History Tours
Patrick County Historian Tom Perry is working to bring tourists to The Free State Of Patrick with history. Tom, a graduate of Virginia Tech,, is the author of The Free State of Patrick: Patrick County Virginia in the Civil War, Ascent to Glory: The Genealogy of J. E. B Stuart, J. E. B. Stuart’s Birthplace: The History of the Laurel Hill Farm, Images of America: Patrick County, Virginia, God’s Will Be Done: The Christian Life of J. E. B. Stuart and the upcoming Notes From the Free State of Patrick: Patrick County and Regional History - Volume One. For a fee you can enjoy a tour of sites in Ararat associated with Civil War General J. E. B Stuart, Reverend Bob Childress, made famous in The Man Who Moved A Mountain and mid-wife Aunt Orlean Hawks Puckett, made famous by her cabin along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Other topics will include the Mount Airy and Eastern Railroad along with stories, legends and infamous crimes in the area known as The Hollow, Friends Mission and Ararat, Virginia, which are the same place. Tours are flexible and our guests’ interests in any particular subject can be expanded with tours to the “Rock Churches” ministered by Bob Childress or a stop by Aunt Orlean’s humble, rustic mountain cabin along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Experience history at its best as Tom brings J. E. B Stuart alive along with other famous Patrick County residents of the past. Copies of Images of America: Patrick County (Tom Perry’s newest publication), The Man Who Moved a Mountain by Richard C. Davids and Orlean Puckett: The Life of a Mountain Midwife by Karen Cecil Smith will be yours to take back home along with wonderful memories of your time spent at Wolf Creek Farm. A hay ride and campfire will complete your evening as you experience the wonders of solitude and stars as far as you can see! Availability is dependent on the author’s schedule and only Advance Reservations can take advantage of the tours.
Contact Perry at freestateofpatrick@yahoo.com for more information.
