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WELCOME TO BLACKSTONE: FOUNDED CIRCA ????
January 8, 2004

by Billy Coleburn
Editor, Courier-Record
ŠCOURIER-RECORD 2004

Engraving for five new "Welcome to Blackstone" signs has been halted until local officials and historians can agree what year this Southside Virginia community was founded. Responding Monday morning to a general inquiry from the Courier-Record on planned wording for the signs, Town Manager Larry Palmore said the signs were to read, "Welcome to Blackstone, Settled Circa 1725." But some local Renaissance officials and members of Town Council say that year is news to them. They don't think it's accurate, and even if it is, they worry that there's no formal documentation to support it.

For many Blackstonians, 1888 is the magical year, because that's when this town--formerly known as the village of Blacks and Whites--was legally incorporated. And there is documentation to support that date. The year 1725 might not be accurate and inaccurate Town signs hurt the community's credibility, worry some officials. ("Blacks and Whites" got its name from two rival Tavern keepers. One of those Taverns--18th century Schwartz Tavern--still stands today).

The five signs--$4,000 each--are being funded as part of a state transportation grant. Palmore says they will be located at Town Limits entrances on Rt. 46, Church Street, North West Avenue, South Main Street, and North Main Street. Brick framing for the signs already is nearing completion. Town Council last Spring voted to change initial design of the signs. Instead of field stone for framing, they chose brick. And instead of the signs being maroon with white letters, they will be dark green with with gold letters to match decor of the present "Welcome To Blackstone" signs and Louis Spencer Epes Memorial Library sign.

The current "Welcome to Blackstone" signs will remain in their present locations but will become message boards to promote various community events throughout the year, such as Arts & Crafts, Fireworks For Freedom, and more. Council during its discussion in recent years never formally discussed--at least not at any great length--precise wording of the sign.

As best can be determined, local engineer Bob Devens came up with the verbiage, "Welcome To Blackstone, Settled Circa 1725." He was in the audience during a Renaissance Committee presentation to Council about five years ago, and 1725 was listed on one of his sketches. But Council at that time was more fixated on style and appearance, not precise wording. Reached at his South Main Street home Monday night, Devens defended his choice of 1725, which he said received backing from the Renaissance Committee at that time.

"The neat thing about 'circa' is that it gives you some poetic license. Remember, we're not saying 'Incorporated' or 'Established.'" Devens, a retired U. S. Army Major, said he has done considerable research and that there is ample evidence that there was activity here in the early 1700s. "When you go back and look at the old books and see when the first mills and commerce were set-up here, it goes back to the 1700s." Devens said he remembers seeing a date or references in the Old Homes and Families of Nottoway County, written by the late W. R. Turner. "I didn't just pick a date out of a hat. There were accounts of people traveling here and an earlier settlement. People traveled through here and stayed here as a stopping point."

Jimmy Johnson, who Chairs the Blackstone Renaissance Committee, says the 1725 date is new information to him. Johnson also said he'd like the signs to read, "Blackstone Welcomes You" instead of the standard "Welcome to Blackstone." He also said the signs should not mention Blackstone Town Limits, as had been proposed in recent years, "because the site on North West Avenue is several hundred yards from the actual town limits.

Blackstone Town Councilman Doug Coleburn this week said he believes all sign production should be halted until Council can formally choose the wording. "Once the signs are up, it's too late, and we might have a mess on our hands." Coleburn points out that the old Powell Hurt farm south of town on Highway 46 dates to 1740, but that was one of the first farms--if not the very first--in Nottoway County. "I've never heard of there being any considerable activity here, as early as 1725, before in my life." Coleburn said that if the Town is willing to push the historical envelope to boost tourism, "We might as well go way back and say 1607."

Mrs. Arline Harris, regarded by many local residents as among the most knowledgeable of local history, says the old Blacks and Whites post office wasn't established here until about 1829. "I don't think we should pick an exact year, it would be a shame to just pick a date out of the air." Mrs. Harris says that in 1725, Nottoway County hadn't even been formally established. "This area was still part of Amelia County (Nottoway was formed from Amelia in 1788), so unless someone has a very old map of Amelia showing Blacks and Whites, we should stay away from picking a year in the 1700s." Mrs. Harris also points out that John Schwartz didn't get a permit to operate a tavern here until about 10 years after the Revolutionary War, which would have been in the early 1790s. "There was no real settlement here, I don't think, until the time of John Schwartz." Mrs. Harris concludes, "I'd prefer that no date be used, but if we do decide to use one, I'd just say, 'Early 19th Century,' which is the early 1800s. That would be safe."

Bill Armbruster, who called his wife Betty Wright at deadline from the Pentagon, recalls discussion about the sign a few years ago. It is Mr. Armbruster's recollection that it was agreed that if any date were to be used on the new Town welcome signs, general reference would be made to the "late 18th Century" to be in keeping with the newly-reworded state historical marker outside the Blackstone Post Office.