USA > Virginia > Bedford County > Bedford County > Historical sketch: Bedford County, Virginia, 1753-1907 > Part 7
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
grove as an immediate background. The building itself is of cres- cent shape, graceful and massive, of special school of architecture. It is two hundred feet long and three stories high. From the ob- servatory a fine view of the surrounding country can be obtained. There are three wings, the rooms on each floor opening on wide halls, being large and airy, capable of accomodating easily two hundred people. The offices and lobbies have tile floors, and open upon a wide corridor extending over nearly the entire front. The whole building is wired for electric lighting, and water is furnished from the town system, fresh from springs in the mountains. There are bath rooms on every floor, and two hydrants for hose connection in case of fire. The furnishing of the home originally cost nearly $30,000. It is carpeted throughout and all the rooms are hand- somely furnished.
The management of the home is in the hands of a board of three governors appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler, who has complete power and supervision over the property, appoints the resident su- pcrintendents and all other officials and fixes their salaries. The in- mates of the magnificent institution have every care and attention that an honored guest could have in one of the best equipped private houses. Each one has his own private sleeping room and can enjoy the luxury of a palace costing thousands of dollars, with the same freedom as if he were the sole owner. The table is furnished with the best that the market can afford, and the inmates are fed, clothed, and treated like gentlemen, and the only rule of their governance is that they shall conduct themselves as such. When the weather is not suitable for a walk over town or out in the country one can find exercise at the billiard tables, or amusements in other forms. The library is supplied with two thousand volumes ; daily papers, periodi- .cals, and all current literature are regularly received. The many instruments donated are a source of great pleasure. Nothing is lacking which could contribute to the comfort, pleasure, and welfare of the residents. In health they live as in the comfort of a private home. In sickness, they are cared for as if surrounded by friends and family. The resident physician makes daily visits, and oftener if necessary. Man in his palmiest days could hardly wish to pass his declining years in more ease and comfort than' is offered the Brother Elk at the haven of rest beneath the shady Peaks of Otter.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
POST OFFICE
It is gratifying to note the great progress made in the Bedford City post office in the last few years. Six years ago the postmaster, one man, and a boy, did all of the work and only got $20.80 ; now the office employs fourteen men and a boy, who receive salaries amounting to $13,555. Through the untiring efforts of the present postmaster, Bedford City is far ahead of other towns of the same size in Virginia, in small facilities. The post- master is now at work for a public building at Bedford City and has every prospect of procuring a $50,000.00 building. The growth of the office in this short time is phenonenal, and has passed to a second class office. There are three city carriers, who deliver the mail twice a day and gather it the same number of times ; each one goes over his entire route twice a day, traveling every day from twelve to fifteen miles. The two trains that pass the town at 8 a. m. bring mail, which is delivered by a carrier while the mail is being collect- ed, thus making the third daily delivery of mail; this is purely an accommodation by the polite and courteous carriers, and serves to lighten the evening's delivery. Six rural free delivery routes ra- diate in every direction. The carriers leave the office about 6:30 a. m., travel about 22 miles each, and get back in time for the 2:25 p. m. train ; these carriers serve 697 families and will soon receive $5,400, or $900.00 a year each. In addition there are thirty-five rural free delivery routes in this county, which radiate from dif- ferent points, and one-half of the mail for this county passes through the Bedford City office; it has only been three years since free delivery was started in this county. There is one star route man, who travels twenty odd miles daily.
A casual glance at the following figures will give some idea of the enormous amount of business that is transacted at the Bedford City post office. The actual figures taken from the record show that over $13,000 worth of stamps were sold in twelve months. In six months money orders to the amount of $55,122 were issued, or $110- 244 for one year ; and 1,060 registered letters in six months. Most of these were large amounts, but for the sake of an annual estimate place them at $25 each, and we have an annual business of about $176,244. 'Can any city in the United States of like population make a similar showing? Three thousand five hundred people live in the town, and 30,000 in the county, which embraces the town. Eight passenger trains pass Bedford City in twenty-four hours, forr east and four west, and each one carries mail.
