Re: Wissler/Whisler/Whistler in Virginia
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In reply to:
Wissler/Whisler/Whistler in Virginia
Howard Ashenfelter 1/12/05
I am not researching this family, but have a booklet with a little information.From "Mt. Jackson, VA - the Past of the Present and the Future" which was written by the local Chamber of Commerce, and contains information from local newspaper articles:
"In 1892, Gen. Gilbert Meem sold Strathmoor (pictured) and 1,217 acres of land in Meem's Bottom to Franklin H. wissler.The Wissler family had come to the Valley from Canada after the Civil War and had purchased the Columbia and Liberty iron smelting furnaces."
"After Franklin wissler bought Strathmoor, he changed the spelling to Strathmore, but of more importance, he made a number of improvements.He planted the first commercial apple orchard in the Valley, namely Strathmore, Maychild and 'Turkey Knob."
"When the Wisslers bought Strathmoor, the Shenandoah River had to be forded when one traveled from Meem's Bottom to Strathmoor.He built a 191-foot covered bridge across the river - known today as Meem's Bottom Covered Bridge."
In another chapter - "Just south of Mount Jackson stands the longest covered bridge of the nine remining in the State of virginia and the last crossing the Shenandoah River.Meem's Bottom Bridge stretches 191 feet in a single span across the North Fork of the Shenandoah.It was built in 1892-3 under the supervision of F.S. Wiossler and is carried bya wooden arch in the Theodore Burr tradition.The sturdy masonry abutment and matched horizontal siding are noteworthy features of the Meem's Bottom covered bridge."
"Since the planting of the first commercial orchard in 1892 by Franklin H. Wissler, Shenandoah County continues to have some of the finest orchards in Virginia.Mr. Wissler called his first orchard, Strathmore, after the estate he purchased from Gilbert S. Meet.The Strathmore Orchard of 150 acres was also the first orchard to be irrigated.Although this orchard is no longer, there is a lovely picture of it taken when the orchard was in full bloom hanging in the Mt. Jackson Community Library given by Jessie Richardson."
"According to the information found in the history of the John G. Meem Family, Franklin H. Wissler also planted Maychild Orchard of 350 acres (this orchard functioned until 1963) and Turkey Knob Orchard of 650 acres.All three orchards were located southwest of Strathmore Mantion."
In another chapter there is further information on the bridge, part of which is as follows - "He built it well with strict attention to proper drainage of rain and surface water and topped it with a roof.....Mr. Wissler deeded the bridge to the Highway Department in the 1930s in return for assuming its maintenance.It was placed on the Virginia Landmark Register, as well as the National Historic Register in April 1975.(picture)
In a chapter on St. Andrew's Episcopal Church - "In 1958 a Parish Hall, dedicated in memory of Mr. Franklin H. Wissler, was added to the existing church building."
Springmeadow - older section, 1804, newer section 1824 - "The house was built by and for the Osborne family from pine lumber which was cut on the place.It remained in the Osborne family until 1943 when it was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Wissler.The family tells the story that Mrs. Wissler had attended the auction of the house to look at some dining room chairs that were also for sale.As soon as he saw the house he was interested in it and so he returned to Strathmore where he was then living to get Mrs. Wissler so that she might come see it also.By the time they got back, the house had been sold, but fortunately, the Wisslers were able to purchase it from the buyer got a slightly higher price.They also got the chairs which still remain in the family."
"The Wisslers restored the house (pictured), installing plumbing, electricity, and central heat and added a modern kitchen.Mrs. Wissler landscaped the grounds and laid out the gardens."