New Kent One Hundred Years Ago

 News from the county July 1922

                     

        WARNED OF RAID, BUT DRY AGENTS GET A BIG STILL 

Apparently warned of the impending raid, moonshiners attempted to remove their 230-gallon capacity copper kettle in New Kent county before the arrival of federal prohibition agents, and this was in progress when  the officers forced their way through the underbrush and reached the scene. One man was seen to run away from the plant and escaped. 

The plant was of unusual size and excellent quality, and was located near a small branch of running water, which was used in the distilling process. Officers found the kettle pulled down from the brick furnace on which, it was operated, and was sitting on skids for removal across the branch. Alongside of it was a 100-gallon, copper “doubler." 

Five thousand gallons of mash ready to be distilled was also found and was destroyed along with the kettle and doubler. This mash would have produced at least 500 gallons of liquor according to the estimates of federal officers, which would have sold at the I still for not less than $6 per gallon, making the work of the agents mean the destruction of at least $3,000 worth of liquor, in addition to the value of the plant, which represented an expenditure of several hundred dollars 

                 -News Leader, 7 July 1922

   SEIZE 250-GALLON STILL, OPERATORS FLEE, IN NEW KENT 

State Inspector J.T. Crute* has reported that in company with federal agents he has seized a 250-gallon copper still, 100-gallon copper double, 5,000 gallons of mash and other liquor making materials and paraphernalia; at a point a mile and a half from Mountcastle, New Kent county. The operators of the still escaped, but warrants have been issued for two men.

                -News Leader, 8 July 1922

 

* Barhamsville resident Joseph Thomas Crute (1876-1964)

New Kent was a popular location for the illegal production of alcohol due to its proximity to a large urban area combined with a small population, large areas of forest and swamp, and easy access to large amounts of corn.

 ELECTRIC LINE COMPLETED TO NEW KENT COURTHOUSE 

The Virginia Electric and Power Company recently completed its line from Eltham to New Kent Courthouse and for the first time in the history of the county the citizens of this section of the county are enjoying electric lights.

 About 30 customers have been hooked up on this line and many more are expected, to discard their old time kerosene and home made electric lights for the modern type of artificial light.

 Mr. Samuel Lacy, clerk of New Kent county, stated this week that the Courthouse was wired and has electric lights and any attorney desiring to look up any records or have any business there are welcome to come and make use of the building. 

-Tidewater Review,  21 January 1937

Much of the progress like this originated from the Rural Electrification Act. A later New Deal program, the Rural Electrification Act was passed by Congress in May of 1936; the act funded and empowered the Rural Electrification Administration. Created by Roosevelt in 1935, the Administration removed, according to Robert T. Beall, an Economist with the REA,

"the most important barriers restricting rural electrification prior to 1935 . .   the conditions and rates imposed on farmers if service were made available to them. Frequently the farmers had to pay for the distribution line, give the company title to the property, and then guarantee high minimum charges over a long period of years."

 "In 1934, only 7.6% of Virginia farms had electricity; by 1950, more than 90% did." 

Reddy Kilowatt- ™

 

Aerial Photography

 An interesting site I just discovered called Vintage Aerial. 

Just search New Kent and then zoom in to select an area to search for pictures. Oldest pictures are only as far back as 1985 that I saw . . . but that might be pretty old for some of you.

For example here is a link to an image of the old Colonial Restaurant with the trailer park behind it in Bottom's Bridge in 1993.

Here is another larger shot from 1983 of the same location.

Here we have a house that no longer exists, the Christian residence in Providence Forge in 1985. The parking lot on the viewers far left is the back of Citizens & Farmers Bank.

Here is a contemporary plat of that area to give you a better idea of the site

Two Storms- 1893 & 1894

 AFTERMATHS OF THE STORM. 

Destruction In New Kent, at West Point and Along the York River. 

(Correspondence of the Dispatch.) 

 OAK. NEW KENT COUNTY, VA. October 16.- Last Friday this section was visited by the most terrific wind and rain-storm that has ever been witnessed by our oldest Inhabitants. The rain seemed to fall in sheets, sometimes so dense that one could not see but a short distance.

 The crops of corn are not only lying flat in the fields, but large trees which have stood the storms of ages had to succumb. The public roads are literally blocked up by fallen timber, and at many points, it impossible to pass, except by winding through the woods or going through some private plantations. On the York river the storm was particularly severe. Many person having cord-wood corded on the landing haves suffered great loss. Captain George E. Brown, living on the Brick House farm, opposite West Point in this county, told your correspondent this morning that he sustained a loan of not less than $250. 

BREASWORK SWEPT. 

