Growing Turnips along the N&W

[NW Mailing List]

As we all face new challenges with the current world situation, in the
spirit of the day we wanted to share with everyone the following drawing
which one of our volunteers recently uncovered at the NWHS Archives.

https://www.nwhs.org/mailinglist/2020/20200401.HS-AF4120.jpg

While at first glance it appears to be a fairly routine drawing showing a
plot of land to be leased by the railway, a closer examination of this
drawing dated April 1, 1905 reveals that the curiously named lessor
intended to farm turnips in the center of the wye at Walton.

Of course this drawing raises more questions than it answers.  Were the
turnips for local consumption, or were they shipped out on the N&W to
faraway and exotic locations like Washington DC, New York City or Milnes,
VA?  Or were they further processed at the mill across the tracks shown on
the drawing, perhaps into the key ingredient necessary for making turnip
pancakes, a little-known local delicacy?

It also shows the location of an early signal tower located on the outside
of the wye, not the later location of BH tower on the inside of the wye.
For the full \NWHS Archives database entry, see
https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=196022

Happy first day of April,
The NWHS Archives Team.
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