Providence Forge Fire - 77 Years Ago

 

Providence Forge Fire; Destroyed by Fire; $75,000 Damage Estimate; Eight Escape

PROVIDENCE FORCE. June 17th- Fire destroyed Charles E. Hughes' general store here early today with a loss estimated at $75,000. Both an old structure, facing old Route 60. and a newly erected two-story wing extending back to the new double highway were gutted. 

 Eight persons sleeping in rooms above the store escaped after one man awoke and discovered the fire at 4 A. M. He warned, other occupants. 

 A fire company from Henrico County joined two engines from James City, one from West Point and a forest-fire fighting truck from New Kent in a futile attempt to halt the flames. The adjacent Layfield Motor Company was saved when shift in the wind carried the flames away as men stood on the roof of an automobile lubrication building. and threw water on the walls. Cars in the building were moved to safety.

 R. M. Hughes, brother of the proprietor, estimated the damage to the store at $75,000. He said the building was destroyed about an hour after the fire was discovered and that the cause of the fire was not determined.

 Only about $1,000 in merchandise was saved, Mr. Hughes said.

 Another section of the Hughes store and hotel, across old highway Route 60 was not damaged.

 The Hughes store was widely known as a stopping place for fishermen and was open day and night during the past Winter, a restaurant and general sports goods department were opened.

-Richmond News Leader, 17 June 1948

 

C. E. Hughes, merchant at Providence Forge, who was burned out with about a $76,000 loss, on June 1C, is already at work on the erection of a cinder block structure of about the same size on his store site. Mr. Hughes states that with the help of his brother, R. M. Hughes, and friends, that he expects to be open tor business in the new building in 30 days.

 As a reporter, we went over to the smoking ruins that morning at 9 o’clock. There was very littlie of the trick hull left standing end merchandise that had been burning since about 4 A.M. was still smoldering, especially the huge amount of motor oil that was on hand. It is said the fire started in Room 5 upstairs over the store. Eight people were awakened and saved themselves, but not belongings, just in time, as in a matter of minutes the ceiling caved in. Only about $1,000 worth of store goods was saved, which included the English spode china, some feed and a few automobile tires.

 Recently Mr. Hughes had added a sportsman’s department for the benefit of fishermen especially, and restaurant equipment and had stated that at last he had his place of business like he wanted it. “I even have the colored and white adequately taken care of, separately."

 Mr. Hughes only lost one day in being out of business. Since then he has had the bus depot, etc., in the Layfield grease building, which is only a few feet away. This building and Layfield Motor Company proper were threatened by the fire and would have burned had not men and fire trucks kept the buildings constantly under a flow of water. New Kent fire truck, the two James City fire trucks, the Henrico fire engine and the West Point fire engine all came when called and kept the fire from spreading. Mr. Hughes has been, a merchant at Forge for 35 years. Besides the novelty store, with hotel upstairs and his hotel across the road, Mr. Hughes has a peach orchard at Forge and also a holly wreath factory there.

-Tidewater Review, 24 June 1948

This is the same C. E. Hughes is the Charles Evans Hughes of the Christmas Wreath factory post of last Christmas. 

                  Virginia Village Is Believed World's Holly Wreath                                                                             Capital 

PROVIDENCE FORGE, Oct 22- You'd think that the Christmas holly wreath business would be a seasonal fair, but a look at the lone little factory in this New Kent County hamlet will show it's not. The biggest production comes in the months after New Year's, and it's all due to a preserving formula concocted by a local man.

Providence Forge is a crossroads village, population under 200 on Route 60 and the C&O, but it may well be the holly wreath capital of the world. Its one industry, housed in a two-story 100-foot square cinderblock building alongside the railroad tracks, annually produces 100,000 holly wreaths, from pie-plate size to some almost too big to get in the door. And  even though only 50 people are ever employed in the plant at one time, the cash benefits of this agricultural are go a great deal further.

