SLAVE HOMES
The geographical spot on which I happen to live , was, many years ago, a working plantation of the Old South. That was in the 1840 decade when the Weller family, who owned the land, was actively engaged in the processing of leather as part-time, year round round occupation.
They raised animals of various kinds, purchased others, and used the hides to make much needed leather. The skins were were cleaned and dried, tied in flat bundles and - for a time – sent down river from a site located to the north about a mile and half on the North fork of that river - the Shenandoah – which spreads throughout the area as North, Middle and South portions. The hides were rafted downstream to Port Republic where they were transferred to one of the larger river rafts or “gundolas” being built at that port site to be poled down the Shenandoah and the Potomac Rivers to Baltimore markets on the Chesapeake Bay.
The operation here at the Weller plantation called “Lofton” was, of course, a slave labor operation. The area is a sub-division now and the old brick home built by the Weller family with brick made right down the slope from the large house in 1844-1845.
I watched the bulldozers hit the sturdy, two-foot thick brick walls on the morning of my 80th birthday and today, looking at some of the four hundred houses being build on the land. I had lived there in that fine, old house for some years. Today I can stand at the edge of the area where the slave quarters were located, but the main portion of the site is now under portions of two houses. The main portion of the is under two of the new homes.
I know where the slave houses - three of them – were located because when we plowed that area in the 1940's we constantly turned up the foundation stones - long, limestone slabs - used as foundations as the four corners of four log structures measuring about fifteen feet long by twelve wide. The area had been used as had been used as a wood cutting and firewood storage area and had not been plowed within the memory span anyone on the old place. Local lore held that the slave quarters for the Weller Plantation's leather making operation where in back of the big house - to the west of the building called The Wash House. We used it as a cover for the woodcutting saw and for firewood storage, but, today I can stand in somebody's front yard and look out over where the three slave houses.
I find it difficult to try to to explain to others the feeling that comes over me when I do such things. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I have been chosen to “see” such things from the past.
We get a new and improved estimate of the true worth of our own heritage when we reflect on the amazing accomplishments of those who have gone before us.. .both masters and slaves.
A.L.M. September 5, 2003 [c538wds]
