Virginia’s very own Shangri-la — Bacon Hollow. Readers may mock me and say, “Nay, so such paradise exists.” But it does, and it is deemed worthy of an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. And here’s the proof….
Absolute MUST SEE on the Blue Ridge Parkway
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18 responses to “Absolute MUST SEE on the Blue Ridge Parkway”
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let’s see some history! James W?
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Where in VA, Jim?
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North of Waynesboro, south of Harrisonburg.
In truth, there’s nothing much to look at. It’s a hollow like dozens of others up and down the Blue Ridge. If only I’d known of James’ remarkable tales of Shifletts and Morrises!
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Bacon’s Hollow was an old fashioned “CHAZ” from the days of bootlegging and prohibition. The Shifflett and Morris families were often feuding and a number of notable murders took place between 1900 and 1940. There was an unwritten “Code of the Hills” followed by these two families and you did not want to break that code. Shangra La only for extensive Shifflett and Morris clans. There is some interesting tales to read below:
https://mdid.lib.jmu.edu/media/get/156249/r-4121300/252130/snp110_02/?inline
http://www.klein-shiflett.com/shifletfamily/HHI/Culture/mountain.html
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Fascinating historical accounts James. Thanks for sharing. It definitely had a Hatfields and McCoys flavor to it , Shiflett and Morris….
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Yes, thanks, James. They were fun to read.
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My favorite story from Bacon Hollow:
In 1976, had the William Monroe High School principal barked into the public address system “I want Shiflett from the eighth grade in my office immediately”, he would have summoned Betty, Annette, Bruce, Carroll, Cindy, Debra, Dorcas, Floyd, Jeff, Mary, Phyllis, Ricky, Rita, Roy, Lee, Tony, Sherman, Sheba, Terry, and Tommy.
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Yes. Saw that. 🙂
See,,, Bacon probably had no idea of the “history” in that holler below he was looking at….
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This is my favorite:
In March 1933, six Shiffletts jumped Sutie Shifflett in Albemarle. A gunshot wound left him with one eye. Sutie’s ally in that incident, a Morris, would later shoot Sutie in the mouth. Shifflett testified against
Morris–reluctantly, according to the news account–with the bullet still lodged in his jawbone. He told the court Morris had simply had too much to drink. Shifflett’s perseverance earned him the title “Ironman of the Blue Ridge”.
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Mr. JWW,
You are a serious student of Virginia history. Have you heard/read any of the history of Buffalo Mountain in Floyd County? It’s obviously quite a ways southwest of Bacon’s Hollow, but it has it’s own intriguing stories.
If you have not already read it, I recommend a book called The Man Who Moved a Mountain, by Richard C. Davids. It is the biography of a man named Bob Childress who grew up on the mountain and who transformed himself from a hard-drinking/fighting bootlegger to a respected minister. It may be a little heavy on the religion for some people, but it is still a fascinating read.
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Thanks for the compliment Mr. Wayne. Virginia is hands down the greatest of the 50 states in terms of natural wonders, culture, and history. I have never heard about Buffalo Mountain. But I am going there. Check out this view from the summit.
https://gohikevirginia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Buffalo-Mountain-Scenic-Views-3.jpg-
It is a beautiful part of the state. Long ago I lived in Floyd for a year or so, just a few miles from “the Buffalo”.
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James, do you have any history on how the Shiffletts and Morrises came to own that land in that holler?
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There were three things that led the folks of Bacon’s Hollow out of the mountain past and into the 20th century.
1. The “rugged individualism” of the Shiflett and Morris clans.
2. The establishment of Evergreen Church of the Brethren and the preacher Reverend C.C. Kurtz. He was a smart preacher. He didn’t pick sides in the feuds and focused on Biblical instruction.
http://www.evergreenchurchva.org/
3. The Blue Ridge Industrial School, which began in 1888 and soared by 1914 under the steady hand of Reverend George Mayo. Mayo was able to balance agriculture, industrial arts, and a basic education under one roof. It continues to this day as a private boarding school.
https://www.crozetgazette.com/2017/09/08/secrets-of-the-blue-ridge-george-mayo-the-blue-ridge-industrial-school/The children and grandchildren of Bacon’s Hollow turned out alright. You can see it here by looking over the obituaries of the Shiflett clan. They were successful for the large part. Farmers, electricians, carpenters, business leaders, college graduates, war heroes from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. The Virginians of Bacon’s Hollow can teach us a great deal about how to overcome poverty, a lack of education, and a lack of direction. Leaders like Kurtz and Mayo brought important social institutions to a forgotten hollow that chipped away at the long obstacles over a number of generations.
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James, your chronicles are amazing!
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Forget Pie Day. That was yesterday. Today, March 15th, is Peter Francisco Day. Peter was the Virginia Hercules of the American Revolution. George Washington claimed he was a one man army. In Nottoway County, Francisco allegedly took on 9 of Tarelton’s Hussars. Killed one, wounded the other 8, and rode off with all of their horses. Mr. Northam has declared today Peter Francisco Day.
https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/proclamations/proclamation/peter-francisco-day.html
https://www.historyisfun.org/how_revolutionary_are_you/assets/img/quiz/credits/match/peter-francisco.jpg
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