Better Highways- 1914 to 1924

               

              BETTER HIGHWAY TO THE MOUTH OF JAMES RIVER 

         Country People Start Movement for Auto Road From Richmond to  Newport  News. 

        THE CHICKAHOMINY ASSOCIATION 

   Highway Building Organization Inspired by Rural School Teacher- To  Make Route Shorter and better. 

The teacher of the Mt. Pleasant School, near Roxbury, Va., several weeks ago announced to some of her patrons that the next league meeting would he a good-roads meeting, and invited all to he present. From this meeting a movement developed which promises not only to improve some of the roads in the neighborhood of Mt Pleasant School, In Charles City County, but the movement has spread into portions of three counties.

 It promises to develop one certain piece of road that will be of interest to several hundred Richmond people, including agents from wholesale houses, lumbermen, club men, Chickahominy fishermen and tourists. In addition to being a great benefit and convenience to the natives along its way. 

 This work is just in its infancy, having reached its present proportions in a little more than two weeks. So many substantial and energetic people have become interested that, as a result, all the people are aroused along this road.

 On the night of May 2 a meeting of Charles City and New Kent people was held in the Masonic Building at Providence Forge. The work of aiding and improving the roads was taken up In a systematic way. An organization was formed, to be known as the Chickahominy Highway Association, with the following officers: Fred S. Bock, president, Roxbury, Va.; W.P. Tunstall, chairman board of supervisors New Kent County, treasurer, Roxbury, Va., and R.E. Mountcastle, secretary, Providence Forge, Va.

              NEW ROAD FROM RICHMOND DOWN TO NEWPORT NEWS 

The work that this association is undertaking for this year will be devoted chiefly to one piece of road. The plan is to begin at the Henrico line, in Charles city County, three miles west of Roxbury; thence across the long bridges to Mountcastle by way of Providence Forge, Windsor Shades, Walkers and Diascund, where it joins a good dirt road to Toano, Williamsburg and on to the macadamized road into Newport News.

 The starting point on the Henrico line, three miles west of Roxbury, can be reached by four different roads from Richmond, viz.: the Darbeytown Road, the Fort Lee Road, the Seven Pines Road and the New Market Road; the latter, leading by Curl's Neck, being the longest route. The difference in the distances between the Darbeytown Road, the Fort Lee Road and the Seven Pines Road is not over one and one half miles, but undoubtedly the best road hiring bad weather Is the Seven Pines Road, for the reason that it is; nearly all macadamized to the Henrico line, and will be completed by the middle of the summer.

 From the Henrico line to Roxbury the road is in fair condition for automobiles now; from Roxbury to Providence Forge, the road is in bad condition, but being improved at this time by private subscription, aided by the board of Supervisors. 

                           A BIG WORK BY DETERMINED PEOPLE 

This work is no small undertaking, but the people are not going to be discouraged, showing their willingness to aid with their money and work. The Chickahominy Association is asking all who are interested In a better road and a shorter route from Newport News to Richmond to aid in this work with their money and labor.

 One hundred dollars was raised by the people in the neighborhood of Roxbury and from a few Richmond tourists, aided by a like amount from the supervisors, and the bad places in the road were repaired from the Henrico line to Roxbury, This expenditure is to be supplemented later by the regular appropriation allowed for this road, along with other amounts that may be subscribed. Another $100 was subscribed by the people between Roxbury and Providence Forge, which is to be met by a like amount by the District Supervisor, which amount is to be used between Roxbury and Providence Forge. The subscription paper for this road has only been in circulation for three days. It is the intention of the association to bring this movement to the attention of the various Richmond and Newport New clubs along the Chickahominy River. A person traveling from Newport News to Richmond by automobile is never farther than one and a half miles from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, making it easy to reach the railroad at any time.

