These four pictures make up a panorama of the James River and Looney Creek area. These pictures were taken from west of the junction of Looney Creek and James River. Purgatory Mountain is in picture 1. The James River and Looney Creek are out of sight behind the tree lines. The James River runs from left to right and Looney Creek comes out from behind the barn on the right and flows to the left. The Looney homesite was located along the tree line in the middle of picture 3.
For enlargements (showing details) of the individual pictures used to make up this panorama click on each link:
Picture 1 (Purgatory Mountain), Picture 2 (up the valley), Picture 3 (Looney's 1742 Homesite), Picture 4 (Blue Ridge Mt.)
Looney's Ferry Historical Marker located on HWY 11 about one mile south of Buchanan, Va.
A view looking up Looney Creek just above its junction with the James River.
Roots and their reflection on the bank of Looney Creek. :^)
Looney Creek where it flows into the James River (Note: Purgatory Mountain)
View from the Gravel Bar (above) looking up the James River where Looney's Ferry operated.
Looney Creek is on the left and the James River turns and flows off to the right.
The bridge that is visible is where Interstate Hi-Way 81 crosses the James River.
This picture was taken from the James River side of the gravel bar looking down river towards Buchanan, Va.
The fast water is caused by shallows which was likely where Indians and early settlers could ford (cross) the river.
Taken from the "pool" on the James River where Looney's Ferry operated.
Looking down river towards the "Eddy."
Note the old rock Bridge support on the far bank. Remnants of an old bridge that once spanned the Eddy.
The following is a map that I drew of the Looney Creek and Looney Fort area. There is an area (which I've indicated with two parallel red lines) on the left bank of the James River which looked to be a man made incline that lead up from the river to the higher ground along the river bank. This incline may have been used to bring people, horses and wagons up from the landing of a ferry. The homesite was said to be located on a small rise in the open field. There is nothing visible to indicate the exact location or size of Looney's Fort, the old Wilderness Road or the old Looney Orchard.
When I first began looking for the old Looney Homesite, by following the James River upstream from Lynchburg, Va. (State Hiway maps are terrible for finding anything historical), I stopped at the U.S. Government Park Information Office near the Natural Bridge. Upon inquiring about a map of the area that would show the location of Looney Creek, I was informed by the attendant that she was also a Looney descendant through her mother's side of the family. Talk about a small world! She gave me a Park Map and asked that I visit her sister who lived near by. Her sister was also interested in Looney genealogy. I stopped for a short visit, the day was getting late and I wanted to take pictures. I was informed that one of their cousins (un-named) now owned a small part of the original Looney lands.
The following picture shows the picturesque home of the sister I visited. I would like to thank both of these ladies,
Maudie (Perkins) Rice and Thelma (Perkins) Thompson, for their kind reception and helpful assistance in finding the Looney Homesite. This house is where Maudie lived. I have since learned that Maudie and Thelma's family connection is through the John (2) Looney line.
Old Log House located in South West Virginia and identified on the Historical Marker as "Crab Orchard."
It has nothing to do with the Looney's, I thought its construction to be representative of that used in the early days.
This page and all pictures Copyright January 2001, Larry W. Johnson
