Good Work If You Can Get It

TRIP THROUGH EASTERN SHORE.

By John B. Alsop, of Alsop Motor Company.

On account of the interest shown by the business men of Richmond in the Tidewater Counties of Virginia, I thought it would probably be Interesting to give you an idea of a recent trip which I have just taken through the counties of the Eastern Shore. E.R. Bittner and myself left Richmond on Friday about 12:30 o'clock in a five passenger K-R-I-T car for Mathews County. After leaving Seven Pines we found the trip uneventful, and very hot, until we reached Barhamsville, in New Kent County, forty miles below Richmond. We stopped at this place for a few minutes, called on Mr. Potts*, who runs a very nice store, and who is an automobile owner. 

We inquired of Mr. Potts regarding the roads between Barhamsville and Williamsburg, and to our surprise he stated that we would have to take a by-road between Barhamsville and Toano on account of the very bad condition of the road between these two points. He stated that there were several places that were extremely bad on account of the shade surrounding these spots, which kept them from drying up rapidly. Mr. Potts stated to I me that he and some of the neighbors around the store had tried to fill up these bad places by cutting down some of the trees, and throwing brush into some of the small holes, but as fast as this was done some of the people living in the immediate vicinity of these bad spots would take out the brush and trees which they had put In. Their reasons for doing this, he stated, was that one man had been able to make $15 or $20 a week by pulling automobiles out of these holes, and naturally they did not want to see them fixed up. The people reaping the benefit of the bad roads would let an automobile owner go into this road without any warning, and consequently, they could not pull through. We were very thankful to Mr.Potts for his advice, and had no trouble in passing this spot on the road through the woods.

-Times Dispatch, 13 July 1913

*probably either James Anderson Potts or George Kidder Potts

Travel 100 Years Ago- Baltimore via the York River Line

The City of Annapolis

DAILY SERVICE TO WEST POINT AND RICHMOND, VA. 

On October 21 the Chesapeake Steamship Company placed in service on its York River line the palatial steamer City of Annapolis and on November 17 the City of Richmond will be placed in service, giving to Baltimore a daily service to West Point and Richmond, Va. Beginning November 17, the following schedule will be maintained: 

Leave Baltimore . . .              6.00 P.M. 

Arrive West Point . . .            7.00 A.M. 

Steamer Train- leave West Point . .7.20 A.M. 

Steamer Train- arrive Richmond . . 8.30 A.M. 

Between Richmond West Point and Baltimore 

Steamer Train- leave Richmond . . .5.30 P.M. 

Steamer Train- arrive West Point   6.40 P.M. 

Steamer leave West Point . . .     6.50 P.M. 

Arrive Baltimore . . .             7.00 A.M. 

The service via the Southern Railway between West Point and Richmond will be performed by a special steamer train with parlor car and day coaches. The line between West Point and Richmond has been conditioned enabling the steamer train to make the run- thirty-nine (39) miles- in an hour and ten minutes. The pier at West Point has been rebuilt for the convenient transfer of passengers between the trains and the ships, making the entire service first class in every respect. 

The steamers City of Annapolis and City of Richmond have a gross tonnage of 1,923 tons and a net tonnage of 1,127 tons. She is 277 feet over all 53 feet over guards and 43 feet beam at the water line, with a carrying capacity for 600 tons of freight and accommodations for 400 passengers. She has 117 rooms with running water in all rooms. Eight rooms contain double brass beds and connect with bath room; five rooms with double brass beds and shower bath; seven rooms with two berths and connecting with bath rooms, and four rooms with two berths and shower bath. All bath rooms and shower baths are equipped with hot and cold, fresh and salt water. She is equipped with Marconi wireless, interior telephones for communication between state rooms, and when alongside the dock connection is made with the city telephone system. The dining room is located on the gallery deck forward and has a seating capacity for sixty people. A special feature of this steamer is the segregation of the colored from the white passengers, a number of rooms and a smoking room on the main deck aft having been set aside for the exclusive use of the colored passengers. A handsomely furnished smoking room for white passengers is located on the gallery deck aft. 

