Photos by Charlie Whitescarver
Members of the Pulaski and Montgomery County Great Valley Eastern Legacy Lewis and Clark Trail Committees present signage denoting the Ingles Ferry and Tavern site as one listed by William Clark in 1809 to Mike and Mary Ingles Barbour, the land owners and historic stewards of the property, at a ceremony on Sunday.
Heather Bell
PULASKI COUNTY – Ingles Ferry was recognized on Sunday as part of William Clark’s journey during the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Members of the Pulaski and Montgomery County Great Valley Eastern Legacy Lewis and Clark Trail Committees presented the site signage denoting the Ingles Site as one listed by William Clark in 1809 to Mike and Mary Ingles Barbour, the land owners and historic stewards of the property, at the ceremony at the site.
On November 20, 1809, William Clark wrote about traveling on the Ferry in his travel journal, stating, “set out with Dr. and [Mrs.] Floyd-crossed at Englishs Ferry-arrived at Christians Burgh-12 miles.”
Clark made similar notation on a daily basis starting Thursday, Nov. 9 and ending Dec. 7 as he and his group traveled through the Great Valley of Virginia. Ingles Ferry was established in 1762 by William Ingles who obtained a license to operate a ferryboat across the New River.
“Ingles Ferry Tavern was built in 1772 and became a very popular and frequented stop for travelers moving west along the Great Wagon Road/Wilderness Road,” said April Martin Danner, a member of the Pulaski and Montgomery County Great Valley Eastern Legacy Lewis and Clark Trail Committee. “Dr. Floyd mentioned in Clark’s notes was John Floyd, who would later become the Governor of Virginia, and his wife Letitia Preston Floyd, daughter of Colonel William Preston. The Floyd home of Thorn Spring was located southwest of the area that becomes the village of Newbern in 1810.”
“Before arriving and crossing at Ingles Ferry, Clark noted in his journal that he and his party stayed the previous four days at Major Billy Preston’s home on the Robinson Tract location; the exact house site is no longer extant,” Danner continued. “Ingles Ferry Farm is a protected site, having been placed in a land trust and conservation easement. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmark Register.”
Virginia’s Lewis and Clark Eastern Legacy Trail was created to expand heritage tourism and economic development in Virginia by:
Preserving the routes the Explorers traveled before and after the Expedition;
Honoring and Celebrating the connections of Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark to Virginia and to the people and places they visited during their travels;
Recognizing the Virginia members of the Corp of Discovery; and
Promoting citizen awareness and trail exploration in Virginia and beyond.”
According to Danner, a second round to approve other local Lewis and Clark sites will be open soon and be submitted for consideration by the local committees.
Volunteers are still welcome to join the local committees, for Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe Counties, please contact April Martin Danner at aprilmartin6165@gmail.com.