About 150 residents of New Kent and Charles City Counties gather native holly near their homes eight months out of the year. Then, between farm, fishing or trapping chores, they make neat wreaths which are preserved and painted by several processes in the plant of 

Providence Forge's hotel, orchard, coal pile and wreath factory owner, Charles Evans Hughes.

` Name is Accident

Mr. Hughes, who says his name "just happened," and has no connection with his famous namesake*, is more generally know as the  proprietor of the only rural general store which carries English Spode china, along with fly-paper and horse collars. The fact has frequently impressed passengers on the Richmond-to-Williamsburg buses, which stop at the store, more than anything else on the trip.

"This preserving formula is my own," explained tall-gray-haired and balding Mr. Hughes, looking wisely over his glasses, "Worked out over the years. Got glycerin in it."

Whatever's in it does the job, because Providence Forge wreaths last as long as four years.

"What I can't figure out," Mr.. Hughes said as he made his way past piles of wreaths stacked on the first floor of his low-ceilinged plant, "is why these wreaths are so popular up north for funerals. Down here we celebrate with 'em, but up there they mourn with 'em, too."

  Steady Trade

It's this gloomy demand that keeps a trickle of preserved wreaths moving from storage all year around, although the bulk shipping season is from August to December for the celebrant trade.

"I'll sell 'em a 41-incher, double faced, if the undertaker wants it," Mr. Hughes confided. This model is the B-29 or Big Bertha of holly wreaths, and it costs him $2 each. Preserved, painted, berries added, boxed and shipped to the wholesale market, he sells them for $90 a dozen.

First step in the process is the making of wire metal hoop, in eight sizes (from 14 inches to 42 inches in diameter) which are taken out the piece-workers in the rural areas. Holly can best be picked from August to the following April, since it changes leaves during the Summer. Once made, the wreaths are picked up by Mr. Hughes' truck and paid for at the rate of 7 cents to $1, for single-faced wreaths.

Once in the plant, they're dipped in the preserving solution and hung up to dry for several days. Then comes the final dip into dark green enamel- and after another three days they're ready for artificial red berries, bought from a New Jersey plant, to be tied on.

The wire-strung ceilings of the plant, from which the wreaths are suspended in storage, are now half bare, as the shipping demands eats up last Spring's production. By Christmas they'll almost all be gone.

What amazes Mr. Hughes about the business is the abundance of holly.

                           Ample Supplies

"The supply seems to be increasing, he said, "after 30 years' of taking it, we've found that holly trees will put new branches out for broken ones every years. The pickers say it's everywhere."

Natural berries are relatively rare in the wreath brought into the Providence Forge factory, and Mr. Hughes has found addition of the artificial berries a necessary part of standard production.

He's be told by his buyers who are located in every principal city in the United States, and some in Canada, that his output is the largest of any one holly wreath manufactury. Asked for the name of the plant, America's No. 1 holly wreath tycoon scratched his head in a puzzled manner.

"Dunno," he said "Never thought of a name for it. I guess you'd call just call it Hughes Factory."

-Richmond Times-Dispatch, Oct 23, 1946

Charles Evans Hughes died in 1987 at the age of 94. He had lost most of his businesses after a series of legal issues in the late 1950's.

* This is a reference to Charles Evans Hughes the Republican presidential candidate who lost to Woodrow Wilson in the 1916 election.

Holt's Forge

 

  In June, 1870, a freshet, the result of previous heavy rains, overflowed and broke the dam at a point known as Old Forge, on the Jones branch of the Chickahominy River, in New Kent County, Virginia. Trees were overturned, a building  undermined, and a gorge cut, uncovering in its route the remains of an early forge or smelting furnace. The foundation, portions of a chimney, an anvil, a hammer, and six bars of iron were exposed to view- one of the last, bearing in raised letters the inscription "B.G., 1741," which were supposed to indicate the place and date of manufacture; the first of which was assumed to have been Bear Garden furnace, Buckingham County, Virginia. The forge is marked on Fry and Jefferson's Map of Virginia 1765 as Holt's Forge. It must have commenced operations at a period not much later than 1741, if not as early, and was continued until some time during the Revolutionary war.