-Baltimore(magazine), November 1913

Plant Going Up

INDUSTRIAL BITS ALL OVER VIRGINIA

Work on the new plant of the Chesapeake Pulp and Paper Company, to be built at West Point, is progressing rapidly. The location on the Pamunkey River has been completely surveyed, to facilitate the drawing of plans and specifications. The plans themselves are well under way. and bids for construction will he let in the next ten days or two weeks.

 -The Times Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) March 02, 1913

Commerce on the Pamunkey- 1913

WEST POINT NOTES.

Much Building In Prospect -Steamer for the Pamunkey.

 West Point. Va., October 4.-

The Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday night and a stock company was organised(sic) for the purpose of building houses to accommodate the new people coming into the town. The directors of the company have boon appointed, but the  officers of same have not been fully decided upon. The organisation(sic) is to be known an the West Point Building Corporation, and twenty or more houses are to go up at once. There will be building done by others.

With the deepening of the water around the docks at West Point, the completion of the bridge across the Mattaponi River, and the prospect of a bridge across the Pamunkey River, and the building of houses for many people and the many other signs of progress around West Point there comes a cry for a small steamboat up the Pamunkey. W. J. Taylor, of Eltham Farm, New Kent County, calls attention to the fact that although the Southern Railroad skirts the Pamunkey River on the north side, up to the White Mouse, yet a vast territory on the south side of the river has no transportation facilities whatever. That there are many farmers who would grow much produce to ship could they have the chance to do so, and that above White House, where lie some of the largest and finest farms in Virginia, the farmers have no way of shipping their produce, except by the slow process of sail vessel, after a very long haul across the country.

A steamboat on the Pamunkey would awaken the farmers to grow larger crops, when, as the case now stands, they grow only enough for home consumption. The boat would not only handle freight, but many passengers would find it convenient to do their trading in West Point, which is the natural trading place for a large section of this country. The steamboat would be a paying investment, and would greatly increase and bring a large body of people in closer touch commercially with West Point.

In 1867 this present line of steamers was established from Baltimore. The boats, the Kenebeck and the Admiral, used to run up the Pamunkey river to White House until the railroad was completed to West point. In 1867 there was an established line from Norfolk. The Mystic, a moderate sized steamer, was used to accommodate the shippers and the traveling public. This boat ran to White House also until the  railroad was completed, but as a favor stopped at West Point in passing.

The stock books of the new bank have been opened for subscription, and from indications stock subscriptions will be received from every county In Tidewater Virginia, and there is a likelihood that its maximum capital of $50,000 will be oversubscribed. The bank will open its doors about November 1 in its temporary quarters in the Masonic Hall Building, but will move to D and Eighth Streets when the new building is completed. It is said that work on the new building will begin immediately.

-The Times Dispatch(Richmond, Va.) October 05, 1913

What's In A Name?- II

 The follow up to yesterdays . . "What's In A Name?- I"

We do not know whether our good friend is trying to get some advertising for his home town, or means to give us a little kindly advice. It is no fault of this paper that Boulevard(or Windsor Shades) is not better known. A little judicious advertising on the part of those who have 200 lots to sell, etc., would enable us to get a correspondent there, and at the same time secure some buyers for said lots. It takes money to conduct a newspaper, just as it does to conduct a farm, or to promote a town site. But if our good friend will send us a news letter every week, he will find that the name of the place, at least, will be known.- Ed. Gazette.

-Virginia Gazette(Williamsburg) April 11, 1913

What's In A Name?- I

Boulevard, alias Windsor Shades.

Boulevard Postoffice,

Windsor Shades Station, Va.

Editor Gazette:

I wonder if the Editor of The Gazette knows that there is a place on the C.& O. by the above address? I learn from passengers who come here, that when they asked for tickets to Boulevard, the answer is " no such station on our line." They should be informed through the press or officials of the road that the station at Boulevard Postoffice(sic) is Windsor Shades, or there should be but one name.

I am a reader of the Virginia Gazette, and do not see any mention of this place. Would it not be well for the editor to have a correspondent here for his own good? It might be the means of circulating his paper and making it of more attraction for others to know that there is such a place. We have here, at the head of navigation on the Chickahominy river, a manufacturing establishment for making truck veneer barrels and others in the knock-down; sawed staves and headings, sawed lumber and lathes. We have also built a stable for cows and barn room, with a view to starting a dairy, and ask the farmers to contribute by keeping more cows on their farms, and help to fill their pockets by supplying a fertilizer to keep up the land to produce whatever is planted or sown.

