Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-01-04
The Curse on the
Ronlney Place Q

n EsIDENTs Of Amelia county, va,
rs look with disfayor upon the plan
recently proposed TO convert the old
Romney estate. on the AppomattoX
river into a rife range.
Every one down there looks on that
special spot Of Virginia as accursed, :
said Maj. Henry n Appleby, who was in
this city last week, preparatory to his BIZ
ennial trip to Europe, For years
none OF the natives has yentured near
the Romney place, and the darkies
won't pass the old stone gate posts on
the turnpike after twilight
1--WE not seen the old house In p
years. but | understand it Is rotting
away fast Superstition is the reason
Of il all
The Romneys were a fine old lot
until Just before the Mexican war
About then the family seemed to peter
out. and the property passed into the
hands Of one OF the Boston branch OF
the family, an old duffer by the name OF
Felix Romney being the heir
Felix was as mean as a rocky Mas
sachusetts farm can make a man. and
he never caught on to the ways of Amelia
county He distrusted all the slaves
and made their lot pretty hard. He got
into rows with all the gentry along the
river, one way or another, until he was
left pretty much all alone on the plan
tation
zone May evening a negro from our
fields came to my father the late Col.
Askew Appleby. and told him there was
something queer over at the Romneys
II seemed that not light had been seen
in any Of the cabins in three days, and
there had been no smoke from the
chimneys.
MY father didn't take much to Felix
Romney but he got on his horse. just
the same, and party Of seven or eight
Of us went over to the place III never
forget it as long as live, sir 1t was
like the old fairy story of the place
where everyone went to sleep
'Al the doors and windows were
open. but not a soul was in sight. We
went through the house and found
everything in order. but no Felix Rom.
ney Il was the same way at the stables
and cabins Everyone was gone, but
nothing disturbed.
That night a searching party. sc
strong. covered half the county. return.
ing the following noon with never q
clew TO the mystery The house was
closed up a little while after.
In 1866 the place was opened again
by Reuben Romney and he was killed
in a brawl with his superintendent the
following year II has been opened oc
casionally, since then. but in each in.
stance something unpleasant happened
zone of these times witnessed tn,
/ death of Eleanor Romney, who wa!
drowned in the river near the house
/ She was a charming woman. one of thu
most so that have been privileged t.
/ meet.
THE mystery about old Felix? Well
It was cleared up, after a fashion.
had a hand in It, too
Col George Dacre was one of tn
party that searched for Felix Romney
/ After 1855 he removed to the middl
west. In 1874 he visited me at my home
and we CHANGED to discuss the Romne.
affair
Henry the colonel said to me
there is circumstance connected will
that matter which never mentione,
al the time through boyish backward
ness saw fresh earth back OF tn
rear stable
The force Of the statement carries
me away.
Fresh EARTH i exclaimed. Man
can you point out the spot2
He could. and with a couple OF boy
and spades we FASTENED over TO th
Romuey place Ia half an hour bone
were uncovered, which were fdeHuhe
as those OF Felix Romney other bone
were found So that &c was deduced TIA
be had not died alone
1T was generally believed that Fell
had been So eruel that his slaves ros
Up and killed hiu. fleeing after the
had concealed the bodies The strane
part % the matter IS Ihat out OF IN
90 slaves on The Romuey place al tia
time not one was ever seen again ate
that day The superstition Of to-day
] LARGELY due TO that fact
The strangest page In the history q
the Romuey estate occurred in tn
early SOS a party of young men fror
a northern city rented the house fror
Tie ElmnaH lamuv dnrinE q fhra