 Tradition assigns to Col. William Byrd (the second) the credit of erecting and first working the forge, and Mr. William H. Christian, of Richmond, states that in his boyhood he was informed by an old negro man, named Guthridge, that his owner, one Jones, who operated the forge until its destruction, stationed him, then a youth, upon an eminence to watch the movements of the British soldiery who were in the section. Their approach being descried, the buildings were hastily fired and earth thrown upon the ruins to conceal the tools, &c. After the war bar iron was produced so cheaply in other sections that no efforts were made to revive the works. A grist-mill being erected in late years near the site of the forge and driven by water from the pond used for its operations was first called Providence Mills, but such was the force of custom that the residents of the section would retain the old designation, Forge; hence the new and old name has by common consent and usage been united in the component term Providence Forge. 

 "Early Iron Manufacture in Virginia 1619- 1776" By R.A. Brock- (Secretary of the Virginia Historical Society) in Proceedings of the United States National Museum, Volume 8- 1886

An interesting note on this article, after consulting the Fry/Jefferson map, I do not find any mention of a "Holt's Forge." There is a "Holt" located on the map somewhat to the west of Cumberland on the Pamunkey, but the only spot located near present day Providence Forge is "Soane's Bridge." 

Of course this same map also locates Whitehouse just east Brickhouse almost on Weir Creek.

     NEW KENTER FIRST TO LOSE BEER LICENSE 

       PROVIDENCE FORGE MAN VIOLATES SUNDAY BLUE LAW 

 The first violator of the Sunday beer law had their license revoked by the ABC board in Richmond on Tuesday when it was announced that Mrs. Ruby Rollins, holder of a beer and wine license for Slim’s Place, Providence Forge, lost her permit because her husband took a chance on violating the ABC board’s regulation forbidding the Sunday sale of alcoholic beverages.

 This was the first case to reach the control board since the lid was clamped down on Sunday brew sales on February 28.

 At the same time nine other places lost their licenses for violating the ABC law. It was reported that Sunday’s Place in Port Richmond was one of the victims.

 In the case of Mrs. Rollins in New Kent, Inspector Crenshaw, of West Point, who is in charge of the operation of the board’s ban, Mr. Rollins not only sold beer in his place but drank some himself after refusing to permit inspection of his establishment. The board’s regulation forbids both the selling and drinking of brew on the premises of a licensee. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Rollins were at the hearing on Tuesday.

 In the meantime local beer drinkers are becoming accustomed to the new law and are forgetting beer on Sunday. Few have purchased beer on Saturday and drunkedness on the streets and highways is seldom seen. 

-Tidewater Review,  25 March 1937

The Virginia ABC Board ruled in February 1937 that the sale of beer and wine was prohibited on Sundays.

"the new rule sets forth that beer and wine licensees 'shall refrain from making any sale Or delivery of wine, beer or beverages between the hours of 12:01 a. m. on Sunday and 5 a. m. on Monday.

'Nor shall any person Permit the consumption of any wine, beer or beverages upon the premises to which any such license has been granted be tween the hours of 12:01 a. m. on Sunday and 5 a. m- on Monday.

 'This regulation shall become effective at 12:01 a. m., February 28, 1937. The officials of the board pointed out that the regulation applies to 3.2 as well as high-test beer."

Dr. George Thomas Potts 1835 - 1934

 

Dr. Potts, 98, Former Dinwiddian, Dies 

Dr. George Potts, 98 years old and well known in Dinwiddie country, where he lived for many years, died Monday at his home in Providence Forge.

 Dr. Potts was a native of England and was educated there as a veterinary surgeon. He came to this country in 1867 and traveled about lecturing on horses. In 1880 he settled in Dinwiddie county and spent the rest of his life in Virginia. His first wife died a number of years ago and he later married Miss Leonora Scammell of Petersburg, who survives him as do four sons, George of Meadowville Farm, Herbert of Petersburg, E. C. of Richmond and Craighill Potts of Hopewell and two daughter, Miss Pierce of Providence Forge and Miss Christian of Raleigh, N. C.

