Historic Traffic Circle White Post Down in Clarke County’s Village of White Post – It’s Not the First Time, a Brief History

A local resident of the Rockland area on Warren County’s northside, our long-time friend and contributor Malcolm Barr Sr., contacted us about a situation, headed north or slightly northeast, on Rockland Road across the county line. That situation in Clarke County, more specifically in the unincorporated Village of White Post, was the missing “White Post” that sits at the major intersection of White Post at Berry’s Ferry and White Post Roads — the latter of which is Rockland Road on the Warren County side of the county line.

This reporter contacted Clarke County officials, including the Sheriff’s Office and Clarke County Administrative Offices. An accident dated August 28, 2025, was verified by Clarke County Sheriff Travis Sumption, who informed us that the Virginia State Police handled the accident response. Sheriff Sumption also referenced us to William “Billy” Thompson IV at White Post Restorations as the best point of informational contact on such incidents.

Thompson IV, who we learned is, not only vice-president of the family’s restoration business, but also President of the White Post Village Association, told us this: “Yes, I can confirm that the post was hit. It was a direct hit by a contractor working on a house within the village.”

Thompson also verified the Virginia State Police (VSP) response to the accident. After our query about the accident VSP sent us this summary: “Virginia State Police investigated a single-vehicle crash that occurred at noon on Aug. 28, 2025, on Berry’s Ferry Road at the intersection with White Post Road in Clarke County.

“A 2005 Dodge 1500 was making a left turn from Berry’s Ferry Road to White Post Road when it struck The White Post, which is located in the intersection.

“There were no injuries and no charges filed as a result of the crash,” VSP concluded.

Now you see it, now you don’t. The Historic White Post Village marker went missing again on August 28. Public Domain Photo/Wikipedia; Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Back on this side of the county line, Malcolm Barr Sr. also informed us of information gathered from Rockland Road neighbors indicating similar incidents of the intersection “White Post” going missing from what is believed to be other traffic contact accidents at least twice in recent years, including last year. We checked on the number of occurences with White Post Village Association President Thompson. He did verify what appears to be an ongoing situation, as well as how it is dealt with:

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time the post has been hit … The post is owned by the State and managed by VDOT. VA State Police provide VDOT with accident reports and other relevant information. The woodworker on staff at White Post Restorations handles the repairs. It is my understanding that VDOT handles reimbursement of repair costs with the responsible party. Regarding timeline, we typically try to have the post repaired within 1-2 weeks of damage.”

As to the history of that damage and repair and replacement, Thompson pointed us to a 2024 Winchester Star article on an April 2024 traffic strike on the “White Post” in which he was also the cited local informational source. In that article Thompson noted that VDOT has determined “the intersection is too small for barricades to be installed around the post.”

Two perspectives looking southward down White Post Road, which is Rockland Road on the Warren County side of the county line.

Also in that May 2024 Star story, Thompson cited local tradition indicating the intersection of White Post, which is a registered Historical Marker, is believed to have been hit at least 15 times since its placement. That placement he indicated dates way back to the horse-drawn carriage days, circa the 1760’s.

A visit to Wikipedia added this detail about the background history of the establishment of the directional White Post intersection marker in the then Virginia Colony’s village of White Post: “The village gets its name from the iconic white-painted post, erected in the 1760s by Lord Fairfax, which still stands today as a symbol of the area’s colonial heritage.

George Washington and Lord Fairfax pre-Revolutionary War

“According to a tradition currently inscribed on a bronze plaque affixed to the post, then Col. George Washington set the original post to guide travelers to Lord Fairfax’s residence. Greenway Court plantation was unusual in that Lord Fairfax was titled and residing in the colony.” That residency is further explained by Thomas Fairfax, the 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron’s, receipt of a large land inheritance from his mother, Catherine Culpeper, Lady Fairfax.

George Washington’s involvement is explained by his pre-Revolutionary War profession as a land surveyor in the Virginia Colony.

Who might have suspected that within a decade or so, Washington would be a major military player in establishing the American colonies’ independence as a nation from British royal rule, with Washington being named that independent nation’s first president.

Talk about history and the modern world colliding!!!