The name of the community is derived from that of Samuel Cootes,[2] owner of the eponymous store. He was a prominent local landholder and member of the community, who later served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.[2][3]
History
Isolated villages needed a general supply store, and Cootes supplied that need for two Virginia towns, Cootes Store and Dovesville (renamed Bergton).[4]
Located a mile from Brocks Gap, Cootes Store was a rendezvous point for working men meeting on a Saturday afternoon, given its strategical location.[5] Historic photographs reveal that from earlier times it was always an agricultural community with cowboys. In 1870, merchants began using the Shenandoah River from Brock's Gap to Cootes Store for transporting people and goods.[6] By 1900, Cootes Store had a one-room public school.[7]
In 1936, Cootes Store and Bergton were affected by the Great Flood. At worst, the water was four feet deep and washed away many barns, cottages and other features in the area.[8]
Today, the community consists of many barns.
Transportation
Around 1880, a covered bridge was built over an older bridge at Cootes Store to cross the river's North Fork, placing the road at a higher level.[9] Like other towns along the Shenandoah River, Cootes Store also boasted a swinging bridge.[10]