 One of Dr. Potts’ chief interests was in the Masonic lodge. He became a member of Astrea Lodge No. 85, at Sussex C. H., in 1881 and has missed only one meeting of the Grand Lodge since that time and that was last year on account of illness. He was also a member of Petersburg Lodge No. 15 and had served as Master. 

-Southside Virginia News,  19 July 1934

"I Feel Confident I Can Give Satisfaction to All" - 1912

 

newspaper advertisement from July 11, 1912

 George Thomas Potts was born 1836 in England, in the county of Kent to be exact. He immigrated in 1867 to the United States living first in the Southside. He married Lenora Scammel in  Petersburg in 1886. In the 1890s he bought the large Meadowville farm in the Bermuda area of Chesterfield near Dutch Gap where he became known as a great entertainer of hunters and outdoorsmen.

In January of 1912, after selling Meadowville the previous year, he bought Providence Hall in Providence Forge and opened a veterinary practice on the upper Peninsula. 

Providence Hall was the historic colonial house in "downtown" Providence Forge  . . . until it was taken apart and moved to Colonial Williamsburg to make way for the new enlarged Rt. 60 in the late 1940s.

Providence Hall in the 1930s

Happenings - 1925

 

 QUINTON

Tuesday was regular term of court for New Kent. Judge Robertson presided¹. The court was in session two days it being regular grand jury term. There were three indictments brought in for prohibition violations. One was fined $50 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, but jail sentence was suspended. Others were acquitted. One colored boy was indicted for breaking into the store of Goode Brothers² near Quinton. Case continued until next term, Sept. 15. A large crowd was present from Providence Forge, interested in the case of a young merchant, Mr. Charlie Hughes³of Providence Forge, who was indicted the last term of court for selling groceries on the Sabbath. Mr. Hughes is a hustling young merchant, doing a fine business, has beautiful property, beautiful dwelling, fine hotel, and is a fearless plunger in any enterprise where the vision of an extra dollar is in sight. He is on the job, and when he puts out a dollar there is soon another to keep it company. In a few years he will be wealthy, another New Kent millionaire. Another hustling merchant there is young Lem Binns.⁴ He is doing a fine business, as also are R. F. Mountcastle and R. E. Richardson, all in this growing little town of 500 inhabitants (soon will reach 1000).

Another at this place is Dr. Parker⁵, a retired physician. He is now on Easy street, has a beautiful home and happy family. Doing an immense business at his large garages and selling automobiles, trucks, and tractors. He has sold more cars and trucks than all others combined. Wealthy he is, yet plain and sociable. Across the street is the beautiful home of Sheriff E. F. Gill⁶, one of the happiest homes of the village. Electric lights, porcelain bath tubs, running water in every room, cold or hot as needed. Several years ago he married the beautiful operator Miss Cammie Robertson⁷, one of the four beautiful Robertson girls. Unusual to see, yet it was a family off operators, they having learned under their devoted father, who served as such for the C. & O. for 30 years. All these sister operators, yet all of these sisters decided to get married and have homes of their own and now they have them. “While we are young we have a position as long as we want it, but the day will come when younger ones will take our places.” So all decided, as wise girls will, to marry young, and often if need be, for they would say we have no time to wait for time is flying, the rose that blooms today tomorrow may be dying.                                                                                TRUTHFUL JEEMS.

 

-West Point News, 7 August 1925

 ¹ Judge Thomas B. Robertson of the Hopewell corporation court who was sitting on the bench due to the illness of Judge D. G. Tyler.

² I have not been able to find a thing about any "Goode Brothers" store.

³ Charles Evans Hughes, but not that Charles Evans Hughes. He owned the wreath factory in Providence Forge as well as the general store. 

⁴Leonard Binns the postmaster?

