Shenandoah National Park Rappahannock County

Newton Sisk farm, Tract 117, Rappahannock County

Under 'Johnson, John W.

Did you know?Orchard of 90 wormy apple trees

The 1920s survey

A 5-room house, 14 by 20 feet, with a shingle roof; 4 acres of orchard (90 apple trees). 18 acres, valued at $515.

Today

Landmarks on this map (1)

Schools

Hull School (historical) · USGS place names

House sites and family graves are never marked. Pins show only public places, from USGS place names and other public sources.

Landmarks in this tract: Hull School (historical) · USGS place names

Case files

Scanned deeds, surveys and claims, kept by the National Park Service (PDF).

JohnsonJohn_Rapp117.pdf (6.4 MB, PDF, opens in a new tab)

County court land file

Papers from the Rappahannock County circuit court’s proceedings to take the land for the park, scanned by JMU Libraries.

Sisk, Newton
The file at JMU Libraries, opens in a new tab PDF, opens in a new tab
Courtesy of the Rappahannock County Circuit Court Clerk and JMU Libraries, Histories along the Blue Ridge. Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0, opens in a new tab.

From the case file

Sisk claims to have paid $700. for this property.

— Sisk, Newton, Rappahannock County court land file, page 2. Courtesy of the Rappahannock County Circuit Court Clerk and JMU Libraries, Histories along the Blue Ridge. Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Acceptances refused for recommended Shenandoah tracts offered at higher prices than appraisals stop in instances where reappraisals show improvements or added values detailed information raising values of appraisal commissioners must be furnished stop reappraisal reports received to date generally fail in detail therefore it is requested you transmit new signed forms to provide for affected cases stop by return mail

— M. C. Huppuch, JohnsonJohn_Rapp117.pdf, page 27

Mr. Zerkel the reasion I claim more then the Original Park Award for my land is the fact that I have spent some time and money on my place for repair's which had to be done or else let it go to rack such as putting new roof on one of my building's and some other repairs also for trimming and Spraying my fruit trees And for cutting bushes and general clean up.

— John W. Johnson, JohnsonJohn_Rapp117.pdf, page 41

Now I would say $70.00 or $75.00 would about eover my expences now if you feel you can pey this price it is yours If not I would rather keep it my self.

— John W. Johnson, JohnsonJohn_Rapp117.pdf, page 41

Families of the park

Other tracts whose owners shared the name. A shared name doesn’t always mean a shared family.

Source: National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park, Historic Land Tracts.