Elk Run

Gazing at the seemingly unremarkable landscape of Elk Run, one might wonder what stories lie beneath the surface. Elk Run, a name whispered through centuries, holds the echoes of Fauquier County’s earliest days. Established in the early 1700s by colonial settlers, Elk Run quickly became a bustling hub of activity. It was a key settlement that displaced the native Manahoac Indians. By the 1750s, Elk Run boasted a tavern, an ordinary, a blacksmith’s shop, and even a brick Anglican Church. This church replaced a simpler wooden chapel built in 1730. Elk Run wasn’t just a settlement. It was a pivotal center of early government. It served as a springboard for the expansion of Fauquier County. A fascinating piece of Elk Run’s history connects to one of America’s most prominent figures. The first permanent minister of Elk Run Church, Reverend James Keith, was the grandfather of Chief Justice John Marshall. The Anglican church at Elk Run eventually met its demise. A new church built in Warrenton in the 1750s overshadowed Elk Run’s prominence. By the mid-19th century, the once-thriving church fell into ruins. Today, little visible evidence remains of the early Elk Run settlement above ground. Only a solitary country store from a later period stands as a silent witness to the passage of time. In the year 2000, a collaborative effort between St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and St. James Church in Warrenton breathed new life into Elk Run’s history. A professional archaeological dig, aided by volunteers, took place at the site of the former Anglican church. The dig not only confirmed historical accounts of the church’s cruciform shape and approximate size but also unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts. Among these were 3,000-year-old arrowheads. These and other discoveries illuminated the pre- and post-European settlement history of Fauquier County. Elk Run’s story is more than just a local history lesson. It’s a glimpse into the heart of Fauquier County’s origins, a testament to the enduring power of place and the echoes of lives lived long ago.