⁵Dr. J. Russell Parker(Nov 20 1880- Dec 10 1964) owned Woodberry and Sycamore Springs

⁶Sheriff Edward Franklin Gill (b. 1879) would be killed in a hit and run incident in 1929

⁷Camilla J. Robertson one of the seven daughters of Junius Edward Robertson.

Flooding- 1948

             

                        Washed-Out Roads Keep Crews Busy 

RICHMOND, VA., May 27—(AP) —Crews of workmen today were busy restoring washed out rail and highway lanes over which traffic between here and Newport News had been halted.

 Heavy rainstorms in New Kent and Charles City Counties yesterday flooded to as much as eight feet sections of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and U.S. Highway 60 in the Windsor Shades area.

 Whether rail and highway traffic could be resumed over these two arterial lines sometime today had not been determined early this morning by C.& O. and State Highway Department Officials. A lot depended upon whether additional rainfall fell.

 A C.& O. spokesman said the railroad “hopes" to have one track open for resumption of train movements by this afternoon. As much as 250 feet of the railroad's main line fill had been undermined by the torrents.

 Trains had not moved between here and Newport News since train No. 45, The Sportsman, was halted about 2 p.m. yesterday at Providence Forge and has turned back in Richmond. 

 The Highway Department was routing traffic between here and Williamsburg over route 33. This road was covered with four to six inches of water for a while near New Kent Courthouse; but was clear by nightfall last night. 

 Where Route 60 paralleled the railroad east of Providence Forge, long stretches of highway were covered with water to depths up to eight feet late yesterday. 

-Suffolk News-Herald,  27 May 1948

The Happy September Ninety-Nine Years ago

ENJOYING SEPTEMBER, 

New Kent People Are Happy.

Providence Forge. Sept. 20- September is making a record for itself. The magnificent days that have followed one another the past week, have added much enjoyment to those visiting our hustling little village.

Sora are being killed in small quantities. Messrs. J H. Christian, E.F. Gill, J.B. Richardson and W.F. Gilliam were in Bradby's Marsh, near Windsor Shades, last week, but the sora came up missing. 

Protracted meetings are in progress this week at Oliver Presbyterian church. Rev. Osborne officiating. 

The Masonic Lodge is being rapidly built. It promises to be quite a nice building. 

Mr. J. B. Richardson has returned from the White Sulphur Springs very much benefited in health. 

Mrs. W. F. Gilliam and son, Blair, and Miss Mary Taylor Gilliam, of Richmond, were visitors in Williamsburg a few days since. 

Miss Josie Oliver, of Richmond, is the guest of her brother here. 

Miss Clara Bock, of Pennsylvania. is visiting her brother, Fred S. Bock. 

Mrs. G.C. Edwards and daughter of Richmond. have returned to their home, after spending some time at the former's parents. 

Mrs. Julia Anderson and two children, of Portsmouth, are on a visit to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson. 

Miss Fedora Haxall has left for college in Red Springs, N.C. 

Mr. Home, the popular proprietor of the Windsor Hotel, Boulevard, and Mr. S.C. Burnette were in our village Saturday. 

Mrs. E. B. Townsend, of Washington. D.C., will arrive here Oct. 1st. to straighten up the late Col. E.B. Townsend's estate. he leaving all his property to his widow, who is sole administratrix.

Roxbury. Va.. September 20- 

A larger crowd of admiring friends of Mr. C.D. Binns, the young merchant of this place, at Roxbury Wednesday to congratulate the young man and his bride, but were doomed to disappointment when the young merchant got off the train alone looking sad. As he told of his disappointment, tears would force their way down his rosy cheeks. He told of his travels to far away Cincinnati with the fond hopes of bringing back a fair rose, out from the west, but the sweet thing changed her mind and took another. Yet the young man is not discouraged and says "if you wont another will; if none do not, it's better still." Cheer up, Charlie, "faint heart never won fair lady." 

The roads in New Kent have completed and the fine teem is hauling telephone poles.

