We decided to ask the Bing Chat Monster a few questions. Just for a test drive. We found it to be not so interesting. Mostly, it returned decently constructed sentences made out of a bunch of web links. It also contained errors, including the location of our wonderful farmers market at 317 West Main Street, Berryville, Va.
Here is what ChatGBT returned. At this point, nothing to be relied up for research. It also wrote a poem to Clarke County. Not a particularly inspiring one, but good try.
One annoying thing is the smiley face at the end of
each response.
Can you write a poem about Clarke County?
Here is a poem I came up with about Clarke County, Virginia:
In the northern Commonwealth of Virginia, Lies a county named for a hero of war, George Rogers Clark, a name to remember, For his bravery and courage, near and far.
With its seat in Berryville, so quaint, And included in the DC metro area, Clarke County is a place without restraint, A place of beauty, history,
and character.
From Greenway Court, Lord Fairfax’s home, To the village of White Post, so named, Clarke County’s history is widely known, Its heritage and legacy proclaimed.
With acres preserved and miles of trail, And a population both friendly and kind, Clarke County is a place to set sail, A place to leave your
troubles behind.
So come and visit this county so fair, And see all that it has to offer, From its history to its natural beauty rare, Clarke County is a treasure trove
to discover.
***
That’s pretty lame. But we do like, “a place to leave your troubles behind.”
What are the incorporated towns of Clarke County, Va.?
According to my sources, there are two incorporated towns in Clarke County, Virginia: Berryville and Boyce. Berryville is also the county seat of Clarke County. Is there anything else you would like
to know?
Who was the founder of Boyce, Va.?
The town of Boyce, Virginia was named after Colonel Upton L. Boyce, who lived at the nearby Tuleyries estate and was very influential in persuading the railroad to pass through Clarke County. The town was founded in 1880 at the crossing of the Millwood-Winchester Turnpike (now Rte. 723) and the newly built Shenandoah Valley Railroad. Financing for the railway was eventually secured by Colonel Upton Lawrence Boyce, a lawyer in St. Louis who had moved his law offices to Winchester, Virginia, following the end of the Civil War. Once the railway was completed, the area became the shipping point for the surrounding countryside, and town that grew around the rail line was named Boyceville (later shortened to Boyce) in appreciation of Col. Boyce’s efforts.
Who was the founder of Millwood Va.
Millwood, Virginia was established by Nathaniel Burwell and his neighbor, the Revolutionary soldier Daniel Morgan. They established the Burwell-Morgan mill. Nathaniel Burwell inherited a 5,800-acre estate from his father, Carter Burwell, which included Carter’s Grove in James City County and about 5000 acres in what was then Frederick County. He developed the land with the Burwell-Morgan Mill and normally spent summers nearby. Is there anything else you would like to know?
What can you tell me about the history of White Post, Va.?
White Post is an unincorporated community in Clarke County, Virginia. It is located at the crossroads of White Post Road and Berrys Ferry Road off Lord Fairfax Highway (U.S. Route 340). In the 1730s, Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693–1781), the major landowner in the lower Shenandoah Valley through an inheritance from his mother Catherine Culpeper, Lady Fairfax, settled here and built his “Greenway Court” manor home. According to a tradition currently inscribed on a bronze plaque affixed to the post, then Col. George Washington set the original post to guide travelers to Lord Fairfax’s residence.
Greenway Court plantation was unusual in that Lord Fairfax was titled and residing in the colony. Ethnic German and Scots-Irish subsistence farmers, many of them recent immigrants, settled in the area, as well as the Meade, Randolph and Burwell families, which were among the First Families of Virginia1. Although the original Anglican church for the community was at Old Chapel several miles away, by the late 19th century, Meade Memorial Church (Episcopal), a Methodist church and Masonic Lodge were all established near the intersection that gave the community its name. In addition to Greenway Court, the Bethel Memorial Church, Farnley, Guilford, Lucky Hit, Meadea, The Tuleyries, and the White Post Historic District are listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Tell me the history of Clarke County
Clarke County was officially established on March 8, 1836, by separating the new county from Frederick County. It is named after George Rogers Clark (no “e”), a Virginian who became the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. The area was part of a vast 5-million-acre property owned by Lord Thomas Fairfax that stretched from the Shenandoah Valley to the Chesapeake Bay. Lord Fairfax built his American home in what is now the Clarke County village of White Post. An actual white post still stands in the spot where a young George Washington erected a post while surveying land for Lord Fairfax. Here, Washington met Daniel Morgan, who later became a hero of the Revolutionary War. Members of Washington’s family took up land here, and Washington frequently visited.
