A visit to White Stone

   Actually, there really was a white stone that gave White Stone, Virginia its name. The historical record of Lancaster County contains several references to the rock, though no one has any idea what happened to it.

   Today, the town of White Stone is a bustling center of commercial activity at the crossroads of Route 3 and Route 200. It's a popular destination for both visitors and residents, and has a lot to offer both.

   “It's changed a lot in recent years. We seem to have been discovered,” said Dottie MacDonald, a longtime area resident and an agent with Jim and Pat Carter Real Estate in White Stone.

   In a region where communities date back to the 17th century, White Stone, as a village, is a relative youngster. Court records from 1715 first mention the “white stone” when referring to a property boundary. There was a private post office in 1830, which was replaced a few years later by a U.S. post office. Just before and just after the Civil War there were a couple of mills and a couple of general stores near the crossroads.

   By the turn of the century White Stone had becoming a thriving village, with a couple of dozen businesses clustered near the crossroads. By the 1920s there were three hotels - the Bruce Hotel, the Sanders Hotel, and the Edwards hotel. Romulus Sanders operated a department store, three stories tall, packed full of merchandise. A bowling alley and dance hall provided evening entertainment.

   White Stone continued to thrive, and incorporated as a town in 1953, with a mayor and town council. Today, White Stone is still a growing community with plenty of small town atmosphere.

   “We didn't get our first traffic light until well into the 1980s,” Dottie said.

   White Stone is home to a number of well known businesses in the Northern Neck. Besides Carter Real Estate, Bay Meadows, IsaBel Horsley, Long & Foster and Pat Lawler have offices there.

   The village has also become a magnet for antique shops, including Three Sisters Antiques, .

   White Stone Wine and Cheese has become a White Stone institution, offering gourmet choices in both dining and shopping. Bruce Watson has owned the French market and restaurant for 10 years.

   “White Stone is a wonderful place to do business,” Bruce said.

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