davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican., 1959-02-26

road property. In the June issue of
this magazine, for 1914, Captain
Hoye recounts the coming of
Colonel LomaX to Altamont and
the capturing of a Bro engine
and cars.
Beyond the Blackburn store
building were other houses re-
mcmbered by Jesse Woods as
Suger's boarding house; a house
occupied by Evan Matthews, and
, the Pat Brady saloon. This saloon
was near the dug well still in use
near the William Schmidt house.
The William Schmidt house is one
of the later houses Of Altamont,
as is the present house owned and
occupied by Mr.. Russell Shank and
family.
Jack Rhodeheaver had a shoe
shop on the northside of the rail-
road and it was used as a voting
place by the people of the Alta
mont community and town. Mr..
Rhodeheaver was a busy man for
railroaders are hard on shoes.
Near the present farm crossing
west of Altamont tower, there was
once a poStoffice. Altamont post
office was in charge of Mr.. Wheel
er. 1t was served by the railroad
and by carrier between Altamont,
Wilson and Kitzmiller over the
mountain. The postmaster lived in
house nearby. The postoffice was
discontinued about 1900. Mr. Bert
Paugh is remembered as having
carried mail at Altamont.
Another shoe shop in Altamont
was run by Mr.. McCrobie. 1t was
not far from the lumberyard and
the small lumberyard office in
the western end of town.
On the south SIDE Oh tne rail-
road there we're houses owned and
occupied by Harvey, Saucer,
Keren, Cassidy and Kline.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. G. Woods live
in the house built by Ben Harvey.
This house faces a lane leading
in from the highway near the east
end of the overhead bridge. The
Saucer family owned the property
when it was purchased by the
grandparents Of Mr.. Woods, Mr..
and Mrs. Benjamin G. Spiker.
Mr.. Spiker was a blacksmith
and gunsmith. His shop stood
The Republican., 1959-02-26
AGtamOmt The Village

Altamont Cut. Many people came
on trains, on foot, and on horse
10 this picnic grove at Altamont
to sdancc and enjoy themselves
Tho small building shown in
thc picture just ahead of the steam
Mallct engine is Altamont station.
The building once served as the
Oakland passenger station After
The year 1884, when the present
Oakland station was built, the
small structure was hauled to Alta
mont and set down where it ap-
pears. This served as waiting
room and telegraph office for
the operators handling trains there.
II is boarded up today and used
as a miscellaneous storehouse At
one time and for many years. Alta
mont was served by at least four
passenger trains daily There is no
passenger service today.
There was a general store build
ing. owned by Mr. Blackburn and
also kept at one time by Mr.. Ed
Cole. located at the west end of
Altamont Cut on the north side.
The public road came down the
hillside and passed the west end
Of this building. There was a
saloon in the basement level of
this building. It's doors were sug-
gestivc of Gothic design used in
churches, and. ironically, opened
to the public for completely
churchless purposes.
A Mr.. Bonnet and his family
lived in the top part of the Black
burn store building. Mr. Bonnet
kept croquet course lined up
for playing behind the store. The
main floor of this building was
used as a store and at one time
around the turn Of the century, the
building housed track laborers and
construction gangs.
| could find no Information as to
what attention was given the
Blackburn Store by the rebel cav
alrymen Of Captain E. H. Me
Donald, commanding the squadron
Of the Eleventh Virginia. These
Confederate soldiers came over
the mountain in 1853 from Kitz-
miller They destroyed some rail
The Republican., 1959-02-26

