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

Traditions to Celebrate

The Dick & Willie Passage

— Smith River Trail System —

Traditions to Celebrate Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, September 8, 2022

1. Traditions to Celebrate Marker

Inscription. Southerners share a love of celebrations, particulary at the end of harvest time. During the fall the Dick & Willie ran special trains that transported local residents to the fairs held in Danville, Leaksville (now part of Eden, N.C.), Martinsville and Stuart. These celebrations connected people of the region to each other and reinforced pride in locally produced products and domestic animals.

The midway, with an array of rides, games and "human marvels," was an exciting and welcome break from day to day labor. The train also transported people to and from church gatherings, family reunion and baseball games.

(captions)
Leaksville (Eden) Woolen Mill employees circa 1908 Photo courtesy Michele Lee Grant<
Montie Malatin, a minor league baseball player from Henry County, circa 1935 Photo courtesy of MyHenryCounty.com

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: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 36° 41.73′ N, 79° 52.133′

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W. Marker is in Martinsville, Virginia. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Stultz Road and Liberty Street (Virginia Route 174), on the left when traveling west. Access the trail from the Stutz Rd parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 699 Liberty St, Martinsville VA 24112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Martinsville's Early Textile Mills (approx. 0.2 miles away); DeShazo's "Silo" (approx. ¼ mile away); Henry County U.D.C. Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Brigadier General Joseph Martin (approx. 0.3 miles away); Henry County War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Martinsville (approx. 0.3 miles away); Near War's End (approx. 0.3 miles away); Changing With Industry (approx. 0.4 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.)

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, September 8, 2022

2. Traditions to Celebrate Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 56 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.