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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.

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allenfloyd.jpg1010 viewsPrincipal in the Hillsville Court House Tragedy.
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170stanleyyoung.jpg1009 viewsSon of Irwin Young and Alice Waddell. On duty in U.S. Army, World War II.
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Crockett's Cove - Crockett Family Cemetery1007 viewsPhoto by Shawn Dunford, courtesy of David Arnold david.arnold@adelphia.net
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Foster Falls - Foster Falls Furnance.1006 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
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McKnight, Andrew1005 viewsHe was a veteran of Company C, 63rd Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army. Postwar, he was a Mountain Union Baptist Minister.
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Salrville - Post Office and Harry Dunham1005 viewsHARRY S. DUNHAM OF SALTVILLE, VA. AT AGE 12...STANDING IN FRONT OF SALTVILLE'S THIRD POST OFFICE IN 1918. THIS POST OFFICE WAS BUILT ABOUT WHERE CARLTON CHAPMAN'S FIRST CHOICE FLOWER SHOP IS PRESENTLY LOCATED. HARRY WAS BORN DEC. 4, 1906 AND DIED ON JAN. 8, 2001 AT THE AGE OF 94.

THE FIRST POST OFFICE WAS LOCATED IN THE "OLD STORE" AT THE LOWER END OF SMOKEY ROW. THE SECOND POST OFFICE WAS IN THE MATHIESON GENERAL STORE NEAR THE MEAT MARKET. THE FOURTH ONE WAS MOVED A COUPLE OF DOORS UP THE STREET FROM THE ONE PICTURED. FROM THERE, POST OFFICE NUMBER FIVE WAS LOCATED IN A BUILDING WITH THE BOWLING ALLEY, JAIL AND POLICE STATION.

NUMBER SIX WAS BUILT IN 1931 AND WAS USED UNTIL 1966. THIS BUILDING CURRENTLY HOUSES THE SALTVILLE LIBRARY.

IN 1966, THE PRESENT DAY POST OFFICE WAS OPENED FOR BUSINESS. Coirtesy of Don Smith dsmith1043@cmcast.net
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Dickinsonville - Historical Sign1004 viewsPhoto by Jeff Weaver, October 15, 2006.
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ashetwpmap.jpg1003 views
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909.jpg1003 viewsDaughter of Clayborn Monroe Weaver and Martha Litisha Phipps.
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HackHamm.jpg1003 viewsHarrison "Hack" Benjamin Hamm (1886-1961)
Son of Nelson and Easter Elizabeth Blevins Hamm. Courtesy of Mary Ann Talbott matalbott@seidata.com
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jhwphoto.jpg1002 views
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Allisonia - Allisonia Depot1000 viewsPhoto by Shawn Dunford, courtesy of David Arnold david.arnold@adelphia.net
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