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Staccato Steps of Lee's Army. Strains of Dance Bands Echo Through Amelia Springs

J<> S \LLY RY.VX Tin music of the wind playing through a grove of trees is the only s and now at Amelia Sulphur Springs, where bands once played f i ballroom dances and where the s accato steps of Lee's army were hea d 92 years ago. Bu kling. erected in a quad rangle. have fallen toll to the years and entrepreneurs who let the build in >s be stripped for their bricks and other materials. Today, only one out...mg stands in midst the grove, and it is but a shell of its past. The brick w’alls aii th re. and so are a porch and mini of the fi: eplaces Em you can stand in the half-basement in what v as once tin bar. with a sign "no credit extended." and look up through what used to be a grand ballroom to another floor Once Popular Resort

There are nti-es in the ground v. N"r s mo of the cottages once s'oed. the last remains of a 40-by loo foot d’riing hall and the chim in y ol th.f old office building, but it takes an active imagination to people the place again as it must have li en when Amelia Springs was a popular summer resort. No one seems to know the origin '■f Amelia Sulphur Springs. The property was deeded to Francis: Willson by Thomas F. Willson, who died in 1841 at the age of 66. Fran ct Willson is said to have built the Springs on the 685-acre tract. W R. Turner, who wrote an article on the Springs, notes that some of the frame building were probably al ready standing when Willson took possession. Brick buildings, and possibly some additional cottages;

were erected during his ownership. When Frank Willson died, the property passed on to Thomas Clairborne Willson, in 1843. It was under bis direction that Amelia Sul phur Springs teached the height of its popularity as a fashionable re sort . in 1848. Thomas C Willson adver li'-t'd: Will be opened 1st July for visitors and can accomm date 75 or too persons. Terms Board:Single meal, 5ti cents: $1.25 day: St; per week: $20 per month. Children and servants half price. Horses 50 cents per day." In the ante bellum days, "practi cally everyone of consequence went to the Springs during the summer! months, and to Amelia Springs re paired many people of wealth and | 1 ;.h standing, for its fine sulphur I water, something unusual in this! section of the state, was unexcelled in its curative powers and was j known by this time far and wide." j Turner reports. "Its cuisine was also excellent.! and the amusements and entertain-! mi nts offered could not be sur passed." A daily stage met guests arriv ing by train at Jetersville, three j miles away. There were horseback i riding, a race track, a monthly muster day. large tournaments and a rather gruesome sounding sport

A CHIMNEY marks the last remains of an Amelia Sulphur Springs building. Valentine Southall. Amelia Commonwealth attor ney and historian, believes was once an office bhilding. Nearby on the hill stood the dining hall.

THE OXEY BEILD1NG left standing at Ame ia Sulphur Springs, once a popular reso~t. i, th windowless hull. The basement bar is at the low r left. I pstairs, there were baiir.Him . r.oa f , scene of gala tournament dances.

S'! RIPPED TO THE RAFTERS, the inside of the building . iii. tiiis. i Replaces stand at each end of the building on each i the ' is. in between are only rafters, and in the one-time !•;; .ement bar pillars.

known as ''riding for the goose" Goose Hung From Limb A large goose, with a well-greased head, was hung from a limb. Each contestant then rode at full speed toward the goose, with the winner the one who succeeded in pulling off the goose's head. During the ''tournament days" Tom Booker, known as Marse Tom. and h:s banjo, and Dr. Junious Seay, and his violin, helped the Miller boys make music for balls. M's. A B. Near \yrote years ago that she had an invitat'on that was sent to her mother, then Rebecca Booker Seay, in 1865 to a tourna ment and ball at Amelia Springs. Harvey Wiley crowned the tourna ment queen. At one time Sheriff John Harkins lived at the Springs, where he was noted for the large, sweet water melons he raised. In the Tall, fox hunts were the ttrng. Willson's Presbyterian brethren were incensed at his worldly busi ness. and the minister asked him to withdraw his membership from the church. Willson did, and his

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family became ardently Episcopal ian. Apoplexy Attack Ends Era It was then end of an era when Willson died in 1860. Willson and a Negro were pumping the water out of the spring when it mingled -nth Flat Creek when an apoplexy at tack caused him to fall into the creek He either drowned or lied of a stroke before the Negro c mid reach him. After his death, the now 1H20 acre property was sold to S. S. Cot trell for $40.IX)0—Confederate mo .1 v. later worth about 40 cents in 862 It remained in the Cottrell family until it was sold to the Chesapeake Corporaion, which now owns it It was inevitable that An elia Springs should play a part in the history of the War Between the States It was directly in the path of the retreating a n d pursuing ; armies.

