Civil War mystery solved in Rockingham County

(WHSV)
Published: Mar. 3, 2017 at 12:46 PM EST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

A group of Valley history buffs say they have discovered where court records were originally burned during the Civil War, after the specific site of the burning had largely remained a mystery for years.

A photo showing three men during the 1920s was one of the clues that led the group to a location near Port Republic that is known as the "Keezle House." In 1864, the court records were taken away on a wagon for safety, but Union troops overtook it, then burned the wagon along with the records.

According to historical accounts, locals Mary Nicholas Keezle and Stephen Harnsberger put out the fire with newly mowed green hay and water.

But where exactly that entire encounter happened has been a question for historians for years - until recently, thanks to the work of local history buffs, led by locals Nancy and Irvin Hess.

On Friday, that group visited the location, now a privately owned farm. The granddaughter of one of the men in the photograph was also there to see the site.

"Oh, I was excited. We now [know] the location because people have been talking, 'it's up this way,'" said Ellen Kaylor, the granddaughter of one of the men in the photograph. "It was just exciting to know that we finally found where this happened."

Rockingham County Clerk of Court Chaz Evans Haywood also joined the group, bringing along charred records from the county that he discovered. There are still 10 remaining, one in the

in Dayton and the other at the

in Harrisonburg.