September 28th will be court day for New Kent. Court will be held in a storehouse as the new courthouse is not completed. The most important case to be tried this is that of two negro boys for holding up and robbing a Syrian woman peddler some time ago.

-Virginia Gazette, September 23, 1909

Forge Hall and Colonial Williamsburg

Click the below image to read the Architectural Report of Colonial Williamsburg on Providence Hall, aka the Forge House, Providence Forge's historic colonial building. 

Which, if it was still there, would be in the middle of the east bounds lane of Route 60.

The "US Route no 60" referenced in the above survey is now Boulevard Rd.

"We hear from Providence in New Kent . . ."

We hear from Providence in New Kent county that on the 8th instant the Rev. Charles Jeffrey Smith, who proposes to settle and reside on his estate opened a subscription for erecting a Presbyterian church 70 feet in length and forty in breadth with galleries and a steeple which was generously encouraged. The building of which will be let to the lowest undertaker on Wednesday, the 22d instant, at said place, by the managers, who will attend there on that day. 

-Virginia Gazette, Feb 16 1769

Smith, Rev, Charles Jeffrey, A.M., was a Presbyterian minister of Long Island, New York. He formed a partnership with another Presbyterian, William Holt, of Virginia, and in 1765 held 500 acres in James City county, and a mill called "Kennon's Mill". He founded a settlement in New Kent county which he called "Providence" now Providence Forge), and built thereon iron, grist and saw mills. He died in 1771. After his death the forge at New Kent was conducted by Francis Jerdone and William Holt. 

- Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Volume 1-1915

Much more on the Reverend Charles Jeffrey Smith to follow . . .

                                             Farmers View of Roads.

                                       To the Editors of the The Times-Dispatch:

Sir.- As we see it who travel over dirt roads almost abandoned by the road-working force, it would be far more advantageous to country people to distribute the road money and repair the broken down bridges and worn out roads even in places, than can concentrate the whole amount on a few miles of road for a certain class to travel. I will take for example the half mile of road between the Chickahominy River and Providence Forge. The bridge over the Chickahominy, at this place, is the first crossing from its mouth, possibly a distance of twenty or thirty miles. Consequently all travel by vehicle from the eastern and central part of Charles City county in going to the railroad station, post-office and express office have to cross on this bridge, necessarily making the traffic very heavy. Mails for several post-offices in Charles City County are taken across here dally, and one would imagine that such an important bridge and road would have a little attention, but on the contrary the bridge is in a deplorable condition. The abutment on the north side has been born away for months making it necessary to plunge down, I cannot say into the road, but ravine as the road is mostly in the river. Over a year, ago I called the attention of the supervisor to the fact that the teamsters were driving into the river at this place to water their team, of course with every trip taking the road out to the river. Just the felling of one small tree across the ford would have put a stop to this lawless procedure, but nothing was done. I spoke to others who I thought might have some influence, and while they express, a proper amount of regret at the deplorable condition of the road and bridge that ended it. When we reach Providence Forge we get a glimpse of the so-called highway, all fixed up smoothed down with signboards at every turn, and the autos of tourists, joy riders and city folks gliding along without a jolt, en route from city to city. Now this may be very satisfying and gratifying to some but as we see it, it is very unjust. The farmers pay a very high tax and every year the tax moves up higher and higher, and why should they have to plunge off old dilapidate bridges and drag through miles of mud when others travel in such comfort?                   I. E. J. 

Providence Forge, Dec. 26, 1922

-Richmond Times-Dispatch, 30 December 1922

Accident on Old Forge Pond- 1869

        Fatal Accident-Man Drowned.