We have a hotel, and a schoolhouse that is used for holding meetings of all denominations, and store, and several new buildings started, and more to follow. We have 200 lots laid out for a town, and several sold, and material to build up as fast as possible. Those who have not visited us are invited to call on us and we will show them around the village of Windsor Shades, and the many advantages to settle in a healthy part of the old Virginia on productive land and among good neighbors. We have lived here nearly one year and came from the northern part of New York, where the winters are long and severe, and we preferred this climate to any we have visited. We have several coming from the north who are going to settle here, and we hope to raise enough to supply the demands without sending abroad for necessary supplies.

A Northerner.

-Virginia Gazette(Williamsburg) April 11, 1913

-To Be Continued-

A Wedding at Chestnut Grove

Mistie, Elsie Josephine, “Chestnut Grove (New Kent County, Va.),” Library of Virginia

Johnson-Chandler.

[special to The Times-Dispatch]

 West Point, August 12.-John Lemuel Johnson, of King William, son of W. P. Johnson of Cohoke- claimed as his bride Addie Mozelle Chandler, of New Kent, daughter of Mr. and Mrs O.M. Chandler, this afternoon. Prof. Philip Johnson, uncle of the groom of Bethany College. West Virginia, assisted by the local pastor. Rev Mr. McAllister, performed the marriage ceremony. The marriage took place out of doors on the lawn at the home of the bride, Chestnut Grove. The bridal procession came down the lane leading to the house, between two rows of grand old trees, stopping at the two designated by an arch of pink and white, which were the color scheme of the whole affair. The bride, robed in shadow lace, trimmed in pearl,carrying Bride roses, her veil caught with lilies of the valley, was given away by her father Miss Mollie Crump, cousin of the bride, was maid of honor Aubrey Johnson, brother of the groom, acted as best man. Mrs. Lemuel Edwards sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Little Elizabeth Chandler, of West Point, was flower girl. The ribbon bearers, carrying pink ribbons to form an aisle, were little Mary Clarke Burnley Slater, Calvin Smith and Weller Pollard.

The bridesmaids were Misses Hynda Yaney, Lester Manor, Lovelene Neale, Lanesvllle: Rhea Martin, Richmond: Floy Crump, Dash; Louise Bayliss, Richmond, wearing white dresses, with pink girdles and carrying pink tulle muffs.

The groomsmen were Arsel Robins, Lestor Manor. Willie Martin, Williamsburg; Kenneth Christian, Talleysville; Campbell Bayliss, Richmond, and Deleware Chandler, New Kent.

The ushers were M.P. Chandler, West Point, J. Wiley Johnson, Cohoke; L. Edwards, Lanesville; Thomas Barham, Norfolk. The wedding march was rendered by Mrs. W.C. Smith, if Newport News.  Among the  guests from a distance were R.St.P. Smith, Charles, Stanley, Arthur and Campbell Bayliss, of Richmond; Mr. and  Mrs. Thomas B. Barham, of Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. W. C.Smith, of Newport News; Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel of Lanesvllle; Mr. and Mrs. M P. Chandler and daughter Elizabeth, of West Point; Miss Van Delia. Kiblinger, of West Virginia; Mrs. Howard Pollard, Port Norfolk: Miss Annie Penell, Richmond.

-The Times Dispatch, August 13, 1913

Improving Notoriously Bad Roads

BONDS FOR GOOD ROADS
New Kent Supervisors may Authorise
Issue of $10,000.

[Special to The Times-Dispatch.]

Roxbury. Va.. April 12.- A bond issue of $10,000 is being considered by the Board of Supervisors of New Kent County, for the purpose of building good roads. Charles City County, which adjoins New Kent, will soon issue bonds in the amount of $50,000 for road building. Never before in this region has there been so much enthusiasm for good roads and other public improvements. Post-Office Inspector Wall, of Washington, has been here for the past week going over two proposed new rural free delivery routes, one in New Kent twenty-four miles in length, with seventy-seven families and 215 patrons, and the other in Charles City, twenty-seven miles long, with 126 families and 318 patrons.

-The Times Dispatch. (Richmond, Va.) April 13, 1913