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
BANKING
In no city in this State can be found a better banking system than that of Bedford City. The bank officers are some of the keenest business men and ablest financiers of the State, while the directors are men, who have made a success financially, in whatever busi- ness or profession they may be engaged. Bedford City has two banking institutions, the Bedford City branch of the Lynchburg Trust and Savings Bank, and the Peoples Bank of Bedford City.
Statements
A condensed statement of the condition of the Bedford City branch of the Lynchburg Trust & Savings Bank at the close of busi- ness December 31st, 1906 :
Resources
Loans and discounts
$324,804.50
Bank building, etc.
14,939.19
Cash in vault.
18,690.62
Due from banks.
88,336.38
$446,770.69
Liabilities.
Surplus fund
$ 40,000.00
Undivided profits.
6,347.97
Due to other banks
324.28
Deposits
400,098.44
$446,770.69
The Lynchburg Trust and Savings Bank of Lynchburg, Va. :
Capital
$150,000.00
Surplus fund.
150,000.00
Undivided profits
15,000.00
Total deposits Dec. 31, 1906. .$1,239,861.64
A condensed statement of The Peoples Bank of Bedford City, Virginia, January 26th, 1907:
Resources
Loans and discounts. $180,871.05
Over drafts
182.19
Furniture and fixtures
946.04
Cash
10,493.60
Due from banks
86,891.65
$279,384.53
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
Liabilities.
Capital stock. $ 20,000.00
Surplus and undivided profits 19,810.55
Deposits 236,886.81
Reserve to pay interest on certificates 2,687.17
$279,384.53
Practically all of the stock of this bank is owned by the citizens of the town and county of Bedford.
VINTON AND ROANOKE WATER COMPANY Pure Freestone Water for Roanoke City, Va.
Enterprising citizens of Roanoke City, recognizing the fact that pure freestone water is one of the greatest blessings that a town or city can possess, came into Bedford County and bought 8471/2 acres of land on the head waters of Falling Creek, constructed a very high dam, which holds the waters from many bold springs and forms a reservoir covering some 15 acres and holding 90,000,000 gallons, or more. It is valued at $28,792,321, and is a source of revenue to Bedford County, from taxation. This water, like the Bedford City water comes to the town by gravity, and is a great luxury. This dam is located some 22 miles from Bedford City, and about 71/2 miles from Roanoke City, and 5 miles from Vinton. Roanoke has a very fine supply of limestone water from a very large and bold spring just across the Roanoke River, but the freestone water is preferred for cooking, washing, and for use in the numerous boilers which are used in the many shops that are located at Roanoke. The Bedford waters are much used by the Norfolk & Western Railway in the hundreds of loco- 'motive engines, which go over the main line every day in the year, Sundays partially excluded.
Parties, who have travelled all over the United States and in the old country, say they rarely find such pure and harmless water anywhere as they get in Bedford; one can drink just as much of these pure spring waters as he can swallow, and no bad effects follow. The best drink in the world is pure freestone water, taken from the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Bedford County, Virginia.
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
DOUBLE WATER SUPPLY
Bedford City owns her own water works, which were constructed in 1885 at a cost of $100,000. The water is drawn from a spring in the mountains some ten miles away, on the side of the Southern Peak. At an elevation of 310 feet above the highest point in the town, a dam is thrown across the ravine down which the cool, clear water of the Big Spring and other natural fountains pursue their noisy way to the valley below. In 1898 another dam was built across Stony Creek, which drains the Big Survey, near the Apple Orchard. The two pipes from these dams unite near Kelso Mill, and furnish the town with a constant and never-failing supply of good water. The danger from fire is reduced to the minimum, as the pressure stands at 80 pounds to the square inch, and a stream of water can be readily thrown over a four story building at the most elevated part of the town. So abundant is the supply of water that the town furnishes water power for various industrial enterprises, which greatly lessens the cost of their operating expenses. The water works are self-sustaining, and each quarterly statement shows an increased rental. A large storage reservoir was constructed on Wingfield Mountain, just south of the town, which furnishes water for the town, should there be a break in the line of supply. A gravity system of water supply once well installed, can be perpetuated at a minimum cost. The present rental value of water supplied to consumers is about $6.500.00 annually.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
NEW LONDON ACADEMY ANTALADV BUDA PMATTKm
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
VIRGINIA SANATORIUM
The Virginia Sanatorium for Consumptives is located at Iron- ville, Bedford County, Virginia, on the main line of the Norfolk & Western Railway, twelve miles east of Roanoke. It has an elevation of one thousand, three hundred and fifty feet, is well protected by mountains on all sides, and receives an abundance of sunlight throughout the day. It embraces well-tested climatic advantages, and all essentials for effective treatment of tuberculosis. This institution was granted an eleemosynary charter by the State Corporation Commission in April, 1905, for the following purposes :
