White Hall, Frederick County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
White Hall,
Frederick County, Virginia |
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 White Hall,
Frederick County, Virginia Location in Virginia
White Hall,
Frederick County, Virginia Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Frederick |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1477872 |
White Hall is a small farming community in northern Frederick County, Virginia. It started in the late 1810s. The community is located where Apple Pie Ridge Road (VA 739) meets Green Spring and White Hall (VA 671) Roads. It sits on top of a landform called Apple Pie Ridge, which is about 922 feet (281 meters) high.
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Exploring White Hall's Geography
Apple Pie Ridge Road stretches for about 8.8 miles. This road follows a key local land feature called Apple Pie Ridge. The ridge is located between the city of Winchester and the West Virginia border. The road begins near James Wood High School.
As you travel along the road, you'll pass the Upper Ridge Quaker Cemetery. Further on, you'll find Hiatt's Hill and Hiatt Road. In the past, Edward Braddock led British soldiers through this area. They were on their way to try and capture Fort Duquesne near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The heart of the White Hall community is the White Hall Grocery store. It's located at the intersection of VA 739 and VA 671. Close by, you can find the White Hall United Methodist Church. There's also the old White Hall School and the historic Crumley-Lynn-Lodge House, built around 1759. You can also see historical sites of an old blacksmith shop, a cider mill, and a tavern. The Lower Quaker Meeting House is also nearby. Many of Frederick County's best apple orchards surround the White Hall community.
White Hall's Early History
The story of White Hall goes back to 1751. Back then, the main road was simply called Ridge Road by court order. Many Quaker families began to settle here. They moved south along the Great Appalachian Valley. Soon, the area was filled with orchards, wheat farms, and cattle farms.
The road supposedly got its famous name, Apple Pie Ridge Road, during the American Revolutionary War. Hessian soldiers, who were captured, stayed on a farm west of Winchester, Virginia. They would walk north to the ridge to eat delicious apple pies baked by the Quakers.
An old map from 1809 by Varle shows Apple Pie Ridge Road with its new name. Many maps after that clearly mark the White Hall intersection as an important spot. The Quaker group in this community was called the Hopewell Meeting. There were three Hopewell Quaker meetings in the local area. They were along Apple Pie Ridge, at Pugh's town (Gainesboro, Virginia), and on Crooked Run. Several historical schools were located along this road. These included the Lower Ridge Quaker School, Ridge School, Barrett School, and the White Hall School. There were also two private schools in White Hall, including Lodge School.
White Hall During the Civil War
The White Hall community played a part in the American Civil War battles around Winchester. Wounded soldiers were cared for in the White Hall United Methodist Church. Union forces faced major defeats twice in this area. Their units were scattered and fled north and west of Winchester. This happened especially after the Second Battle of Winchester.
In June 1863, roads to Martinsburg, West Virginia were blocked by Confederate troops. They were on their way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Many partisan and Virginia Militia cavalry forces came from this area. They helped the Confederate plan to threaten and cut off the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. They also aimed to disrupt the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and nearby roads and telegraph lines. Throughout the war, the White Hall community helped the Confederate States Army. They provided food for animals, wheat, and cattle.
White Hall Today
Today, new neighborhoods have grown near White Hall along Apple Pie Ridge. These new homes are mixed in with old cattle farms and apple orchards. Some farmhouses from the mid-1700s are still standing.
The White Hall community offers beautiful views. To the west, you can see Green Spring and Frog Hollow in the foothills of the North Mountain. To the east, you can see the wider Shenandoah Valley.
The Old Stone Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