Today, Clarke County remains primarily a rural, agricultural county, with a strong culture of community. In the early 18th century, the area was part of a vast 5-million-acre property owned by Lord Thomas Fairfax that stretched from the Shenandoah Valley to the Chesapeake Bay. Lord Fairfax built his American home in what is now the Clarke County village of White Post. An actual white post still stands in the spot where a young George Washington erected a post while surveying land for Lord Fairfax. Here, Washington met Daniel Morgan, who later became a hero of the Revolutionary War. Members of Washington’s family took up land here, and Washington
frequently visited.
Clarke County shares border with the Virginia counties of Loudoun, Fauquier, Frederick, and Warren; Jefferson County, W.Va., is to the north1. Virginia has 95 counties. At 178-square miles (113,920 acres), Clarke County is the eighth smallest county by area in Virginia. It is No. 73 on the list of counties
by population.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any
other questions.
History since WWII
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find any information about the history of Clarke County, Virginia specifically since World War 2. However, I did find some general information about the history of Clarke County. Clarke County was officially established on March 8, 1836, by separating the new county from Frederick County. It is named for George Rogers Clark (no “e”), a Virginian who became the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. Would you like to know more about Clarke County’s history before World War 2? Or would you like me to search for something else? Let me know how I can help!
Who are the last seven mayors of Berryville
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find information about the last 7 mayors of Berryville, Virginia. However, I did find that the current mayor of Berryville is (Jay) Harry Lee Arnold, Jr. You may be able to find more information by contacting the Berryville Town Office. They can be reached at (540) 955-1099 during their business hours, which are Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Is there anything else I can help you with?
How many acres of easements does the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority hold?
According to a news article from Clarke County, VA, as of August 26, 2019, more than 23 percent of its open space — 26,485 acres — is forever protected and hundreds of dwelling unit rights have been retired because of its successful conservation easement program1. However, I do not have more recent information on the exact number of acres of easements held by the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority. Is there anything else you would like to know?
Is Clarke County the coolest place in America?
Clarke County, Virginia is a small rural town where community is everything. It has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. The county experiences all four seasons, with cold fronts frequently sweeping in from the north during winter months. Clarke County provides residents with a pleasant atmosphere for living and working year-round. However, I could not find any information that suggests that Clarke County is the coolest place in America. Is there anything else you would like to know about Clarke County?
Ah. Cool as in temperature.
Are there organizations in Clarke County concerned
with hunger?
Yes, there are several organizations in Clarke County, Virginia that are concerned with hunger and food insecurity. Some of these organizations include the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, which provides emergency food assistance, and FISH of Clarke County, which operates a food pantry and provides financial services to those in need. Additionally, the Christ Church Cares Food Pantry is open on the first Friday and Saturday of each month. These are just a few examples of the many organizations working to address hunger and food insecurity in Clarke County. Is there anything else you would like to know?
Is there a farmers market?
Yes, Clarke County in Virginia does have a farmers market. The Clarke County Farmers Market is a weekly open-air market located in Berryville, VA. It offers a wide assortment of fresh local products, including prepared foods and weekly live music. You can find more information about the market on their website or their Facebook page. Is there anything else you would like
to know?
Who are the most famous people from Clarke County, Va.?
Some of the most famous people from Clarke County, Virginia include:
- Walker Brooke
- Arthur Bowie Chrisman
- Gibson Clark
- Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
- Thomas T. Fauntleroy (soldier)
- Drew Gilpin Faust
- David Funsten
- James Bowen Funsten
You can find more information about these individuals and others from Clarke County, Virginia on the Wikipedia page. Is there anyone specific you would like to know
more about?
There were many links and footnotes, too.