1. The treatment of incipient consumptives in sanatoria.
2. The treatment of ambulant tubercular cases in dispensary.
3. Procurement of suitable employment for patients after treatment.
4. The distribution of preventive and educational information.
5. The inducement of preventive legislation.
Inasmuch as it is the aim of the organization to do the greatest amount of good to the largest number its means will permit, it perforce must confine itself to the admission of early cases only. Accommodation for about thirty-five patients can be furnished. After careful investigation this has been selected as the most health-giving section of the State.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
A HEALTH RESORT
Taking the elevation above the sea level along the line of the Norfolk & Western Railway through Bedford County, beginning at Forest Depot near the Campbell County line on the east, and adopting the new grade figures, we have at Forest Depot 851 feet elevation, at Bellevue 809 feet, at Goode 784 feet, at Lowry 767 feet, at Bedford City 931 feet, at Elk 915 feet, at Thaxton 948 feet, at Irving 968 feet, at Montvale 996 feet, at the Summit east of the Blue Ridge Station 1,281 feet. At and near all of these stations, persons who will can have all their spare room filled with summer boarders for the entire season, at remunerative prices. These, who have prepared themselves for this business, are generally overrun and have to turn down applications each season. Many city people have bought farms contiguous to the railroad, and spend the summers with their families in the country. The man of business returns to the city in the morning and back to the farm in the evening. A constant cool breeze from over the western mountains generally requires a double blanket at night. Pure freestone water from the springs, ripe juicy fruits, fresh vegetables, home comforts in country dress, with relaxation of all restraints, generally carry the mother and children back to the city in renewed health, strength and vigor. Camping parties have become quite fashionable in recent years, and it is nothing un- common to see forty persons, men, women, and 'children, in one camp, on a grassy plat near a bold, cool spring, right at the top of the celebrated Apple Orchard Mountains, some eighteen miles distant from Bedford City. The scenery is grand and inspiring. The sportsman can find employment if he will seek it in the recesses of the rugged mountains beyond the ridges, where bears, wild- cats, and wild turkeys can be found. The numerous cataracts and falls down "Sugar Land Hollow" are often visited by the younger members of the party, after they have seasoned their muscles for the trying ordeal by climbing some of the smaller hills near the camp, and accustoming their tender feet to the rugged pathways around the steep cliffs. After spending several weeks in one of these camps and taking daily sight-seeing tramps over the rough country, your white skin becomes a dark brown, from
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
exposure to the sun and wind; your muscles harden, your appetite- sharpens, and your thirst for the pure tempting water cannot be quenched, though you may gulp down, without any unpleasant effect, as much as a pint or a quart at a time, many times during the day. When the order is given to break camp all are loth to leave the spot that has given them so much sweet sleep, and re- newed vitality. These camping grounds can be had on any of the mountains or knobs, where space enough to pitch your tent can be found. A log cabin with an open covered porch located near one of these elevated springs, is all that a person wants, who has: weak lungs. He craves some healing power before reaching that stage when altitude, water, honey, and sweet milk will avail nothing. These four requisites can be found in ample proportions for many thousand sufferers, who can avail themselves of them at prime costs. To emphasize what has already been said of Bedford County, as a health resort, mention should be made of a young man from Nebraska, who came post haste to Bedford for relief, and got it. This young man and his wife left Virginia for the West some time during 1897, and after engaging in an active and successful cattle business on the plains, he contracted a fever, which reduced his avoirdupois from 185 pounds to less than 100 pounds. His vitality was at such a low ebb that his loving wife had to lift him from bed to lounge. After having a severe spell of pneumonia, there were apprehensions of complications. So his physician, Dr. Thomas Bass, advised him to flee to the mountains of old Bedford at once, if he hoped to live two years longer. He and his family arrived at Bedford City, December, 1900, and by February, 1901, they were comfortably housed in a new log cabin located on an elevation of 3,000 feet above the sea level, near a cool freestone spring, which would keep a three- inch pipe constantly full. He followed his doctor's instructions to throw away all medicine and in due season by the help of a few laborers he raised the finest crop of Irish potatoes, cabbage, rye and oats. By the middle of the summer he had partly regained his health, and by February, 1902, he left his mountain home for the flat woods, a well and hearty man, and now weighs 187 pounds. I will never forget the cheerful, happy smile on the young wife's face when she greeted me one autumn evening in front of her cabin home, and told me of her loved one's wonderful recovery. His wife was a Bedford teacher before marriage, and had taught on Porter's Mountain near "Cool Spring."
