Sort of a do it yourself job . . .

 Signs for Peninsula Road 

 The work of putting up signs to point the way up and down the Peninsula highway In all probability will he taken up this week by L. M. Foster and E. C. Pelouze. The signs have been ordered from the Touring Bureau of the A. A. A. and the bureau has sent word that they will be made at once. 

 It Is the intention of the commlttee to post the signs front Richmond to Williamsburg; Beyond that point the matter is left in the hands of the Peninsula Automobile club and L. B. Manville the builder of the highway. 

 Mr. Pelouze, in a communication to The Richmond Virginian, asks the cooperation of the farmers in New Kent county. He says that it will facilitate the work if obliging citizens of New Kent county courthouse, Toana, and Slatersvllle will cut a few posts — a half-dozen at each point will be enough, he says- and leave them here they can be obtained by the signposters. J. A. Potts has promised to take care of the matter for the vicinity of Barhameville, but there are other points where the assistance of the neighbors will be appreciated.

-Richmond Virginian, 28 July 1912

"The Year Saw the Completion of the Newport News Highway Known as the Pocahontas Trail. " 100 Years Ago

 ROBERTSON ACT SAVED SECTION

 Richmond District Allocations for the Past Year Were $536,000.

FAST TIME ON ROADS 

           Completion of Pocahontas Trail to Newport News One of Big Jobs.

 Great progress war made this year in the completion of Virginia highways despite the limited funds which were available for the state highway system. The Robertson Act saved the situation in the Richmond section of state, funds advanced under its terms being responsible for much of the road construction around Richmond. The district's allocations for the state system for the year totaled only $536,000.

 During the winter weather conditions were unusually, good and contractors made fast time on road contracts. Continuous rains fell in the and early summer and construction fell. In the late summer and during the fall weather conditions improved with the result that many sections of the state system were completed.

 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 of the highway from Toano to this 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 between Bottoms Bridge and Providence Forge. The road between Bottoms Bridge and New Kent Courthouse was graded and drained and graveled during the year. This is thirteen miles in length.

- News Leader, 27 December 1924

100 Years Ago

          Virginia Highways Gradually Being Whipped Into Shape by State Department.

 . . .

The Coast-to-Capital highway, or Route 9, has its origin at the Hampton Creek bridge, near Old Point Comfort. From there to Lee Hall the highway is of concrete. From Lee Hall through Williamsburg and Toano to Diascund Creek is under construction and will be concrete surfaced. Bids will be opened on June 7 for the construction at eleven miles of concrete highway from Diascund creek to Providence Forge.

 A survey has been completed and plant have been prepared for a gravel read from Providence Forge to Bottoms Bridge, a distance of 10.8 miles. From Bottoms Bridge to Richmond has been surveyed and plans have been prepared for the early completion of the road from Richmond to Seven Pines. That leaves four miles not taken care of.

 . . .

-News Leader, 30 May 1923

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

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.

Politics and Potatoes and Such- 1911

                                                            Roxbury.

Roxbury. Va.. November 13- After the political storm there is a calm. The victors and vanquished have settled down to business again. In New Kent county especially that for supervisors the fight was a hot one. Black Creek district was the battle ground between Mr. R. Southall (Democrat) and Mr. Lemuell L. Ellyson (Republican). In this precinct there were 72 qualified voters, and 66 out of 72 voted. Mr. Ellyson got 36, Mr. Southall 30. For justice of the peace. J. A. Wright, 65; C.C. Tunstall, 18. For constable, G.W. Moran, 62. All the others for state office has no opposition. 

The saddest part is life long Democrats, some of whom voted in the primary, forgot their pledge went over to the Republican camp. Mr. Ellyson won his laurels on a determined fight, not one derogatory word was spoken by either candidate of each other. Mr. Ellyson like his father, is a Republican from principle not for graft, and will be as faithful in the trust confided to his keeping as in his dramatic life. All will watch the actions of the members of the board with an eagle eye. They go in as reformers. So may it be, all hope, for the county is heavily in debt, a burden heavy to bear on the tax payers. The new courthouse¹, the automobile highway, the six head of mules and road implements. All came against young Southall, who has been on the board 14 years and believes in public improvements. Many can not see it that way. 

