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New River Notes Photo Gallery

A Collection of historic and current photos mostly covering the upper New River area of southwestern Virginia and northwestern North Carolina.


Most viewed - Wythe County, VA
austinvillestation.jpg
austinvillestation.jpg1267 viewsThis is the Austinville Railroad Depot as shown in a 1920s era photo.
ftchiswell.jpg
ftchiswell.jpg1246 viewsThis is a postcard of the Chiswell Mansion, near Wytheville, VA. You might be interested in Hauser's 1907 Short Historical and Physical Description of Wythe County, Virginia. This booklet was prepared for the 1907 Jamestown Exposition.
IVANHOE3.jpg
Ivanhoe - Masonic Lodge1243 viewsThis photo taken at the corner of Painter Hill and Riverside is by Don Smith dsmith1043@comcast.net and was taken May 17, 2007.
reedcreekbridge.jpg
reedcreekbridge.jpg1222 viewsThis ca. 1914 view shows the Norfolk & Western Railroad Bridge over Reed Creek near Wytheville.
fosterfallsrrdepot.jpg
Foster Falls - Railroad Depot1222 viewsPhoto by Shawn Dunford. Courtesy of David Arnold david.arnold@adelphia.net
ruralretreatpresbyterian1912.jpg
ruralretreatpresbyterian1912.jpg1218 viewsThis is a 1912 postcard.
shottower.jpg
shottower.jpg1217 viewsFrom a 1940s era postcard.
ivanhoe1914.jpg
Ivanhoe - General View1209 viewsThis is a 1914 postcard view of the Ivanhoe village.
Foster_Falls_Furnace_(4).jpg
Foster Falls - Foster Falls Furnance.1204 viewsFoster Falls Furnace, Foster Falls, VA., Wythe Co.

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"For most of the 19th century, the mineral-rich New River Valley supported great industrial activity. Iron ore mines in the valley supplied the raw materials for dozens of iron furnaces and forges and the iron business became a major force in the regional economy. By the turn of the century how3ever, changes in technology and a depletion of the natural resources necessary for iron production had forced most of the furnaces out of business.
Foster Falls Furnace was built in 1880-81 by the Foster Falls Mining and Manufacturing Co. The furnace, described as an open top cold blast operation was run by water power from the New River and produced pig iron to the tune of 12 tons per day. Raw iron ore was transported to the furnace from mines in the Red Hill area of Wythe County aboard narrowguage railroads called "dinky" trains. The finished product was shipped to markets in St. Louis, Baltimore, and Cincinnati. At its peak, the furnace employed between 70 and 80 people.
In 1899 the furnace was sold to Virginia Iron Coal and Coke Co. and converted to a steam powered operation, increasing its production capacity. During Virginia Iron Coal and Coke ownership of the furnace, over 100 company owned homes were built in the vicinity to house its employees. The
Foster Falls Furnace operated until 1914, when a devastating flood destroyed the dinky train bridge over New River, cutting the supply of iron ore from the mines."--sign located on the site by the Virginia State Parks & Recreation Dept.

Photo by Shawn Dunford, courtesy of David Arnold david.arnold@adelphia.net
4thavenue1908.jpg
4thavenue1908.jpg1202 viewsThis is a 1908 postcard scene of a residential section of Wytheville.
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Graham's Forge - Graham's Forge Building1201 viewsPhoto by Shawn Dunford, courtesy of David Arnold david.arnold@adelphia.net
grahamsforge.jpg
grahamsforge.jpg1193 viewsThis is a 1960s postcard view of this Wythe County landmark.
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