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
With a population composed of such elements, it will be easily comprehended that the social and religious features of Bedford County are strongly marked. Through generations of inter- marriage with each other, the feeling of a community of interest has been accentuated; and that hospitality, for which the owners of Virginia's generous soil have become renowned the world over, reaches its highest development within sight of Bedford's blue peaks.
Here, the stranger will be "taken in," not in the popular sense of that much-abused expression, but in true Scriptural manner, and will always find the fatted calf, and the best chamber in the dwelling at his service. Indeed, the rites of hospitality are sacred, and may be said to be a part of the religion of a Virginian. Its laws are handed down from father to son, and their observance is regarded with punctilious exactness; deliberate disregard, a refusal on application for entertainment, being a thing almost unheard of, and an act which would meet with general and un- sparing condemnation. Religion composes a large and vital element in the lives of most of these people, the four leading ortho- dox denominations having all a large membership. As might be inferred from the simple earnest lives which they live, chiefly as tillers of the soil, religion to them must be a practical, useful and simple faith. We find that the Methodist and Baptist churches have the largest following, in the order named. Then come the Presbyterian and Episcopalian, and after them various other de- nominations representing fewer members. In some portions of the county the Tunker or Dunkard faith is represented, and its mem- bers here, as elsewhere, exhibit that thrift, neatness, and simplicity of life, in which they so nearly resemble the Quakers. The Metho- dists have some thirty odd churches dotted all over the county; under the law of the church no pastor can remain on a charge longer than four years ; the membership will aggregate about three thousand. The Baptists have as many churches and lack only a . few hundred of having as many members. The Presbyterians and
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
the Episcopalians are nearly equal in church property and mem- bership, with a slight difference in favor of the former, which have some ten churches and about four hundred members. Each church of the last named denominations reserves the right to call or dismiss a minister at the pleasure of the congregation, and a reciprocal right is accorded to the preacher. There is a flourishing Roman Catholic Church at Bedford City, with a strong member- ship. Of course this is a general statement, including the statistics of the white and black races; the temperament of the latter, and other reasons, making all of them members of some religious organization. The two races have their church property and their religious gatherings independently of each other, both as to church government and worship; the Protestant Episcopal prob- ably being the only exception as to church government and as to ownership of church property. The Christian church has recently built a neat, nice little church at Bedford City, and has a small membership. This church has a large college in Lynchburg. The Randolph-Macon Academy at Bedford City, one of the best and largest schools conducted for boys, belongs to the Virginia Con- ference of the M. E. Church, South, and is the only school in the county that has to report to any church organization. Boys pre- pared here readily enter higher institutions of learning in this or any other state.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
RAILROADS
Few sections of the South have better railroad facilities than Bedford County. The Norfolk & Western Railway with its ex- cellent double track passes diagonally through the county from southwest to northeast, over an easy grade, carrying an immense amount of through freight and coal.