The skirmish beween the soldiers of Lee and Sheridan took place near the Spring?. Sabots, shells, “min ive" balls and an officer’s sword have been found there. The sword was found where Captain Ruther ford, who had been married the evening before in Petersburg, fell. Mrs. Longs!reet. the wire of Gen eral Lonpstreet. and their daughter were staying at Cool Shade. S R. Godsey's home, at the time of the •skirmish. She had just returned from visit ng her father up North, b'inging with her a brace of silver plated revolvers hidden in a big wax doll that the little girl carried. General and Mrs Picket!. General and Mrs. Bradley T. Johnson and General Johnston were but a few of the noted guests who stayed at the Springs. An even better known guest was Gen. Robert E. Lee. who spent

April 5. 1865 there oa his way to Appomattox. ice Left at Daylight On . April i), Mai. Gen. A A Humphreys wrote that "Mr. Cottrell, at Amelia Sulphur Springs says Gen Lee left this place about day light th’s morning, that about an hour before we began firing on tin enemy her. an office” of the C >n federate Army told Cottrell that 'liey would b< v\ t ■ !: . passing and that another column was moving on the Paineville road. He thinks that there is considerable of their foice in rear of the column I have broken into." The Sp ings however, survived, and were operating as a resort as late , as 1877. Even current-day Ameliar,s can remrm!dancing the-c. but these days are cone now unless you're nfmble-footed enough ■ •

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.Memorial Planrod I’, i- Dean I .t ’ f:t. i : M ii and offir -rs <■! !V H mono Nuv.il J? - . 1; to raise a fund for a nr-munid r: 1 on or of t h e Dean Jf R f’ ! t h ! ; . ; til,. Unn Richmond, w: ■ : e Jr. v "'as i member of the n. ■

V k wiii a native of Amelia. H s'Tvifits ’tope to raiv >. : man y to contribute a li nt fund in Dean Plr.ehbcck's ;..unv t> f . university. A mini mim of $500 w 11 be needed to es bihiiah Mien a fund. M a i eod foim r member-: ! 1 el ,m >!■ i Naval R..-m rve unila .‘ ■a nba r- who knot and ad . warn, —ma u>n

mired Dean Pinchbeck are invit ed to contribute. Contributions may be mailed to D< an Pinchbeck Fund. U. S Naval R serve Training Center. East End of Fourth St.. Richmond. Dean Pinchbeck, widely-known as a college administrator, an ex p-n on governmental affairs and a radio commentator, died of a heart attack February 4.

Tji;GT< R>" I i 11 v J t j i l j 1 i \\,f\ pu-* - - ix l s ■ i „ - i 11/ m_ -OTHER taxf.s_ F i-s^nal f -p . ty, Ca u • , To': Vox and Other Taxes MUST BE FILED WITH THE C »vr . S. . V Of THE REVENUE OF YOUR COUNTY BY MAY T, 1 'Vi7 fciU ; c eVino wiil be December 5. 1957, os it hos beer, in t'-e past.

Under the now Vi ns . o Low, \ sir St .to Income Tax on income received during ’ :'1V tin i; ir r .um between January 1, 1957 and Moy 1, 1957, or c - . * -.c . . ; ; . ,J 1 b\ Ic . • : ! c on;; . ,( r T the Revenue of the county in which v'11 !l'; : " f ■ !! !•< t. . -.L,r c o; tv In surer. If you mail your return, at t'"’c S 'Cck cr 's r _ i. , iy< do to your c runty treasurer. (Do Not Send Currency ) I

F. 'ry individual, married or single, adult or minor,'who had a gross income of $1,000 or ‘Pie far 1956 must file a Virginia Income Return. . .' i the office of tic Commissioner of the Rev m. f r the county or city where you were living on January 1, 1957. ■ 1 as practical, forms have been mailed to those taxpayers who filed returns for the ' i . . year However, your failure to re not relieve you ■ ur obligation to file vour return before ttie deadline, MAY 1, 1957,

Sdirr hr;p ; J fry failure la file returns ONLY J2 r.A' > M N FOR HUNG FILE MOW AND AVOID FENALTY Buckingham County Ve A, We cl ( o.Tii'ir.fSioner <:! the Revenue COURTHOUSE BUILDING BUCKINGHAM, VA. Powhatan County C. Mason Far”- , (^naai^Aener ef fhe Revenue COUSTHQUSL FUll.DING POWHATAN, VA. Prince Edward County i. F. Womaek, Cmmmssioner of the Revenue ROOM 22, COURTHOUSE, BLDG. FARMVILLE VA