Tag Archives: The Great Wagon Road

Salisbury, NC: A Crossroads of American History on the Great Wagon Road

Posted on by

Part Four of #OctoberOnTheRoad

In the heart of North Carolina’s Piedmont region lies Salisbury, a city whose significance in American colonial and frontier history far exceeds what its modest size might suggest. As a crucial waypoint along the Great Wagon Road – the primary route for westward migration in 18th-century America – Salisbury emerged as a vital commercial, administrative, and cultural hub that helped shape the settlement patterns and development of the American South.

The Great Wagon Road: America’s First Highway

To understand Salisbury’s importance, one must first appreciate the monumental role of the Great Wagon Road itself. Stretching over 800 miles from Philadelphia through the Shenandoah Valley and into the Carolina Piedmont, this route served as the primary artery for migration and commerce during the colonial period. Between 1730 and 1775, an estimated quarter-million settlers traveled this road, making it arguably the most significant thoroughfare in pre-Revolutionary America. These migrants – predominantly Scots-Irish, German, and English settlers – were seeking fertile land and economic opportunity in the southern backcountry.

Strategic Establishment

Salisbury was officially established in 1753 as the county seat of Rowan County, which at the time encompassed a vast territory extending to the Mississippi River. The town’s location was no accident. Positioned at a strategic point where the Great Wagon Road crossed the Trading Path – an ancient Native American trail running east-west – Salisbury became a natural crossroads. This intersection of major routes transformed the settlement into an indispensable stop for travelers, traders, and settlers moving south and west.

The town was named after Salisbury, England, reflecting the British colonial influence, though its character would be shaped by the diverse stream of settlers flowing through on the wagon road. Its founders, including surveyor John Dunn, recognized the commercial potential of this location and deliberately planned a town that could serve the needs of the constant flow of migrants.

Before the official establishment, at least seven log homes already dotted the landscape. Among those early settlers was Johannes (John) Adams – evidence that these trails served as vital migration and trade corridors. Originally part of Anson County, the growing influx of families prompted the creation of Rowan County, with Salisbury designated as its county seat due to its thriving population.

The settlers brought more than farming traditions. Adams and his son, arriving from Lancaster, established themselves as potters – Adams purchased a lot in 1755 and became Salisbury’s first documented potter of European descent. Their lead-glazed earthenware reflected German ceramic traditions from Central Europe, contributing to North Carolina’s rich pottery heritage alongside influences from the Piedmont Quaker community and the Moravian settlement in Salem. Salisbury’s economy thus developed around both its geographic advantages and the specialized trades its settlers introduced.

John Adams died in 1762, and his sons evidently did not continue in the pottery trade. I am still trying to track down when they left Salisbury, but there is little doubt they did. There are no records of burials before 1793 in the Lutheran Cemetery, which means that John Adams was probably buried in an unmarked grave, possibly on the site of his log cabin.

Economic and Commercial Hub

As traffic along the Great Wagon Road intensified, Salisbury rapidly developed into a thriving commercial center. Taverns, inns, and ordinaries sprang up to accommodate weary travelers who needed rest, provisions, and their wagons repaired before continuing their journeys. Blacksmith shops, general stores, and trading posts proliferated, creating a bustling economy centered on serving the migration corridor.

The town became a crucial resupply point where settlers could purchase essential goods, livestock, and seeds before pushing farther into the frontier. Merchants in Salisbury established trade networks that connected the Atlantic seaboard with the developing backcountry, facilitating the flow of manufactured goods westward and agricultural products eastward. This commercial vitality attracted skilled craftsmen, professionals, and entrepreneurs, further diversifying the local economy.

Administrative and Political Significance

Beyond commerce, Salisbury served as an important administrative center for the sprawling North Carolina backcountry. As the county seat, it housed courts, government offices, and facilities that brought order to the frontier. The courthouse became a symbol of British authority and, later, American governance. Legal proceedings, land transactions, and official business conducted in Salisbury affected settlement patterns across a vast territory.

During the Revolutionary War, Salisbury’s strategic location made it militarily significant. The town served as a supply depot and recruiting center for Continental forces. Lord Cornwallis occupied Salisbury briefly in 1781 during his southern campaign, recognizing its importance as a logistics hub. The town’s prominence in the war effort underscored its role as a regional center of gravity.

