History
April 15th, 2010 by adminGoshen was once inhabited by Indian tribes such as the Cherokee and Shawnee, but in the 18th century, European settler, Alexander Dunlop and his Scottish wife, Anna MacFarlane moved to the Calfpasture. A few of the first settlers include, Bratton, Lockridge, Graham, Carter, and Davis. Land was bountiful and sold for 33 1/3 cent per acre. The first Goshen council was instructed in 1744 by James Patton and John Lewis. Goshen was based on farms, much like today, raising mainly corn. While Goshen was mere farmland, in the 1800′s, Goshen Pass and Panther’s Gap was a bustling community with a school, hotel, Post Office, and foundaries, the record salary reached was $60.00/yr, earned by Mr. Charles Knight, schoolmaster.
The Alleghany Hotel, built to serve as a hotel by “the Goshen Improvement company; the company which in the boom period of 1890 selected Goshen station as a site for laying of and the founding of a new city.” The hotel was known as the “house of entertainment,” but a few years before the fire, Alleghany Hotel was renamed the Alleghany Sanitarium, housing Tuberculosis patients. On Thanksgiving day, 1922, the Alleghany Hotel smoldered in flames and ash for 2 1/2 hours before the building was completely destroyed. During this time, Goshen was without a fire department to combat the flames.
“All gave some, some gave all, This monument stands in tribute to Goshens contribution to the greatest generation.”
During the onset of World War II, Goshen residents saw off 198 recognized soldiers to fight for their country. While some returned and some did not, Goshen memorializes the brave men and women who risked life and limb for peace and humanity. Standing proudly in front of the Town Hall on Main street, a World War II memorial lists veterans and those killed in action.
August 21st, 2010 at 8:16 pm
My father (James William Davis) was born in Goshen in 1916. His father was William Oliver Davis. I think Granddad’s brother also lived in the area. I was told the old homestead became part of the Boy Scout camp. I’m sure they weren’t the original Davis family in Goshen but it’s interesting to see the name in the history.
Your county is one of the most beautiful areas I’ve had the good fortune to visit.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
It’s cool to think what Goshen might be like today if Stillwater, the school, the hotel, and the train station were still open. it seems to me that goshen was meant to be a great city at start, but its a great town instead
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 am
I’ve lived in Goshen my entire life so far and i must say, it’s amazing. Everybody knows everybody and the people are so nice. It’s great to be able to go to the store and be able to name everyone working there without even thinking twice. Knowing every car you pass and welcoming visitors as if they were the Goshen family too. Goshen is just a wonderful town and it has an amazing history. If everything was the way it was when my daddy was a child and lived here, I can only imagine how much more exciting and beautiful this small town would be.
December 29th, 2010 at 5:15 am
I’ve never seen this plaque before today. My Grandfather, Charles E. Whitlock is on it and I thank the community for honoring him this way. My Mother is Charles and Magdalena Whitlock’s oldest daughter, Mary Lee Whitlock Clark. My Grandfather met my Grandmother while he was deployed. She was originally from Poland. She lost all of her family in the war. She was taken to a displaced person’s camp in Linz, Austria after liberation of the concentration camps in Poland. He was in a transportation unit that assisted the former detainees and they met on one of these journeys. They married in Vienna, Austria. My mother married Philip Lindsay Clark from Millboro.
Thank you for posting this picture!!!
December 29th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
You are most welcome!
December 29th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Thank you!
March 24th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
My mother had wrote on her marriage certificate that she was born in Goshen. I hope to find some paper trail to prove her claim to Goshen, Virginia!
May 7th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I recently learned this blog History Town of Goshen, Virginia by way of Google… what a pleasant surprise Kudos … Rob Rasner Myspace
May 10th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Looking for data on the Victoria Iron Blast Furnace in Goshen . . . like when was it last blown and when was it scrapped out, etc. You can see the tracks to the furnace on the MapQuest aerial maps.
May 20th, 2011 at 9:42 am
My great grandfather, Joseph Campbell Vaiden, M.D., was born in New Kent County, VA in 1829. He graduated William & Mary College in 1848 and the Medical College of VA in Richmond in 1851. He married Martha Tyler and settled in Louisa, VA to practice medicine. During the War years he was a Captain in the Confederacy assigned to Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond. After the War he and Martha settled in Goshen, VA. She died in a buggy accident in early 1880′s and was buried at Shockoe Hill Cemetery in Richmond next to her parents. She and Dr. Vaiden had no children. In 1887 Dr. Vaiden remarried Dora Bell Critzer of Mt Sidney, VA in Nelson County. To them one child was born, a son, Harry Campbell Vaiden 1889-1926. Dr. Vaiden administered to the sick in Goshen until his death from pneumonia in 1898. He is buried in the Baptist Churchyard in Goshen. The date of birth on his tombstone indicates he was born in 1837 which is an error. The correct date is 1829. About 1900 his widow and young son moved to Augusta, GA where the Vaiden family continues to reside.