Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-02
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY;
HAMS, PEANUTS AND FISH


RIVERS ana their tributaries and from
those Of cypress and Pagan Creeks
taken and shipped TO Northern and
Western markets. Trucking, especial
ly In the eastern part OF the county, Is
very extensively engaged In. and this
year a great deal Of money from the
markets OF Norfolk. Baltimore. New
York, Philadelphia and Washington.
The trucking industry, the fisheries.
the peanut crop and the stock rails
ing. especially the hog end OF the lat
ter. constitute the big money pro-
ducers of the county, although some
cotton is grown.
ORIGINAL HOME OF THE
SMITHFIELD HAM SWINE
The hog-raisinE industry In. indeed.
big thing, for. he 1t understood. Isle
of Wight Is the original home of the
world famous Smithfeld ham, which
has had reputation on the markets
OF this country and England for more
than century, and more Of the pigs
from which these hams are sliced for
curing in the peculiar Smithfeld way
are grown in this county than any
two. perhaps. Of the nearby counties
which help to supply the big ham fac
tories" and curing shops in the town
of Smthncld
James between Richmond and the
Hampton Roads ports. and those run
ming twice daily between Smithheld
Newport News and Norfolk. and with
the seaboard Air Line. the Southern
Railway and the Nirginian Railroad
crossing the southern part of tho
county. and the Norfolk and Western
splitting through near the center. Isle
OF Wight has ample transportation
facilities. and none Of the people have
any trouble to speak Of in getting
their products from land and factories
TO the markets OF the world.
great deal Of timber. pine. cypress.
juniper. gum. oak. etc, Is cut from the
forests and swamps sawed up by the
local sawmills and shipped 10 Norfolk.
Portsmouth Newport News and TO
points on tho James River, including
Richmond. The county has valua bic
and quite extensive deposits OF mari.
which is used principally at home. be-
ing found particularly valuable for use
In the culture OF peanuts. clover. etc.
II IL not hard matter to make good
country roads in the county. grading
and draining being the largest items
OF cost As general rule Isle of Wight
has good roads, over which the people
reach the local markets and the rail-
way stations and steamer landings.
The country districts OF the county
are we'll supplied with churches. and. OF
course. the villages and towns are.
The old ST. LukeH Church, which stands
in forest In the southern part OF
the county about Ave miles from smith
field, Is said 10 he the oldest church in
Virginia, and perhaps the Oldest I'm
the United States. u was built I'm 1892
The educational advantages are as good
as those In almost any county IN the
state. There are two academies OF
high grade and splendid system OF
public schools. Mail facilities are all
that could be desiped. in fact. better
than the average chunty can boast of,
and the telephone service is excellent
The talk wires go to all OF tho towns
and villages, and there arc very few
residences on the leading highways
that are without the telephone.
lHle OF Wight, or, as the people still
call It. "Allle White Courthouse" is
the county seat 1T Is located near the
center OF the county. the nearest rail-
way station being Windsor, on the Nor
folk and Western. eight miles distant.
II Is very small village. consisting
of the courthouse. clerks office, jail. a
beautiful monument TO the Confederate
dead Of the county and few resi-
dences with two or three small stores.
Less than hundred people live in
and Immediately about the village
Windsor Is a town OF some import
ance. but smithheld T., the largest town.
the largest shipping point and the most
prominen, business center In the
county. II is not necessary 10 say
much of Smithfeld in this connection.
for II Is known TO the whole country
through the famous hams mentioned
w
are cured and from which they are
shipped All over the country and to
Europe. Perhaps II is no exapgcration
TO say that over 100, 900 hams are cured.
every year. Numerous ham factories
are engaged In the business.
The peanut cleaning, picking and
polishing business vies with that OF
the ham curing and packing for first
place In the industrial limo in Smith
nSld The does ~
business in other lines. II has banks
enough. about sixty stores. numerous
woodworking and lumber establish
ments, Touring mills, oyster and fish
packing establishments and warehouses
for truck farm products. live stock.
etc. that 70 there for shipment TO the
markets OF the outer world. The Old
Dominion Steamship Company runs two
large steamers per day between Smith
held and Norfolk. and. in addition. other
steamers as we'll as many sailing YES
GELS go to the piers TO load with pea
nuts, hams, stock, cattle. lumber and
farm products that are brought from
all parts OF Isle of Wight and some
parts OF Nansemond County for ship
ment.
GOOD FART OF
VIRGINIA TO LIVE IN
There has been every now and then
agitation for railroad from Smith
field to Suffolk or to some other point
or points on the railways mat pass
through the county, but It has never
amounted to anything. As matter
~of' fact, II is to be doubted If the
1000 people living there or the business
interests OF the town really want a
railroad. They have all the water
transportation they want, and they can
reach the railways al Newport New.
in an hour and at Norfolk In about
two hours, and that seems to satisfy
them pretty we'll.
Take the County Of Isle OF Wight
as a whole and 1t s as good place
to live and do well" in as can be
found anywhere on the map Of the
country. Considering their fertility
and their advantageous location and
the splendid climate, the lands OF the
county are very ow-priced, and many
new buyers are coming In from time
to time. 1t is the opinion of the
writer that they do we'll to buy land
and locate in Isle Of Wight County