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Click Here to read about the Westmoreland Gang of 1896.

Captain GARNETT--Westmoreland County, Va. 64 Cavalry Sabres and Belts.

Captain E.L. WHARTON--Westmoreland. 1,000 Cartridges.

This is a list of supplies for the civil war.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY IS 350 YEARS OLD IN 2003

A cliff collapse in Westmoreland County leaves houses in jeoperdy By FRANK DELANO
Date published: 7/6/2003
Westmoreland rains wash earth into Potomac
A 100-yard-wide section of the Nomini Cliffs has collapsed into the Potomac River, endangering three clifftop homes in a Westmoreland County subdivision.
The houses may be condemned if building inspectors and structural engineers deem them unsafe, said Westmoreland Planning Director Trenton L. Funkhouser.
The houses' foundations now sit 20 feet or less from the edge of the 150-foot-tall cliff overlooking the river. Half of a storage shed hangs over the precipice.
A smashed storage building and a child's playhouse lie near toppled trees halfway down the massive scar of fresh earth.
Steven Carter, who boarded at one of the homes, said the cliff's edge was 35 feet from the house before the landslide. Now, the house is just five feet from the edge.
The cliff slid shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, when heavy rains fell in the Northern Neck.
Ten minutes before the landslide, Carter said, he and his dog, Panda, were walking the edge of the cliff to plan a safety fence that his landlady thought was needed.
Back in the house, Panda began to growl and bark. Then came a loud noise "like someone had run into the house with a truck," Carter said.
"The house shook, and I looked out and the whole back yard was gone," he said.
"Huge streaks of mud were streaming out into the river. I decided to get the hell out of the house."
Carter estimated that 500,000 cubic yards of earth fell into the river.
The house did not appear to be damaged, he said.
Carter's landlady, Marian V. Carpenter, 81, was away when the landslide occurred. Nevertheless, it was her second close encounter with a landslide.
About 15 years ago, Mrs. Carpenter, a real-estate agent, owned another house on the cliffs about four blocks away.
"One morning it was raining and foggy, and I couldn't see the fence in the back yard. But the fog wasn't the reason that I couldn't see it. The fence had fallen in a landslide during the night," she said.
She and her late husband were able to move their home 50 feet away from the cliff, and "I swore I'd never build on a cliff again."
But, she said, they bought her current home, at 1599 North Independence Ave., because it had an elevator and other accommodations for her husband's failing health. And they liked its extraordinary view.
Mrs. Carpenter said 20 or more houses in Stratford Harbour are built on the cliffs.
"People are still building on them," she said.
The houses offer a panoramic view of the majestic river and the Maryland shore five miles distant. Bald eagles skim the trees.
But, Mrs. Carpenter said, "My next house will be in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Guaranteed. It will not be on a cliff. If I want to look at the river, I'll go to a pier somewhere."
A series of cliffs line the Potomac in Westmoreland County. Geologists say the cliffs are eroding about three feet each year as the river undercuts them.
They begin at the Horsehead Cliffs of Westmoreland State Park, where at least one rental cabin was abandoned and later torn down when the edge of the eroding cliff came too close.
Just down river are the Stratford Cliffs, where a Maryland teenager was killed in a 1975 landslide. The adjoining Nomini Cliffs, where Thursday's landslide occurred, stretch nearly to Currioman Bay.
The Westmoreland County Volunteer Fire Department arrived while the earth was still sliding, Carter said.
The firemen cordoned off three houses with barrier tape and ordered Carter and Mrs. Carpenter to evacuate. They are staying with her daughter in Colonial Beach.
The other two restricted houses near the landslide were unoccupied.
The home at 1567 North Independence Ave. had recently been renovated by Castle Builders of Fredericksburg and was for sale for $199,000, Mrs. Carpenter said.
And 1585 North Independence Ave. is owned by a Maryland couple who use it occasionally as a weekend retreat, she said.
Funkhouser said county inspectors would survey the three houses and neighboring cliffside homes tomorrow. "It's possible that vines and vegetation may conceal the landslide in other areas," he said.
The county will not allow the houses to be occupied until they are certified safe by building inspectors and structural engineers, Funkhouser said.
"Right now, we can say they are generally unsafe. There's a lot of earth in the river at the bottom of the cliff."

