Martinsville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Changing Landscapes

The Dick & Willie Passage

— Smith River Trail System —

Changing Landscapes Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 8, 2022

1. Changing Landscapes Marker

Inscription. As with other rail lines, the Dick & Willie made posssible for subsistence farmers in Appalachia to earn much-needed cash selling chestnuts to buyers in cities throughout the east. Early 20th century newspapers often showed train cars, overflowing with chestnuts, rolling into major cities. These were sold fresh or roasted for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Unfortunately by 1950, the mighty American Chestnut forests of the Appalachian highlands had succumbed to an Asian fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. This "chestnut blight" killed more than three billion American Chestnut trees and serves as a reminder that stopping invasive species is vital to native landscapes.

(captions)
Gathering Chestnuts by J.W. Lauderbach Photo courtesy of The Americamn Chestnut Foundation
American Chestnut Photo courtesy of The Americamn Chestnut Foundation

Erected by City of Martinsville Department of Parks & Recreation, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Dan River Basin Association, the harvest foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry •

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Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.

Location. 36° 42.092′ N, 79° 52.978′ W. Marker is unreadable. Marker is in Martinsville, Virginia. It can be reached from the intersection of Virginia Avenue (Business U.S. 220) and Commonwealth Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Access the trailhead from the west end of the shopping center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1094 Virginia Ave, Martinsville VA 24112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 location: The Dick & Willie Passage (approx. 0.4 miles

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 8, 2022

2. Changing Landscapes Marker

away); Fayette Street (approx. 0.7 miles away); Martinsville's Early Textile Mills (approx. 0.8 miles away); Near War's End (approx. 0.9 miles away); Brigadier General Joseph Martin (approx. 0.9 miles away); Henry County War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Martinsville (approx. 0.9 miles away); Henry County U.D.C. Monument (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Martinsville.

Also see . . .
1. Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail. Official Tourism Site for Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia (Submitted on September 9, 2022.)

2. Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail. TrailLink by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (Submitted on September 9, 2022.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.