The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-08-20
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seven miles over dirt road to Slanes-
vile, then go about four miles to
North River Mills and in the vicinity
you will find Ice Mountain, at the
base of which, even on the hottest
day in summer, you can dig up pieces
of ice.
Farther south in the same county
not far from the Cacapon River and
reached by a road out of Gore, are
the Capon Springs, famous in other
days. These are reputed to have the
same analysis as the springs at Carls-
bad and were visited by Daniel Web
ster, Franklin Pierce and other noted
men.
If you continue on the highway you
will pass through Augusta, tiny viii
lage, and Shanks, another tiny village
and up to the top of Branch Mountain
from which you can drive down into
Romney, one of the oldest towns in
West Virginia.
If you happen to make the journey
in the fall fthe year, you will meet
on the road between Romney and
Winchester many truckloads of ap-
Piles on their way from one city OF
the other. From the little B. & O.
station at Romney were shipped 150
carloads of apples in one week dur
ing the Autumn of 1929. The Valley
of Virginia, as you probably know, is
noted for apples, as are the noun
tain sides to the west of it. Occasion
ally you will see an orchard at the
very top of mountain, its even rows
in striking contrast to the massed
trees of the surrounding woods.
By the way, both the Grimes Golden
and the Stark Delicious apples origi-
mated in West Virginia. What is said
to be the only monument in the world
to be erected to the memory of an
apple tree may be seen in Brooke
county, where stood the first Grimes
Golden tree, on the farm of the man
for whom the apple was named.
AS early as 1904, apples from what
is now West Virginia were shipped
on fatboats down the Ohio and the
Mississippi to New Orleans. West
Virginia today ranks eighth among
the apple producing states.
Hampshire county now has 0,00C
apple trees. In addition, it has 140,-
900 peach trees, which is more than
any other county in the state. Min
eral county comes next, with $1,000
With so much land in orchards ano
pasture, one would not expect much
in the way of grainn crops. Never
theless, Hampshire has 1890 acres in
rye, more than any other county In
the state.
While Romney is an old town, il
does not look its age. And that's
a puzzling thing about this whole
road. Knowing that the turnpike was
built in the years Immediately follow
ing 1929, the traveller naturally ex-
poets to see plenty of old homes and
log cabins. But he doesn't see them
They might have been there fifty years
ago, but if they were they have dis
appeared.
Except in the towns and villages,
where you find modern homes, there
are few buildings of any kind for
miles and miles. Just a winding, up
and down road through and among
the hills, with the eye now resting on
a wooded ridge and now looking down
into narrow valley, and occasionally
looking squarely in front at a SEEM
ingly impossible mountain wall. But
there is always way to get through
or around, even though the Jagged
rocks come right down to the road
side. And after while you become
accustomed to ten curves to the mile.
Along the road to Romney the OBJ
servant traveller will notice small
stones set up by the side of the high
way at intervals of one mile, with
an inscription like this: To R II M.
This means II miles to Romney. The
figure, of course, varies with the dis
lance. These stones have probably
been in place long time, for they
are marked by the elements. The dis
lance from Winchester to Romney
is "A miles.
You will be likely to notice these
little roadside stones for the reason
that there are practically no adver-
Using signs to divert your attention
l hesitate to mention this fact, fear
ing that the manufacturer of some
body's soup or somebody's soothing
syrup might read this article and
ruch out there to correct what to him
must seem an abnormal condition.
And you will find practically nc
roadside stands except those of farm
boys who sell apples, cider and other
farm products. Consequently, you
will not have been tempted to dull
with pickles, peanuts and popcorn the
splendid appetite you have picked up
| in the hills, and you will be able to
enjoy the really good fifty cent lunch
you can get at Romney.
There's not much to be seen at
Romney. The Hampshire County
Court House looks fairly modern and
so do most Of the other buildings, but
the upstairs part of the Green Palm
Restaurant has about it a look that
makes me think that in other days it
was a tavern. Pm beginning to have
an eye for taverns that would do
credit to wandering minstrel of an
Gent days.
An empty store bears sign that is
interesting 18th. Probably
some optimist started in business
there on that day and decided it was
good name for the store. He was
probably too much distressed to tell
the world on what day it was that he
closed up.
While there is nothing in particular
in Romney to make you think of other
days, Romney has known historic
times, both before and during the
War between the States.
| The town was laid off in 1852 when