Many new homeseekers are here today looking after Peninsula farms. Several farms have changed hands the past week. Looks to this writer now as if all the far western people are now heading for the country between Richmond and Newport News. 

On the farm of Mr. Bock at this place is an exhibition sweet potatoes 3 feet 8 inches long; Irish potatoes measuring 6 inches in diameter. 400 bushels to the acres. The latter raised on the farm of Mr. R.D. Provo, Liberty Farm. 

Mr. T. W. Marston has on farm several white partridges among the brown. Where this strain of birds originated none knows. None like them were ever seen in this section before. Mr. Marston is guarding them with care. The party who kills or captures these prettys will be severely dealt with. Notices have been posted everywhere to be careful of these birds. A few months ago a pair of white squirrels made their appearance here. One was killed, the other captured and became as gentle as a kitten. Mr. W. P. Tunstall, Sr., killed a fine old doe a few days ago and Mr. Roy Ford killed an old buck weighing after dressed 165 pounds. This section is stocked with deer so plentiful that much corn and green vegetables are being destroyed. This month closes the hunting season east of the Blue Ridge mountains for deer. The watchful eye of the; game wardens are keeping the pot hunters and triffling(sic) negro with a gun off, so game is plentiful.   

Four men from Richmond were arrested by Game Warden Moran a few days ago. They begged off the fine, promising to pay the costs. This they have failed to do and Sheriff Apperson will look after them. Before these arrests Richmond pot hunters swarmed in Chickahominy swamp, shooting all day Sunday as if it were a week day. It is different now.

-Virginia Gazette, 16 November 1911


1- New Kent had decided after years of controversy to build a new courthouse which was finished in 1909 for the sum of $7,700. Then work was started on a new jail for $2,500.

2- The highway funds for Peninsula highway.

Road Building in 1911

                                 NEW KENT PROMISES AID. 
         Nearly $2,000 Will He Given for Richmond-Newport News Highway.
                                 [Special to The Times-Dispatch.]  

Roxbury, Va.. February 10.-There was a full attendance of the members at a meeting of the New Kent Board of Supervisors held at the courthouse on Tuesday. After several matters of routine interest were disposed of the subject of the proposed highway from Richmond to Newport News was discussed. Each of the four districts in the county promised to give $200; by private subscriptions the amount of $1,000 was raised, and the board agreed to allow four months' work of the county teams and employees. It was also decided that the county shall ask appropriation from the State to equal that made by the county. The subscriptions and time allowed means more than $2,000 for this county. The route of the proposed highway could not better please the residents of New Kent, as it will traverse the entire, length of the county, a distance of thirty-two miles.

 -Times Dispatch, 11 February 1911

Office of State Highway Commission. 

Richmond. Va., April 6. 1911. 

Bid will be received at this of office 12 o'clock noon, Saturday, for the construction of about ten miles of sand-clay road in New Kent county from New Kent Courthouse to the James City county and about six in James City county from the New Kent count line to Toano.  

Specification on file at this office.  

Certified check for $250.00 to accompany each bid.  

Further information furnished on application to the undersigned. 

The right is reserved to reject any and all bids. 

P. St. J. Wilson.
State Highway Commissioner


-Virginia Gazette(Williamsburg), 20 April 1911

A Road Trip from Richmond to Williamsburg- 1911

A 1911 account of a road trip down the trip Peninsula by a reporter from the Times-Dispatch. I have included, in red, my own comments about the itinerary.

SUCCESSFUL RUN MADE FROM RICHMOND TO OLD POINT BY TIMES-DISPATCH SCOUT CAR
Correct and Accurate Reading of Road Made for Benefit of Those Desiring to Make Trip-Road in Splendid Condition and People Anxious to Welcome Visitors.