Cultural Melting Pot

The constant flow of diverse settlers through Salisbury created a unique cultural environment. Scots-Irish Presbyterians, German Lutherans, English Anglicans, and others brought their distinct traditions, crafts, and worldviews. This diversity fostered a pragmatic, cosmopolitan atmosphere unusual for frontier settlements. Religious institutions, schools, and cultural organizations established in Salisbury served not just the town but the wider region, making it a center for learning and cultural development.

Lasting Legacy

While the Great Wagon Road’s importance diminished with the rise of railroads in the 19th century, Salisbury’s foundational role in regional development left an indelible mark. The town’s early prosperity enabled investment in infrastructure, education, and civic institutions that sustained its growth through subsequent eras. Today, Salisbury preserves numerous historic buildings and sites that tell the story of its wagon road heritage, including preserved sections of the Trading Path and 18th-century structures.

The city’s historic downtown reflects the layers of its past, from colonial-era foundations to antebellum architecture. Museums and heritage sites interpret the wagon road story for modern visitors, connecting present residents to this crucial chapter in American westward expansion.

Salisbury’s development along the Great Wagon Road exemplifies how geography and timing intersect to create places of outsized historical importance. As a crossroads of migration, commerce, and culture, this North Carolina town facilitated the settlement of the American South and helped write the story of a nation pushing westward toward its continental destiny.

And Now – A Twist!

All this month of October, I have been on a journey – physically and digitally – tracing the Adams family’s coming to North America before the founding of the United States of America. As I referenced in the introductory post, it has been a double-barreled journey of discovery: one focused on the Great Wagon Road’s strategic historical significance, and the other on solving the enduring mystery of my 2nd great-grandfather, John Washington Adams. The path beyond him is currently fractured into two intriguing, yet conflicting, ancestral branches. 

This month has been the German branch, tracing a path from arrival in Philadelphia in 1727 to Lancaster and down the Great Wagon Road, arriving in Salisbury in the early 1750s. At this point, I’m going to have to find new resources and possibly take more physical trips to continue this journey.

However, during my research, I’ve come up on the possibility of another branch with English roots, and coming to North America in 1621!

While sharing all this with my brother, he made an interesting comment: I wonder if there are ever any conclusive genealogies that go back hundreds of years?  I guess with “royalty” there is, but I’m guessing few lines among the peons have 100% certainty.

With that as a teaser, stay tuned for more in the future!

Part of a regular series on 27gen, entitled Wednesday Weekly Reader.

During my elementary school years one of the things I looked forward to the most was the delivery of “My Weekly Reader,” a weekly educational magazine designed for children and containing news-based current events.

It became a regular part of my love for reading, and helped develop my curiosity about the world around us.

Salem: The Enduring Heart of the Great Wagon Road in North Carolina

Posted on by

Part Three of October on the Road.

The Great Wagon Road carved its way through the colonial American backcountry, drawing settlers southward in an endless tide. Most towns along this vital artery served merely as brief stopping points, but the settlements of North Carolina’s Wachovia Tract – particularly Salem – stood apart as centers of stability, industry, and spiritual purpose. More than a waypoint, Salem became an economic and cultural powerhouse that demonstrated what organized community and skilled craftsmanship could achieve along one of North America’s most important migration routes.

Moravian Vision and the Birth of Wachovia

Salem’s story begins with the Moravian Church, a Protestant denomination rooted in Bohemia and Moravia. Seeking religious freedom and the chance to build self-sufficient communal societies, the Moravians established successful settlements in North America during the mid-18th century. Their colony in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania thrived, and as German-speaking immigrants pushed southward, Moravian leaders recognized an opportunity to expand their mission.

In 1753, after careful exploration, the Moravians purchased nearly 100,000 acres in North Carolina’s backcountry from John Carteret, Earl Granville. They named this fertile land “Wachovia” – a Latinized form of “Wachau,” Count Zinzendorf’s ancestral estate. Zinzendorf served as the Moravian Church’s patron, and this naming choice reflected the deep connection between the church and its benefactor.

The first settlers arrived in November 1753, establishing Bethabara, or “House of Passage.” Though humble in its beginnings, this settlement marked the start of a meticulously planned venture that would transform the region.

