Brocks Gap

Brocks Gap is the name given to 200 square miles in Rockingham County, Virginia, that were created by the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. As early as the 1740s, German-speaking settlers were attracted to the area by abundant water, plentiful wood, fertile river bottoms, and great hunting. Many of the first settlers stayed for generations, tucked into the security of the mountains. Families were self-sufficient, growing their own food, gathering wild berries and nuts for their own use, and selling the surplus. Stories and traditional ways of life have been passed down through generations, making Brocks Gap a distinct area of culture. Today, many families of the early settlers still live in their home community. Through over 200 photographs, this history takes readers through the remarkable past of Brocks Gap and its people.

Authors Lena Albrite Turner and her daughter Pat Turner Ritchie are of the eighth and ninth generations in Brocks Gap. Their family connections extend to nearly all of the small communities of the area: Fulks Run, Criders, and Bergton. Pat has written six books on area families, and for 15 years, Lena and Pat have sponsored Brocks Gap Heritage Day to encourage others to appreciate and take pride in their mountain heritage.