0.0 - Foster Motor Car Company. Down Broad to Jefferson; turn right to
0.4 - Jefferson Hotel. Down Franklin to . . .

1.1 - Capitol Square. Turn right down Ninth; then left down Bank; then right down Tenth; then right up Main to . . .

1.2 - Times-Dispatch. Up Main to Ninth to Capitol then right to . . .

1.6 - Memorial Hospital. Turn to left into Marshall Street; then turn to right one block to Broad Street to . . .

3.0 - Chimborazo Park.
3.3 - Keep straight ahead, skirting Chimborazo Park to right, to
3.5 - Left down steep hill to railroad crossing.
3.6 - Railroad crossing.
4.4 - To Government Road (good condition).

8.4 - Church on right; turn to left. (I believe this is the original Corinth United Methodist Church which is now less than a  half mile to the east.)

9.6 - Pass store and road on left pass by National Cemetery. (Seven Pines National Cemetery.)

10.7 - Good road to
12.6 - Ford; to (Ford over Boar Swamp)
13.2 - Sharp turn to left (about nine degrees)

15.3 - Long Chickahominy Bridge, sandy road. (Bridge at Bottom's Bridge; NOT in its current location.)

15.6 - Short Chickahominy Bridge.(Bridge over Higgins Swamp.)
15.7 - Corduroy road.
15.8 - More corduroy.

15.9 - New road (good).(This would be Clint Lane, then  on what is now Quaker which at that time continued straight through to Rose Cottage Rd and at that road . . .)

18.7 - Take fork to right. Follow, telegraph wires.( . . . going down Quinton Road and then bearing left onto New Kent Highway.)

21.1 - Pass store on left. (Patterson's Store at Crump's Crossroads.)
23.8 - Turn to left and keep straight ahead.(Going north on Emmaus Church Road.)
21.2 - Richardson's store. Turn right, down slight hill. (The Baltimore Store at Talleysville.)
25.4 - Church on left, down hill. (Rising Mt. Zion.)
25.5 - Ford foot of hill- hard bottom. (Pelham Creek.)
26.3 - Store on right.
29.5 - Church on right. (Corinth Baptist; road until 1930's passed north of church.)
29.9 - New Kent Courthouse.
30.7 - Take right fork.

32.4 - Slatersville cross roods. (It gets tricky here. Instead of proceeding down what is now New Kent Highway they seem to go straight through on Stage Road.)

35.1 - Spring at bottom of hill. ( Upper reach of Beaverdam Creek?)
38.6 - Ford; hard bottom. (Warreneye Creek?)
40.0 - Barhamsville.
40.1 - Store on left; turn to right. (Pott's store?)

45.1 - Brick school house on left. (Hickory Neck Academy, the school, was closed in 1908. The year after this trip it would be deeded to the trustees of Hickory Neck Protestant Episcopal Church thus returning it to it's original use.)

45.7 - Cross bridge over railroad.
45.9 - Toano; well of good water at entrance to town turn left through town.
47.1 - Pass brick school house on left. (Toano High School opened 1908.)
50.5 - Pass store on right; well on left.
50.6 - cross railroad tracks; turn sharp left and then right.(Lightfoot.)
52.1 - Pass store on right.
52.1 - Pass fork on right.
52.3 - Pass fork on right.
52.4 - Pass fork on left.
53.6 - Cross railroad.(Across from Yankee Candle.)
54.4 - Pass road on right.
56.0 - William and Mary College on right approaching Williamsburg.
56.1 - Pass fork on right.(Jamestown Road.)
56.4 - Bruton Church on left.

56.5 -Ruins of Williamburg Courthouse on left.(the Old Courthouse of Williamsburg/James City, the one across from the powder magazine, had been destroyed by fire just 3 months before in April 1911. The building was restored to original appearance, except for some new columns, work finishing up January 1912.)

-Times Dispatch, 13 July 1911

The Foster Motor Car Company went into bankruptcy in 1913.

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

Correspondence from New Kent County- 1875

From New Kent County. 

[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.] 

