The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-24
AR0UNDAND ABOUT
old FORK UNION
How the Famous Fork
Section Obtained Its
Now Ancient Name.
THE VILLAGE AND
ITS ENTERPRISES
Pet of the Unanimous People.
Another Fork" Formed by
Branches of Great Railway
System-Immense Water
Power May Be Utilized
For Manufactures.
DY FRANK S. wooDsoN,
Industrial Editor,

Industrial Editor.
Fork Union, Va. July 23.-In my let
ter from here last week took up so
much space with demonstration work
and special farming matters could
not talk any of Fork Union proper
and other attractions of the great
Fork country Of Fluvanna, one of the
grandest counties in the Common
wealth. although 1t is much smaller
than some of them.
The Rivanna River. which rises away
UP yonder somewhere in Albemarle
county, flows through the centre OF
Fluvanna from the northwest and emp
ties into the James at Columbia. The
rich part of Fluvanna lying between
the two streams. or rather In the par
tial triangle thus formed, has ever
been called the Fork" and this VIII
lage may be called the capital Of the
Fork The word Union" got stuck
on to the name OF the capital" be-
cause of the fact that the people in
the olden time were said to be unani-
nous on all subjects, all being Demo-
Gratis and Baptists--Whigs, Presbyte-
rians, Episcopalians. etc. being as
scarce as hens teeth. It is very much
that way yet. especially as to the Dem
ocratic part of II, but in religious mat
ters the unanimity is not altogether as
pronounced as 1T was forty or fifty
years ago.
Old Church, Merchants nnd industries.
The old brick church here. which
was erected something more than 100
years ago, is great gathering place
for the Baptists of the fork country,
and 1t is in a more fourishing condi-
tion now than ever before in its his
tory.
Rev. George H. snead, D. D., has
han rka u. - !
ty-two years. Services are held every
Sunday morning and night and also
on Wednesday nights. A large Sunday
school. with Baraca and other Bible
classes, is held every Sunday in the
year, rain or shine.
Fork Union has a little bank, known
as the Bank of Fluvanna, which does
not attempt to do worldwide bus
mess, but contents itself with the good
work OF taking care of the funds OF
the people OF the immediate neighbor-
hood and furnishing the farmers and
others OF the Fork" with financial
accommodations.
The village has three well-dlled
stores, which do good business wear
IN and year out. The industries consist
OF several shops. which do wood work.
placksmlthlng, shoe repairing. etc, ana
nail and horseshoe keg factory. the
entire product Of which is sold to the
Iredegar Company. in Richmond.
Pride md Pet OF the People.
The principal industry. if / NAV so
designate 1T. and the one in which all
the people in all this section of tha
county take an immense pride, is the
Fork Union Military Academy This is
, peculiar school, and I doubt If there
Is i. another Just like 1t anywhere in the
state. It was established eleven years
ago, and Its marked success so far has
abundantly proved the wisdom OF the
adoption OF the peculiar plan It fs
peculiar in the first place because 1t
Is not intended to be money-maklnc
enterprise. Indeed, 1t is not a private
enterprise at ALL Is not conducted In
the interest of any individual or any
company or corporation. 1t has been
founded and partially endowed by a
number OF pubiic-spirited F1uvanna-
ties and others. who are impelled by
the conviction that the public schools
nereabouts are not affording adequate
facilities for preparing boys, either for
colleges or universities or for all of
the practical duties Of life. The acad-
emy Is no rival of the public schools.
nor is 1T designed to become a rival
or any colleges but was established
distinctly as an academy. and 1t pro-
poses, so am told, to stick closely
to It's chosen field.
AS before intimated. the authort-
ties are not In the school business for
the money they hope to get out Of Il
their sole desire being to nut educa.
tlon within the reach of persons of
moderate means. and therefore tho
charges Tor both board and tuition
aie reg sulaeed SO as to merely meet
actual expenses. The school has two
large buildings and ample play and
arm grounds. The roll OF students
mas grown from about twenty In 1ssy
70 2o0 last term. A detailed officer
from the United States Army has
charge Of the military end OF tho
academy, and he Is here for four
years. at least
Health and Railway Facilities.
The village Is so healthy that
doctors find it hard to make a living
hereabouts unless they ride over a
large territory. The location is such
that 1t is bound to be healthy. The
village is four miles from the James
River, and the same distance from tha
Rtvanna. and is on a natural divide.
so that part of the rainfall flows
into the James and part into the
Rivanna, Being In the foothills the
entire Fork may be said to be mid
way between tho malarias of the coast
country and the fevers of the noun
tain section.
Fork Union is four and half miles
from Breno Bluff, on the James River
Division of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway. and a little less than two
miles from Fork Union Station, on this
Virginia AIR Line, another branch ot
Ethei Chesapeake and Ohio running
through the centre of the county and
extending from Gordonsville on tho
mains line. to strathmore, on the James
River Division, BY the way, this
makes another "tork' and gives the
original fork country superb freight
r-----FI ICnntinmed ON Last Paga.l