Public hearing next week on border agreement Journal Reporter Phyllis Cook Wed, Apr 09, 2003
The King George County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing for April 15 on adoption of a clarified boundary line with Westmoreland County. The new boundary line is proposed to go into effect at midnight on Dec. 31, 2003, provided it is approved by an order of the circuit court by that time. The King George and Westmoreland Boards of Supervisors met together in January and both voted unanimously to adopt a survey performed by surveyor David Deputy in August 2002 that establishes a new boundary line between the two counties. The boards further agreed to task their staffs to work together to draft an agreement on handling parcels of property which are on the tax rolls in one county, but are actually located in the other. At the January joint meeting, both boards also agreed to attempt to come to an agreement which would provide for the least disruption to residents whose property listing will be changed completely or partially from one jurisdiction to another. But the draft agreement does not address specifics, such as when children must shift schools or be subject to tuition costs. Questions also remain about reassigning addresses, zip codes, telephone area codes, phone numbers, voting locations and decisions on which locality should respond to emergency and law enforcement calls, as well as road maintenance issues. Prior to adopting a formal boundary line agreement to address these issues, both localities are required to hold at least one public hearing on the matter. After coming to formal agreement, the circuit court will be requested to enter an order to establish the boundary, with subsequent recordation by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. s AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS Some names are listed as owning multiple properties. Owners should contact their commissioner of revenue to determine which of their parcels may be affected. The names listed below are reprinted directly as listed and may carry forward misspellings and typos from the list-maker. According to property lists resulting from the survey and on file in the King George Commissioner of Revenue's office, of 60 properties currently assessed in Westmoreland County, 30 of them are listed as wholly in King George County. The owners of those properties are listed as Robert C. Berry, Larry F. Linneman, John Gerna, Eamen S. Keller, Fairland Developers, Emmanuel E. Skamangas, Stephanie Friederiksen, Reider Olsen, Troy A. Perry, Jr., William H. Thompson, Paul J. Schellin, Jr., Viola E. McDowney et al, Clarise B. Hairston, John W. Bushrod, Charles G. Bushrod, Thelma B. Williams, John R. Bushrod, Clarice E. Hariston, Luellen Bushrod, Pearl A. Smith, Arthur Bushrod, Preston McDowney, Leola Dennison, Donald M. Peyton, Sr., and Robert Curry. The owners of 20 properties currently assessed in Westmoreland County, but which are actually partially in King George County are listed as Barbara S. Cooper, John F. Newton-trustee, Falmouth Volunteer Fireman's Association, Arthur Bushrod et al, Jean Frank, Viola E. McDowney et al, Dennis Bushrod, William Bushrod, Julia M. Murphy, David Bushrod, Muriel L. Raglin, Alfred S. Trigger, Watson W. Trigger, and Chastine G. Trigger. Likewise, records indicate that of 37 properties currently assessed in King George County, four of them are wholly in Westmoreland. Those listed owners are Lloyd Farmer, Jr., Harry B. Gutridge, Robert Green, and Matthew Green. Another 10 properties are listed as being in King George are partially in Westmoreland. Those listed owners are Jerry D. Thompson, Robert Green, James R. Fogg, Huber Roberson, Joseph A. Williams, Roby G. Dillon, Muriel L. Raglin, William C. Bowler, and Gerorge L. Bowler.

