Well, today is our last day in southern Virginia. We started out looking for this old wrecked mill we passed earlier in the week. We had to retrace our steps to find it and we did.
We then went on to Farmville, VA and had lunch at La Patota Grill. Sometimes you really luck out, the food here was great.
After such a good lunch we had to work off a few calories so we decided to cross the High Bridge. This was a railroad bridge built in 1854. (From Wikipedia) The site was surveyed and the bridge engineered by C. O. Sanford, who later reported to the stockholders of the Southside Railroad: "there have been higher bridges not so long, and longer bridges not so high, but taking the length and height together, this is, perhaps the largest bridge in the world."
The bridge is 2400 feet long, and at one time there was pedestrian and wagon traffic on one level and the railroad on the upper level. It was partially destroyed during the civil war and played a part in Lee's final retreat from Petersburg in the last days of the War.
It was a mile to the bridge, a mile across and back, and a mile back to the truck.
We were pretty tired after our hike, but, the event we were looking forward to was to start at 7:30 at the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. It was the 7th Annual Lantern Tour. This tour featured six women who contributed in multiple ways to the Appomattox of today. From the 1860's through the 1960's. They each had a remarkable tale to tell.
We followed our lantern carrying tour guide to the McLean house to hear Mrs. McLean (1865) tell us about her husband Wilmer and the day General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia.
Then we heard from Miss Fanny Berry (1880) An enslaved women on the plantation of George Abbitt, talk as a free woman reflecting on and recounting stories of life in Appomattox during the last day of the war.
Mrs. Mariah Meeks (1869) she and her husband owned the general store. Their son, Lafayette, died early in the war. She is now a widow and needs to decide what to do.
Patty Guild (1865) wife of the doctor, traveled with the Confederate army from Petersburg to Appomattox Court House. She witness some of the fighting that took place during the last days of the war.
Mrs. Mildred Harris (1964), who as a young girl, watched the courthouse burn down in 1892. She returned to the park in 1964 when the Court House/Visitor's Center was rebuilt. Note: She was the most believable actress. We really felt like Millie was there telling us about her life.
Finally we heard from Mrs. "Georgie" Gurney (1961). She was the wife of Hubert "Sandy" Gurney, the first superintendent of the park.
This was truly a lantern tour so we were unable to take any pictures. We ended the evening having hot cider and cookies in the Visitor's Center. I wouldn't mind doing the 8th Annual tour next year.
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