The Henry Clay Bushong House, Roanoke, Virginia

The Henry Clay Bushong House Roanoke, Virginia By Rick Bushong September, 2013	At about 100 years old.

There are three beautiful black and white photographs, taken in the 1930's, of a two story brick house in Roanoke Virginia, titled "Bushong Farm, Salem vic., Roanoke County, Virginia", in the Library of Congress, Since photographs are such a valuable part of our heritage, when a Bushong photograph is found, that has become disassociated with its family or line, it's always important to try and unite it with its proper Bushong ancestors.

These original photographs were taken in the 1930's, by Frances Benjamin Johnston, using a large format 8" x 10" view camera, and they are extremely detailed. Here you can view very large images by selecting the size of the file/image...

A Google search eventually, brought the up book: A Place Apart: A Brief History of the Early Williamson Road and North Residents and Places, By Helen R. Prillaman, Published 2009, Page 51-53.

It turns out the house belonged to Henry Clay Bushong....

BUSHONG LINEAGE: Henry Clay Bushong/John W. Bushong and Eliza Jane Evans/Phillip Bushong and Elizabeth Brugh/ Henry W. Bushong and Barbara Lohr/ Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John and Barbara Bushong the immigrants.

In her book, Ms Prillaman has a more recent photo and she relates some of the history of the house, now over 180 years old, and still standing today. It is called Greenridge but is better known as "The Bushong Place", and is located on Barns Ave. in Roanoke, Virginia. It was originally built by a Henry Pefley about 1832. The home was eventually purchased by David Deyerle in 1860 and he expanded it. After David Deyerle was killed by a bull in 1898, the deed was transferred on January 23, 1899. For one dollar William W. Deyerle, transferred it to Henry Clay Bushong and his wife, Margaret Deyerle Bushong. Margaret and William were children of David Deyerle. When Henry died a few years later, in 1904, the home was passed on to the Nininger family who were descendants of the Bushong family through a Bushong daughter, Bessie Inez Bushong. Bessie married Clyde Nininger, son of Nathan Nininger. In 1971 ownership of the property left the Bushong family when it was purchased by the Beckers who restored the home. It was later purchased by a Jared M. Green, who's wife was the one who researched the house's history.

It might be remembered, Henry Bushong lost his father, John W. Bushong, at five years old when he was struck by lightning, inside his home.

Death From Lightning ---The Salem (Va.)
Register says that on Thursday evening, the 31st ultimo, Mr. John Bushong, of Roanoke county, was struck dead by lightning. Mr. Bushong was at home, and at the time be was struck, no one was in the room with him. His wife was in an adjoining room and by her shrieks soon aroused the whole family to the scene of death. He was lying prostrated with his hands and arms partially under him with his face towards the floor. He was taken up immediately and laid upon the bed, but life was gone. No effect of the lightning could be seen anywhere upon the building, and it is supposed the lightning passed in at an opening in a window caused by a pane of glass being broken out. The only mark of violence seemed to be upon his left shoulder, where there was an indentation about two inches long, and appeared as if made by a hot iron rod Which had laid there and remained until it had sunk one third its thickness into the flesh. From that place down to the top of the left boot the hair of the body was singed in a narrow streak close to the skin. The boot was bursted from the instep around to the toes, at which place the whole toe of the boot seemed torn Into fragments. At the same time one of his sons, also received a shock which came near proving fatal.

The Daily Dispatch
August 13, 1856
Richmond, Va.

Notice it mentions a son was almost killed by the shock. Regardless if it was Henry or a brother who was almost killed, he saw the results, and was definitely effected. It's certain he could appreciate the security of a brick house.

Title: Bushong Farm, Salem vic., Roanoke County, Virginia
Creator: Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer
Date Created/Published: [between ca. 1930 and 1939]
Medium: 1 negative : safety film ; 8 x 10 in.
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-csas-05583 (digital file from original negative)

Google Street View or the Henry Clay Bushong House

But with a little more searching, I was able to locate the exact address, 5606 Barns Ave, Roanoke, VA 24019 and from that, what was interesting was, to actually see the house, as it is today, through Google map here, Google Street View 5606 Barnes Ave.

As was discussed in the book, the house was built in two stages and with two different colored bricks. It has since been painted white, but it is the same house. It's possible in street view to, "drive" up and down the road to see the house from a several of different angles. Of course there's a bird's eye view.

Knowing the Ninigers are direct descendants of both Bushong and Deyerle, it turns out, ownership of the house was in the hands of the Henry Clay Bushong's descendent's for over 70 years, but it was in the Deyerle family for 111 years.

To help keep these three beautiful photographs united with their family, and since they are in the public domain, they have been added to Henry Bushong's Find a Grave memorial, as well as his father in-law, David Deyerle, and Henry's daughter, Bessie Nininger. Here's a link to Henry's memorial... Henry Clay Bushong on FindaGrave.com		Bushong-Deyerley House, taken about 1898. Thought to be: David Deyerle on steps, Henry Clay Bushong and wife Margaret Catherine Deyerle Bushong, David A. Bushong, Claude D. Bushong, Bessie Bushong, Harry Bushong and Robert Bushong and two unidentified. Photo from Beverley Bushong Getzen, via FaceBook.

The Henry Clay Bushong HouseRoanoke, Virginia

The Henry Clay Bushong House
Roanoke, Virginia