Memory Lane

The coins displayed in the following sections of this exhibit were found in and around the old wagon station, Saunders' Toll Gate and from the battlefield of Ox Hill itself. The wagon station was also the probable location of the "carriage house, barn and stables" mentioned in Dr. Welch's letter where he treated the wounded of his brigade.

Little River Turnpike is one of Virginia's oldest roads dating back to the early 18th century. The 490 foot elevation of this road was known locally as Ox Hill which was where the turnpike cut through a north/south ridge (that Ox Hill is a part of ) equidistant to Germantown and 1862 Chantilly.

The actual hilltop was a little further to the north and at a height of 503 feet was the second highest elevation in Fairfax County. The intersection of West Ox Road and Little River Turnpike also dates back as far as 1727 when West Ox Road was constructed to access a failed copper mining venture near Frying Pan (Floris), Virginia.

Throughout these early days of America's and Virginia's history, the barter system was a way of life and hard currency was difficult to come by. However the many travelers who passed through the area would normally use hard currency to procure services and provisions for their journeys. So it made sense to find colonial coins at old way-stations, toll gates and taverns around Ox Hill.

The coins that were recovered from this archeological survey illustrate some of the more colorful origins of America's currency. They also give us a unique historical timeline of the area from before the birth of this nation up to when we became a nation divided.

Editors Note: Since all of the historic sites featured here are now developed, we felt it was important to preserve this physical record. As time and energy permits, more coins and colonial artifacts from the salvage survey will be added to this exhibit.