Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-06-03
Improvements Along
The CIlesapeake-WeStern
Pleasant GIimpses of Rural Enter
prise---A Busy Milling District
Messy Creek a New Point of I'm
portanCe, Etc
Correspondence of the Spectator ]

MOoSy OtooN " W." WIZ " "
portance, Etc
: Correspondent of the Spectator
A trip over the line of the Chesa
peake Western Railway-at all times
interesting-is more SO at this season
of the year, when nature is al her best
and shows to advantage the beauties
of trans valley trip. From Elkton
to the western terminal at St0kesville,
the neat thrifty towns and busy sta
tions along the line shows to what ex
tent rapid development follows in the
wake of railroad cons tructiOn. From
Bridgewater west, the new extension
of the road was especially interesting
Ito the writer, since it traverses sec
Ition unused to the shrek of the loco
motive and where every beautiful
landscape abounds in memories and
incidents of a more primitive method
of travel. From Bridgewater for sew
eral miles to westward the train fol-
lows a wild and picturesque path and
then dashing through fertile mead
ows and open farm country, draws up
at the station of Messy Creek. This
is a good stopping point, not only for the
observation of beautiful, and fertile
| agricultural section, but affords in its
business like preparations, an object
lesson in the recent development !
have already alluded to.
! When l was at the place three years
ago there was no railroad, but there
was busy gang of men engaged in
the preliminary CONSTRUCTION work.
The veteran railroad contractor. 8. ID.
Gooch. had his camp and $50 men
quartered just across Messy Creek at
the head of the old mill dam, and an
ideal camp it was, with al excellent
com missary, stables and good cabins
for the men. At that time his force
was at work on the deep cut across the
creek, and the long fill that ran north
through the meadows of Mr.. Samuel
Forrer. Today the camp fires are
gone, but from the place of their ashes
has arisen a busy little village. In
the near back ground stands the veneer
able yet stately mansion house Of the
Forrers, one of the handsomest homes
in the county. AS seen from this pOrticO |
the iron horse cuts an incongruous caper
as it dashes through the once silent
meadows where Craze punches of fat
sleek cattle. From the same vantage |
point one sees the pleasant panorama
of fertile farm lands, and to the left |
the little village of Messy Creek-as
it grows and pushes it's way int pub
lie motto and Importance. The station !
which the railway company has
erected is commOdious and a |
credit to the place, while to
the side of it is the large and hand |
some general store of the Augusta
Milling & Mercantile Co, and adjacent |
is the residence of Mr.. G.. K. Foster
the keeper of the store and tine Secre-
tary and Treasurer of the company.
Across the railway tie same company
has erected and are just putting into
full operation large flour mill. This
last is an enterprise that will bring
much trade-it is equipped with mod
ern machinery, has a capacity of rs
barrels per day and is supplied with
the best turbine water power. In adj
dition to the manufacture of high grade
-four, another, turbine and suitable
machinery has been placed for the
grinding of corn meal. An unlimited
water power is here available from the
great lake that stretches back from
the dam for nearly mile, with an av-
erage depth of from 10 to 20 feet-a
wide and beautiful sheet of water.
Along the banks of this lake lie the
extensive grounds of the Messy Greek
Park, a pleasure resort that has been
fitted up for excursion and picnic |
parties. 1t has dancing pavilion,
booths for the sale of refreshments, a
wharf stretching far ont into the lake |
along which are tied numerous pleas
ure boats, and at the end of which is /
band stand, a row of dressing ROOMS |
beside the bathing beach, pretty walks |
and rustic seats through the shady |
woods, and altogether q very attrac-
tive and pleasurabie place. During |
the summer months many excursion
parties from Harrisonburg and Bridge |
water frequent and make merry the
park. This park improvement is an
enterprise of the CIV. Co., and is not
only a source of revenue for the rail
way people, but affords much pleasure
to the patrons along their line.
Another building now in course Of
construction at Messy Greek is the resi-
| dence of MIR. S. S. Shaver. which the
| Augusta Milling & Mercantile Co. are
putting up for him, the home of their
manager. The other officers of this
company are Samuel Forrer, President,
and &. K. Foster Secretary and Treas
urer. The special branch of Mr.. Fos-
ter s work is the active managem emit
of the company's store, one of the
largest and most complete in the coun-
ty. Another establishment of lmpor-
lance to every well accommodated
community is the blacksmith's shop,
and in this Messy Greek also has it's
advantage. for there at his smithy Mr..
III. G. Fisher satisfactorily meets the
demands Of an ever increasing trade.
In an agricultural district abound.
ing in water power, the western Sec
ton of the CIV. has developed-as
was expected-large milling interests,
for not only have new mills been es-
tablished, but old ones are rejuvenat-
ed and their trade strengthened
Among the pioneers in this necessary