
of Commerce Visitors Center,129
Northumberland Hwy. (Rt. 360) in Callao is
open Wed., Thurs. and Sat., 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
and Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 529-5031.
Don’t Miss
s May 5----Blessing of the Fleet, 3 p.m.
s May 12----Dedication of the Stack
Ceremony
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