"Almost Heaven...

WEST VIRGINIA, BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, SHENANDOAH RIVER!"
There is my homage to the late great John Denver, the reason being, we spent Friday in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I now have a better understanding of why dear John wrote that song. It was beautiful. So, here is your history lesson for the day. We spent the majority of our time in Harper's Ferry, exploring this important little town from Civil War History, where John Brown staged his famous slave revolt. Harper's Ferry is located right between the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, an absolutely gorgeous location and a prime target for invasion and flood.


The boys wading into the Shenandoah until a goose got a little too friendly and Atley headed for the shore.


Because of it's location between such important waterways the railroad was an important part of life in Harper's Ferry. With the rivers and railroad present the sight was a perfect place for the Federal Government to mass produce weapons and ammunition, which is why it became a target of John Brown prior to the Civil War. With the help of his sons and a few free blacks Brown set out to capture the munitions plant and arm as many slaves as possible. They captured the plant but then Brown was captured. John Brown hung for treason against the commonwealth of Virginia two months later. The following year a major Civil War battle took place near Harper's Ferry.

Where the rivers converge!

What Harley did during our visit!

The promise of candy kept the boys (including Scott) interested in this stroll through history.