protection options have been unsuccessful. It should also to) a certain point. In popular usage, though, the names

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1 Spring 2001 Newsletter Preservation Piedmont Newsletter Preservation Alliance of Virginia Member Page 1 Spring 2001 Stone Highway Markers To Be Surveyed Ann Miller A Virginia law of 1738 required all crossroads to be marked by posts of directions. Such signs were commonly made of wood, and have not survived. But by the early 1800s, a number of roads in Virginia featured a more permanent form of marker: directional signs made of stone. The practice continued until the early 20th century, when standardized highway signs began to appear. Surviving 19th century stone markers are irregular, roughly carved, and anywhere from 18 inches to 4 feet tall. Some look like simple tombstones, and often the lettering is worn or partly destroyed. Misspelling or abbreviation of words is common. Stone highway markers come in two general categoof its historic context (and often the original location is ries: road stones (or sign rocks), and milestones. Sign lost forever), but it also destroys what may be the only rocks, as their name implies, actually bear a short messurviving evidence of earlier transportation networks. Such sage, usually the directions and mileage to a certain place. actions, like moving an historic house, should only be Milestones are often smaller, and often have only a nuundertaken as a last resort, when all other preservation/ meral carved into them to indicate the distance from (or protection options have been unsuccessful. It should also to) a certain point. In popular usage, though, the names be noted that any stones on state highway right-of-way are sometimes interchangeable. See Markers on page 2. Although a few early stone highway markers still survive; many more have been destroyed The stone highway markers pictured here are located in Fluvanna County. The milestone, by vandals or by inlocated in the state right-of-way by the side of Rt. 15 just outside of Palmyra, is only 18 inches tall (the fountain pen in the image shows the scale); it stands about a mile south of dividuals who did the courthouse, and has the numeral 1 carved in it. At least one similar stone is also not recognize their still in place farther south along Rt.15. The other marker significance. Others pictured here is of the road stone or sign rock have been removed variety. It now stands on private property beside an old from their original abandoned road sites by people seektrace. This marker is ing building stones, 3 feet tall; its souvenirs, or interinscriptions, esting landscape feaalthough somewhat tures for their propworn, are still legible. On the front erty. Some wellis Right to meaning individuals Scottsville Left to 7 have argued that Isle Mills and on moving a marker the reverse is saves it from per J.H.C. / O.R. / ceived threats. How1828 (John ever, removing a Hartwell Cocke / marker from its origioverseer of the nal location not only Road / 1828). takes the marker out

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6 Page 6 Preservation Piedmont Newsletter Spring 2001 P.O. Box 2803 Charlottesville, Virginia 22902