Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
.STAUNCH ADM|RER
WON BY HOOVER.
Mountaineer Did Not Vote for
Him, but Helped Pick
His Camp Site.
BY REX COLLIER,



SYRIA, Va, August 17.-Bob Graves,
grizzled patriarch of the Blue Ridge,
didn't vote for President Hoover, but
he helped him select his camp site on
the Rapidan and, having thus Been
thrown In intimate contact with him,
has become one Of the Presidents
staunchest admirers in the mountain
country.
The 74-year-old mountaineer, with
his faithful, sure-footed mount, Trixie,
Is probably the most widely known fig
ure In this isolated section.
Born in the rugged country near the
Hoover lodge, "Old Bob" as the natives
affectionately call him, knows every
above the sparkling Rapidan, and 1t
was but natural that his services should
have been enlisted to aid the Presi-
dent in selecting a likely place to fish
and camp.
Owns Most of Mountain.
AS a matter Of fact, Bob owns most
of Big Stone Mountain, directly over
looking the Hoover lodge, and scarcely
day passes that his picturesque
frame, astride 15-year-old Trixie, may
not be seen jogging up the rocky paths
high above the Rapidan, on the trail
of hayward cattle.
Undoubtedly the President himself
may have heard the weird reverbera-
lions of Bob Graves stentorian voice
as 1t echoed down the mountain side,
and wondered what 1t was. Bob's
roaming, footloose beeves know what
that call means, however, and once
having heard 1t, they lose no time in
plodding up the steep slopes Of the
forest to the artificial salt lick, atop
the mountain.
The venerable mountaineer lives in
a large, moderniZed home at the base
Of the mountains, not far from where
the new road into the presidential
camp branches OF, just outside Of
CriglersVlle. The Graves home, noted
for its hospitality, has sheltered many
distinguished guests, including Gov.
Byrd, officials Of the Shenandoah Ma
tional Park and government men" Of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Wife's Dinners Famous.
Mrs. Graves. as busy as a young
housewife, despite her II years, has
the reputation of being the best cook
in these parts, and word-of-mouth
publicity has made her chicken and
country ham dinners famous, not only
among the mountain folk, but among
city people who visit Skyland and other
points in the Blue Ridge. She's not in
the business, but nobody ever stopped
at Bob Graves place any length of
time without sitting down to the long
table in the old-fashioned dining room.
Syria seems to have been founded
and now Is populated mostly by men,
berS Of the Graves clan. The place
scarcely Is recognizable as a town, but
kAa &c a rroVnraI with met afnaa
run by the Graves family, and half a
dozen farm houses within a radius of
several miles. It Is connected to Crig-
lersville with narrow, bumpy road.
When President and Mrs. Hoover
first came into this section, early in the
Spring. snow was on the ground. Mr..
and Mrs. Hoover were accompanied by
william E. Carson, chairman of the
State Conservation Commission, and
several other officials. The party halted
at McAlester'S store and post Office In
Criglersville while horses were being
procured from the Graves farm.
ST was standing on one side of the
store" Mr.. Graves points out proudly,
when noticed the President look at
me and say something to Mr.. Carson.
"Mr. Carson called me over and said
the President wanted to meet me.
went over and shook hands and we
chatted little bit about something or
other. The President doesn't do much
talkin' and neither do I, you know.
Meanwhile my daughter had been
introduced to Mrs. Hoover and they
were having quite a talk. Then they
took me over to Mrs. Hoover and she
shook my hand real friendly-like. She's
sure fine lady and Mr.. Hoover's q fine
man.
"We're mighty glad to have 'em UP
here and 1 guess they like 1t round
here, too, from what I've heard!"