William C. Richmond Homeplace / Sandstone Falls
Inscription
Near here was homestead of William C. Richmond (1752-1850). A veteran of the Revolution, he came here in 1799 as the first permanent English settler. A prolific family, the Richmonds operated a ferry across the New River for over 200 years and ran a grist mill at Sandstone Falls. The pro-Union family was
harassed by Confederates, leading to Samuel Richmond’s murder (1863).
[Reverse]
Also called the “Great Falls” of the New River, the rocky rapids have served as a power source for milling operations and an obstacle to river travel. During his 1812 expedition, U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall surveyed the area, noting that the falls were a “formidable obstruction.” West Virginia’s stone in the Washington Monument came from the area near visitor center.
Location
Sources
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