           New Kent Courthouse, Va., )
           February 24, 1875. ) 

The ice crop gathered in this section during the last cold weather is perhaps the largest that has been housed for many years, measuring in thickness from three to four inches. 

Today had been fixed upon for a meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the county, but for some cause unknown to the writer they not did convene. While your correspondent was engaged in a business transaction with the clerk of New Kent, in his office, a stalwart but sable colored individual the writer had known in the past as a waiter, but who has now become one of the leading Radicals of New Kent, thrust his head in the door and asked the clerk if he thought "dem fellows was gwine to come whar had bin 'lectcd to reglate de fenances ob de county." alluding to the Board of Supervisors". The clerk could not give him a satisfactory reply, and the fifteenth amendment departed. 

Indications of the revival of the various industries of the county are very apparent. They can be seen in almost every neighborhood. While it may be several years before the county will enjoy the same prosperity that it did before the war, still the signs are very perceptible that she has made considerable progress within the last few years. 

Owing to the severity of the winter wheat can scarcely be seen in the fields, yet there is a good stand of it, and a few warm days with a genial sun would cause it to grow rapidly. 

The move in the Legislature to disturb the judiciary does not meet with any favor here. The reasons assigned for doing this are poor: and while a few ambitious legislators who are aspirants for judgeships may endeavor to put the judiciary in that shape by which vacancies must necessarily be created, the people do not desire it. There can be no change with out an increase of public expense: and with the immense debt that is depressing the industries of the state this should certainly be dispensed with. There has been a great diminution of business in this circuit within the last four years, and the writer presumes from an act lately passed reducing the number of terms of the courts in several of the circuits from three to two that there has been a decrease in business all over the State. The judge of this circuit gives entire satisfaction, and the people would dislike very much to be deprived of his services. By close application to his official duties and his urbane and gentlemanly bearing he has made a host of friends, who would part with him most reluctantly. We would suggest to the distinguished member of the House from Accomac(sic), for whom the writer has high regard, that it is not expedient at this time to split in twain the Eighth circuit, it is true that the Chesapeake bay is a large body of water, and divides the circuit, but the facilities are so great for crossing it that it is scarcely a barrier.¹

Your correspondent has never heard of as many case of pueumonia, and death has ensued in a large number of them. 

The roads are almost impassable, rendered in this condition by a thorough thaw, together with incessant and copious rains. There is but little said about the reelection of county officers in May next, but I believe it is Generally conceded that an election will take place, and the effort being made in the legislature for the officers to hold over will not prevail. 

A law imposing a tax on all dogs is very much desired in the county. Something should be done to reduce the number of canine, thereby giving greater protection to sheep, or, if the owners will keep them, they should be made a source of revenue to the State. 

Mr. Alexander Mosley, of the Whig, who has been domiciled in the neighborhood of Dispatch station, in this county, for six months or more, has gone to Florida, where he will remain until late in the spring.² 

There is in contemplation the establishment of a newspaper at this place by Captain Telemachus Taylor, to be called The New Kent Cavalier. Captain Taylor gained an enviable reputation for gallantry while in command of the New Kent cavalry during the war. F.

- Alexandria Gazette, 27 March 1875

 ¹ An article in the same edition of the paper tells how the legislature did indeed split the Eighth Judicial Circuit which had previously included the Peninsula and the Eastern Shore. Former Lt. Governor R.L. Montague became the new judge, replacing George T. Garrison who continued to represent the Eastern Shore.

² Alexander Mosley would die at his home, "The Shanty," at Dispatch Station in 1881.

                                             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

More Roads

 advertisement from a 1909 issue of Good Roads magazine

      IMPROVE NEW KENT ROADS

                                   Machine and Team Bought for Pushing the Work.
                                               [Special to The Times-Dispatch]

ROXBURY, VA., July 11.-The Board of Supervisors of New Kent met at the courthouse Tuesday. All four of the road overseers for the county recently appointed tendered their resignations, and these were accepted. One overseer was appointed to take charge of the whole county. Six fine mules have been purchased. with a new road machine, wagons and all implements, at a cost of $2,500. This is a costly experiment, and all hope to see good roads.

