Rural areas - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph showing the community of Riverton and the Shenandoah River near Front Royal in Warren County Virginia. Chester Gap is visible in the background. The photograph looks south. The road and bridge visible are part of the “Winchester Turnpike,” today Route 522. This photograph was used in the book, "Twenty-five Chapters on the Shenandoah Valley" by John Wayland (page 364).
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Marvin Ziegler, John C. Reynolds, and Kenny Brill
Brill, Kenneth "Kenny" Courtney (1917-2001)
Photograph of the 1936 Poultry Judging Team that won first place at that year's Virginia State Fair in Richmond, Virginia. The members of the team were (l to r): Marvin Ziegler, John Calvin Reynolds, and Kenny Brill.
Identified by John Calvin Reynolds, one of the young men pictured.
John Calvin Reynolds appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 003295, 007446, 010872, 017873, 019753, and 020277.
Benchoff, Kathryn Leona Mahon (1886-1918)
Benchoff, Josephine Harbaugh (1916-1938)
Benchoff, Kathryn Mahon, Jr. (1913-1917)
Noel, Rosalie Keith Benchoff (1907-1973)
Photograph of Howard J. Benchoff with his first wife, Kathryn Leona (Mahon) and four children. Identified (l to r) are: Robert Johnston Benchoff, Josephine Harbaugh Benchoff (infant), Kathryn Leona (Mahon) Benchoff, Howard J. Benchoff, Kathryn Mahon Benchoff, and Rosalie Keith (Benchoff) Noel. Howard Johnston Benchoff was a well-known and influential headmaster of Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) in Woodstock for fifty years. His son, Robert, graduated from MMA, served in the Navy during WWII, and later followed his father as headmaster of the school. His wife was Jean Rebecca Sine (1921-2002). Josephine became an invalid and died in her early 20's. Kathryn died as a child. His daughter, Rosalie, grew up on the MMA campus. In 1930, she married a doctor, William B. Noel, and moved with him first to Michigan and eventually to North Carolina where the couple raised two sons.
ca 1916 based on Josephine's age in this photograph.
Identified in 2005 by Betty (Benchoff) Page who was a niece of Howard J. Benchoff.
Josephine H. Benchoff appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 003170, 020276, and 020287.
Kathryn (Mahon) Benchoff appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020276 and 020287.
Kathryn Benchoff appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020276 and 020287.
Large group of unidentified men, women, and children posed together on the steps of a porch. Probably, this was a family group.
Portrait photograph of an unidentified young woman wearing a blouse with rows of ruffles and looking towards the side, almost in profile.
Recordings & registrations - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of two pages (page 392 and 393) of a baptismal registry. A transcription of the pages follows: Entries on the left side of the image: Gracie Bell daughter of Alfred and Bettie Hollingsworth was born January 17, 1879. Bap. June 9th, 1879 Hubert Hudson, son of Calvin + Rebecca Hottel, born 19 of November 1877. Bap September 16 1879 Homer Hudson, son of Joseph and Kate Fravel, born 26th of October 1876, Bap 4 of April 1880 Ann Elisabeth, daughter of Joseph and Kate Fravel Born 6th of August 1878. Bap. 4 of April 1880. John Milton, son of Geo W. + Roberta Gill, born Dec. 26, 1877. Bap. June 23, 1880. Russell Claiborne, son of Geo W. + Roberta Gill, born Dec. 22, 1879, Bap. June 23, 1880. Bertha Rebecca May daughter of Samuel + Maria Hottel, was born May 3 1879, bap. October 5th 1880 Minnie Edith, daughter of Calvin + Rebecca Hottel, born 26th of January 1880 Bap. Dec. 18, 1880. John William, son of George Ira and Sallie Wright, born March 21, 1880, Bap. January 21 1881. Rob. Henry, son of Christian and Sallie Fansler, born 14 of September 1880, Bap. December 18, 1881. Mary Bruce, daughter of Randolph + Hattie P. Gillock born Aril 19th 1880 One other entry on that page was crossed out. It said, "Silas Milton, son of John + Emma Keller, born August 27, 1879. Bap. 12th of December 1880". Entries from the right side of the image: Arthur Frankin [sic], son of Charles F. + Lucy A. Rush, born 30th of April 1881. Bap. April 2nd, 1882. ??, son of Samuel Bird, born April 8th, 1869 and Peter son of same born January 15, 1871. Bap. May 6th 1883 Lula Bird, daughter of Alfred and Bettie Hollingsworth born May 9th, 1880, Bap. May 6th 1883 Daisy, daughter of Samuel and Maria Hottel was born May 27th, 1882. Baptized August 31st, 1883 Roy Clyde, son of Charles and Ida Bell Fravel, Born September 22, 1882. Bap. Sep. 1st, 1883. Ernest Edgar, son of Mahlon and Alice Feller, born March 24, 1881. Bap. March 28, 1884 Jacob Brown, son of Joseph Lenal_ and his wife Sallie, born 12 of July 1883. Baptized 20th of April 1884. Nettie May, daughter of John + Jane E. Dellinger, born 4th of April 1884. Bap. April 25 1884. Estella, born August 18th 1880, Joseph H. born October the 7th 1882; Nellie Esther born January 28 1884 - Children of Joseph and Kate Fravel, were baptized April 28th, 1884. Joseph Locks, son of Mahlon and Virginia Bushong, born January 2nd 1884. Baptized August 10th 1887. A clip holding the pages open at the bottom of the image says, "Compliments of German Insurance Company New York". A ruler is also visible with a bible quote on it.
Rear view of the Mt. Airy Farm house and part of the gardens located near Meems Bottom south of Mount Jackson.
Same house appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020256 and 020272.
Endless Caverns Information and Gift Shop
Visitors' centers - Virginia - New Market
Photograph of the Information and Gift Shop for the Endless Caverns resort near New Market, Virginia. In 2004, the building was still standing (in disrepair) and was located about a mile north of the present entrance to Endless Caverns.
Identified in 2004 by Nancy Stewart whose father, Allen Branner, owned the building and adjoining field.
Buses - American - Virginia - New Market
Photograph of a line of buses from Endless Caverns, used to shuttle visitors to and from the train depot west of New Market and the Endless Caverns resort area. The building housing the caverns entrance is visible on the left and the lodge is on the right. The owner of Endless Caverns, Allen Branner, promoted the attraction and was responsible for the "thousands" of visitors. He later helped establish the New Market Chamber of Commerce.
Identified in 2004 by Nancy Stewart, whose father was the owner of Endless Caverns. She visited numerous times and recognized the buses and buildings.
Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Va.)
Military academies - Virginia - Woodstock
Photograph showing the rear of the Massanutten Military Academy campus. The picture looks east and would have been taken from the area of the railroad tracks to the west of campus. Visible are the school's buildings and sports facilities. Several cadets and spectators can be seen playing football and sheafs of wheat are in the foreground.
Edmund Woodward and Frances Woodward at Shrine Mont
Woodward, Frances Peyton Gibson (1877-1945)
Photograph of Dr. Edmund Woodward (left) and his wife Frances Woodward (right). The photograph was taken at the Shelter Chapel located at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs Virginia. The chapel and other buildings are visible in the image. The couple led the establishment of Shrine Mont in 1925.
Photograph of "Saratoga", a stately home located in Boyce, Clarke County. The home was built by General Daniel Morgan in about 1781. This photograph was used in the book, "Historic Homes of Northern Virginia" by John Wayland (pages 98-101).
Identified in 2002 by Barbara Adamson who recognized it from the book by Wayland.
This home is pictured in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020240 and 020267.
Dirt roads - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of a dirt road located above and along a stretch of river. An unidentified man is standing at the base of the telephone pole. A house and power lines are also visible.