that is known as the Cassidy
house. This house, so Mr.. Comp
told me, is nearly a hundred years
old. It is said to have been one of
the first houses built on a BRO
Relief Department loan. Mr. Cas-
sidy. for whom the house was
built. fell from an engine in the
old wye and lost his life. James
Cassidy was a telegrapher for the
railroad
The site of another village house
in on Mr. Comps property. This
is in the cornor of his field just
below the railroad cmbankment.
The family who lived in that house
was named Kline. We do not
know when this house was torn
down.
The old railroad wye is gone,
but its site can still be seen as
an excavation in the corner of
Mr.. Elwood Lees field. Near this
spot stood company house oc-
cupied by Mr.. Carroll This house
was purchased by Mr.. Henry
Schmidt about 1900 for the sum
of ten or twelve dollars. 1t still
stands near the Schmidt house and
is painted railroad red. II was
used by Mr.. Schmidt as a stable
and Toulouse.
There was no church or school
building within the village of Alta
mont.s The plank schoolhouse'
was used for school and religious
services. This building stood along
the road between Altamont and
Wilson. 1t is recalled that Metho-
dist circuit preachers often came
to Altamont community and held
revival services in this building.
There was railroad cistern-
reservoir constructed just east of
the present highway bridge on
the south bank Of Altamont Cut.
This was a sunken cistern of
brickwork and rooted over, cir
cular in design. and of about so
feet diameter and something like
25 feet in depth. This reservoir
held about 5000 gallons Of water
te supply the steam locomotives
from penstocks standing between
the tracks. Today, fine blackberry
The Republican., 1959-02-26
Is Your Name
GRIFFITH?

Griffith. an old and honored sur
name, is principally of Welsh and
Irish origins. In the former cate
CORY it is said that it is obtained
from the Welsh "gruffyd" meaning
strong in faith"
In its Irish aspect, Griffith is the
equivalent of Griffin and is de-
rived from the gaelic "griovha"
which signifies "griffin-like." 1t
was bestowed, when surnames
first came into vogue, upon those
having the courageous qualities at
tributed to that fanciful creature,
half lion and half eagle, which was
known in mythology as a griffin"
The name was established in the
10th century, and the coat-of-arms
of the Irish branch of the Griffith
family bears the motto Wish
Nothing Base"
Philemon Griffith (1756-1838)
and Samuel Griffith Q752-1833)
served respectively as major and
captain of Maryland troops dur
ing the Revolutionary War An
other patriot was Henry Griffith
1720-1794), a member of the Colo
nial Assembly and a delegate to
the convention, held in IT'S, that
formed the Association OF The
Freemen of Maryland
As additional evidence that
members of the Griffith family
were among the early settlers of
this country, it should be noted
that the first census of the United
States, taken in 1890, has forty-five
listings of persons by the name of
Griffith who were residents of
The Republican., 1959-02-26

across the public road almost in
front Of his house. His work was
very important to the community.
The work of artisans in metal was
vital to all early American com
munities 1t was a time when hand
made articles and hand-repaired
articles determined the welfare of
many a family One of the rifles
made by Mr.. Spiker is in the col
lection of Ed O'Donnell at Loeb
Lynn, Md. Mr.. ODonnell explained
to me that the furniture of this
rifle was purchased already manu-
factured.
What Mr.. O'Donnell mentioned
the furniture" of the Spiker rifle
to me. | looked blank; he explained
tfat the lock and mechanism, the
brass trigger-guard and double
triggers. the patchboX of brass
inlaid in the full-length maple
stock. and the butt plate, were
considered furniture by the gun
smiths The business part Of the
weapon, its Darrell. received the
concentrated efforts of the gun
smith The fine craftsmanship OF
the gunsmith always showed up in
the barrel. This Spiker rifle is
excellent testimony to the careful
workmanship of its maker The
gun is a 81 caliber and weighs s
pounds.
On the south side of the Cut,
facing the road, stood the small
log house owned and occupied by
Bridget Kerens Aunt Biddy.
as she was locally known. She was
a lady of very Independent mind
and if it suited her, she served
liquid refreshment by the glass.
There was one Of the head-springs
of the Little Yough on her lot. We
understand that Aunt Bidd and
her neighbor, Mrs. Saucer, got into
a free-for-all at the spring one day.
Aunt Biddy won the last round.
The well at the Jesse Woods home
is said to have been dug as a re-
suit of this fracas.
Another headspring Of the Little
Yough is just beside the Kerens
lot. 1t is OH the property Of Mr.
George Comp. Mr.. Comp and his
family live in the house nearby
The Republican., 1959-02-26

