Saving History Saturday: Preservation Victory at Cross Keys
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) recently announced a preservation victory at Cross Keys.
SVBF has successfully preserved 98 acres of the historic Webb Farm, a part of the Cross Keys Battlefield.
In 1862, the farm, owned by Dr. J.B. Webb, was an important part of the battlefield. Cross Keys was a pivotal part of the end of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign. The Webb Farm saw intense fighting during the battle as Jackson’s men held positions along Mill Creek Ridge, engaging Union forces under John C. Fremont.
The current owners, Fred and Jane Cline, donated an easement on the property, which will enable future generations to be able to experience, and learn from, the historic landscape. Of the Clines, SVBF CEO Kevin Walker said, “We are incredibly grateful to the Clines for their generosity and dedication to preserving our shared heritage.” Walker continued, “The preservation of the Webb Farm is a testament to the power of collaboration and the enduring importance of protecting our historic landscapes.” The Clines wanted to protect the property because they “have been concerned with the incredible amount of development in the Shenandoah Valley” and wanted to prevent “the loss of another working farm.”
SVBF has preserved more than 7,300 acres in the National Historic District and with its partners has preserved over 1,900 acres in Rockingham County. To find out more about SVBF, and their work, visit their website.
