Dayton, VA: The Past- Hiding in Clear ViewDayton, VA, is a modern town listed on the National Historic Register, where Mennonite residents go about their days’ work utilizing horse drawn buggies while the 21st century residents race to meet their daily schedules in gas powered machines. Dayton boasts a renovated water driven mill located on Silver Lake housing the production location for fine glass and china including White House and Williamsburg pieces, the home of Rockingham Historical Society features history lectures and exhibits of earlier days, a Farmers Market with local meat products, and bakery offering Mennonite breads, sweets and treats. Small interior shops in the market are sources of antiques, toys, collectables and utilitarian home necessities. The local main street eatery, Thomas House, serves home cooked meals in one of the oldest structures and provides a stopping point for locals. Renovated Fort Harrison built in 1749 by the Valley’s first settler Daniel Harrison gives a hint of early Dayton life with opportunities for 21st century residents to learn of hearth cooking, baking, spinning and other necessary crafts of the time. Early structures may be appreciated in the carefully renovated stone, early brick and Victorian dwellings, currently used for shops and cozy historic homes. Some still with existing former summer kitchens and ice storage units. Manicured Mennonite farms surround the area with perfect vegetable and flower gardens, crop fields and Monday’s hung wash centered by the pristinely kept farmhouse, barn and fences. Streets explode in October when an estimated 10,000 visitors attend Dayton Days. Small booth locations are permanently marked on the streets for craftspeople bringing their wares. Herbs, orchids, birdhouses, lead glass, clothing, homemade soups and food products from local churches and venders offer an array of choices for visitors to view and purchase. | More Local Area InformationHinton, Virginia is located approximately four miles west of the City of Harrisonburg, Virginia on Rt. 33 West. It is a small village which has ... Read moreThe town of Bridgewater, Virginia is located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and nestled between the North River and Dry River banks. It i... Read moreThe City of Harrisonburg and County of Rockingham are located in the northern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and offer a fascinating histor... Read moreLocated south of Harrisonburg just off of Interstate 81, Weyers Cave is the epitome of small town America. The town was named for Bernard Weyer wh... Read moreKeezletown, VA is located in Rockingham County, just 3 miles east of Harrisonburg City, west of Massanutten Mountain Range, and 2 miles north o... Read moreThe Keezletown Elementary School was one of the 1st public schools in Rockingham County that was established after the Civil War. The origina... Read moreAbout three miles east of Harrisonburg lies the little village of Penn Laird. While small, it offers nearby residents the convenience of countr... Read moreThe town of Grottoes is conveniently located between the City of Harrisonburg and the City of Staunton connected by Interstate 81 and Route 11... Read moreNestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies the town of Elkton, VA, where you can enjoy small town life and be only fifteen minutes from th... Read moreLocated 35 miles west of Charlottesville; Waynesboro, Virginia is a hub of activity. Numerous shopping, dining and entertainment venues can be foun... Read moreWaynesboro, Virginia, located in picturesque Augusta County and at the base of the fantastic Blue Ridge Mountains is certain to be a town you'd lov... Read moreOriginally divided from Amherst County in 1807, Nelson County, Virginia has seen good times and bad. The beautiful mountain and valley setting mak... Read moreMadison, Virginia is a rustic area in Virginia with a small town feel and great quality of life. Bordering Charlottesville and thereby th... Read moreThe beautiful town of Madison, located in the Blue Ridge foothills, offers a wonderfully picturesque landscape in which to lay down roots. Resident... Read moreThe vibrancy of Albemarle County is surrounded by Central Virginia's picturesque Blue Ridge and Shenandoah mountains. This beautiful combination o... Read moreCentral Virginia is home to the Blue Ridge mountains, the University of Virginia, vineyards, peach and apple orchards, horse farms and races, an... Read moreLocated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and known for its year round beauty, Charlottesville, Virginia attracts visitors from all ove... Read moreLocated in Orange County and in close proximity to Fredericksburg, Virginia and Washington, D.C., this area is overflowing with history. Amongst man... Read moreLovingston, VA, located in beautiful Nelson County draws a host of new residents and visitors alike, all year; every year! Home to Wintergree... Read more |
