Isle of Wight County Museum Smithfield, Virginia USA
Smithfield, Virginia USA
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Cadet Tragedy

4/30/2014

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The Richmond Daily Dispatch, April 25, 1857
Walter Shivers, 17, a cadet at the Chuckatuck Military Institute, was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol in his overcoat pocket at the residence of H.S. Tynes Esq. in Chuckatuck. The boy’s father sent a buggy for the young man and his sister to return home to Isle of Wight County. Walter threw his coat over his arm to climb into the buggy. As he did so, the pocket struck the banister of a stairway and exploded the pistol. The ball entered the left side just above the hip and passed through his body. He lived another 12 hours in excruciating pain.

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Blazing Away

4/23/2014

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The Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 16 & 23, 1912
A fire in downtown Smithfield originated in a men’s furnishing store and burned a block in each direction. The fire destroyed several businesses including the telephone central offices thereby cutting the town off from all communication. The blaze caused $30,000 worth of damage.
Several nights later, prominent business man George Rouse was seen crawling underneath a house with a can of gasoline. Just as he was about to light the fuse, he was apprehended by watchful authorities. Once taken into custody, Rouse confessed that he started the earlier fire.  When asked about his motive, he said that he was compelled by an unknown power that he could not resist. It is believed that Rouse was responsible for many more fires in the area.


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Drowned While Bathing

4/16/2014

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The Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 18, 1903
While bathing near Carrollton, Eliza Blackwell, 16, and her brother Robert swam beyond a safe depth and drowned. There were several others in the bathing party whose lives were nearly forfeited.


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A Plucky Couple

4/9/2014

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The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jan. 17, 1908
In order to outwit the girl’s father who bitterly opposed the match, Mr. Willie Reid and his beloved Miss Lillian Everett of Isle of Wight County undertook a 95-mile drive to marry. The met in Chuckatuck, traveled to Suffolk and then to Gatesville, N.C., for their nuptials.

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Death by Hoe

4/2/2014

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The Daily Phoenix, Columbia, S.C., May 28, 1869
William Edwards, a Welshman, was attacked by a field-hand in Isle of Wight County, Va., and killed by the blow of a hoe. The murderer escaped.



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    Bits from Our Files

    Posted here are interesting stories and bits from our files too numerous for display!

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