On the northeast bank of the Shenandoah River, five miles west of Luray, is the famous WHITE HOUSE, one of the oldest dwellings now standing in Page County. Exactly when it was built is not known, but the date was 1760 or before. The walls are of stone, but many years ago they were plastered on the outside and whitewashed, hence the name "White House." At this point the road from east to west has crossed, by ford, ferry, or bridge, for generations. The successive structures that have here spanned the river have taken their name from the old house -- the "White House Bridge" has become historic.

At Hamburg, on Mill Creek, nearer to Luray, stands and old church that was built in 1800 or earlier -- the Mill Creek Baptist Church; but for many years prior to the erection of that building the meeting of the congregation were held in the "White House." Martin Kauffman, John Koontz, James Ireland, and other distinguished ministers were leaders. And before the Baptist gathered their following, religious meetings of the Mennonites, who were numerous among the first settlers, were held here. See Strickler's "Massanutten," pages 36-43, and Wayland's "History of Shenandoah County, Virginia," 1927, pages 392, 423, etc.

In 1808 Lewis Summers, later eminent in the Kanawha Valley, traveling westward on horseback, paid 9 pence to be ferried over at the "White House." He wrote, "The river is over 100 yards wide & boats go down to Alexandria from 30 miles above this ferry." On May 21, 1862, Stonewall Jackson, moving towards Front Royal, crossed the White House Bridge with his army. Less than two weeks later he had the bridge burned to prevent Shields and Fremont from uniting their forces against him.

The "White House" has a vaulted (stone-arched) cellar under it, built probably as a fireproof refuge against Indian attack. Six other old houses in this region have cellars of like construction. Other facts concerning these vaulted cellars are to be found elsewhere in this volume.

The picture of the "White House" shown below, taken from the southeast (side towards the bridge), was made in 1929.