Rappahannock Historical Society

Rappahannock Historical Society We aspire to be a trusted steward of local history and a welcoming center for research, learning, and discovery for all Rappahannock County residents.

1936 Image of Cannon Store at Castleton.
06/22/2026

1936 Image of Cannon Store at Castleton.

06/16/2026

Hi all,
I was wondering do any of you have memories of your parents, grandparents, or other family members talking about putting up rail fences, building stone fences, stacking corn in shocks, or drying apples for snits,? We'd love to hear from you, so younger people can see what life was like here not so long ago.

Picture of Laurel Mills Store summer 1908. I believe this photo was shared with us by Jess Settle.
06/15/2026

Picture of Laurel Mills Store summer 1908. I believe this photo was shared with us by Jess Settle.

1. Picture of Rappahannock National Bank in its early days before Gay Street was paved, printed in the May 24, 2000 edit...
06/08/2026

1. Picture of Rappahannock National Bank in its early days before Gay Street was paved, printed in the May 24, 2000 edition of the 'Rappahannock News."
2. Photo of Charles Russell Wood, its first cashier. He was the son of Ashford and Lucy Smith Wood. He farmed with his father, and also worked at the Woolen Mill at Laurel Mills before becoming County Treasurer. He was the husband of Eliza Roberts. The bank's first president was Hugh M. Dudley, its second Alfred Willis Dearing, and its third Brereton Jones Wood. A clipping from the October 10, 1902 edition of "Culpeper Exponent' announced its opening on the 8th of that month. "The Rappahannock National Bank opened its doors Wednesday morning, October 8, 1902. It is needless to say that it has the fullest confidence of our people.' Quoting from the Johnsons' book, "Rappahannock County, VA History," On one occasion, Mr. A. W. Dearing, not too pleased that so many people by the name of Wood were either employees or directors, called the bank a 'Damned Wooden Bank.'

06/04/2026

Hi all,
After sharing a photo of the 1971 graduating class at Rappahannock County High School, I received a message from Dorothy Clater, nee Payne. She was hoping we had a picture of her graduating class of 1963, but unfortunately, we do not have a photo of that class. If anyone has one, she would love to see it, and I'm sure there are plenty of other viewers who would love to see it too.

Clipping from an old "Blue Ridge Guide" issue from the 1890s. It took a little digging but I was able to discover who Mr...
06/01/2026

Clipping from an old "Blue Ridge Guide" issue from the 1890s. It took a little digging but I was able to discover who Mrs. Thomas Corbin was. Her name was Martha Louise Latham and she was born in Fauquier County in 1831 to Robert and Catherine Nelson Latham. She married Thomas Jameson Corbin in 1853. Her minister, who wrote the memorial, speaks of her five sons and three daughters, but she also had two other daughters who died when only small children. There was no date on the clipping, but research shows she died in March of 1896. Both she and her husband are buried at the Amissville Baptist Church Cemetery.

Address

PO Box 261, 328 Gay Street
Washington, VA
22747

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

(540) 675-1163

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