Belle Heth in Radford History ................................34

(Left) Sue, eldest daughter of Belle Heth with her husband (right),

William Radford Wharton. Photo Courtesy of Sue Heth Bell Certificate of coursework completion from the Belle Heth Academy for 1906-7.

Photo Courtesy of Glencoe Mansion, Museum & Gallery.

granted. she constantly worked to re-invest her assets. eventually, she inherited her family estate, which now encompasses a good deal of the eastern portion of radford. The original fifteen acres used for Central depot had belonged to belle’s father, so as the rail town grew, it had nowhere to spread but onto more heth family property. by the 1880’s, thanks to an economic boom brought on by rich resources like coal, the area became a prime locale for expansion. it was this rapid development around the old Central depot that led to the establishment of the City of radford in 1887. in 1890, belle sold a 300-acre tract of her land to the radford development Company for $90,000. That’s almost three million in today’s money, or $10,000 per acre. For context, and to demonstrate how belle heth was constantly reinvesting, she took that windfall and purchased a 1,200-acre farm in blacksburg, as well as a home in a fashionable district of Washington, d.C. by the end of the century, however, the heth family was dealt a financial blow when the radford development Company proved unable to pay for the land they had purchased. The land reverted back to belle, but she was still on the line for the properties she had purchased with the proceeds from the original sale. Pressed into a tight situation, belle and her family were forced to make some difficult decisions. despite this major setback, however, they moved forward, continuing to play a major role in the history of radford. belle’s ancestral land had helped give rise to the City of radford, and it was her land that also produced one of the most

significant aspects of radford’s history and economy. in 1910, the Virginia general assembly authorized the establishment of the state Normal school for Women at radford. Once authorized, the school needed to find a home. That home was quickly provided on a thirty-acre parcel of land that belle heth sold to the board of trustees. That modest school grew over the years to eventually become radford university. Though belle heth played a major role in the development, establishment, and history of radford, others in her family are also historically significant. her sister, sue, was the wife of James hoge tyler who would go on to serve as governor of Virginia from 1898 to 1902. her daughter, also named sue, married, and shared the home of William radford Wharton, the son of general gabriel C. and Nannie radford Wharton. That family home eventually became the glencoe Mansion, Museum & gallery. in 1916, belle heth passed away in Washington, d.C. her family made the journey so they could lay her to rest in the family cemetery in radford. her husband, stockton, followed her in 1927. belle heth undoubtedly left many indelible marks on the City of radford, though few would recognize them today. all who (From left to right) Belle Heth, Pickett Heth and Virginia Heth in front of their home in Washington, D.C. Photo Courtesy of Sue Heth Bell. knew her are gone, and except for historians and descendants, she is all but forgotten. still, in the brightly colored halls at 151 george street, her name is kept alive. Glencoe Mansion, Museum & Gallery 600 Unruh Drive, Radford, VA • www.glencoemansion.org Scott Gardner, Executive Director 540-731-5031 • info@glencoemansion.org

Step Up Your Product Presentation & Gift Card Sales! We Can help you make your product Jump off of the shelves With Custom packaging!

• Custom and Stock Options • Gift Card Boxes and Folders • Custom Pop-up Inserts • Specialty Papers • Soft Touch Options • Custom Foil Stamps • Custom Printed Designs • Holiday Designs

1690 Parkway Drive, Christiansburg, VA | Anne@PrestarPackaging.com www.CreativeCarding.com | www.PrestarPackaging.com | 540-382-7051

Made in the New River Valley | Patented Pop-up Design | Family Owned and Operated

Serving Residential and Commercial Customers, Property Managers, & General Contractors! FINANCING AVAILAbLE!

Subject to credit approval, see store for details.

The New River Valley’s Most Affordable HVAC Contractor!

Services Include: • Cooling And Heating Services • Gas Log Installation • Tank Less Water Heaters • Whole Home Humidifiers • Air Filtration • Generators • Service Plans • AND MORE! Family Owned And Operated!

540-251-3131 • www.AirTechNRV.com

Airtech Home & Business ..........................................37 Bread Basket...............................................................21 BT’s.................................................................1, 4, & 33 Buffalo And More.......................................................23 Buffalo Hemp Company.............................................40 Cooke, Lavender, Massey, and Company...................31 Crockett Home Improvement .....................................29 Cultivate Financial Planning.......................................31 DeHart Tile Co............................................................33 Dogtown Roadhouse...................................................39 Electrical Supply Company........................................31 Eleven West.................................................................35 Elliott’s Military Surplus & Fishing Tackle................21 Emmaniel Gift Shop ...................................................23 Farm Credit of the Virginias .......................................39 Farmers Insurance..................................................1 & 4 Floyd Country Store......................................................9 Giesen-Caldwell Agency ............................................17 Glenn Insurance Agency.............................................23 Harris Self Storage........................................................5 Hodge Insurance.........................................................13 JBR Vineyards & Winery..............................................9 LCF Group....................................................................9 Lil’ Bit Corny.........................................................1 & 4 Meg’s Specialty Womenswear...............................1 & 4 Norman’s Cabinetry....................................................35 Now, Then, & Forever Collectibles................1, 4, & 13 NRV Hearing...............................................................27 P.R. Sturgill - Fine Jewelry...........................................5 Painting Consultants...................................................35 Plott & French Financial Advisors..............................17 Prestar Packaging........................................................37 Price-Williams Realty.................................................29 Pulaski Appliance..........................................................5 Radford Chamber........................................................18 Radford Drug................................................................3 Rice Realty..................................................................19 Rorrer Well Drilling....................................................19 Ryan L. Pry Attorney-at-Law......................................21 Soulsign Gallery - Custom tattoo................................35 T & E Small Engine....................................................37 The Orange Bandana.....................................................5 The Woodshed.............................................................29 TravelBash Corp.........................................................17 Tuck Chiropractic .......................................................31 Virginia Furniture Market - Mattress Store...................2

Want to get in on the next issue?

Contact Vickey Lloyd about advertising or submitting a story. 804-240-3987 • Vickey@RadfordMagazine.com