Carolina China

Category: Stuart [VA Town]

  • History Of Stuart, Va

    ️ Origins & Naming

    Growth Before & After the Civil War

    • Early 19th century: By 1850, Taylorsville had grown modestly, with around 50 homes and a diverse array of craftsmen, tradespeople, merchants, and professionals iiab.me+2en.wikipedia.org+2en-academic.com+2.

    • Railroad arrives: The Danville & New River Railroad (completed 1884) spurred growth. Population climbed ~25% from 300 to 371 by 1900. The town geographically split into:

    ️ Infrastructure & 20th-Century Developments

    ️ Historic Districts & Landmarks

    • Stuart Uptown Historic District: Covers ~6 acres on Main & Blue Ridge Streets. Features 18 historic buildings and one object including Patrick County Courthouse (1822), PWA post office (1940), multiple churches and banks. Listed on NRHP in 2002 dhr.virginia.gov+8en.wikipedia.org+8en.wikipedia.org+8.

    • Downtown Historic District: Encompasses earlier commercial core—brick storefronts, flat‑roofed buildings—added to registers in 2021 .

    • Patrick County Courthouse: Built in 1822 in Jeffersonian Neo‑Classical style; remodeled 1928, 1936, 1971. NRHP-listed since 1974 en.wikipedia.org.

    • Goblintown Mill: Historic grist mill (c.1850, rebuilt c.1902) near Stuart; NRHP-listed in 2004 en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2iiab.me+2.

    Culture & Present Day

    • Appalachian music hub: Part of Virginia Heritage Music Trail. Bluegrass and gospel jam sessions often pop up in local eateries goworldtravel.com.

    • Small‑town charm: Uptown still reflects early‑20th‑century atmosphere. Families have operated shops for generations, lending it a nostalgic “Old‑Main‑Street” feel .

    • Modern revivals: Downtown rail-trail along Mayo River, Farmers’ Market, sidewalk upgrades, and newer retail near Highway 58 bring fresh life qa.edu.vn+3en.wikipedia.org+3iiab.me+3.

    At a Glance

    Category Details
    Location Patrick County, SW Virginia
    Founded 1792 (as Taylorsville), renamed Stuart 1884
    County Seat Yes
    Key Historic Areas Uptown & Downtown districts, courthouse
    Population ~1,400 (2010), ~1,270 (2019 est.)
    Notable Sites Patrick County Courthouse (1822), Goblintown Mill, historic churches & banks

     

    Here are some of the most notable landmarks in and around Stuart, Virginia, blending its rich history, architectural charm, and Appalachian heritage:

    ️ Patrick County Courthouse

    • Built: 1822

    • Style: Jeffersonian Neo-Classical

    • Significance: One of the oldest continuously used courthouses in Virginia. Remodeled several times (notably in 1928, 1936, and 1971) while preserving its distinctive architecture.

    • National Register of Historic Places: Listed in 1974.

    ️ Stuart Uptown Historic District

    • Established: Early 20th century core of town life

    • Highlights:

      • Patrick County Bank (1911)

      • Old Masonic Building

      • Multiple churches (Presbyterian, Baptist)

      • 1940 U.S. Post Office

      • Historic homes with Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman architecture

    • Listed: National Register of Historic Places (2002)

    ️ Stuart Downtown Historic District

    • Features:

      • Early rail-era storefronts and commercial buildings from the late 1800s to mid-1900s

      • Former railbed now converted into walking trails

      • A growing arts and retail scene

    • Added to NRHP: 2021

    Goblintown Mill

    • Original Mill: c. 1850 (rebuilt c. 1902)

    • Type: Historic water-powered gristmill

    • Location: Near the Goblintown Creek

    • Significance: Rare surviving example of early rural Virginia industry.

    • Listed: National Register (2004)

    Reynolds Homestead (formerly Rock Spring Plantation)

    • Built: 1843

    • Location: About 10 miles northwest of Stuart

    • Significance: Birthplace of R. J. Reynolds (founder of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.)

    • Now: Cultural and educational center operated by Virginia Tech, with trails, gardens, and events.

    Lover’s Leap Overlook

    • Location: Blue Ridge Parkway (near Meadows of Dan, not far from Stuart)

    • Significance: Famous scenic overlook with a legend of star-crossed Native American lovers.

    • Views: Dramatic cliffs and sweeping views of the valley below.

    Fred Clifton Park

    • Located in: Stuart town center

    • Features: Walking trails, picnic areas, and community events

    • Historic marker: Recognizes early settlement and rail development

    Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge

    • Built: 1914

    • Type: One-lane wooden covered bridge

    • Significance: One of the few remaining covered bridges in Virginia

    • Setting: Scenic and rural, popular for photos and heritage tours

  • Wood Brothers Racing Museum

    The Wood Brothers Racing Museum in Stuart, Virginia, is a tribute to one of NASCAR’s oldest and most successful teams. It houses a collection of iconic race cars, trophies, memorabilia, and historical artifacts that chronicle the team’s journey from its humble beginnings to its numerous victories, offering visitors a deep dive into the rich history and legacy of the Wood Brothers in American motorsports.

