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Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman, members of the Chamber of Commerce and about 20 local historians met Tuesday, July 18, at Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church for a ribbon cutting to dedicate the new Timber Grove Highway marker, which commemorates the first settlement in what would become Rockbridge County. Only a graveyard remains of the settlement, a few miles north of Timber Ridge. Since no parking or public access exists at the Timber Grove Cemetery, the sign is located at the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church. As late as 1920, a log building stood beside the old cemetery, but today only the graveyard remains.
Many knew about this site but it was not recognized as the first European settlement in the area until Reed Belden became involved. With the help of the Historic Lexington Foundation and their former Executive Director, Don Hasfurther, the marker’s application was approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
Following the ribbon cutting at the Highway marker, the group drove to visit the Timber Grove Cemetery. The site is on private property and the visit was arranged by Timber Ridge Presbyterian’s historian, Joe Lipscomb. Archibald Alexander (1708-1780) and his two wives are believed to be buried there but there are no headstones. It is hoped that ground seeking radar will aid this effort.
PARTICIPATING IN the ribbon cutting for the new Timber Grove historical marker are (from left) Don Hasfruther, Brandy Flint, Frank Friedman, Margaret Samdahl, Reed Belden and Tracy Lyons. Since there is no parking or public access to the original site of the settlement, the marker has been placed near Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church.
AT LEFT, Joe Lipscomb chats with Reed Belden after the ribbon cutting. Belden helped the site receive the recognition as the first settlement. BELOW, only a cemetery remains of the original Timber Grove settlement. It is on private property now. A log building once stood on the site up until 1920.
