Something big is brewing in Narrows. Vast, gigantic, behemoth…tremendous in size! I’m not at liberty to disclose all the details, but a few revelations can be made public.These should enable all interested parties to form their own opinions, and personally I think there can be little doubting great things are just over the horizon for this sleepy and slow-paced (for now at least) Southwest Virginia town.
This matter concerns the commercial property along route 460 within the corporate- limits of Narrows. If just a small percentage of what I’m hearing is true, then an economic boom the likes of which “ain’t never been seen” is in our immediate future.
About 3 months ago is when this talk first popped up, and to be perfectly honest, in the beginning I considered it just another avalanche of hearsay, speculation, and gossip from those persistent and ever-present rumor mills. Really!…folks should cease indulging in that unsavory practice.
Mostly this thing started as an anthill. But it quickly took on a “snowballing effect” and, before anyone realized it, a mountain had been created.
Carried out in whispered and hushed tones, a lid of secrecy rivaling the Manhattan Project of World War II was clamped down ; just a mere handful of people had pertinent knowledge about what might be happening in our midst.
This small cadre was “sworn to secrecy,” thus only 918 busybodies ( Narrows’ total population 1922 ) volunteered information to me what the cards held for Narrows. This was sensitive material, and I was reminded in no uncertain terms to keep my mouth shut, else the whole dad-gummed project could be blown right out the window. These are difficult and trying economic times, and if nearby communities should get wind of what’s taking place, most assuredly they would attempt to “horn in on the action.” Really, one could hardly blame them; in hard times all scruples and sense of fairplay should be forgotten and strewn to the four winds.
The scene surrounding two frame-houses over on route 460 seems to have been the catapult that started all the hubbub and speculation. Too, one businessman put out a sign with an arrow pointing to a piece of property that is currently the site of a booming flea-market. The sign simply states: “This Valuable Property For Sale.” Nonetheless it’s message greatly enhanced the magic aura of route 460 in North Narrows…helped immensely to keep tongues wagging.
In the initial stages of this scene a house-moving company stuck steel beams under the floor joists of the white frame house between Psathos Café and the Narrows Car Wash. They promptly towed it away to a locale 200 yards up the road.
Now friend, listen to what I have to say. I “ain’t got no whole lotta’ smarts.” But in certain situations one need not be a detective to sniff out whatever might be happenin.’ When a house is moved from a business district it can mean only one thing…a business firm is wanting to locate there!
Every major fast-food chain in the nation has been mentioned in connection with that plot of land where a house no longer stands it’s watchful vigil on route 460. McDonalds, Burger-King, Western Sizzlin’ Steak House, and even Bojangles are talked about as potential prospects in coming to Narz, and settling in to do business between Psathos Café and Narrows Car Wash.
As of this writing, however, Long John Silver is the name being mentioned most often, and seems to have an inside track at being awarded ownership of that land parcel. Those fish folks are my personal preference…hamburger joints are everywhere, a dime a dozen. I sincerely hope my fellow citizens will join the all-out push to entice the seafood people to come to our town.
Let’s move right along in this sneak preview of what might lie ahead for our neck-of-the-woods. An old Narrows landmark was recently razed over there on 460…they did a crowbar number on ‘er. I speak of the Hodge property, that yellow-shingled relic of the past which stood alongside New River Supply. That old house was built about 1885. And now she is no more!
It was a sad sight indeed to watch the antiquated edifice being ripped asunder. For 40 years when my taste-buds craved corn-on-the-cob the Hodge plantation was where you headed for. That rich river-bottom land brought “rosun’ ears” to their maturity 3 weeks before my crop produced the first pickin.’
But ours is an ever-changing world, and for the sake of a “relentless march forward in progress” time marches on . Our past is forever lost to history, and can never be again.
Allow me to tell you what’s now being said of the former Hodge property. And please!…I pray you won’t mention a word of the information you’re about to read. It’s highly confidential, and any “leaking” at this critical stage in negotiations could seriously jeopardize our chances of pulling off a gigantic economic coup.
I’m hearing from a highly reliable source that a group of New York financiers are bargaining for the parcel of land stretching from New River Supply Company all the way down to Johnny’s Tall Boy. When the final papers are drawn up and signed, so I’m told, construction will begin on a two-story “ten acres under roof” shopping mall. It’s being designed to have spouting water fountains with multi-colored lights playing on them… this shopping center will be the ultimate in pyrotechnics!
Quite naturally our modern facility will, when completed, feature several escalators. This has caused me to recently spend quite a few week-ends in Roanoke. A goodly number of hours were spent in those shopping malls down there, and I didn’t spend a dime. I was busy observing the techniques used by “city folks” in getting on and off escalators. It seems to be a relatively simple procedure and, following those strenuous practice sessions, I believe I can board one without tripping or falling.
One unfortunate incident did occur out at Tanglewood though. A merchant called the police…turned me in for loitering and reporte4d me as a “suspicious lookin’ character.” Took some doing to extract myself from that jam. Over at police headquarters it was hard to convince them I had merely been watchin’ and learnin’ how to get on and off an escalator. One of those smart-alecky officers muttered something about a “hayseed.” I haven’t learned yet if he was being complimentary, or if he’d spewed forth a derogatory statement. This is typical of the many reasons why I’ve never held “city slickers” in high regard.
But let’s move on. How about the tract of land where a flea-market is now the star attraction? Well now, just last week the news began circulating that Ramada Inn executives are, even now, in preliminary consultations with the present owner. Only they’re wanting to purchase the whole doggone works… from the Truck Stop down to Harris Produce!
Rumor has it the Ramada Inn crowd will construct a restaurant-motel complex at that location. Evidently they’re a far-sighted bunch and have a tremendous amount of faith in our area. I’ve heard from a reliable source this motel will spiral upward 10 floors and have 300 sleeping units. A ballroom is planned to accommodate 1,000 jiving souls.
It’s not inconceivable that 4 or 5 years down the road Narrows could find itself hosting both the Democratic and Republican National conventions. Hell man, let’s make the Tory and Whig parties welcome too!
Maybe the line should be drawn at inviting the Communist Party of the United States to meet in our Ramada Inn. A federal law needs passing that would force Gus Hall and his pals to hold their political conventions on one of those ice-floes floating around in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.
And finally, another Narrows businessman is having waste fill dirt dumped on the river bank just west of New River bridge. I have it from the highest authority that the very minute he builds up level with route 460, the Holiday Inn people are holding options and will gobble it up like a duck in pursuit of a June-bug.
In closing I would remind the reader of a scene I witnessed just this past week. And at least to this person, it provided concrete evidence that indeed something extraordinary is brewing. Mister!..this was the clincher!
I was driving on route 460 headed for Pearisburg where the railroad bridge crosses New River. Looking down into those fields a most unusual sight greeted my eyes.
At least 20 automobiles belonging to the railroad Co. were parked down there in a thriving growth of broomsage. A milling throng numbering perhaps 50 souls were tramping over a wide area.
Now it’s common knowledge that peons who labor for Norfolk-Southern wear red hats. Every last one of these people wore white hats. Top echelon executives!
Ladies and gentlemen, this stirring saga ends with a blockbuster tidbit. Norfolk- Southern Railway is moving it’s corporate headquarters to Narz!!…
