Take the Fork
Yogi Berra once commented, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” And I did.
April 24, 2020 and at the end of a journey in Sussex County, it was looking like rain, and I was ready to head home when I came to a fork in the road. To the left it said "Road Ends 1.4 Miles." So I figured a short trip down a dead end country road wouldn't hurt. And I came across what I later learned was once a train depot. What treasures I found!
As so often happens a car drove by, and two women stopped and asked if I was lost. "Yes, I am! Wonderfully so!" They directed me to the end of the road where a farmer named Jethro was cutting his grass. He gave me the brief history of where I was and what I was seeing. He told me, “That a group of farmers were complaining that they had to cart goods - peanuts, cotton, corn - to a rail depot like Disputanta, Waverly, Ivor...and the rail line that runs from Suffolk to Petersburg wouldn't build a spur line; so some enterprising guy started a consortium of investors, and they built their own spur. But like so many of these little depots, that became unnecessary as roads like RT 460 were built and so they faded into memories.”
A Cindi Hayes Dickerson wrote me, “Mr. Wade we are delighted that you found this piece of heaven. This farm is and has been owned by the Dickerson family for over 100 years and has indeed been certified as a Century Farm. The same family has farmed and lived on this land for over 100 years. My Husband, Don Dickerson, and I live on one side of the farm and he is still farming, my Sister-in-law and Brother in law, Donna Dean, and Kenny Dean, live beside the Store in the brick home. Their Grandfather C.A. Dickerson was the owner and proprietor of both the store and train depot. He was also the post master (the post office was in the store) for Lumberton, VA. Our families hosted a tractor parade on the road for several years and the community gathered at that very site to enjoy fellowship. There is a great deal of history here. Thank you for your post!”
Chuck Gayle wrote, “…the structure in your first photo is the Lumberton Depot, a stop on the narrow gauge Claremont Branch of the Atlantic & Danville. It extended from Emporia to Claremont Wharf, on the James River. It was constructed in 1883-84 to haul timber from Surry County to the wharf. Stations were located at Grizzard, Masons, Hilda, Yale, Lumberton, Homeville, Waverly, Savedge, Spring Grove and Claremont. Rail traffic included both freight and passenger service. It ceased operations in 1932. A portion of the line south of Waverly continued to be operated by the Gray Lumber Company to haul logs to the sawmill at Waverly until 1938. The trackage on the Claremont Branch is long gone, as are most of the small hamlets along the route. Only a few depots remain, used as farm buildings today.”
When you come to a fork - take it. The dead end road might be the best road you'll travel.