Miss Sue Loochel, student nurse
at Kings Daughters Hospital, Mar
tinsburg, visited her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Raymond Loechel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ira L. Huff are
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Luther
Huff
Mr.. and Mrs. Nevin " Broad
water visited Mr.. and Mrs. Eu-
gene Crosse, Baltimore.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Glotfelty
and family. Baltimore, and Mr.
and Mrs Joseph Glotfelty and
family, Cumberland, were recent
guests of Mr. and Mrs. 0. j.
Glotfelty.
Mrs. Earl Shirk, Waynesburg,
Pa, is visiting Mr.. and Mrs. Rob-
ert Bender. Little Crossings"
Mr.. and Mrs. George G. Miller,
Keyser, and Mr.. and Mrs. George
burst, Cumberland. visited Mr.
Henry F. burst.
Mrs. Thomas Johnson and Mrs
John Elliott returned home from
Washington where they visited
relatives.
Merle Hershberger, College
Park, is visiting Mr.. and Mrs
d. W. Hershberger and Mr.. and
Mrs. Hobart Speicher.
Miss Kitty Salzman and Daniel
Hershberger College Park, are
weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs.
d. w. Hershberger.
Goetz Oertel, student at the
University of Maryland, visited
Mir. and Mrs. D. w. Hershberger.
Lenten services will be held in
Christ Lutheran Church Thursday
The Republican., 1959-02-26

Maryland and heads of families at
that time
w. w. Griffith was school
teacher in Accident District, Gar
rcu County, during the year end
ing May 10, 1881.
Griffith Jenkins Griffith 1850
19l9, native Of South Wales.
came to the United States when a
boy Of fifteen years, lived in New
York City for a short period, and
then moved to California where he
acquired extensive mining inter-
ests. He donated more than 5000
acres of land to the City of Los An
geles to be used as public park
David Wark Griffith tl860-l948l
was distinguished motion picture
producer.
Ivor Griffith is president, Phila-
delphia College of Pharmacy and
Science.
keenan, Leslie Griffith is general
manager of sales. Bethlehem Steel
Company.
The Republican., 1959-02-26
Gy'avEaESCSFEp NeUUS

at p. m. with Rev NJ. J Ross OF
Friedens, Pa, officiating.
Mrs. Arthur Resh returned from
Memorial hospital Cumberland,
after being a patient for the past
week
Sunday visitors of Mr.. and Mrs.
Arthur Resh were Mr. and Mrs.
Philip Blocher, Frostburg; Mr.. and
Mrs. Gilbert Grove, Baltimore;
Mr.. and Mrs Harold Resh and
Billy Neratka. Uniontown, Pa;
Robert Resh. Pittsburgh; and Mrs.
Alvin Bowser and family.
The Republican., 1959-02-26
W. W. Price

w. w. PflCe
Reprinted from The Glades STAR
Altamont was never more than a
busy village. II depended upon
farm produce and lumber products
for shipping. Some livestock was
shipped from Bcckman siding, The
railroad was constructed over the
mountain in the year 1S50-51 The
little mountain town occupied
about fifty acres of land on Mill
tary Lot Number llG8.
The most eastern corner Of the
town site was on land now owned
by Mr.. j. G Woods and Mr. Stew.
art Brown This is $50 feet south
of the center Of Highway 1856 near
the eastern end of the overhead
bridge across Altamont Cut The
boundaries of the Town extended
south from this point about 1900
feet then generally west with the
lines Of MIR. Woods and Mr. George
Comp to point common with the
property of Mr. Finch From this
western corner the line would
return across Little Yough river
ehere only a rivulet, the railroad
near the present farm crossing,
and to a corner about halfway be-
tween the farmhouse on the prop
crty of Mr.. William H. Schmidt
Cnow occupied by Mr. Rhode
heaver), and Highway 135. From
this point on Mr.. Schmidts land,
the line of the village site will
project toward Backbone Noun
tain, over Altamont Cut and TO the
place Of beginning.
The houses and buildings Of the
village were built on both sides
of the railroad Just beyond the
eastern limits of the village there
was a house in the woods occupied
by a Mr. Sol Turner Mr. Turner
was thought to be somewhat of a
hermit. AT least, he remained out
of such limelight as briefly sur
rounded the affair of the transi-
ent Irish worker and a Garrett
County man.
The Irish worker was said to
have stolen a part Of the horse
gear, or harness. used by the
Garrett Countain with his team
in eXcavating the cut for the rail
road. The men fought. They went
TO earth ON The Donaldson Lot
overlooking Altamont Cut on a
part of the present Jesse G. Woods
property. The Garrett man ierked
out his revolver and shot the
Irish worker through the head.
In the presence OF murder, the
Garrett County man, we arc told,
went ahead with his work. The
unfortunate transient worker was
buried in an unnamed grave. Such
things were not unusual along the
railroad
A colored family the Pogues
lived at Altamont at one time Mr.
Pogue was a fine fiddle player. He
played for square dances at Alta
mont Grove. This was a spot in a
grove OF trees i'll which a plank
platform had been constructed. It
stood near the northeast end Of
The Republican., 1959-02-26

