Work has begun!

This week has been an exciting flurry of activity as work has begun to restore the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge, which is presently housed at Northpoint Trading in Fieldale.

On day one of work, Hall's Mechanical of Fieldale used a crane to lift the 30,000 pounds of metal off of the flatbed trailer where they had been stored. Use of the trailer has been supplied thanks to a generous donation from Craddock Logging Supply & Repair of Ridgeway.

Rain delayed us for just a few days, then the action started happening. Workers from Dishman Environmental of Danville began removing lead paint from the stucture. They are using an eco-friendly process that produces no dust.

As sections of the metal were cleaned, Reliable Welding of Bassett moved in to cut and weld the structure in order to achieve the symetrical shape that is desired.

When one side of the truss is fully prepared, Hall's Mechanical will come back to flip the truss so that work may proceed on the other side. This process of cleaning and welding will be continued throughout the rest of the structure until the project is completed. If the weather cooperates, we estimate to complete this portion of the job in 15-20 days.

Meanwhile at the future home of the trail, plans have been made to develop Phase III of the Fieldale Trail which will connect South River Road to Fieldale Park. A path going around the ballfield will take walkers and cyclists through the Fieldale Iron Bridge. A building permit has been obtained thanks to assistance from Henry County, Boxley Materials, and Rayford Smith. Plans for landscaping are being made with assistance from Prillaman Landscape Dimensions of Ridgeway. Below is the before and proposed after shots of this area.

Before

Proposed After (Note: Bridge is not drawn to scale)

As of today we have raised 84% of funds needed to complete this project! To help support the project you can purchase a plaque in honor of or memory of a loved one. Coorporate sponsorships are also available. The deadline to purchase a plaque is November 30th. Contact 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org for more information.

MOUNTAIN & ROAD BIKE RIDE

When: Sunday, November 1, 2009

Where: "Dark Hollow" on Stonewall Jackson Road

Cost: Free

There will be a mountain and road bike ride this Sunday, November 1 at the head of " Dark Hollow" on Stonewall Jackson Road, Chatmoss.

Food and drinks will be provided by Scott O'Neil.

Everyone will meet at 2:00pm. For directions please contact Tommy Smith: (276) 618-0343 or Jim Frith: (276) 732-7241.

Contributed by: Tommy Smith

December First Saturday Outing

Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing, Saturday, December 5, a 5-mile walk on Fieldale Trail in Fieldale, VA.

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Fieldale Park, corner of Patrick Avenue and River Road(GPS coordinates: North 36.42, 076 West 56.021, 079).

Wear comfortable shoes or boots, dress in layers of synthetic fabric, and bring lunch and water.

Free and open to the public

Trip coordinator: Paula Wyatt, 276-647-3274 or pwyatt1@embarqmail.com.
More information: http://www.danriver.org/

Get a Sneak Peek of the Dick & Willie Passage- Coming Spring 2010!

Want to learn more about the Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail that will soon pass through Martinsville & Henry County? Come experience it for yourself! A free guided walk of the future Dick & Willie Passage will be held on Monday, October 26th at 5 p.m.

Meet at the Prilliman Chemical Company Parking Lot on Fisher Street (across from the Brookdale Street Dominos Pizza). The guided tour and bike ride will be three miles long. Shuttle vans will be provided at the El Parral parking lot to return walkers and cyclsists to their vehicles.

Event hosted by the County of Henry, Henry County Parks & Recreation and the Dan River Basin Association. For more information contact 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org.

Happy Trails Seniors Day Postponed until Spring

On behalf of the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, and the Friends of the Fieldale Trail Volunteer Team, I am sadly announcing that the 2009 Happy Trails To You Senior's event at the Fieldale Trail has been canceled due to weather. There is a 90% chance of rain this weekend and temperatures are excepted to drop again.

Since cold and flu season is upon us we do not want to encourage our seniors to come out in the cold/damp air out of concern for their health. The event will be rescheduled for next spring. Thank you for understanding. Thank you also to everyone who has agreed to participate in this event. The new date will be announced soon.

Small Changes Make a Difference

Martinsville & Henry County Virginia is fortunate to have plenty of natural beauty in the form of our rivers, lakes, and mountains. As beautiful and well kept as our community is, we are like most communities across America in the fact that we have litter. I am often saddended when I see plastic shopping bags stuck in trees and flapping in the breeze. To do my part I have adpoted the practice of using reusable shopping bags when I go to the store for groceries and other items.