 The subscriptions are used in each case on the section of the road that the subscribers may designate, and is nearly as possible on any specific spot they may name. As the money will be spent by the county supervisors. who are co-operating with the association it is left to their discretion, to a certain extent, as to how the different amounts may be spent. The work will depend largely upon the amounts subscribed and the number of times the road equipment would have to be moved.

                   WILL KEEP THE PUBLIC FULLY ADVISED OF PROGRESS

 A complete report will be made and published in three months, showing the work that the organization is doing, and the amount and manner in which the money was raised and spent. At the end of this period the association inspects to he able to inform automobilists that a fair automobile route is open for them from Richmond to Newport News, by way of Roxbury, Providence Forge. Windsor Shades and Diascund, which, at all points. is near the C & O Railroad and is eleven miles shorter than the route by way of Bottoms Bridge. Talleysville, New Kent Courthouse and Barhamsville.

 If any one wishes further information or people wish to aid in this public benefit movement they have only to correspond with the officers of the association named above.

 President Bock say: "It is earnestly hoped that work of this nature will be heartily supported everywhere as the benefit is for all both in pleasure and business, and especially for our school children. What man would not help our children in such a move for better roads, better schools and better life in the country."

-Times Dispatch, 10 May 1914

The year saw the completion of the Newport News highway known as the Pocahontas Trail. The work this year was between Richmond and Toano, a distance of 41.3 miles. This, like that part of the highway from Toano to the coast is of concrete except a stretch of 5.2 miles of asphaltic concrete* between Richmond and Seven Pines, and a link of ten miles of gravel roadway between Bottoms Bridge and Norge. The road between Bottoms Bridge and New Kent Courthouse was graded and drained and partly graveled during the year. This is section is thirteen miles in length.

-News Leader, 27 December 1924

* i.e. blacktop

Fare $2.00 . . . Breakfast Extra

 

                        RAILROADS, &c. 

                        Winter Schedule. 

                    RICHMOND AND YORK RIVER RAILROAD.

          CHEAP AND ATTRACTIVE ROUTE FROM RICHMOND TO 

                                      OLD POINT,  NORFOLK,

                 PORTSMOUTH, EASTERN SHORE AND MATTHEWS. 

                     FARE $ 2.00- BREAKFAST EXTRA.              

On and after TUESDAY, October 9th, 1860, passenger trains will leave Richmond daily, (except Sundays,) at 6 1/2 A.M., on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, stopping upon signal only at Meadow, Dispatch, Tunstall's, Cohoke, and Romancoke, and arrive at West Point at 8 A.M.

The fast and commodious steamer WEST POINT, Capt. J.C. Rowe, will leave King and Queen Court House Landing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 7 A.M., connecting with the cars at West Point, and stopping upon signals only at Clifton, Water Fence, Shepherd’s, Moody’s, Cappahoosic, Bigler’s, Gloucester Point, Yorktown and arrive at Old Point, at 19:48 P. M., and Norfolk and Portsmouth at 8 P M.

Returning, the Steamer will leave Norfolk and Portsmouth on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 1/2 A.M, and Old Point at 7:45 A.M., landing only as above, and connecting with the cars at West Point at 12 1/2 P.M., and arrive in Richmond at 2 P.M. 

On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the passenger train will leave West Point for Richmond at 9 AM, and arrive at 11 AM, stopping only on signal at Romancoke, Sweet Hall, Cohoke, Indian Town, Tunstall's, Dispatch, Meadow and Fair Oaks.

Passengers for the Eastern Shore can leave Norfolk on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by the steamer Northampton, Capt. McCarrick, and for Matthews Thursdays and Saturdays. 

Fare from Richmond or any point on York River to Eastern Shore... $3 50

To Matthews... 3 00 

Fare from Richmond to West Point or West Point to Richmond and return next day... 2 50

Freights received Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until 4 P.M., at Richmond and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until 9 P.M. at West Point. 

Fare from King and Queen C.H., and other points on Mattaponi River to Norfolk or Richmond, $2 00. 

