Fort Rodes is a distinctive example of the Rhenish houses of the Page Valley, called a fort for its vaulted cooling cellar, a common feature Germanic Houses in Europe and America. A traditional Rhenish Flurkuchenhaus, the central chimney was removed and alterations were made in the 19th century to adapt the house to Anglo-American styles of living. The large, square log structure was probably built during the last quarter of the 18th century by John Rodes II as a successor to the house which was built soon after 1758 and burned in 1764 in the last recorded Indian attack in Page County. Rodes' grandfather, a Mennonite minister, and his family were killed during that massacre. - NRHP, 22 May 1978

Rev John Roads Indian Massacre

In August of 1764 eight Indians and a white man, the latter according to some traditions the notorious Simon Girty, came into the Valley, crossed the upper end of Powell's Fort, and descended upon the peaceful home of John Roads, a Mennonite preacher and one of the Massanutten pioneers. The Roads homestead lies in a crescent bend of the South Shenandoah, on the west side of the stream, about five miles northwest of Luray, and directly south of Kennedy's Peak, the highest point of the Massanutten range. The place was later the home of the Gatewoods; in recent years it was occupied by Mr. George R. Bauserman. Bixler's Ferry on the river is near by.

Rev. Mr. Roads and his wife, who was Eve Albright, had a large family of children, some of whom fortunately were not at home when the savages came. Mr. Roads, his wife, and a son were killed at or near the house. Two of the boys were in the cornfield below the house, alongside the river. One of them climbed a pear tree about 150 yards from the house, was discovered and shot in the tree. The other attempted to escape by crossing the river, but was pursued and killed in the stream. To this day that place in the river is called the "Bloody Ford." In the meantime Elizabeth, one of the older daughters, caught up Esther, the baby, in her arms and ran with her first into the barn, thence into a field of tall hemp below the barn, and so on to the river, escaping the vigilance of the Indians. Carrying the child across the river she finally reached the house of a neighbor. Esther grew up and married Dr. Jacob Kaufman. Elizabeth, the heroine, married Jacob Gochenour. Two boys and two little girls were taken captive and led away northward into the Massanutten Mountain. There one of the boys and both of the girls were killed. The other boy, Michael, after about three years with the Indians, was allowed to return home. He married Ann Strickler, a daughter of Benjamin Strickler. In all, six of the Roads children were killed; seven survived. - John W Wayland, A History of Shenandoah County Virginia published 1927, Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg VA