York Hill
National Register of Historic Places

York Hill

Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson County, West Virginia
Listed
July 25, 2006
Type
Building
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
06000654

About this property

York Hill, near Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia is a historic property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original log portion of the house was built in the mid-1750s by Samuel Darke on a 360-acre (150 ha) tract conveyed by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron in 1754. The farm passed into the ownership of Colonel James Hendricks in 1762. Upon Colonel Hendricks' death in 1795, the farm was sold into ownership of the Snyder family. Due to heavy tax debt, the Snyder's lost the farm and Robert Hockensmith purchased it in 1939 in partnership with Milton Burr. Mr. Hockensmith later bought out Mr. Burr's share and transferred ownership of the property to his daughter, Mary Frances (Hockensmith) Hockman, upon her marriage in 1955. Upon Ms. Hockman's death in 2007, her son, Gordon Hockman, became the current owner. York Hill began as a farm consisting of livestock, grains, and tobacco. The Snyder's began to develop the farm as an apple/fruit orchard, and the Hockensmiths and Hockmans fully developed the commercial potential of the York Hill orchards which still operate today. Several additions have been made to the house since its humble origins as a simple two-storied log cabin. An extended two-storied wing was added in the late 1790s to include separate living quarters for another family member. A limestone addition to the house and other various stone out-buildings were built between 1802 and 1825, including the 1812 bank barn that is host to many weddings and receptions today. The last additions, to include the stately columned-front porch and west wing, were built in 1972 by Jerry Hockman.

Location

1583 Ridge Rd.
Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson County, West Virginia
39.37522, -77.84671

Categories

AGRICULTUREARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about York Hill

This page lists York Hill. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your York Hill report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Rock Spring
Industrial
0.6 mi
Hazelfield
Early Republic
0.7 mi
Glenburnie
Early Republic
1.1 mi
Burr, Peter, House
Industrial
1.2 mi
Tackley Farm
Colonial
1.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was York Hill listed on the National Register?

York Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 25, 2006.

What type of historic resource is York Hill?

York Hill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for York Hill?

The period of significance for York Hill is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1754.

Can I research the history near York Hill?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near York Hill will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Jefferson County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Jefferson County.

Explore JeffersonCounty ›

More historic places in West Virginia

Browse all historic places in West Virginia.

View West Virginiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

West Virginia history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

West Virginiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near York Hill will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report