by Dick Hall-Sizemore

Just about any aspect of Virginia history is intertwined with the Civil War, and geology is no exception.

Pictured is the Catherine Furnace on Massanutten Mountain. Some of the pig iron used in Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond to manufacture cannons and other items for the Confederacy came out of this furnace. Workers dug the iron ore out of open trenches (sample shown) further up the mountain. At the furnace, the ore was melted and molded into pig iron. The blocks that constitute the walls of the furnace are Massanutten Sandstone, which came from outcrops nearby.

There is a story that the operator of the furnace during the war was a Union sympathizer who helped Union soldiers escape capture. He was arrested as a result of those activities. However, his captors realized that he was the only one around who knew how to operate the furnace and thus he was released on bond.

Then there were Melrose Caverns, on Rt. 11 near Harrisonburg. When Union General Nathaniel Banks camped near the spot in 1862, his troops soon discovered the cave and began exploring. For some time, the Union Army used the cave to store ammunition and other arms.

It turns out that Union soldiers were like soldiers everywhere and in every time. They left their mark on their surroundings. They carved their names into the walls and columns in the caverns, along with etchings of American flags and regimental coats of arms.

They used stalactites for target practice.

The occupation by the Union troops has been integrated into the story of the cave so that visitors get an equal dose of geology and Civil War history.

Melrose Caverns was one of several caverns open to tourists through the first part of the 20th century. However, after I-81 opened in the mid-1960’s and diverted traffic from Rt. 11, attendance sagged significantly, and the caverns were closed to the public in 1967. The facilities were removed about 10 years ago, and they are now open to the public.

Melrose Caverns has much to commend it. It may be smaller than the more famous Luray Caverns, but its smaller size makes it feel more approachable. Also, it is not as crowded as other caverns and the tour guide is entertaining.