Subscribe For The Republican.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-05

For Children
Sunday AN.
Jungle Jim. l0:00-7
Annie ookIey. Il:3o-4
Sunday PM.
Lone Ranger. 5:3O-7
Lossie. 1909
MONTH";. AN.
Pete and His Polls. 1901
copt0in Kangaroo. 8:l5-9
Ronser HoI. 300
Kortoon KIub. 1905
cGrtoon PIoytime. ll:3O-5
Month";. PM.
GrondpG's Place. II Moons
Romper Room. l2:3O-5
Pick Temple. 1905
Popeye. 6:O0-5
Monday PM.
Mickey Mouse Club. 5:3O-7
Abbott and Costello. 6:00-7
Tuesday PM.
Walt Disney Adventure Time.
5:3O-7
Woody Woodpeeker. 6:0O-4
Abbott and Costello. 6:OO-7
Wednesday PM.
Cisco Kid. 6:0O-4
Abbott and Costello. 6:OO-7
Thursday PM.
WeIt Disney Adventure Time.
$50
Abbott and Costello. 6:OO-7
SUpermon. 1904
Zorro. 1901
Friday PM.
Mickey Mouse Club. 5:3O-7
Jeff's Collie. 900
Abbott and Costello. 6:0O-7
HuekIeberry Hound. 1904
Rim Tin Tin. 7:3O-7
Wolt Disney Presents. 1907
Saturday AN.
Ranger HoI. 8:3O-9
Captain Kangaroo. 9:3O-9
Howdy- Doody. lO:OO-4
Ruff end Reddy Show. l0:3O-4
Mighty Mouse. lO:3O-9
e.. hoo Il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-05
July 5-JuIy II
Sports
Baseball

Sundoy-Boston OF Baltimore.
200 p.m.-l3
Tuesdoy-AII-S tor Baseball Come.
l2:4S-4, ~
Fridoy-BoItimore at Washington.
800 p.m.-l3
Saturday - Washington vs.. 6olti-
more. % p.m.-S
Bowling
Fridoy-Jockpot Bowling.
lo:45 p.m.-4
Soturdoy-Duckpin Juniors.
100 PM
Bowl the Champ. 500 PM
Boxing
Observation-Disclosures Holimi VS..
Jose Becero. 1000 PM
Fridoy - Don Jordan vs. Dennis
Meyer. lo;00p.m.-4
Golf
Mondoy-Top Pro Golf.
e;3op.m.-7
Wrestling
Tuesdoy-WrestIine. 7:3op.m.-5
Thursdoy-CopitoI Arena.
900 pms
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-05
Color Shows

