The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-03-10

March Z, 1861, we begin our 41st year
with equal enthusiasm if not with equal
physical endurance. The years have
been pleasant ones. There have been
ups and downs, wars, depressions, joys
and sorrows, successes and disappoint-
ments Regardless, it has been the policy
of this newspaper faithfully to mirror
life in this section of Virginia, policy
we hope to continue for many years to
come.
On such an occasion we might be
pardoned for a few "reminiscences:
In retail business today there are only
three proprietors remaining - Frank
Baldwin, Emanuel Weinberg, and Frank
Verser. 1--WE hope our memory serves us
correctly Walter Richardson was in
business with his father. Of course other
firms were in business at the time which
have continued under the former name,
with other proprietors, namely Martin
the Jeweler, Davidson's, ChappelPs.
For a bit of nostalgia many older
firm names come to mind, c. M. Walk
ers Sons Company, H. A. Barrow & Co.,
George Richardson, Stokes & Davidson,
Greenberg's, Paulett & Bugg, Misses
Davidson, j. A. Armistead, R. w. Gar
nett & Co., Farmville Cafe, Boggs, c.
M. Cowan, Gray's Drug Store A. V.
Wade's, Farmville Pool room, Continent
tai Hotel, Garland & Martin, Shannon's,
Walton & Elan, w. 7. Doyne & Co.,
Ingersonll Hotel, Burgers Meat Market,
C. M. Bugg & Son, Freear & Garland,
Drug Co., White Drug Co., w. E. Eng
land, to name few. There were no
chain stores in Farmville in 1921.
George A. Newman and brothers, old
est Chevrolet dealers in Virginia oper-
ated the Peerless Garage. and w. Clyde
Duvall sold Fords and Bucks. &C. J.
Cox, oldest Chrysler Virginia dealer, in
partnership with D. T. Billings opened
in 1929. There were no service stations
as such. Gasoline was dispensed from
curb-side pumps. q. c. Bricket was
to operate the first service station in
1929.
Farm machinery? Several of the hard
ware stores sold plows;; rakes, mowers,
binders harness, and other farming i'm
plements. Tractors were just coming
into being.
Radio? George Newman introduced
radio a couple of years later. Demon
strations of this modern marvel were
given at public meeting in the counties
school houses. Television was not even
conceived, if it had been no one with
any sense would have been fool enough
to have suggested its possibility.
Others now in business are ]. w. Dun
nington tobacconist, in partnership with
E. Lee Morris; F. w. Hubbard, in
surance in partnership with Walter Bar
row, John Lancaster w. C. Fitzpatrick,
and Robt. K. Brock, lawyers, and there
our memory.
Of course, Farmville Mfg. Co. was
still the largest plowhande factory in
the world; Taylor Mfg, had just been
established; R. w. Motley was build
ing houses, and F. H. Hamburg and N.
b. Davidson were operating the Buffalo
Shook Company.
But enough of this
Farmville has kept pace with pro-
gress. The stores of yesterday were
modern for their time - the stores of
today are modern in this time. Motor
lied travel, good highways. have en-
larged the trading area bringing to
this Southside shopping center custom
ers from radius of 80 miles, or more.
The town is equally an important ser
vice center and considerable agriculture
al products are marketed here Many
employees in retail and manufacturing
establishments commute from the sur
rounding counties.
Beginning with 800 circulation in
1921, covering Farmville aud enyirons,