As of March 16, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Steps: 1,849,611
Miles: 780.64
In 1840, Michael Turbeville bought 125 acres of land one mile north of the present Town limits in Diles Bay and built a home on this property. Sometime between 1870 and 1875, William J. Turbeville, son of Michael, purchased approximately 200 acres from John McFaddin and built the first house in what is now the Town of Turbeville. His brother, Clem, likewise bought land and built next to William.
Since their land was substantially covered with large pine trees, the brothers built a turpentine still which they ran for about 20 years. They also built a large store where they carried on an extensive mercantile business for even longer time. During those years the community was known as "Puddin' Swamp".
After the pine trees were completely "bled" and the turpentine business was no longer profitable, the brothers put in a saw mill to cut timber, mostly for local consumption because of the increase in building in the area. During this time the D.W. Alderman and Sons Company of Alcolu built a railroad through the area and began buying much of the timber. In addition to the freight cars on this line, passenger service was also added to this line.
The railroad station, with an express office and a barber shop in the back, was located at Coles Crossroads or commonly known as Seloc (Seloc is the name Coles spelt backwards). Coles Crossroads was named for the Cole families on whose land the station was built which was one mile east of the beginning point of Turbeville.
On August 14, 1914, the Town was chartered and the first Town Council was formed with Dr. C. E. Gamble serving as Intendant and Wardens were W. J. Turbeville, J. F. Turbeville, Alonza Smith, and H. S. Green. The Town clerk and Treasurer was W. H. Smith. Four days later the council held it's first meeting, at which time David M. Turbeville, Notary Public, swore in the newly elected officers.
With the exception of the Depression years, Turbeville has thrived in spite of two fires, on in 1938 and another in 1970. Today Turbeville's population has increased to 720 people with 321 housing units.
How many of the residents have the last name of Turbeville or Smith? ...and are they cousins?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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2 comments:
If there are as many of them there as there are Ronquilles in LaFitte, La...then they may be closer than cousins (lemme introduce my sistercousinniece, Aunt Mabel...) ;)
:)
I am my own Grandpa...
By Dwight B. Latham and Moe Jaffe
Many many years ago when I was twenty three,
I got married to a widow who was pretty as could be.
This widow had a grown-up daughter
Who had hair of red.
My father fell in love with her,
And soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law
And changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother,
For she was my father's wife.
To complicate the matters worse,
Although it brought me joy,
I soon became the father
Of a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became
A brother-in-law to dad.
And so became my uncle,
Though it made me very sad.
For if he was my uncle,
Then that also made him brother
To the widow's grown-up daughter
Who, of course, was my step-mother.
Father's wife then had a son,
Who kept them on the run.
And he became my grandson,
For he was my daughter's son.
My wife is now my mother's mother
And it makes me blue.
Because, although she is my wife,
She's my grandmother, too.
If my wife is my grandmother,
Then I am her grandchild.
And every time I think of it,
It simply drives me wild.
For now I have become
The strangest case you ever saw.
As the husband of my grandmother,
I am my own grandpa!
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