Bethabara: Proving the Concept

Bethabara quickly embodied the Moravian commitment to industry and self-reliance. Within years, the settlement operated a gristmill, sawmill, pottery, tannery, and various craft shops. Its location directly on the well-traveled Great Wagon Road proved immediately advantageous. Weary wagoners, farmers needing grain milled, and families requiring repairs or provisions discovered a welcoming and capable community. This early success validated the Moravian vision for Wachovia as a network of interconnected towns, each serving a specific purpose.

Salem: A Planned Community

The Moravians always intended to establish a central town that would serve as the administrative, spiritual, and commercial heart of Wachovia. That vision became reality in 1766 with Salem’s founding. Unlike the haphazard sprawl typical of frontier settlements, Salem emerged from careful planning. Surveyors laid out streets, public squares, and building plots according to a precise master plan. Even the name – derived from the Hebrew word for “peace” – reflected the community’s aspirations.

An Economic Model Unlike Any Other

Salem’s importance to the Great Wagon Road stemmed from its distinctive economic structure. While most frontier towns depended on subsistence farming and basic trade, Salem operated as a “congregation town” where the church oversaw all aspects of life, including economic activity. This central authority enabled a highly specialized, quality-driven economy. Master craftsmen – silversmiths, potters, cabinetmakers, coopers, bakers, and shoemakers – trained to exacting standards and produced goods renowned for their durability and artistry. Travelers on the Wagon Road sought out these products eagerly.

Picture a family traveling for weeks, their wagon axles groaning and supplies running low. 

Approaching Salem, they would encounter orderly brick and timber-frame buildings – a striking contrast to the rough log cabins common elsewhere on the frontier. Here they could purchase finely crafted tools, durable textiles, and fresh bread from the bakery, or have their wagons expertly repaired by skilled wheelwrights. The tavern offered not just lodging but a glimpse into a different way of life, characterized by order, cleanliness, and quiet purpose.

Salem’s economic influence extended beyond immediate transactions. Its robust internal economy created demand for raw materials, fostering trade relationships throughout the region. Its mills processed grain from local farms, while artisans worked with timber, clay, and metals sourced nearby. This interconnectedness made Wachovia a significant economic engine, providing stability and opportunity in an ever-shifting frontier landscape.

A Cultural and Intellectual Beacon

Salem’s role as a cultural center proved equally important. The Moravians valued education highly, establishing schools for boys and girls, including Salem Academy, founded in 1772 and still operating today. Music formed an integral part of Moravian life, and Salem became celebrated for its rich musical tradition – choirs, instrumental ensembles, and regular performances enriched community life. These cultural offerings provided vital counterbalance to frontier hardships and attracted visitors and settlers seeking more than economic opportunity alone.

A Network of Communities

Other Moravian settlements within Wachovia complemented Salem’s role. Bethania, established in 1759, functioned primarily as an agricultural village, supplying Salem with essential foodstuffs. Friedberg, founded in 1770, also focused on farming, with settlers owning their own farms while remaining connected to central Moravian governance. This network of interdependent communities strengthened the entire tract, creating a cohesive and resilient society.

Legacy and Transformation

As the Great Wagon Road continued channeling migration south and west, Salem and the Wachovia Tract evolved. Even after the communal economic system transitioned to private ownership in the 19th century, the legacy of Moravian craftsmanship, education, and community planning endured. The quality of Salem’s goods, the discipline of its people, and the beauty of its architecture left an indelible mark on the region.

A Living Testament

Today, Historic Old Salem stands as a living museum, preserving this unique colonial settlement’s remarkable story. Walking its cobblestone streets, entering its preserved workshops, and admiring its meticulously restored buildings, visitors can almost hear the rumble of wagon wheels and sense the bustling activity that once characterized this vital hub. Salem was never merely a stopping point. It was a testament to vision, skill, and community – the true enduring heart along a path of relentless progress.

Salem’s Part in My #OctoberOnTheRoad Journey

As introduced here, part of my journey is to research my family’s history. One potential branch, of German ancestry, traveled the Great Wagon Road south from Philadelphia, PA to Salisbury, NC. Johannes Nicholas Adam arrived in the colonies in 1727; his son Johannes (John) Adams left Lancaster PA in the early 1750s. His name pops up in various historical records in Salisbury beginning in 1755; among other findings, he was the first European potter in Salisbury. He died in 1762. A son of his soon departed the area, to Kentucky.

