In true Daphne fashion: a journal-style post is what you get today.

I'm channeling my old journal-style approach to this history blog. When I first started out, I was "dumping" a lot of thoughts, inspirations, and learnings into posts. I was treating this blog as a journal- and some days, like yesterday, I'm in my car or sitting on a bench in Colonial Williamsburg and random sentences, openings to blog posts or a paragraph for a post- hit me.

So there I was- driving to West Point, Virginia with a plan. Driving back to Williamsburg, I had random sentences fly into my brain.

But first, let me share the plan. It was to grab my go-to list of questions and visit one of my favorite kinds of places to learn history: an historical society. This time, the Historical Society of West Point, Virginia (HSWP).

This specific historical society has been on my "to visit" list for awhile. You know that old sentiment about never getting to the places right on your doorstep, putting them off for another day because they're "right there?"

That was HSWP for me, under a one-hour drive taking back roads.

Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.

RELATED: This post about exploring New Kent's Historical Society.

Walkway into commemorative garden next to HSWP

My mood shifts determine my destiny for the day.

On my to-do list was 'blog maintenance.' Specifically, updating links and article titles in the posts like this one getting some pretty solid Google traffic. (Ironically, it's also a journal-style post with minimal attention paid to search engine optimization strategies).

Some days just aren't meant to stare at a laptop. April 22, 2025 was one of those days. I needed to explore, to plan to explore, to build on what I've created with this blog.

My mood provoked me to review my list of 'places within an hour's drive.' Places to dive into history, lose myself, and not think about the overwhelm of blog maintenance tasks.

Thus my decision to jump in my Rogue and head to West Point, Virginia, 38 minutes away according to my GPS. (no freeways, just Virginia landscape!)

I arrived in West Point and I felt anti-social.

That introverted need to not be social: maybe it's why I landed on writing for my Free At 50 chapter. (You can read about that decision here.)

First off, I realized I was an hour early. Yes, I checked HSWP's website but somehow I didn't register the correct time the doors opened. I was on a call with an old friend, and told her I'd changed my mind- we laughed knowing my personality.

Could it possibly have been because deep down I didn't feel up to talking to people?

Secondly, I justified the decision to wander West Point, Virginia without "peopling" rather effectively.

• West Point, Virginia is close to where I live- I can easily pop back over and visit HSWP
• I have Explore Here's Pro Version downloaded to my phone
• I have more ideas and topics already I can possibly write about, so surely I can find something by wandering that can enhance some of those topics or lead me to a new concept (I don't need to go into the building for that!)
• the sun came out, I wanted to walk, and I saw that the town had historical markers scattered around

Quote found online, perfectly explaining my viewpoint.

Two things I found using two of my justifications.

1) Lewis "Chesty" Puller's Historical Marker

Explore Here did me a solid with this one.

I had no idea who Chesty Puller was or that he was born in 1898, miles away from my current home in Williamsburg, Virginia. This is what I love about Explore Here- the opportunity to find historical markers of people who impacted our shared American history. (and one of the more popular categories on this blog according to my recent survey)

I'd passed the Dollar Tree and McDonald's of West Point's parking lot many a time. However, I never took the time to park at the end closest to the road and look at the historical marker stood there.

Before I headed to West Point, I'd jumped on Explore Here, and took a peek at the historical markers in the area. I landed on Lt. General Puller's.

Why I'm excited to know him and share him with you, the readers who are passionate about American history: he's currently the most decorated Marine in history.

Facts about Lt. General Puller:

• born in West Point on June 26, 1898
• served in both WWII and the Korean War, nearly 40 years in the military
• started his military journey at VMI in 1917
• saw action in Nicaragua, Haiti (during American occupation), and China
• died in 1971 and buried in Christchurch Parish Cemetery in Middlesex County, where many Americans of note are buried

For a more complete biography on Lt. General Puller, click here.

RELATED: Click here to download the Explore Here app (get the Pro version to work offline and save your faves/ hope-to-visit sites).

Marker of Lt. General Puller

2) The O'Connor Hotel property

Not much is available online about this property... to be clear, I found nothing. So here is my request: if you know about this hotel's history- please comment or message me through Facebook or Instagram!

but it's gotten me thinking more about hotels that are private residences and private residences that are now hotels (or Bed and Breakfasts). I guarantee more to come on some of those historical properties!

In the meantime, here is what I did learn about the O'Connor hotel from the marker at the site:

• founder James O'Connor was born in County Clare, Ireland
• moved to Richmond, Virginia with his family in 1847 at age 9
• moved to West Point in 1881
• hit the hotel/tourist boom of West Point and opened the O'Connor hotel (by expanding his family home) in 1900
• ran the hotel until his death in 1917

Ad displayed on marker outside the O'Connor Hotel site

Spoiler: I went into the historical society after all.

I got so interested in what I found on the street, I did wander into the historical society- and I'm so glad I did! More blogging to come, based on my visit there.

In the meantime, you can jump onto the HSWP's website and get a taste of West Point, Virginia without actually wandering the streets like I did.

Residential street in West Point, Virginia

Closing words from history.

Was Martha Washington in West Point, Virginia in 1777? Maybe. Her family lived in New Kent County, a stone's throw away.

Below is a letter from Declaration of Independence signer Carter Braxton who lived in West Point. He's sharing intel about the Hessians with General George Washington and closes with a mention of dining with Mrs. Washington.

Read the letter with citations on Founder's Archives.

To George Washington from Carter Braxton, 12 September 1777