    The Wood Brothers Racing Museum features a variety of displays including historic race cars driven by legendary drivers like David Pearson and Cale Yarborough, a vast collection of trophies and awards showcasing the team’s numerous victories, driver and crew uniforms, engines, and other racing artifacts that tell the story of the team’s journey through the decades of NASCAR.

    The museum also has on display cars that were driven by the team founder, Glen Wood. There are several mechanical marvels that were hand built by the master builder, Leonard Wood.

    The museum is free, no charge, and frequently there may be a member of the Wood family hanging around the museum.

     

    Click here to visit Wood Brothers website

     

    Support your local business.

    Our website does not receive compensation for placing this post about Wood Brothers Racing

    Wood Brothers Racing Museum

  • My Visit With Glen Wood

    Glen WoodThe Wood Chopper I traveled to Stuart, Va, on March 1, 2012. Stuart is famous for being the home of the Wood Brothers Race Team. These guys are icons in the sport of auto racing. They are so well known that frequently folks with little interest in auto racing recognize the name.

    Stuart is a small town in south central Virginia at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. Tourists travel through here on the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway or to Mabry Mill. Another famous citizen of Stuart was JEB Stuart, the well know calvary general of the Civil War. JEB was born about 4 miles southwest of the town and was honored by the town being named after him.

    My trip to Stuart was to see the 2011 Daytona 500 winning car. The car was from the Wood Brothers racing stable and was on display in their museum. This was a once in a life time opportunity to see history in real life…….

    Here I am in Stuart, Virginia, at the Wood Brothers Museum. I expected to see a few tourist and some nice people explaining the museum displays. ….. But I was pleasantly surprised……. The first person that I saw was the icon himself… Glen Wood…. I couldn’t believe my eyes. After I recovered from my momentary shock, I dropped into my tourist mode and walked up to Mr. Wood, who was actually sitting in a rocking chair. Feeling like a nervous tourist, I reached for his hand and said

    “I have always wanted to meet you. Could I shake your hand?”

    …..He smiled and said

    “I would be glad to”.

    He did….I did…..Like an embarrassed teenager, I immediately walked away from him……I was intimidated by being in the presence of this man and needed to regain my composure. You must understand that this man, although he is only 15 years older than me, has been my idol since I was 12 years old.

    I wandered through the museum, looking at race cars and fabulous pictures of historic happenings and of famous people in the racing world. Several other members of the Wood family were present. They mingled with the tourist, answered questions and posed for photos. The Wood family made everyone feel at ease, including me.

    Glen Wood - Buck Woods - Delano Wood

    This picture is Glen Wood [Left}, Buck Woods [Middle] and Delano Wood [Right]

    Not all NASCAR racers were moon shiners. Glenn Wood actually worked as a logger. The story goes that by the time he was age 21 that he owned a saw mill. From this work history Glen was tagged with the nick name “The Wood Chopper”. After a while, I spotted Glen sitting at a picnic table in the race shop break room. He was alone and looked tired. I sat down beside of him and asked if he was worn out by all of the happenings today. His answer was “Yes, I am a little tired. It creeps up on me quicker than it used to”. He went on to tell me that he really enjoys the people visiting.

    Mr. Wood is a walking encyclopedia of racing history. He knew everybody and then some. He could recite minute details of happenings of 50 years ago like it was yesterday. You could see a sparkle in his eyes when he was telling stories about David Pearson, Dale Inman, Richard Petty and many others. Glenn Wood knew them all and they all knew him and held him in the highest regard. It is quite satisfying to me that our conversation was not just about racing. We also talked about living and growing up in the Dan Valley area. We talked about life….

    Yes….My early years were spent about 15 miles down the road in a place called Sandy Ridge, so we had some of the same memories about growing up in an area that time had almost forgotten.

    We shared and remembered…….. It was an an extremely good day for me…….
    Why didn’t I meet this man earlier in my life?? …….. I have no excuse.

    .

Powered by
►
Necessary cookies enable essential site features like secure log-ins and consent preference adjustments. They do not store personal data.
None
►
Functional cookies support features like content sharing on social media, collecting feedback, and enabling third-party tools.
None
►
Analytical cookies track visitor interactions, providing insights on metrics like visitor count, bounce rate, and traffic sources.
None
►
Advertisement cookies deliver personalized ads based on your previous visits and analyze the effectiveness of ad campaigns.
None
Powered by