In the early 1800s, settlers from Pennsylvania moved to Virginia in search of new land. They wanted to support each other in a community while they raised their families. Farmland in the Shenandoah Valley provided them that opportunity.

The families met often to pray and read scripture together. They found a significant verse for their travels; Jeremiah 6:16, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it."

The travelers liked the encouragement in the verse and when they reached the land allotted to them, they found two roads crossing each other.

The people looked at each other. "We have come to a crossroads made from ancient paths. We seek to follow a path to good things. Let's call our community Crossroads." Everyone agreed. Someone suggested a new way to spell the original word—CrossRoads.

Before long, log houses and lean-tos dotted the countryside as the settlers farmed the land. As families grew, plans were made for more permanent structures. CrossRoads became home to Burkholders, Shanks, Wengers, Brunks, and many more.

The stories in this series are set in the late 1800s.