Photograph of a switchback on Orkney Grade, a road connecting Mount Jackson, Virginia, with the communities of Orkney Springs and Basye, Virginia. This photograph shows the area commonly known as the "Double S Curves," where two switchback curves were present on Orkney Springs side of the mountain roadway. This stretch of road has since been straightened. A 1920's era automobile and two unidentified men are visible on the right of the image.
Late 1920's based on a note in margin of paper copy.
No ID Form. Identified was made in the margin of the paper copy.
Same spot is pictured in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020178 and 020265.
Photograph of a peaceful spot on a river bend with trees on both banks.
Photograph of historic Happy Retreat, a stately home located in Charles Town, West Virginia. Happy Retreat (also known as Charles Washington House and Mordington) is a historic property in Charles Town, West Virginia, which was originally owned and developed by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of George Washington and the founder of Charles Town.
Additional information about the property's history was found on-line.
Same house appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020263 and 020314.
View looking down a hill and toward mountains in the distance. Rows of planted trees are visible on the left.
View looking up an inclined pasture. There are cedar trees visible along the ridge. Natural stone and and a feed trough are visible in the foreground.
View of a two-story house with a covered front porch and a trellised garden off to the side. An unidentified man is standing with a horse in the yard.
Same house and yard is pictured in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020241 and 020260.
Unidentified road leading towards a tree-covered mountain. A wood fence is visible in the foreground.
Photograph of the Burner Farm, located southwest of Luray Virginia. A 1920s era automobile is on the road and a house and barn are visible in the distance.
View of Hawksbill Creek, south of Luray Virginia. Unidentified boys are visible splashing in the creek. A house, trees and mountains are visible in the distance. This site is near Willow Grove Mill and Route 340 is the road visible on the right of the image. The houses still stand.
Identified in 2007 by John Adamson as Smith Creek near New Market who made an on-site inspection to confirm his identification.
Identification corrected in 2025 by Bill Wine.
Photograph of the gardens at Mt. Airy Farm just south of Mount Jackson. The house and a brick wall are also visible.
Same house is pictured in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 020256 and 020272.
Photograph of the seven sons of Asa Allen and Mary Elizabeth (Dirting) Sheetz. Identified are (l to r): Back row: John, Jacob, Harry, Ralph Sheetz Front row: Elon, Luther, and Noah Sheetz There were also three daughters, Bess, Virginia, and Lydia, who are not pictured here.
Identified in 2004 by Kathy (Sheetz) McElroy who was a daughter of Ralph Sheetz and who had seen this photograph before.
Harry R. Sheetz appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 010831, 014786, and 020255.
Elon Daniel Sheetz appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 004116, 014786, and 020255.
Luther G. Sheetz appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 014786, 020255, and 027327.
The remaining Sheetz brothers appear in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 014786 and 020255.
Haun, Eleanor "Ella" Hollingsworth Grabill (1888-1976)
Photograph of Eleanor "Ella" Hollingsworth (Grabill) Haun, seated and wearing her wedding dress and veil. Eleanor was the daughter of Captain John Henry (1839-1922) and Mary Lytle (Hollingsworth) (1846-1934) Grabill. A graduate of the Massanutten Academy in Woodstock, Eleanor married Jacob Haun (1891-1985) in 1918. Jacob was born in “Hollertown”, Shenandoah County, the son of Eleazer and Lilly Belle (Shipp) Haun. He had served as a Private in the U.S. Army during WWI. When he married, he worked as a high school principal. He later founded the Haun-Magruder Insurance Company, in Woodstock, where he worked for decades. Eleanor was a contributing writer for many years to the Shenandoah Herald and other publications. She assisted in compiling historical information concerning Shenandoah County men killed in World War II. Eleonor was also an editor of the Woodstock Bicentennial Historical Booklet and a member of the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. The couple had a son together, Jacob Haun, Jr.
No ID form. Name was written in the margin of the paper copy.
Biographical information was compiled from public records.
Eleanor Hollingsworth (Grabill) Haun appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 000453, 020209, 020228, 020238, and 020254.