The C. & O. Railway follows a water grade along the James River all through the county, and is a great coal bearing road. The new Tidewater Railway enters the county near Staunton River, some five miles below the City of Roanoke, thence crossing the great mineral section to Goose Creek, and down said creek to Staunton River. Preparations for double tracking this road are being made. With these three excellent railways paralleling each other on their way to the seas, from rich coal fields of the west, there is no reason why farmers should not obtain the highest prices for all their surplus products; at present the demand is far greater than the supply, as numbers of the best farm hands are working on the public works, thus cutting down the annual output from the farm. It would be hard to buy a farm in Bed- ford County that is not within a few hours' ride of a railroad. Should the railroad from Big Island via Bedford City to Rocky Mount, Va., ever be built, it will add materially to the present railroad facilities. People living near the Campbell County line are in easy reach of the Southern Railroad, and parties residing on the Blue Ridge Mountains of Bedford County can go to the Shenandoah Division of the N. & W. Railway. From Smith Mountain you reach the Rock Mountain branch of the Southern, eight miles distant.
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
PUBLIC ROADS
The Lynchburg and Salem Rock Turnpike enters Bedford County a mile west of New London, and within a few yards of the cele- brated Bedford Iron and Alum Springs, so widely known for their medicinal qualities ; a mile further west it passes by New London Academy, one of the oldest endowed institutions of learning in the State-it is now run as a joint High School for Bedford and Campbell counties. Thence the Rock Pike passes from ridge to ridge until it reaches Bedford City; thence, parallel with the N. & W. Railway, to Montvale, Vinton, etc. This pike is much used in muddy weather east of Bedford City. It was built for a stage road long before the time of railroads, and if not disturbed will endure forever. The dirt roads radiate from Bedford City as a center to every nook and corner of the county and would aggregate 1,500 miles. Two forces of convicts from the Virginia state penitentiary are constantly at work on these roads, grading, widening, and building new ones. This system of working the roads has been in operation for a number of years. Each force is equipped with teams, scrapers, road ploughs, etc. The manager has charge of the force, under the supervision of the supervisor of the district in which he is working, and is assisted by a teamster, machine man, two day guards and one night guard. The annual expenditure for roads amounts to something like $18- 000. When the farmers contiguous to the main thoroughfares are encouraged to utilize the surface stone on their fields, in macadamizing a section of road, the mud will disappear, travel will be easier, land will advance, farm life be more pleasant, distance will vanish, and rock crushers and rollers will be much in evidence.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
A MODEL ROAD
Some enterprising men, who own farms along the line of the public road leading from Boonsboro in this county to the City of Lynchburg have secured permission from the Board of Super- visors of Bedford County to regrade and build a macadam road to the county line, and for this purpose have raised a private subscription, which will be supplemented by an extra force of con- victs from the state penitentiary. The necessary preliminary survey has been made under the supervision of the State Highway commis- sioner, and at an early date we hope to see the realization of this ef- fort. At the proper time a force of some forty-five or fifty convicts from the state penitentiary, under the supervision of the State highway commissioner, with his guards and necessary supplies and camp equipment, will begin work on this model highway. The location is a most excellent one, along a ridge with no hills, ravines, or streams ; the grade and width will be established first, and then the process of putting down the macadam from the best stone, that can be obtained in less than 800 yards of the road. All of the building stones along the line of this road have been tested by the government experts at Washington, and none but the best road material will be used in making the road bed. The most improved machinery, and the best methods of road making will be put forth on these macadam roads, so that when this system is fully installed in this county, we shall never go back to the old plan of piling up dirt in the dry season to be washed away in the wet. This has been done every year since the county was organized, and recently to the tune of $18,000 annually.
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BEDFORD COUNTY, VA.
GOVERNMENT
COUNTY
For the convenience of its people the county of Bedford is divided into eight townships or magisterial districts. Each district elects its own supervisors, overseer of the poor, constable, and three justices of the peace. The eight supervisors elected, con- stitute the board of supervisors for the whole county, who meet monthly at the court house to look after the business and welfare of the county, locate new roads, build new bridges and repair the old ones; in fact, transact all business operations of the county ; assess the different levies for county, roads and school purposes.
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