Since John Adams was of Lutheran descent, with a German family, he would have been received well in Salem by the Moravians. Though not of the same religion, they had the same language in common. I would like to imagine that Adams and his family were able to rest, restock, and move on down the Great Wagon Road after spending some time in Salem.

Part of a regular series on 27gen, entitled Wednesday Weekly Reader.

During my elementary school years one of the things I looked forward to the most was the delivery of “My Weekly Reader,” a weekly educational magazine designed for children and containing news-based current events.

It became a regular part of my love for reading, and helped develop my curiosity about the world around us.

The Journey of My Adams Family: Three Early Generations on the Path to American Identity

Posted on by

Life on the road allows you to separate yourself from the comforts of the familiar, meet people you might never encounter otherwise, embrace the process of self-discovery, and return home transformed. Invariably, the rejuvenated sense of life purpose that flows out of the journey comes with the realization that creating purpose is itself a lifelong endeavor.

Rolf Potts, The Vagabond’s Way

Part One of October on the Road.

In the first half of the 18th century, the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, stood as the primary entry point for a monumental demographic shift – the mass emigration of German-speaking peoples from the beleaguered territories of the Holy Roman Empire. This was not a trickle, but a flood of humanity, seeking refuge and opportunity under William Penn’s promise of religious liberty and fertile land. The generational journey of the Adam family, originating in the German state of Baden, serves as a powerful microcosm of this vast, complex movement that would ultimately shape the cultural and geographic contours of colonial America, from the Quaker city to the Carolina frontier.

The forces driving this exodus were profound: the incessant warfare and economic devastation plaguing regions like the Palatinate, coupled with religious tensions. For families like that of Johannes Nicholas Adam, born in Eichtersheim, Cannstatt, Baden, in 1695, the New World offered the only viable hope for the future. After marrying Juliana Bernadina Schweikhardt in 1719, Johannes made the life-altering decision to emigrate. Their specific journey illustrates the mid-stream pace of this migration: they arrived in Philadelphia on the ship William and Sarah on September 18, 1727. This single date marks their transition from subjects of the German Empire to newcomers in British Colonial America.

From Philadelphia’s Docks to Lancaster’s Fields

While Philadelphia’s docks offered the initial welcome, the city itself was merely a temporary staging ground. The true goal for the majority of German immigrants was land, a resource that had become increasingly scarce in their homeland. The journey inland from the Delaware River port was arduous, but the reward was the deep, rich topsoil of the rolling countryside to the west. This territory would coalesce into Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The “Palatines,” as the immigrants were generically known, quickly established themselves as meticulous and industrious farmers, introducing techniques like crop rotation and the construction of sturdy, stone barns that became the signature of the Pennsylvania German landscape. Johannes Adam’s successful transition from immigrant to landowner is documented in the colonial records: he received a substantial 200-acre land grant in Lancaster County on February 28, 1734. This acquisition was the culmination of the original journey, securing a foundation for the family’s immediate future in agriculture and community building. For the second generation, Lancaster became their homeland, characterized by the use of the Pennsylvania German dialect and the strong social structure centered around Lutheran and German Reformed churches.

The Great Wagon Road and the Southern Push

Within a few short generations, the success and burgeoning population of the Pennsylvania German communities created a new challenge: land saturation. As land prices rose in Lancaster, the younger generations began to look southward, hearing reports of cheaper, equally fertile territory in the interior of the southern colonies. This second, internal migration followed a pivotal colonial thoroughfare known as the Great Wagon Road. This rough-hewn path, also called the Carolina Road or the Philadelphia Wagon Road, originated in Pennsylvania, followed the path of the Great Valley of Virginia, and descended into the backcountry of North and South Carolina.

One of the primary sources to help prepare for my October On the Road has been The Great Wagon Road: From Philadelphia to the South by Parke S. Rouse, Jr. – a historical chronicle of one of the most important and heavily traveled migration routes in colonial America.

The book details the history of the Great Wagon Road, the more than 800-mile artery that began in Philadelphia, passed through Pennsylvania towns like Lancaster and York, and stretched southwest through the Shenandoah Valley into the backcountry of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and ultimately Augusta, Georgia.

Rouse emphasizes that the road, which often followed ancient Native American trails, was the primary pathway for the mass settlement of the Southern backcountry in the 18th century. Tens of thousands of European immigrants – most notably Scots-Irish and German (Palatine) settlers noted above – traveled this rugged route from the congested areas of Pennsylvania to find inexpensive farmland and economic opportunity in the South.

