Hide Article Text (OCR)
By F. W. MORTON lonwealth’s Attorney for PulaskiA farm, a railroad, and a wa-ter-tank were the progenitors of PulaskLPractically all of the land occupied by the older portion of the town beonged to Robert Martin, the elder* and after him to his son* Robert D. Martin, and the latteris children.Other portions of the present area of the town, to the north, east* and south of the old portion, were derived from the Wat-Isons and Pierces, who, in 1844, ^^cquired a large acreage on Thom Branch and Peak Creek from David Cloyd. The latter’s ancestors were among the earliest proprietors of lands in this section of Virginia.At the time of the beginning of our story, there was nothing here but the old Robert Martin home-rstead and a tenant house or two. This old Martin house was of log construction and was situated at a point on what is now Fifth street, north. The son, Robert D. Martin, when he married, built a frame house over on what is now Valley street. After the deathof his father, he moved this frame house over and joined it on to the old log house. There were other improvements made to the property. It was afterwards occupied‘by a son, Terry Martin. Then it was acquired by J. E* Moore, who built a handsome residence there, which was subsequently purchased and occupied as a home by Oscar Laughon. He sold it to H. B. Crockett, who enlarged'find improved the proper-}m « f i « if 1 A WV Iother drm in a railroad accident. He told the writer that years ago he had killed deer coming to to the creek to drink only a shortdistance from this tank.lt;The first real estate deal of any importance here was the purchase by L. S. Calfee, on August 1, 1873, of a considerable parcel of land from Robert Martin and his son, Robert D. Martin. This parceb was located on the east side of Valley street and the south side of what is now Commerce street, and was eapable of division into quite a number oflots.On one of these lots L. S. Calfee built a % house which he used for a residence and in which he' also had a general store. This was the first store here. Later this house was the residence of Thomas Jones. It afterwards became the Swansea Hotel; then the residence of the late W. C. Sea-gle; and then again a boarding house.On land acquired from Robert D.\JHartin, May 1, 1880, L. S. Calfee erected the first handsome brick residence, here—the property now owned and occupied by Mrs, Nancy Allisonr Father of Pulaski L. SI Calfee is entitled to be called the “Father of Pulaski,” and up to the time of his death he was actively interested in everything tliat concerned the growth and well-being of the town. He married Ella, the daugh-4ter of Robert D. Martin, who was g!Veh~ by her father ‘some 90• %
Newspaper Details
Pulaski Southwest Times
Pulaski, Virginia, US
Sun, Feb 27, 1966
Page 53
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
USA 18 Mar 2023
Other Publications Near Pulaski, Virginia
The Pulaski News
Pulaski Times Journal
Pulaski News Review
Pulaski Staunton News Leader
Pulaski Southwest Times
