Smithfield in Isle of Wight County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Smokehouse
19th Century
Pigs arrived in Virginia with the first English colonists and thrived in the warm, humid climate. Traditionally, the English used salt to preserve their pork, but the resulting meat was no match for the hot summers in Virginia. The colonists observed the Virginia Indians smoking game in their longhouses and subsequently combined both methods — salt and smoke — to create the forerunner of the country ham that we know today.
Cured pork has been exported from this area since the 17th century, and many farmers raised hogs for market.
The smokehouse was an important building on the farm. It not only preserved meat, but it was also the storage location. Smokehouses like this were locked; the farm's owner had the key. This smokehouse held upward of 200 hams.
Erected by Smithfield Parks & Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 36° 58.718′ N, 76° 37.436′ W. Marker is in Smithfield, Virginia, in Isle of Wight County.
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Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Kitchen and Laundry (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Windsor Castle Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Farm Manager's Office (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph W. Luter, III (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named
Other markers no longer nearby. Smithfield (was approx. Ό mile away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Battle of Smithfield (was approx. Ό mile away but has been confirmed missing).
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 7, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