The book showcases how this colonial “superhighway” was instrumental in promoting trade, aiding military movements during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and establishing the unique culture and communities of the inland Southern colonies. It frames the Great Wagon Road as an essential part of the nation’s formative years and its original immigrant highway.

The Great Wagon Road was the conduit for the (now) Adams family’s next crucial move. In the 1750s, John Adams (son of Johannes Nicholas Adam) left the established prosperity of Lancaster County and made the weeks-long trek south. His destination was the emerging settlement of Salisbury in Rowan County, North Carolina. This region, far from the coastal elite, offered the space and opportunity John sought.

The Conestoga Wagon: Engine of the Southward Migration

The very mechanism that made the multi-generational journey of the German immigrants possible was the Conestoga wagon (see image above), a heavy, durable freight vehicle developed specifically in Lancaster County. Named for the Conestoga Valley where it originated, this “ship of the inland commerce” was perfectly adapted to the rugged colonial roads. Its distinctive curved bed prevented the cargo – the families’ entire worldly possessions, tools, and provisions – from shifting or falling out on steep grades. Pulled by a team of four to six strong horses, the Conestoga wagon became the essential engine of migration, carrying thousands of Pennsylvania German families, including those like the Adams family, down the treacherous, rutted path of the Great Wagon Road. Its development was a crucial innovation that tied the prosperous Pennsylvania German settlements to the newly opening lands of the South.

A Legacy of Skill: From Farm to Pottery Kiln

Upon arriving in Rowan County, John Adams and his son did not merely replicate the agricultural existence of their Lancaster forebears. They carried with them, or quickly established, a vital trade that catered to the nascent frontier economy: pottery. John Adams, who purchased a lot in 1755, is recognized as the first documented potter of European descent in Salisbury. Most pottery was lead-glazed earthenware, and reflects the German earthenware traditions of Central Europe. Salisbury’s pottery tradition is part of North Carolina’s rich ceramic history, influenced by the Quaker community in the Piedmont region, as well as the Moravian settlement in Salem.

This occupational shift highlights the diverse skills German immigrants contributed to the American frontier. While farming provided sustenance, skilled trades like pottery provided essential goods and economic diversification. They utilized the local clays and the knowledge of European glazing and firing techniques to produce necessary stoneware and earthenware, establishing a lineage of artisans. 

My Adams family’s journey – from the Baden homeland to the Philadelphia port, to the agricultural heartland of Lancaster, and finally, to the pioneering industrial craft of Rowan County – perfectly encapsulates a three-part epic of early German immigration. Their story is a powerful testament to the resilience and enduring impact of a people whose search for freedom and better fortune indelibly marked the cultural landscape of the American South.

Part of a regular series on 27gen, entitled Wednesday Weekly Reader.

During my elementary school years one of the things I looked forward to the most was the delivery of “My Weekly Reader,” a weekly educational magazine designed for children and containing news-based current events.

It became a regular part of my love for reading, and helped develop my curiosity about the world around us.

Photo Credits: Philadelphia Water Department, Explore Pennsylvania History

Following the Tracks of History: October on the Road

Posted on by

As an amateur historian researching the pivotal role of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC, in the American Revolution (see series here), a single historical thread kept pulling me away from all the activities and toward the migration route that made that history possible: The Great Wagon Road. This discovery, with its echoes of countless family journeys, has launched me into an October on the Road – a deeply personal historical pilgrimage that traces the dusty path of colonial pioneers from Pennsylvania south into the Carolinas.

While in reality it was a rough, difficult-to-travel dirt path, it was an 18th-century “superhighway,” a lifeline for tens of thousands of colonial pioneers – predominantly Scots-Irish and German immigrants – who fled the crowded, expensive lands around Philadelphia. In search of cheaper land and new opportunities, they packed their lives into sturdy Conestoga wagons and headed south, opening up the backcountry of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to permanent settlement. The Great Wagon Road didn’t just move people; it transplanted cultures, languages, and political ideals, directly setting the stage for the Revolutionary fervor I’ve been researching in North Carolina.

Appropriately, it was a book that inspired my final decision to hit the road!