Passengers for Williamsburg will take stage at Bigler's, for Gloucester C.H. at Cappahoosic, and for Saluda and Urbanna at West Point. 

Regular Sunday trains will leave Richmond at 8 A.M., and arrive at West Point at 10 A. M., returning leave West Point at 4 and arrive in Richmond at 6 P.M. 

                                                   R.H. TEMPLE, Supt. 

-Richmond Whig,  3 November 1860

To give an idea of transportation costs, statistics on retail prices in Massachusetts in 1860( I could find no chart for Virginia) give the following:

Eggs a dozen . . . . . . . .   0.20 1/4

Milk a quart . . . . . . . . .  0.04 3/4

Potatoes a bushel . . . .   0.59

Corn meal a pound . . .  0.02 1/4

Coffee a pound  . . . . . .  0.23 

and a pair of men's boots . . . . $2.75

" No Leaf of Tree or Bush, or Blade or Grass, or Growing Crop, Is Left" - 1871

 Terrible Tornado and Hailstorm. Great Destruction of Growing Crops _ and Other Property.

 

 One of the most terrific and destructive hail-storms which ever any portion of the Commonwealth passed through the entire length of New Kent county on Wednesday afternoon. So far as we have been able to learn it was confined to a strip of country about one mile in width, but in its path no leaf of tree or bush, or blade or grass, or growing crop, is left. Whole fields of wheat were cut down as if a reaper had been passed through them. Oats, too, and corn suffered in the same way. Trees were wrenched off and blown about as though they were mere reeds, while their leaves cut off by the hail cover the ground as in autumn.

 Nor did houses escape injury. The dwelling of Mr. A. P. Richardson had both chimneys blown down, and was otherwise injured, and all others in the track of the storm were more or less damaged. All persons and stock so unfortunate as to be caught in the storm and unable to find shelter received a severe pelting from the hailstones.

 A young lady, whose name we were unable to learn, was passing along the road when the storm came up, and being missed search was made for her, and she was found lying senseless in the road. She was immediately taken home and medical aid summoned. When our informant left she was still suffering severely, and there was doubt as to her recovery.

 Yard and fruit trees, the result of years of labor and care, were entirely demolished. The storm went through the comity in a southerly course and passed away on down through the lower counties in that direction, leaving Williamsburg to the right. The depth of the hail on the ground after the' storm had passed was measured In several places and found to be nine inches deep. Our informant, who is entirely reliable, says that he saw it lying in the corner of fences the next morning at least four inches deep. The hail was not to remarkable for the size of the stones as for the quantity falling.

 To illustrate the destruction wrought by the storm, one planter, who had highly fertilized his wheat, and expected to raise 1,000 bushels, offered, after the storm had passed, to sell his entire crop for fifty cents.

 It is noted as a remarkable coincidence that just four years since exactly the same belt of country was visited by a similar hail-storm and tornado. The destruction of property was not so extensive by that visitation, but a negro was killed and other persons were injured. 

-Daily Dispatch,  20 May 1871

Rebuilding After the War- 1866

 

                                             PROPOSALS. 

                                  SEALED PROPOSALS FOR REBUILDING 

the JAIL, in New Kent county, according to the plan and specifications filed at this office and with the Clerk of New Kent, will be received by the Committee, at the Court House of said county, until the 12th day of April next. 

     BAT. D. CHRISTIAN, 

     WM. W. TALIAFERRO, 

    JOHN D. CHRISTIAN, 

    JOHN MAYO, 

    HENRY I.. BROOKE, 

        Committee.

-Richmond Whig, 24 March 1866

Thomas Binford, Oliver Gathright and Mitchell Allen were appointed commissioners(from Henrico) to meet New Kent commissioners, and advertise for proposals to rebuild Bottoms bridge, which is to be 125 feet long and 12 wide.

 

-Richmond Whig,  10 April 1866