-A few days since a party of five workmen started from Mr. Pearson's farm in New Kent county, to go to their homes. There were among them four white men and one colored man. When they got to Providence Forge mill-pond they were compelled to take a small boat with which to cross. They had proceeded half-way across the pond when suddenly the boat capsized from some cause that cannot be explained. The men were all thrown out, and all, with the exception of one named Phillips, gained a tree in the middle of the pond. Phillips sank immediately after he was thrown into the water, and was seen no more. Strange to say, he was the only man in the party who could swim, and his companions cannot account for the manner of his drowning. The men who succeeded in getting to the tree remained there during nearly the entire night crying for help, which was rendered them early the next morning. Phillips' body had not been found at last accounts. He was an honest, hard-working man, and left a small family.

-The Daily Dispatch, 23 July 1869

The Gilmer map of 1863 above shows the residence of E. C. Person just to the west of the "Forge Mill Stream"(Rumley Marsh).

To Drain a Lake . . .

Mirror Lake from the 1894 plat of Providence Forge

PROVIDENCE FORGE LAKE

Talk of Draining a Beautiful and Historic Body of Water. 

(Special Dispatch to The Times.)

PROVIDENCE FORGE, VA., October 5-

There has been considerable talk lately and some little excitement over the question of draining the water from the mill pond at this place since the mill has been in disuse for so long, but let us hope that the persons who suggested such a thing may, discover their mistake before it is too late.

A more beautiful lake of water could scarcely be found in Eastern Virginia. It flows in some two miles from the west, making a grand water power, deep, clear and abounding in the most delicious of pike, chub and perch. Its shores are clothed with majestic cypress trees, that judging from their huge trunks must have been loafing around these shores when Pocahontas frequented the banks of the Chickahominy river that is only a short distance away, and where the water of this lake, after passing under the mill bridge empties.

Not only does the beauty of this lake appeal to one, but its historical connections with the mill and old iron forge make it exceedingly interesting.

Away back in colonial day the two labored side by side, driven by the water from the lake. Tradition says the forge was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. However the case may be, for many, many years it lay entirely concealed from view in the soft earth along side the mill. By accident it was discovered and the trip hammer and some specimens of pig iron were unearthed, and may be seen at this day nearby.

The mill, until within the last few years, has ground on as merrily as in days of your, and I hope the pond will be spared to turn the old for many, many years to come.

The cool days have given a fresh impetus to the sora hunters, and judging from the frequent guns heard on the river there must be a great loss or a stupendous gain.

The season has been very fine for the harvesting of fodder. Some of the farmers have finished, while others have left the fodder to bleach on the corn stalks as competent labor is both scarce and dear. Protracted meetings are still very much in evidence.

-The Times(Richmond), October 6, 1901

Reconstruction

Last week Major E.D. Townsend, late of the army, bought of Mr. R.D. Farley, his farm in New Kent, known as Providence Forge. The farm contains some thirteen hundred acres, and the price paid was $9,500. Several other parties from the North, and five or six Germans, have purchased and settled on farms in the same neighborhood.

-Alexandria Gazette- 27 January, 1868

"Beneath the Stately Pines"

A COLONIAL GRAVE-YARD.

The Burial-Place of Rev. David Mossom and His Wife.

On the south shore of the historical Chickahominy river, near Providence Forge, there is a colonial grave-yard. It is about an acre in area and is covered with forest trees, some of which are very large. In fact, the old grave-yard is overgrown with virgin pines. The undergrowth is so dense as to make it next to an impossibility to discover a grave or grave-stone. The indications go to show that at some remote period a house or building once stood in this locality. Feasibly it was a church. There it only one grave marked, which is a slab of Portland stone, and on which is distinctly discernible the following epitaph:

"Here lyeth interred the body of Elizabeth, late wife of the Rev'd Mr.David Mossom, rector of the parish of St. Peter, in New Kent county, and daughter of Henry Soane Gent. She departed this life April 2, 1759 in the 55th, year of her age."

This was the wife of Rev. David Mossom, who performed the marriage ceremony for General George Washington, in St. Peter's church, New Kent county, January 6, 1759. He was a Cambridge scholar. Starling is the estate on which the old grave-yard is. It has been owned by the Jerdones since 1771 and now includes 3,000 acres of land. John Smith was caught by the Indians in this vicinity, and it is supposed that in the same locality Pocahontas saved the life of the historic John.