 The breastwork opposite Plum Point, which was thought to be so substantial as to defeat any power that might be brought to bear upon it by the wind and waves, was broken in many places. The tide was said to be two feet higher than ever before known. At West Point I learn that a one time it was thought the Terminal Hotel was in danger of being washed away. The lawn in front was washed to the steps of the hotel, and I learn it will take a large sum to place it in proper condition again. Although I hear of much loss of property, I hear of no lives lost.

-Richmond Dispatch,  October 17 1893

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. 

The Storm of Tuesday Kills George Davis. 

Wrecks Houses, and Ruins Crops. 

 OAK. NEW KENT COUNTY, VA.. June 8.-(Special.)~The most terrific Wind, hail and rain storm known to any of our oldest citizens visited the section lying between the villages of Barhamsville and Plum Point on Tuesday the 5th instant leaving death and destruction in its path. 

 Mr. A.R. Jennings¹ had two chimneys blown down which had stood the winds and storms for near a century. Mr. W.F. Woodward², who lives about one mile from Barhamsville, had the most of his potato plants washed into am adjoining field.

 Your correspondent visited the damaged section, and found that many of the crops were partly, and some totally destroyed.

 The crops of wheat and oats of Mr. A.G. Farinholt will prove a total loss. I was told by a gentleman that after the storm bushels of hail could have been collected, and by another that quantities of hail could be seen next morning. But the saddest case was the killing of George Davis, aged 14. The youth, with three colored men, had taken refuge in an unfinished log house, which was blown down, one of the logs striking the boy on the head and shoulders killing him instantly, but the colored men, with one exception, and he only slightly hurt, escaped.

 Many other houses in the stricken section were blown down, but I hear of no other injury to person or beast.

 Master George Davis was the stepson of Mrs. Rebecca Davis (nee Timberlake), and a son of John A. Davis.

 Were I to attempt to report all I hear of the storm, I should weary your patience too much. Let the above suffice

-Richmond Dispatch, June 9 1894

"Oak" was a post office in New Kent near the present location of the Saude Creek Winery

¹probably Alonzo R. Jennings

² probably Wyatt Franklin Woodward

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.

Slow News Day 1906

 BOAT KILLED 

BIG PORPOISE

Trustful Cetacean Victim of York River Steamer's Rudder- Died Game. 

An immense porpoise followed the steamer Charlotte, of the York River Line, to West Point yesterday. While the boat was making its landing the rudder dealt a blow which crippled the fish. It managed to make Its way to the opposite side of the river, near Plum Point, where it was caught. It took four to lift the porpoise into a boat. It was put on exhibition on the King William pier at Beach Park.

-Richmond Evening Journal, 1 August 1906

Safe Blown Open!!- 1916

 

YEGGMEN LOOT STORE 

Providence Forge Establishment Entered—Several                                                Thousand Stolen 

SAFE IS BLOWN OPEN

Work Apparently That of Export Thieves—Bloodhounds From State Farm on Trail 

Bloodhounds were this morning brought from the state farm and put on the trail of the thieves who last night broke into and looted a store at Providence Forge in New Kent county, blowing open the safe and making away with several thousand dollars in cash and merchandise.

Early this morning Sheriff Sydnor¹, of Henrico county, received a long distance phone call from J.B. Richardson, of Providence Forge. apprising him of the robbery. Mr. Sydnor at once got into touch with Luther Scherer, of the Chesapeake & Ohio, and made arrangement for bringing the bloodhounds from the State farm to this city.

It is the hope of the police that with a fresh scent to work on the dogs may be able to locate the thieves in a short time. The police are of the opinion that the robbery was perpetrated by experienced yeggmen on account of the apparent ease with which they accomplished the entry to the safe and the fact that they got away with a large quantity of merchandise. That a large amount of merchandise was taken away leads the police to believe that a wagon was used to haul It. How the thieves managed to elude discovery on this account Is not known and this fact indicates unusual daring and ingenuity on their part. It is thought that there were several of them, as it is not believed one man could have accomplished the entry of the store, the breaking of the safe and the making away with & large quantity of goods by himself. Encumbered with the goods it is not thought that they could get far, and for this reason the police hope to nab them early. Arriving at Providence Forge the dogs were immediately put on the trail and will be kept on it until tonight if the thieves are not captured before then. Sheriff Sydnor issued orders for a sharp lookout to he kept for suspicious characters in Henrico county, as it is said that the thieves made their way in this direction.

-Evening Journal (Richmond) 13 July 1916

"Yeggman" was an early 20th century word meaning safecracker.

¹ William Webb Sydnor