The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-22
Bridgewatar and it's Enterprises.

On Inc HOItn DIdncn OF the shenandoah river,
which has its rise in the North Mountain and
by the tributary springs and rivulets which pour
their crystal waters into its channel, is formed
into lovely sheet of water at this place.
broad expanse OF level lane, which reaches out
to the spurs of the mountain on the west,
with the main upheaval rising above them,
overlook ing the undu)atiDg verdure as 1t
sw eeps down to the plain. The whole scene
presents charming and picturesque appear
ance, the lovely village, with its neat buildings,
shaded streets and energetic, intelligent and
moral population. nesting on the border OF
the bold and shimmering waters, as they wend
their way to the sea. Even as a quiet sum-
mer retreat from the busting and busy centres
OF trade, where the pure mountain breezes send
their currents Of health and vigor, Bridgewa-
ter would be an attractive place. Its church es
and schools and inviting landscapes, and the
natural beauty that greets the eye as far as the
vision can reach, would get the little town
apart as one of the special attractions of this
famed Valley of Virginia. But there is
more about it than surface appearances
would indicate. These are sufficient to draw
to it the tourist and pleasure-seeker, when
the summer season battles the cities in sheet of
heat and the inhabitants are yearning for noun
tain scenery and the cooling zephyrs which
play among the hills and forests and then
expend their balmy influence over the ada
cent valleys.
1t is not generally known that at this fove-
ly little town, surrounded by 30 many natural
! attractions, there is spirit of enterprise and
business comprehension possessed, compare
lively speaking, by few Virginia or Southern
cities. 1t has now the neuclus of what will some
day in the near future grow into manufactur-
ing centre. Although we have known the place
since our earliest boyhood, and heard in later
| days of the activity of its people, we were
not prepared to see such substantial evidences
of the future wealth of the town, as we wit
messed there a few days ago. Passing along
its shaded walks, while on q visit to q rela-
tive, we met with an old acquaintance of our
Harrisonburg days, Mr.. Nj. H. Richcreek, who
was busily engaged in packing some hand
some new furniture for an Augusta county
purchaser. He informed us that he was en-
gagged at the furniture factory of Messrs.
HUMPHREYS 81 Loose and while conversing
with him Mr.. Humphries. we'll known to
| many of the citizens of this county. came up
and invited us to accompany him to his shops.
In passing through the lumber yard, we no
ticed huge piles of walnut, poplar and other
kinds of lumber, purchased in the neighbor
| hood. In the buildings We were surprised to
observe that they were filled with all the latest
| inven tions of improved machinery, and TO
learn that 81 hands were employed in run
nrng it, turning out all kinds of furniture,
which finds market in Rockingham and the
adjacent counties. The contrast presented in
| the operations of this machinery, and the ra-
pIdty with which work is turned out and
the quantity put together, and the methods OF
our boyhood days, when the chisel and
the mallet and the brace, and the hand
plane and the old bench and the hand
saw, were the instruments with which
this business was conducted, brought prom
inently to the understanding the rapid
strides which have been made in mechanics, how
time and labor have been economical and
mind and matter quickened into activity
This furniture factory is really a large enter
prise, and the wonder with US was how il
should have been located 30 far away from
channels of commerce But it was explained
by the proximity of the establishment to the
raw material-the cheapness of the cost Of
its transportation compromising for the ex-
pense Of carrying the manufactured articles to
market. Here is factory only year old,
WHICH Is HIGcu up VIM ,---r>sOvcu
machinery for every department of the busf
ness, employing over score of frst-class
workmen, with each of the proprietors mas
ter of his business, and making hand in the
shops when necessary, and outside business
docs not monopolize his time. It is extend
ing Its trade throughout the Valley counties,
and especially into Augusta county, and will
probably soon make arrangements to have q
depot in Staunton, competing with the furni
ture imported from other States and sold in
our community. Messrs. Humphres s. Loose
have every facility for putting up their furni-
ture as we'll and as cheaply as more preten-
tious establishments have in the East and
West, and being home enterprise should be
patronized and encouraged by Virginia peo-
pie. We learned that many of the forest
owners within the range of Bridgewater have
refused to sell their walnut lumber to the
agents for eastern firms, preferring to sell it
to this concern because of the benefits it is
destined to return to the community where it
is operated. The lumber is of the very best
quality, thoroughly seasoned by an improved
steam dry-kiln, and worked up by first
class wOrkmen. The manufactured articles |
should be introduced into every family where |
furniture is needed.
Passing from this establishment where we |
were courteously shown the inner workings /
by both the proprietors, we met with our
old friend, DIR. Brown, who suggested con-
tinuation of our observations to other enter
prises in which Bridgewater justly takes
pride. The Bridgewater Manufacturing Com
pany is located about three-quarters of a
mile up the river to natural dam, where Mr..
j W. kiswick, formerly OF Staunton, is in
charge of the Wooden Mills, working some /
sixteen hands, and running six improved
to nine of the modern patterns
plain and fancy cassimeres,
jeans, kerseys, fannels, blankets,
knitting yarns, &c. Blankets are made
specially and the demand is beyond the sup
ply-a market being found in the eastern
cities. Some beautiful patterns of fancy cas-
simeres were being put up tor the New York
market, and the prospect for busy and pros
porous season is flattering. This establish
nent is also supplied with the latest improved
and conducted upon first-class bu-
sintss principles. OF this company Mr.. A.
Miller is president j. w. F. Allemong,
Secretary and Treasurer, and J. W. Riswick,
In immediate proximity to the Wooden
Mills are the buildings of the Bridegewater
Carriage Factory. This is a large three-story
'rick, and is now being fitted up with the
Attest improved machinery TOR the manufac-
ure of carriages, buggies, carryalls, phaetons
nd spring wagons. The machinery is all on I
land, and some of it located. There arc now I
our furnace fires in operation, worked '
y machinery, and 1t is expected to open T.
wo more in short time. A short dis ,
ance from the factorv 10 the tr;pm;rr. /.