russ_aukerman
Cadet
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2005
Last weekend I took a long awaited trip to Winchester, Va. I'd done my usual hardcore preparation, reading books on each of the 3 battles of Winchester. Each book, from the H.E. Howard series, had a staff ride (auto/walking tour). I also had a Blue and Gray Mag. on the sites in Winchester.
In sum, I was never so dissapointed in any tour. Eighty percent of the sites are gone to development. Star Fort is now Star Fort housing development, Bowers Hill is a fenced off water tower, etc., etc., etc. It appears that most of the folks in Winchester care very little for their history.
Stephenson's Depot is still intact, as are some of the town sites. You can still get some views of where things happened. South of town, Kernstown is viewable, although the view from Pritchard's Hill is mostly of industrial parks and the battlefield itself is split by Route 37 in much the same way as New Market is split by I-81. Cedar Creek is the best bet. The best parts are preserved and the surrounding country is still rural.
In sum, I was never so dissapointed in any tour. Eighty percent of the sites are gone to development. Star Fort is now Star Fort housing development, Bowers Hill is a fenced off water tower, etc., etc., etc. It appears that most of the folks in Winchester care very little for their history.
Stephenson's Depot is still intact, as are some of the town sites. You can still get some views of where things happened. South of town, Kernstown is viewable, although the view from Pritchard's Hill is mostly of industrial parks and the battlefield itself is split by Route 37 in much the same way as New Market is split by I-81. Cedar Creek is the best bet. The best parts are preserved and the surrounding country is still rural.