It is presumed that Rev. Mossom is buried beside the grave of his wife, and it is a fitting spot- this sanctuary beneath the stately pines- for the last long resting places of the good old divine and hi beloved helpmate.The soughing of the pines chant a continual requiem for the dead and the  still waters of the old Indian Chickahominy sooth the "dull, cold ear of death."

                                                                                                      J.D.T.

-Richmond Dispatch., February 05, 1893
           

The Chickahominy Sun, 1938- 1942

A great little piece from the blog of the Virginia Newspaper Project of the Library of Virginia,  about Providence Forge's first and only newspaper, The Chickahominy Sun. Extant from 1938 until the beginning of rationing in 1942, the paper was merged into the Tidewater Review.

Engagement at Jone's Bridge- June 22, 1864

June 22- Reveille at 3.30. Boots and saddles at 3.45. At 10 a.m. marched via Baltimore Crossroads, Mt. Olivet Church and Jones Bridge on the Chickahominy. Found a small force of the enemy at the bridge attempting to destroy it. These were quickly driven away by the advance the bridge repaired and the regiment crossed over followed by the division and marched two miles beyond the regiment going on picket to hold the different roads leading to James River. 

June 23d- In the morning the Ninth New York was ordered to move on to Charles City CH. and patrol the road to Windham's Landing and Wilcox's Wharf. Devin, with the rest of the brigade, had moved up the south side of the Chickahominy toward Long Bridge. At 1 p.m. the pickets of the Sixth New York, under Captain Wales, were suddenly attacked by a large force and driven; in the regiment went at once to their support and a sharp action took place, the enemy being much superior in numbers. Soon the Fourth New York and Seventeenth Pennsylvania and six companies of colored troops just from the White House came to their support and a fierce but short engagement ended in the entire rout of the enemy which proved to be Chambliss brigade. Drove them back two or three miles and then returned. The casualties in the regiment were quite heavy among the killed being Corporals Samuel A Fanshaw and David Phillips of Troop I and Sergeant Samuel May wounded.

 -History of the Sixth New York Cavalry: (Second Ira Harris Guard) Second Brigade -- First Division -- Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, 1861-1865
Compiled by Hillman Allyn Hall, William B. Besley, Gilbert Guion Wood
Blanchard Press, 1908

Action at Jones' Bridge- Forty-second Cavalry

 Fresh information as to what Confederate unit was displaced from Providence Forge by the First United States Colored Cavalry. It was the hard luck Forty-second Battalion Virginia Cavalry.

Here, the Daily Examiner is more merciful than when it described the affair at Charles City Courthouse from the previous December . . .

Information was also received last night that Liuetenant-Colonel ROBBINS, commanding Forty-second battalion of Virginia cavalry, at Forge's bridge, on the Lower Chickahominy, had been driven back by a force of the enemy's cavalry.- The position he held was indefensible, and he was induced to retire more by consideration of prudence than by the enemy's demonstration.

- Richmond Daily Examiner: May 6, 1864

Bridge Repairs- Sheridan on the Chickahominy.

    HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

                Haxalls, May 16, 1864.

Brig. Gen. D. McM. GREGG,

                Commanding Second Cavalry Division:

The major-general commanding directs that you send one regiment and the pioneers of your division to Jones' Bridge over the Chickahominy and repair said bridge. You will send this detail without delay. If you require them, more tools can be sent you from these headquarters.

                        JAS. W. FORSYTH,
            Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff.



-The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. ; Series 1 - Volume 36 (Part II)


 Colonel James W. Forsyth went on to command the 7th Cavalry and was the commander of U.S. forces at the Wounded Knee "Massacre." He retired from active duty in 1906.

 

In this well-known photograph from the Peninsula Campaign, General Fitz-John Porter(he of the indomitable stare) confers with his staff. Lieut. George Custer reclines with the dog while Capt. Forsyth sits on the trunk on the left enjoying a pipe.