A representative of the Peninsula Improvement Company was present looking to the proposed moving of the courthouse to Boulevard. The idea seems to be growing in favor.

The July term of Circuit Court will be held the fourth Tuesday. Many civil cases will be disposed of at this term. There are no criminal cases.

-The Times-Dispatch, 12 July 1908

Roads

                                       INSPECT CHARLES CITY ROADS.

                     Members of New Kent Board of Supervisors on Automobile Trip.
                                           [Special to The Times-Dispatch]

Malvern Hill, Va., July 14.-An automobile party, consisting of members of the Board of Supervisors of New Kent county, made a trip to Charles City county on Thursday to Inspect the Improved public highways of this county, which are In so much better condition than those of New Kent. The party was brought over at the instigation of J.R. Richardson, a well-known citizen of New Kent, and Richard Mountcastle furnished his motor ear for the occasion.

-The Times Dispatch, 15 July 1912

"A Steel and Concrete Bridge"

A called meeting of the Board of was held to appoint commissioners to look into the building of a new bridge over the Chickahominy where the old Bottom's bridge was washed away during the recent flood. This bridge, used by automoblist over the Richmond to Newport News highway, will be built by New Kent and Henrico counties. A steel and concrete bridge will take the place of the old wooden structure.

- Virginia Gazette(Williamsburg)., March 28, 1912

Highway Matters

NEW KENT WINS ROUTE OF HIGHWAY TO OCEAN

Assembly Committees Decides in Favor of Commission,After Stormy Hearing.

RICHMOND IS SPLIT IN MATTER

Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association Favor Northern location, and T.P.A. Comes Out for a More Direct Road.

Completion of some highway from the Capitol to the ocean is of more importance than continual bickering over a route, Guy P. Murray, of Newport News, last night told a joint legislative roads committee which for four hours heard proponents of three proposed routes cite the advantages they had to offer and scorn the arguments of those who disagreed with them.

The meeting was called for the purpose of hearing arguments for and against the proposed change in route of the original highway system, which had as its nucleus the Charles City Road. The Highway Commission proposes to change the route to pass through New Kent, while an amendment by Senator Douglas Mitchell to the bill would have the old Williamsburg Highway become the established route. The Highway Commission's recommendation was adopted by both committees at the end of the meeting.

Richmonders were split on the proposition, as evidenced by the Chamber of Commerce and Retail Merchants Association supporting the Northern route, or the one suggested by Senator Mitchell, while the Travelers Protective Association came out for the more direct route, the one selected by the Highway Commission.

Those who spoke Were: W.P. Tunstall, Rocksbury(sic); C. D. Coleman Richmond; P.C. Bock, Rocksburg(sic), and Manley H. Barnes, New Kent, for the central route; Coleman Wortham. A.B. Trimble and W.A. Clarke, of Richmond. and C.L. Harrison, New Kent, for the northern route, and Dr. Lyon G. Tyler and Tom Clark, of Richmond, and J.M. Gill, of Charles City, for the southern, or original route.

Wade H. Massie and James H. Beck, members of the Highway Commission, defended their choice vigorously and were questioned from all sides, the interruptions bringing loud applause as one of the three sides scored.

Delegate Norvell L. Henley, who represents all routes interested, announced his neutral attitude at the outset of the hearing and introduced all speakers.

- Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 9, 1922

Freak Accident

OLD DOMINION NOTES

 R. M. Wilkinson, of Toano, was killed some time Saturday night near Walkers Station, in New Kent county. He was a sewing machine agent and was driving from Providence Forge, when, it is presumed, his horse ran away, overturning the wagon. A sewing machine fell on him, breaking his back.

-The Washington Post (Washington, D.C.) Feb 6, 1901

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

Bridge of Death

-from the Williamsburg Virginia Gazette, March 4 1909

Road Work

-from the Virginia Gazette, June 8, 1911