Is there any information on the stone buildings in Beaver Creek - I understand there are twelve that were built in the 1700s. I am curious as my ancestor Anthony Baltzer (b. 1753) and his brother George were noted in the History of Washingon County as the first masons in Washington County and they lived nearby. It would be interesting to find out when they were built and who was involved in the building. Thanks! Marilee Cunningham

Hi,

I found the following on http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id...

The Newcomers, a family of Swiss-German origin, according to Perini's history, built many of the 12 stone structures near the creek, including six dwellings.

Thanks so much for your quick response....I plan to ride up there from Virginia tomorrow and take a look at the buildings and church cemetery where my 4th gr grandparents are buried. I wonder if the Newcomers actually built the places themselves or they hired some masons to do it - might never find that out :).

Thanks again. Marilee

I've been told by a lady in the County office (years ago) that my family (Johann Stauffer/Stover and wife Eva) owned property by the old mill in Beaver Creek in the early 1800's. Does anyone know of this?

My father grew up in the BC area and he used to say that these stone buildings and farm houses were originally covered with a white stucco. This stucco was removed in the early 20th century to reveal the stonework. Indeed I remember that the dairy farm I used to work on back in the early 1950s, a section of the outside wall under the back porch still had the original stucco. This is the farm located along the Black Rock road that can be seen from I70 and was owned by the Funk family.
Joe...

Thanks, Joe - very interesting. I wonder if the stucco was original to when they first built the buildings or if it was put on later. My ancestor Anthony Baltzer, the mason, married Elizabeth Funk so I wonder if one of the houses was in her family. According to a credible family history, Elizabeth was the daughter of a Jacob Funk. There is a Jacob Funk, Jr., b. 1724, who with brother Henry started Funkstown, MD - he had a daughter Elizabeth but she was born about 1758 and our Elizabeth (48 years old according to the will in Baltzer Rev Pension records) was born about 1772. So, maybe she was actually a granddaughter of Jacob Jr.? Jacob Jr. also had two sons, John and Jacob, both born in 1750s. The family history lists the two brothers of Elizabeth as Peter and Jacob, who became IL landowners. If you have any knowledge of any of the families who lived there, I would love to know it.....there are SO many Funks around there! Thanks again. Marilee