Three Thriving Store At Cave Spring When Big Lick Had Only Two Small Shops-Evidences Remain
From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
Roanoke will have nothing on Cave Spring when folks get to reminiscing on the history of Roanoke County at the Centennial celebration, for there are those still living who remember a time when there were three thriving stores at Cave Spring and only two “small shops” at Big Lick.
John Eldridge Smith, advanced in years, perhaps, but still active in business as an employee of a whole-sale grocery house in Roanoke, is one of these. Talking with Mr. Smith the other day, he took evident pleasure in recalling his boyhood trips to Cave Spring with his grandfather, Isom Miles, at that time a well-known farmer on Bent Mountain. It was known as the “Dollar Farm” because they raised so many turkeys that were always heavy enough-big plump hefty gobblers-that brought a dollar each at the trading center, Cave Spring.
Attracted Attention
“The Cave” giving forth its cold, clear water, attracted folks then as now, and no doubt figured in the selection of that location as settlement and cross-roads point in the early history of the county. There was the Berry store right across road from the spring. Passing through the hands of various owners in 1911 it became the property of R. F. Wyatt who improved the residence portion of the building which had been added to the original log house. W. B. Rasnake now operates an up-to-date market and general store here.
There were also the Chapman and Sublett stores on the opposite side of the road. The settlement soon developed into an important trading center, with the village blacksmith shop, close by a grist and saw mill just a little way down the Creek. Joe Richardson, one of the older residents at “The Cave” still operates a mill at this old stand, thus providing the community with the good old-fashioned kind of slowly ground meal and prepared the crush corn and cob into a desirable old-fashioned feed.
Chestnuts Traded
One of Mr. Smith’s most vivid memories seemed to be for the hundreds of bushels of chestnuts that were always traded in at the stores at Cave Spring. Alas-the blight has destroyed these valuable nut trees.
The mud roads were narrow, rough and winding, but ox-carts made it safely from over Bent Mountain and coming in from Floyd and Franklin counties. At “The Cave,” wagoners stopped to rest teams and to refresh themselves, and to hear the news of neighboring settlements.
Dr. Joseph Addington Gale, father of Dr. S. S. Gale was the country doctor who served the entire section from “The Cave” up over Bent Mountain for half a century. For a number of years his office was in a one-room frame building at the crossroads of the old Floyd and Franklin turnpikes. The building is still standing on the Archie Greenwood place. Dr. Gale built the brick house which was the fine residence of the neighborhood, and in which his successor Dr. White lived. Mrs. White and Miss Mattie now occupy this old home well kept and still the most imposing residence at “The Cave.”
At that early time, when Roanoke City was not yet on the map, some of the family names so familiar here-abouts, descendants some of whom have helped to build greater Roanoke County and greater Roanoke City were-the Chapmans, the Greenwoods, the Subletts, the Hartmans, the Berrys, the Lemons, the Harrises, the Lavinders, the Van Staverns, the Turners, the Zirkles, the Sedans. These names carved on the tombstones in the several family burying grounds, still live in the hearts of a passing generation, as the pioneers that made possible the march of progress for Cave Spring District. The District by the way, got its name from this remarkable spring gushing forth from the recesses of the cave in the side of the hill.
-Prepared by Lisa King
