Which Blacksburg? Re: A Telegraph Story for Abe

[NW Mailing List]

Buce!

I'm venturing out on a shaky limb, but here goes. . .

The article suggests the lovebirds were in regular contact, so maybe on 
the same route? And they "talked" when business was slack, suggesting 
significant traffic? There were at least five routes out of Danville. 
The busiest was likely the former (barely) Richmond and Danville main line?

How many locales in Virginia of any size were called "Blacksburg"? Even 
if that number had been pared down by 1897, it only has to be a 
telegraph office on a route out of Danville.

I just heard a faint cracking sound. . .

So happens, there IS a Blacksburg on the old R&D main. The article was 
published in the /Ledger/, but the byline is NY. Between the two, what 
if the inaccuracy you refer to is simply the state where Blacksburg is 
located?



In South Carolina?

That limb just broke off. . . .

VTRTA forever.

Grant Carpenter

On 4/24/2025 5:07 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> Found this in the Virginia Chronicle (the Library of Virginia online 
> newspaper archive) while search for stories about the Va. Anthracite 
> Coal & Railway Co. and its line to Blacksburg.
>
> Perhaps a little sleuthing will turn up some actual details about 
> these two lovebirds since the story is a little inaccurate. There was 
> no quiet railroad station in Blacksburg in 1897. Also, how did they 
> make a connection between "Blacksburg" and Danville?
>
> Bruce in Blacksburg
>
> -------------------
> [Norfolk] Public Ledger, Volume 54, Number 74, 30 April 1903, pg. 3
>
> WANT TO MARRY OVER THE WIRE.
> Couple Who Made Love by Telegraph Wish Minister to Marry Them Same Way.
>
> New York, April 29.—Joseph J. Mondeau, a telegraph operator of 
> Plainfield, N. J., is disappointed that he cannot find a preacher who 
> understands telegraphy. He fears that a romance, which so far has been 
> conducted by wire, must reach its climax in a commonplace marriage. 
> But he will be wedded May 6th. whether he finds a telegraphic minister 
> or not.
>
> Miss Cenah J. Barton, of Gloversville, N. Y., is the happy young lady. 
> She presidded [sic] over a telegraph key in the quiet railroad station 
> at Blacksburg, Va., six years ago, and at that time Mondeau held a 
> similar position at Danville,Va. To while away the time when business 
> was slack Miss Barton and Mondeau talked with each other over the 
> wire. They introduced themselves to each other by wire and made love 
> by wire.
>
> He was transferred to Plainfield and she to Gloversville. Still the 
> courtship continued. The proposal was made and accepted by telegraph 
> and the date for the wedding arranged. Invitations have been sent by 
> telegraph, instead of by the usual engraved card, and now the demand 
> is for a minister who can perform a marriage ceremony by telegraph.
>
>
>
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