The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim’s Journey on the Great Wagon Road, is a modern, first-person account following the original path of the Great Wagon Road. James Dodson, whose own ancestors took the road, blends personal narrative with historical research to explore the road’s enduring legacy. The book highlights the strategic importance of the route during major conflicts like the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and it discusses how the towns along the way became incubators of early American industry. It is a poignant and well-written narrative, and I highly recommend it for readers interested in the early years of America as populations moved away from the east coast into the interior of the country.

From History to Heritage: An Adams Family Mystery

The historical context of the Great Wagon Road has, by sheer coincidence, merged seamlessly with a recently renewed focus on my own Adams family genealogy. Building upon the dedicated work of my niece Amanda, I’ve been pursuing the timeless questions we often ask when thinking of our ancestors: Who were they? Where did they come from? How did they get here?

My “October on the Road” is now a double-barreled journey of discovery: one focused on the road’s strategic historical significance, and the other on solving the enduring mystery of my 2nd great-grandfather, John Washington Adams. The path beyond him is currently fractured into two intriguing, yet conflicting, ancestral branches:

  1. The German Branch: Historical records suggest one line of my ancestors arrived in Philadelphia in the early 1700s from Germany. They spent several generations building a life in Pennsylvania before joining the southern flow on the Great Wagon Road, eventually settling around Salisbury, NC, before finally heading over the mountains into Tennessee. This is the line most directly tied to the wagon road’s main migratory period.
  2. The Puritan Branch: Another set of historical records points to an arrival of Adams ancestors nearly a century earlier, placing my American lineage beginning in 1621 at Plymouth, MA. This branch remained in New England for six generations before a later move to Maryland, and then continuing the westward/southward push toward Tennessee.

This road trip is my chance to travel the ground these families would have walked, to breathe the air of the places they named, and perhaps, to find the subtle geographic clues that can reconcile or confirm one of these diverging family narratives.

The Journey: Following the Faint Tracks

An already-planned fall road trip with Anita now has a consciously revised itinerary, transforming a week in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley into a dedicated pursuit of the Great Wagon Road. Our journey begins where the pioneers did – in the former colonial heartland of Pennsylvania – and will trace the route through West Virginia, Virginia, and into North Carolina.

Northbound Starting Points and Key Stops:

The road’s path is marked by the towns that sprang up to service the steady stream of travelers, and our itinerary will hit the major historical anchors:

  • Pennsylvania: The journey begins at the source, near Philadelphia, before entering major hubs like Lancaster and York, where wagons were outfitted and supplies purchased.
  • Maryland: The route continues through Hagerstown, a key trading hub settled by German immigrants like my potential ancestors.
  • Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley: This days-long segment will immerse us in the heart of the journey. We’ll travel through historic towns like Winchester, Staunton, and Lexington, observing how the fertile land drew in settlers and sustained the immense movement. This region is critical, as it’s where the road begins to fan out – the point where the Wilderness Road branched off towards the Cumberland Gap, and where the main track continued south towards the Carolinas.

The Southern Destination: Old Salem, Salisbury and Charlotte

After the week-long segment depicted above, my “October on the Road” will continue with multiple day trips throughout North Carolina – the destination of one of my Adams family branches.

  • Salisbury: This town is a primary destination, as it was a major terminus for settlers from Pennsylvania and the likely settling point for my German ancestors before they made their final move west to Tennessee. Its growth was directly tied to the lifeblood of the Great Wagon Road.
  • Winston-Salem: We will visit the Moravian Settlements (focusing on Old Salem), which served as a critical, well-organized cultural and economic hub along the road, demonstrating the German religious influence on the southern backcountry.
  • Charlotte: Finally, I’ll arrive home in the region that initiated this journey. Charlotte, and by extension Mecklenburg County, benefited immensely from the road, which facilitated the explosive growth that made it a significant political and economic force by the time of the Revolution – the very history I set out to document.

This October, I won’t just be reading maps and records; I’ll be experiencing the figurative road itself. I’m seeking the resonance between the grand scale of colonial migration and the intimate story of my own family, hoping to see evidence of the Adams name not just on a ledger, but on the very land they crossed. This trip promises to transform the Great Wagon Road from a historical reference into a living, ancestral pathway.

Part of a series on 27gen, entitled Wednesday Weekly Reader.

During my elementary school years one of the things I looked forward to the most was the delivery of “My Weekly Reader,” a weekly educational magazine designed for children and containing news-based current events.

It became a regular part of my love for reading, and helped develop my curiosity about the world around us.