Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-20
"REMINISCENCES OF A SEPTUAGENARIAN.

~.
Correspondence of the SPECTATOR.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-I have read with in
interest your leading editorial in the last
number of the SPECTATOR, in which you
seek to impress on our citizens the necessity
of cooperation in the Inauguration of new
enterprises. In pursuance OF the same
line of thought ] beg to offer you some
"reminiscences, which may prove useful to
the present generation
In the winter of 1867 the present city
of Staunton contained a population OF about
1000. 1t was sleepy, dilapidated old
town, without life or energy. Business OF
all kinds was at stand. Few buildings
were in progress or in contemplation. Ev-
erybody was dispirited, and if you will refer
to the files of your paper of that period, L
think you will find the record of a meeting
of the mechanics of the town, which, after
reciting the depressed condition of affairs,
contains resolution which, as we'll as my
memory serves me, was, substantially, in
these words: ''Resolred, That we will emil
grate"'
In the following spring and summer, an
association was formed among number of
the most intelligent and active citizens, who
agreed to hold weekly meetings of social
character, at each others houses, to dis
cuss. consider, and inaugurate measures for
the promotion of the business interests of
the town. This Association continued in
existence for number of years.
Among those who entered heartily into
this scheme were Nicholas G.. Kinney, Will
liam Kinney, Jefferson Kinney, Thomas J.
Niche, James Points, Levi L. Stevenson,
Robert S. Brooke, Francis T. Stribling,
Alex. II. H. Stuart. John B. Breckenridge,
and others.
At their meetings each member was ex-
pected to make suggestions of such meas
ures as he thought would be best calculated
to advance the interests of the town.
These suggestions were carefully discussed
and considered, not merely with reference
to their merits, but tbeiI feasibility After
they had been maturely investigated,
amended, and put into the best practicable
shape, they were adopted, as worthy of
recommendation to our citizens, to be cal
ried into effect.
Among the most important of the meas
ures which received the sanction of this vol
untary association were the following:
l. The erection, by joint stock COM
pany, of a spacious and commodious hotel.
| Under this recommendation of the Associa-
ton. and with the aid of liberal subscrip-
lions by its members and other citizens, the
present 'Virginia Hotel" was built, which,
in its day, and in comparison with it's pred
ecessor, the old washington, wayne"
| "Bell, F" and Eagle" taverns, was consid-
cred first-class hotel.
2. The "Virginia Female Institute.n
AT that day, the only female school of any
note in Staunton was Mrs Sheffey's select
boarding school, which was excellent in its
character, but being limited in its means of
accommodation to about twenty boarders
was inadequate to the wants of the public.
1t was proposed in the association to erect,
by Joint-stock company, large female
school, to be called the "Virginia Female
| Institute" By the efforts, mainly, of the
gentlemen above-named and their asso-
ciates, and by means of liberal subscrip-
tions by each of them to the stock OF the
company, this recommendation was carried
into effect by the erection of the present
admirable system of UNCONVENTIONAL female
schools in Staunton, which contributes so
largely to the prosperity of the city, and to
the advancement of the cause of thorough
female education throughout the Southern
States.
The Virginia Female Institute was Or
ganized and conducted under the patronage
of the Episcopalian church and ultimately
became the property of the Diocese of Vir-
ginia.
The example of the Episcopalians was
soon followed by the Presbyterians, the
Methodists, and the Lutherans, each of
which denominations established the excel
lent schools that are now so successfully
conducted under their respective auspices.
The Baptists, also, made an effort to es-
tablish school in Staunton; but from some
cause the effort did not succeed. But as the
Baptist is one of the largest and wealthiest
denominations in the State, it is to be hoped
that 1t will not be discouraged by Temporary
miscarriage, but viii, as an early day,
take measures to establish here a female
school equal, in all respects, to those of
other denominations.
3. The reorganization and reform of the
Western Lunatic Asylum, by extending its
domain and introducing into its manage
ment the system of moral treatment, and all
| the modern ameliorations of the condition
of the insane.
Prior to the year 1886, the asylum for
tho insane, Ike all similar institutions in
the South, was neither more nor less than a
wsll-conducted prison, intended fer the re-
straint and safe-keeping of its inmates
rather than for their cure. Its domain was
limited to the four acres of land enclosed
within its brick wall. In the following
years, mainly under the inspiration of DR..
Francis L. Stribling, aided by his associ-
ates, large appropriations were obtained
from the Legislature to enlarge its posses,
sions by the purchase of probably 100 acres
of contiguous land the extension of its
means of accommodation by the creation OF
additional buildings; and by the introduce
ton Of all the appliances necessary to make
it curative institution,
4. The Inauguration of measures to So
1
Winchester to Staunton, or in the event of
failure to accomplish that work, for the
construction of a McAdam turnpike through
the Valley of Virginia. The continuation
of a railroad and construction of a tunnel
through the Blue Ridge had not then been
dreamed Of
.. The construction of a graded turnpike
from Staunton through the intermediate
mountainous country to BaIkersbnrg on
the Ohio.
6. The erection and endowment of a
State Institution for the education of the
Deaf and Dumb and of the Blind. The
establishment of such an Institution in
Virginia had never, so far as was informed,
been discussed or even mentioned in Vir.
ginia, until it was brought to public notice
by the Association of Staunton gentlemen to
whom have referred. The proposition orig
mated with them and was pnt into definite
shape by them, and have reason to know
that the fact that the scheme was initiated in
Staunton had much to do with the selection
of that place as the site of the Institution.
Here are six important enterprises Gard
thee were others of less magnitude) which
were digested and prominently brought be-
fore the public for definite action by proba-
| bly, dozen gentlemen of Staunton, all of
which have subsequently been accom-
plished. do not pretend to say that the
ideas were original with them. Thousands
OF other men had, doubtless, thought of
each and every one of them with the ex-
ception possibly of the Deaf and Dumb
Institution) in the abstract as laudabte and
beneficial. But abstract and speculative
thought avails little until it assumes a prao-
tical form. What mean 20 say is, that all
these six enterprises, which have added sd
much to the prosperity Of Staunton, were