In June of 1849, a contentious vote was taken in which only white male landowners could participate to move our county seat of justice from Urbanna to Saluda. Saluda is located approximately in the middle of the county and has access to water by way of Oakes Landing Road on Urbanna Creek, the “Middlesex Ridge” road (Route 17) and the main county road (Route 33.) Thomas W. Fauntleroy of Oakenham and John P. Bristow both owned land in Saluda, and they saw the opportunity to enhance the commerce and population of this sleepy village. Mr. Bristow owned the property where the present courthouse was built and he was paid $5 for the property. Mr. Fauntleroy “named the place Saluda, which means healthful, after he visited relatives who lived on the Saluda River in South Carolina.” (Rivers and Roads of Middlesex County, Virginia, Rappahannock Press Inc. Urbanna, VA 1996)
Reference: “Signatures in Time: A Living History of Middlesex County, Virginia”
With General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller’s home just down the street, the Middlesex County Museum has collected a number of pieces that celebrate the decorated
August 26th is Women’s Equality Day! August 26, 1920 The following record of the first women to vote in Middlesex is comprised of women from
The Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society, with the help of Middlesex County, is currently in the process of registering Saluda as an Historic District.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources will conduct a public information hearing of the Saluda Historic District on August 10, 2020. The meeting begins at
This Cultural & Historic Resource Survey Report was prepared in 2017 for the Middlesex County Museum & Historical Society. The information found in the study
