Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-31
Custer Confuses ViYginions
Vacated in Army 7 raining Area
Many in Caroline County Weren't Sure
Whether H. S. Wanted Them to Move or Not

, that the Government had made up
! its mind was the following sign
tackled up on the post Office at Mica
by Postmaster F. E. Bowie:
Important Notice-All persons
who have been receiving mail as
this post Office please leave for
warding address before you move. "
This was conclusive proof that
Uncle Sam meant business and the
neighborhood took heed according
ly. A scramble to find new homes
started Immediately and centered
around the Office of Agricultural
Agent Lanford, who threw open his
doors as a clearing house for avail
able property.
In the hurry to move, officials
found one reaction they had not an
ticipated. AS laid off, the training
ground was divided into two areas.
More than $4,000 acres north of
Route 301, the highway between
Bowling Green and Port Royal,
were to be vacated by June l, while
nearly 10000 acres south of the road
were ordered vacated by September
l. In some instances, it was found,
families had moved from the June
tract into the September tract,
bringing upon themselves double
dose of moving.
When it was definite that the
Caroline County area would be
taken over by the Government, resi-
dents accepted their fate and went
about the task of packing. Per-
haps the greatest job of this sort
was at Mica, largest community in
the tract.
$4,000 Firm Is Sold.
The Parent Teacher Association
at Mica had a little money in the
treasury and this was used to
finance party for the community.
The associations ownership in half
of the chairs in the school audi
forum and in a piano was trans
ferred to the Ruritan Club at Bowl
ing Green.
The nearby sweet potato curing
plant of the Caroline County CO.
operative Sweet Potato Association,
Inc, a $4,000 investment shared
between 80 members, was put up on
the block. The sale, marking the
end of the largest industry in the
area. concern that did a $4,000
business each year. was held on the
plant site. 1t distributed to the
highest bidder 10000 potato curing
crates, IS pickle brine tanks. a po-
tato grader, hammer mill and other
equipment
Liberty Church, the historic old
house of worship near Mica, organ
lied in 1911, will hold its last meet
ing tomorrow. 1t will be an all-day
gathering, with dinner on the
grounds. The high light will come
in the farewell sermon of DR.. T.
Ryland Sanford of Fredericksburg,
the regular supply pastor. AS usual,
because arthritis has disabled him,
he will preach from chair on the
rostrum.
Some structures in the area will
be used for storage by the Army,
but most buildings will be de-
molished.
Ponds Drained Of Fish.
From the area also will disappear
its only physician-Dr. John Ran
dolph Travis, member of the Army
Medical Corps during the World
War and graduate of the old Uni
versity College of Medicine at Rich
He will take with him to
Fredericksburg as much of his
country practice as will follow.
Today the northern third of Caro-
line County rapidly is being emptied
Houses stand vacant for the first
time in their existence, and ponds
have been drained Of fish. As people