Sundoy-RuroI America.
100 o.m.-e
Midwestern Hoyride.
7:OOp.m.-4
Bloir-Roitt Show. e:oopm.-4
MOndoy Through Fridoy-In Our
Town. l:30p.m.-4
Truth or Consequences.
4:OOp.m.-4
News. Russ Word. $50 PIMA
Weather and Sports.
Obs p.m.-4
.Mondoy-EorIW Show. 500 p,m.-o
Arthur Murroy Porty.
1000 p.m.-4
Tuesdoy-Jimmie Rodgers Show.
$50 pima
Wednesdoy-The Price Is Right.
8:3Op.m.-4
Dovid King Show. 900 p.m.-4
Thursdoy-Mosquerode Porty.
lO:3Op.m.-4
Fridoy-Northwest Possoee.
7:3op.m.-4
Soturdoy-Eiowdy- Doody.
1000 o.m.-4
Ruff and Reddy 1890 o.m.-4
Kingdom Of the SEQ.
4::3op.m.-4
News. 500 p.m.-4
Sports Specicl. Sis p.m.-4
Perry Presents. 500 p.m.-4
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14

canvas urging the public to attend
the clinic
The Buckingham survey will have
two clinic trucks in operation
throughout the four days with the
following schedule:
August Is, Andersonville. 1890
am, to 100 pm; Dillwyn, 2:30
pm. to $50 pm; Sheppards. 1890
am. to $50 pm.
August 10, Dillwyn. 1890 a m. to
$50 pm; Buckingham court
House, 1890 am. to $50 pm,
August 20. Centenary. 1890 am.
to 1870 pm: Glenmore. 2::3O pm.
to $50 pm: Arvonia. 1890 am.
to $50 pm.
August 81. Arvonia, 1890 am.
to $50 pm, Branches Store. west
on Rt. III, 1920 am, to 1880 pm.
and Branches ESQ Station, west
on Rt 60. 2:3O pm, to $50 pm.
The effort will concentrate on per-
sons 10 years Of age and above.
While the effort will be centered
in the eastern portion of the county
persons regardless Of residence in
Buckingham are invited to partici-
pate.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14
Worsham P-TA
Approves Plan To
Build Classr00ms

The Worsham P-TA voted We'd
nesday night IN a special meeting
TO submit building program to
the congregation Of the WOrsham
Baptist Church. The P-TA ex-
pressed its approval of a plan to
, add four classrooms to thu W0r-
sham Baptist Church. if such a
such building program meets the
approval Of the. congregation Of
the church. The church VIII con-
slider the building program after
its service Sunday.
The building program would
call for twostory addition to the
rear Of the church. with two class
rooms upstairs and two downstairs.
The church has offered its facili-
ties TO be used for the purpose Of
private schooling ~S
If approved. church building
committee will work with a P-TA
building committee composed of
DR.. T. E. Gllmer. chairman: Lin
wood Cox, Raymond Chernault.
Charles Pickett. Herbert Stockton
T moo4s S'"yd'". and George
In other action it was reported
that five school BUSES would be
available fer transporting pupils
TO the Worsham Academy for the
coming year Four Of the BUSES
been purchased by the P-TA. and
the fifth bus by J. T. Newman.
who purchased the bus for the use
Of the school
A bus committee Is now at work
With Headmaster j. Boyd Bagby
to work out bus schedules
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14
Dillwyn Highway
Residency Personnel
Picnic Set Saturday

Personnel Of the DlllWyn Resi-
dency of the Highway Department
will have their annual brunswick
stew and get-together Saturday
afternoon starting at one o'clock at
the Robert E. Lee Wavside on
Route SO. west Of Sprouses Corner
The gathering will include families
and friends Of the Residency force
and county officials in the three
county area served by the Resi-
dency office Buckingham. Cunber-
land and Prince Edward
: E J. Throckmorton. chairman,
and j L. Parker. resident engineer
have announced that stew will be
served between 100 and ? pm.
with an informal program TO follow.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14
August Meeting Normally Hectic
School Board Ends Meeting In Short
Order. With No Funds, No Schools

myriad Of questions to be decided
and acted upon For instance one
year ago. the board was searching
for a person or agency to con-
duct study of racial conditions
in the county. interviewing candi-
dates for the principalship of Farm
vile High School: taking bids for
oil, gasoline. etc. as well as look
ing for additional teachers to COM
plete the county teaching roster
Compared with the midnight ses-
sion year ago, Monday night was
quite change for the school board
ViceChairman B. Calvin Bass
presided at the meeting. and re-
organization of the school board
was postponed until a member is
appointed from the populous Farm
vile district. The school trustee
electoral board is waiting for the
return of DR.. j. H. Cocks, of Farm
vile, before that board meets to
consider appointments to replace
Roy R. Pearson. who resigned in
July.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14