Kroger was the first store in our area to begin offering bags, followed by Wal-Mart, CVS and a number of other stores. The other day I noticed that even the JC Penney Outlet has begun offering reusable bags and you can get a discount on certain days of the week just for using them.

The first thing that I noticed when using these sturdy bags several years ago was the sheer amount that they could hold. One bag from Kroger will hold the contents of 3 to 4 plastic bags. In addition to freeing up your hands, this takes up less room in the trunk of your car and doesn't slide around spilling food everywhere like plastic bags do.

Occasionally I still encounter a cashier that looks at me like I have two heads when I hand him or her a canvas bag to fill, but by the time this person has finished bagging they have a look of shock after seeing that ALL the items did in fact fit in the bag like I said they would!

I was very pleased to read in the Martinsville Bulletin today that Target "will announce Monday plans to give customers a 5-cent discount for every reusable bag they use to pack their purchases". This also affects us locally as CVS is participating in a similar iniative. CVS "plan[s] to give participating CVS customers $1 cash bonuses on their CVS cards every four times they buy something but don't request plastic bags".

According to the Bulletin article, local CVS stores are participating.

Choosing to carry resusable bags is a small change that can make a huge difference. I am happy knowing that I am not contributing waste to the landfill and that my bag isn't going to end up swinging from a tree branch over the scenic Smith River. Make a difference in your community by opting to use a reusable bag rather than paper/plastic on your next shopping trip.

Plan Your Adventure Today

Even if you have lived in Henry County or Southern Virginia your entire life, we bet you will find something new about the Smith River Valley in the recently published “Insiders Guide to the Smith River.” Filled with maps and information, this full color, water-proof guide showcases Martinsville and Henry County as a true    

 recreation destination.

 

The new guide highlights the Smith River and Henry County with information and photos from local paddlers, fisherman, hikers, and historians. For more than 80 miles, the Smith winds through four rural counties in two states, creating Philpott Reservoir and bisecting Henry County before reaching the confluence with the Dan River in North Carolina. Travel along with the author from the Blue Ridge to the piedmont and learn history, river tips and recreational opportunities in the Smith River Valley. Made possible with funding from the Harvest Foundation and published by the Dan River Basin Association, the “Insider’s Guide to the Smith River” will help visitors and locals experience the timeless beauty of the river from wildflowers to wildlife or be transported to century-old mill towns, railroads, prehistoric stone fish weirs and historic river navigation structures.

Focusing on the 45-mile section from Philpott Dam to the confluence with the Dan River in North Carolina, the 18 maps detail river features and key points through photos, symbols and text.  The upper Smith River, above Philpott Dam, is represented for 30 miles by an additional map. But this comprehensive guide isn’t just maps. Narrative pages contain a wealth of information about Martinsville, Henry County, fishing, trails, parks, camping, wildlife, and links to additional information about the Smith River Valley and the piedmont region of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Are you a history buff? Then the Guide is for you too. Did you know the Smith River was originally named the “Irvine River” by William Byrd II in honor of Alexander Irvine, one of the surveyors of the Virginia-North Carolina dividing line in 1728.  Did you know that Philpott Dam was originally built for flood control and the resulting “tail-race” river provided the incredible trout fishery and paddling opportunities that can be enjoyed on the river today?  Evidence of Native Americans river use can even be observed in the fish weirs like the Martinsville Fish Dam, one of the oldest man-made structures in Henry County.

Whether you are interested in the best places to paddle, exciting fishing, historical and cultural sites—or  just plain relaxing in a beautiful place, the “Insider’s Guide to the Smith River” is for you. 

So grab a guide and plan your Adventure in the Smith River Valley today. Just go to http://www.danriver.org/ and click on the link to order your copy and begin your adventure.  River guides are $25.00 for online sales, or you can save on shipping and handling and visit a local outfitter or the Dan River Basin Association offices in Virginia and North Carolina to purchase a copy.  Proceeds from the sale of river guides support work to preserve and promote the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River basin.



The "Insider’s Guide to the Dan River in North Carolina and Virginia" is now available as follows the Dan for 125 miles from Southern Virginia though north central North Carolina, ending in Caswell County, NC.