Born in England and raised in Canada. Joshua Wilton came to the Valley not long after the Civil War and settled in Harrisonburg. After purchasing large amounts of land and becoming the President of the First Virginia Bank, he established a foundry and hardware store. As a result, he became quite a wealthy man and a pillar of the community. Among other things, Joshua Wilton was instrumental in bringing electricity to this part of the Valley. In 1888, construction was completed on this house as a home for his family. The walls, interior and exterior, are all three-bricks thick (16 inches). He brought in craftsmen from all ...