The Prince Edward County school
board experienced one of its short
est meetings in history Monday
night at the regular board meet
ing.
The board considered a list of
items submitted by the Darlington
Heights community league as be-
longing to persons other than the
school board The list had been
drawn up as recommended by the
board and was presented by school
board member G Gorge Shorter.
After discussing several items the
lists were approved with very few
changes
A similar approval was given
list of items submitted by Green
Bay P-TA at a special meeting in
July
With no funds, no expenses in
Cured, and no schools to operate.
school board members were at a
loss. having the meeting end so
quickly.
! Normally this August session is one
Of the busiest of the year. with a
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14
Buses First
Patrons, Inc., Is New Corporation
To Aid Private School Foundation

Patrons. Inc. nOn-prOfit organl
2ation. was chartered Tuesday by
a group Of Prince Edward citizens
seeking to aid private elementary
and secondary education in the
county.
While the charter as approved by
the State Corporation Commission
authorizes many activltiis. the first
action by Patrons. Inc. will be to
hold legal title to BUSES acquired
by community groups to transport
pupils to private schools.
The express purpose Of the cor
poranon, according to its incor-
poration papers. is to serve as an
auxiliary organization for such
educational. religious. and chart
table achievements and purposes as
may be deemed desirable by its
board Of directors.
The organization may hold title
to, transfer. sell. lease. loan and
donate any and every type of
property for the purpose mentioned
above. 1t may purchase, hold title
to. operate. sell. and exchange
motor vehicles of all kinds, types,
and description. and can transport
persons, free of charge, to and from
schools. etc
The corporation Isl managed by a
board of directors, composed Of G.
L. Cox. Route 8, Farmville; Howard
A. Shorter. Darlington Heights.
Bernard Garrett, Prospect: j. w.
Nunnally. Green Bay. and R. Julian
Bradshaw, Rice. Thus the five
magisterial districts outside Of
Farmville' are represented init
ally on the board Of directors.
All five districts have made ar
engagements to pure h e school
busses to transport pupils to ele-
mentary schools in their district.
j. Barrye Wall, Jr., Farmville at
torney, is the registered agent for
Patrons, Inc.
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-08-14
State Constitution Memorial
1902 SapIing No,U Stately Campus Giant
BY JOHN STICK

A recent inquiry about an oak
tree in Prince Edward county has
served to reemphasize the contri-
button Of Hampden-Sydney College
to the educational and civic life of
Virginia and to point up the value
Of H. C. Bradshaws historical re-
search and writing about the county.
The oak tree isn't an ordinary
arboreal appendage to the county
landscape. 1t is a Constitutional
Oak. planted on the Hampden-
Sydney College campus to me-
morialize the work Of the Virginia
Constitutional Convention Of 1902.
Dr. Richard McIlwaine. then
president of the college. was Prince
Edward county's delegate to that
convention. which in its l2-month
tenure revised Virginia S then exist
ing Underwood Constitution.
l25 Planted
w Re n the delegates returned
home after arduous constitutional
labors, each carried an oak sap
ling given by Congressman Harry
L. Maynard. of Portsmouth. Their
enduring sturdiness was to be SYM
bolic of Virginia S government
Thus l25 oak saplings were scat
tered throughout the Commonwealth
about 60 years ago. one on the
Hampden-Sydney campus.
Recently George W. Rogers. Of
Richmond, Postmaster of the Sen
ate of Virginia, began tracing the
history Of these saplins-now-turned-
majestic oaks.
Mr. Rogers inquiry about the
McIlwaine oak came through, his
friend. Robert X. Brock, former
state senator and Hampden-Sydney
resident. His inquiries led to To-
cation of the oak and to picutre-
Continued On page 81