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(Continued from page 1.)infancy, proved a serious loss. No improvements were made from 1861to 1865j It is no use mentioning thecondition of the people at the close of the war, for the tale has often been told. Very little was done in the way of improvements until the years 1876-7-8, during which time a line of railroad from Asheville, N. C., to Spartanburg, S. C., was located and being built through the western part oftho county, caused our people to take on new life and the result was the location of several little towns in the county on this line of railroad. Try-on, five and one half miles west of Columbus, a thriving little town occupied by as many good citizens as any town of its size in this paid, of the state. Saluda, another town o«i the line of; railroad, ten miles southwest of Columbus, is noted for itsgood citizens, good schools, and is apleasant summer resort.Five miles northeast of Columbusis Mill Springs, beautiful for situationlocated at the base of the great WhiteOak mountain, and noted for its having been the place where the first two sessions of the county court were heldand for ts being the supply town of the county, situated as it is in almostthe very center of the county and being surrounded by a splendid farmingcountry. • •Columbus, the county seat, is one of the most desirable locations for atown in Western North Carolina, andhad it not been for the late war would now, no doubt, have been a city of several thousand people. The townwas in a prosperou s condition from1855 up to 1861, when all things seemed to stop, property depreciatedin value and the town was soon in a dilapidated condition and remained so until the year 1891, at which time Mr.F. M. Steams, of Cleveland, Ohio, visited our village while on a trip thru the South, who saw at a glance our peculiar natural advantages over many other places and began at once to purchase property and make substantial improvements. Purchasingone whole square in the center of the town he erected thereon a two-story’ school building, putting in patent seats and desks and employing a teacher of culture and ability; findinghis work appreciated and an increasing interest in the school, he erected another handsome building for akindergarten and public library- Forthis part of his philanthropic work he engaged the services of a teacher of rare ability, opening the sfchool doorsto all who would come, free of charge.By this generous act on the part of a stranger our people were encouraged, and with his continued interest the town is taking on new life andimprovements are being made on every hand. The name of F. M. Steamshas become a household word and is synonomous with progress and im-improvement. Through this good work the town and county has greatly improved in wealth and good citizenship.The taxable property of the countyfor 1876 was $520,000, and for 1895 it was $1,500,000. It will be seen by the above statement that the valuation of the taxable property has morethan doubled since the year 1876 and most of this increase has been withinthe last five years, with brilliant prospects for the future.
Newspaper Details
Tryon Polk County News and Tryon Bee
Tryon, North Carolina, US
Fri, May 30, 1919
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Frances B.
FL, USA 24 Dec 2020
Other Publications Near Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon Polk County News and Tryon Bee
Tryon Polk County News