KG, Westmoreland agree on boundary survey Wed, Jan 29, 2003 The King George County and Westmoreland County Boards of Supervisors both voted unanimously to adopt a survey that establishes the boundary line between the two counties on Thursday at a joint meeting between the boards. They further agreed to task their staffs to work together to draft an agreement on handling parcels of property which are on the tax rolls in one county, but are actually located in the other. All supervisors were present at the Jan. 23 meeting, along with several members of their staffs and their respective commissioners of revenue. Following a presentation by surveyor David Deputy, the boards adopted the survey and agreed to attempt to come to an agreement which would provide for the least disruption to residents whose property listing will be changed completely or partially from one jurisdiction to another. That could take several months. In addition to higher or lower property tax assessments for affected landowners, depending on which way they go, there are other issues that shifting parcels from one county to another could engender, including where children go to school. King George Supervisor Bob Fuscaldo suggested as an example that students currently in a middle school or a high school be allowed to finish in that same school. But Westmoreland Supervisor Woody Hynson suggested that regardless of grade, all students be allowed to graduate in the school division they are currently attending. But before final decisions are made about how to proceed, it is possible that school boards, voter registrars and attorneys will be called to provide input. Hynson also raised questions about whether a parcel in both counties would be taxed in only one, or both. Indeed, taxing parcels in only one county is partly responsible for the current dilemma. It is thought that large parcels of land which straddled both counties were placed on the rolls of one county by former commissioners of revenue, depending on which locality the home site was located. Keeping all subsequent divisions of these large parcels in the county in which they were originally listed is believed to have contributed to the current problem. Other issues include the potential for reassigning addresses and zip codes, area codes and phone numbers, voting locations and representation and decisions on which locality should respond to emergency and law enforcement calls, as well as road maintenance issues. The effective date for some or all changes has also to be decided. Prior to adopting a formal boundary line agreement to address these issues, both localities are required to hold at least one public hearing on the matter. After coming to formal agreement, the circuit court will be requested to enter an order to establish the boundary, with subsequent recordation by the secretary of the commonwealth. s PROPERTY OWNERS Some names are listed as owning multiple properties. Owners should contact their commissioner of revenue to determine which of their parcels may be affected. The names listed below are reprinted directly as listed and may carry forward misspellings and typos from the list-maker. According to property lists resulting from the survey and on file in the King George commissioner of revenue's office, of 60 properties currently assessed in Westmoreland, 30 of them are listed as wholly in King George. The owners of those properties are listed as Robert C. Berry, Larry F. Linneman, John Gerna, Eamen S. Keller, Fairland Developers, Emmanuel E. Skamangas, Stephanie Friederiksen, Reider Olsen, Troy A. Perry Jr., William H. Thompson, Paul J. Schellin Jr., Viola E. McDowney et al, Clarise B. Hairston, John W. Bushrod, Charles G. Bushrod, Thelma B. Williams, John R. Bushrod, Clarice E. Hariston, Luellen Bushrod, Pearl A. Smith, Arthur Bushrod, Preston McDowney, Leola Dennison, Donald M. Peyton, Sr., and Robert Curry. The owners of 20 properties currently assessed in Westmoreland, but which are actually partially in King George are listed as Barbara S. Cooper, John F. Newton-trustee, Falmouth Volunteer Fireman's Association, Arthur Bushrod et al, Jean Frank, Viola E. McDowney et al, Dennis Bushrod, William Bushrod, Julia M. Murphy, David Bushrod, Muriel L. Raglin, Alfred S. Trigger, Watson W. Trigger and Chastine G. Trigger. Likewise, records indicate that of 37 properties currently assessed in King George, four of them are wholly in Westmoreland. Those listed owners are Lloyd Farmer Jr., Harry B. Gutridge, Robert Green and Matthew Green. Another 10 properties are listed as being in King George are partially in Westmoreland. Those listed owners are Jerry D. Thompson, Robert Green, James R. Fogg, Huber Roberson, Joseph A. Williams, Roby G. Dillon, Muriel L. Raglin, William C. Bowler and Gerorge L. Bowler.

This is the present day county administration building. The George D. English Memorial Building. George D. English was a member of the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors who passed away around the time that the present building was being constructed.

This is the old colonial jail for Westmoreland County. It has housed some of the famous in history, one of which is from the Lee family. "Light-Horse" Harry Lee, the father of Robert E. Lee, was jailed in this building for debts that he owed on past taxes.

These are the ruins of Menokin which while located in Richmond County is related to Westmoreland County since Menokin is the home of Francis Lightfoot Lee of Stratford Hall in Westmoreland County. Menokin was the plantation and home of patriot Francis Lightfoot Lee and his wife Rebecca Tayloe. Rebeccas's father John Tayloe II of nearby Mr. Airy, made a wedding gift of the Georgian mansion and 1,000 acres to the couple in 1769. The Lees died without children in 1797 and the property was left to the heirs of Francis Lee. In 1800 it reverted to the Tayloes. The property was sold in 1823 and passed down to the Omahundro family. Mrs Omahundro, Dora, willed her share of the plantation to Thomas Omahundro and in 1995 gave the entire plantation to the Menokin Foundation.

While, again, not exactly Westmoreland County, this was such an influence here that I have included it. The Warsaw County Fair was very popular and attended by many in Westmoreland County.

This is the car dealership at Baynesville, Virginia that was operated by Mr. F.M. Nash.

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