When my kids wanted to attend the biannual Occoquan Arts and Crafts Show, off we went.
While the guys were interested in the food, us gals were interested in the arts.
Along the Occoquan River are many of old buildings converted into apartments, townhomes, shops, eateries, and other store fronts.
1957 DRESS
In that setting my son kindly took photos of the 1957 Horrockses dress I sewed last year.
Exploring deeper into the history, I was surprised at how many of the town’s past events I’ve previously time-traveled.
My favorites are as follows:
17th CENTURY OCCOQUAN
First explored by John Smith in 1608, the Occoquan River was named after the local Indian tribe.
18th CENTURY OCCOQUAN
In 1700, William Fitzhugh I death results in the bequeathment of his tanyard operation at the Occoquan falls. His son, William Fitzhugh II, later builds Chatham Manor in Stafford/Fredericksburg. (although I’ve visited their twice, posts are in process)
Today’s town dock is the site of the tobacco warehouse, established in 1735.
In 1755, John Ballendine purchased 20 acres of land for business reasons, including an iron furnace.
Two years later, Ballendine hires William Buckland to design Rockledge Mansion.
In 1758, George Washington conducted business with John Balladine, ordering three tons of iron for Fort Loudon.
Often persecuted, the Occoquan Baptist Church petitions the Virginia Convention for religious freedom in 1776. This will be obtained years later because of the work of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
In 1788, Lighthorse Harry Lee (father of Robert E. Lee) purchases the mill at auction, then has an automated grist mill built on site, the first of its kind in America.
One of the Ellicotts gained ownership and rebuilt the mill in 1791, using designs from a cousin, which so impressed Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, that each sought to replicate the features in their own mills.
In fact, Thomas Jefferson visited Occoquan to investigate the mill’s success, himself.
19th CENTURY OCCOQUAN
On crossing a little bridge I came within view of the settlement, which is romantic beyond conception. A beautiful river rolls its stream along mountains that rise abruptly from its bank, while on the opposite rocky shore, which appears to have been enveloped in foam, and here and there a dwelling which has vast masses of stone for its foundation. -John Davis, tutor to one of the Ellicott children, Travels of Four Years and a Half in the United States of America, 1801
In 1805, a new road through Occoquan built by Ellicott allows mail and stage to travel from the backwoods to Alexandria, on the new wooden bridge, which replaces the old wooden bridge in Woodbridge as the major throughway, that had been built by George Mason’s son.
On the other side of town, this ultra-modern bridge was built that now carries all the traffic in the area.
In 1824, Samuel M. Janney purchases the mill, then opens a four story cotton mill next door, then purchases Rockledge Mansion as his home, across from his businesses.
On July 4, 1860, a Quaker named Joseph T. Janney (relative of Samuel M. Janney) allowed a Liberty Pole to raised at his Rockledge Mansion property to campaign for Abraham Lincoln’s election. All fifty-five Prince William County votes for Lincoln come from Occoquan.
In 1874, a steamer called the Mary Washington offers day trips to guests wanting to walk through and dine in Occoquan.
