Running head: HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SALTVILLE 1

The History of the Town of Saltville:

It’s All About the Salt

Dorothy D. Fannin

Old Dominion University

Dr. Tami Craft Al-Hazza

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction…………………………………………………………..…………………..3

II. Group #1: Print Media………………………………….………...…………….……….6

Newspaper Article

III. Group #4: Informational……………………..…………….……..………….………….7

Timeline

IV. Group #2: Visual with Words…………………..……………..…….……………….….8

Travel Brochure

V. Group #3: Visual Display…………………..….………………….………….………….9

Collage

VI. Group #6: Structured Writing………………………………..……..…………………10

Descriptive Paragraphs

VII. Conclusion………………………………………...………………….…….…………...11

VIII. References…………………………………………………………………..…………...12
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Introduction
Having been described as “the most fascinating two square miles in the eastern United
States” by American geologist Charles Bartlett in Indian Country Today (2012), Saltville,
Virginia is a small town with a big story to tell. From its ancient history as an inland salt sea, to
the Ice Age, to the Woodland Period, to the Civil War, to the Space Age, to the present, Saltville
has a fascinating history that is well-documented and rich with detail. As it has been said by
Harry Haynes, former manager of the Museum of the Middle Appalachians and well known
“expert” on Saltville, “It all comes down to the salt.” Salt was deposited in the inland sea
millions of years ago. Prehistoric megafauna and pre-Clovis man came for the salt. Native
Americans extracted and traded the salt. Saltville provided all-important salt during the Civil
War. Incredibly, resources from the salt mines were used to create the fuel that sent Neil
Armstrong to the moon. Salt was responsible for the booming “company town” years.
Currently, emptied salt mines house one of the major storage units of natural gas in the eastern
United States. Finally, salt has had the ultimate effect of bringing the tourism that helps to
support Saltville’s economy today.
It has been theorized that the town of Saltville is located upon the remains of an inland
salt-water sea which filled the area millions of years ago (“Saltville’s Rich History,” n.d.). The
salt settled to the bottom of the inland sea, and the sea evaporated during a time of climate
change. Then it became folded and formed veins and caverns as the continents collided and
shifted during the time of the formation of the Appalachian Mountains. Fast-forward millions of
years to the time of the last Ice Age, around 17,000 years ago in the “pre-Clovis” era of
humankind in the Pleistocene period. It stands to reason that salt licks attracted Ice Age
mammals, and pre-Clovis and Clovis humans naturally followed. According to Glanville (2005),
fossil evidence shows that pre-Clovis man not only existed in this area at that time, but he also
killed, butchered, and ate a mastodon. Gelbart (2013) also states that Saltville is the most
southerly known site of the species of woolly mammoth, Mammuthus Primigenius, therefore
both mastodon and woolly mammoth lived in present-day Saltville.
Evidence supports many other fascinating facts and finds from the Ice Age in Saltville.
In addition to the coexistence of man, mammoth, and mastadon, evidence has shown that the
largest carnivore in North America during the time, the giant, short-faced bear, feasted on a
mammoth at this site (Schubert & Wallace, 2009). Besides the mammoth-scavenging evidence,
another example of large-carcass scavenging was seen on a musk-ox specimen (Schubert &
Wallace, 2009). Among the other finds at the Saltville sites are fossilized remains of the
following: Jefferson’s ground sloth, horse, elk-moose, bison, caribou, and countless microfauna
and plant specimens (France, Zelanko, Kaufman & Holtz, 2007). Other interesting finds have
indications of the types of diets of two animals: a milk-dominated diet of a young mammoth and
a primarily herbivorous diet of a giant ground sloth (France et al., 2007). France et al. (2007)
believe that carbon and nitrogen analysis of the finds dating during the Ice Age implicate
competition among herbivores in the ecosystem that support theories on the cause of mass
extinction of megafauna at the end of the epoch. Fossil finds at Saltville could hold part of the
key to unlocking a change as epic as mass extinction.
Not only is there evidence of early archaic Paleo-Indian habitation at Saltville, but there
is an abundance of artifacts from occupations of peoples during the Woodland Period, which
spans from around 1500 B.C. to 1500 A.D. This evidence shows the former existence of a
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village or settlement of Native American peoples during this time (“Saltville’s Rich History,”
n.d.). Saltville is located at the convergence of four trails from Tennessee, West Virginia, and
other parts of Virginia that are known as “Indian Trails”. These trails were formed as animals
migrated in search of food, water, and salt and were frequented by native peoples. Artifacts
found where the Indian Trails converge include arrowheads or projectile points, knives, scrapers,
ceremonial pipes, pottery, shells, and gorgets (Museum of the Middle Appalachians, 2018).
Gorgets are intricately engraved artifacts made by marine shells. The shells originated in the
Atlantic and Gulf Coast Regions, showing evidence of extensive trading that occurred with the
natives during the Woodland Period. Between 900 and 1600 A.D., a well-developed culture
arose, and the area has been christened the center of a “salt-powered Chiefdom,” based on the
richness of the finds at the site, its location, and the abundance of salt (Glanville, 2004).
Moving from the Woodland Period to the middle of the 16th century, Glanville (2004)
studied documents from Spanish Conquistadors from the Juan Pardo expedition of 1567 that
point to their actions following a search for gold in the Saltville area. These documents show
interaction of the Spaniards with the native peoples, called Chisca (Glanville, 2004). The
Spaniards attacked the native peoples in their village called Maniatique located in present-day
Saltville (Weaver, 2006). They were reported to have killed over 1000 Indians and to have
burned over 50 huts (Glanville, 2004). Further documentation of the Spaniards’ interactions
with the Chisca are the writings of a Native American woman named Luisa Menendez who
became the wife of a Spaniard (Glanville, 2004). It is notable that the first interaction of
foreigners with the Saltville natives was Spanish. The documents that support this historical
event were not uncovered until the 1990s. Until then, it was believed that the first European
interaction was English.
When settlers ultimately arrived from Europe around 200 years later, there was no sign of
native peoples (Weaver, 2006). Weaver (2006) states that the earliest recorded colonist to
inhabit the area was Col. James Patton who was granted land in Saltville in 1745 by King George
II. According to Whisonant (2015), in 1782 Col. Arthur Campbell began the first salt
manufacture and serious industrialization began in 1795. Salt was obviously an important reason
for local settlement during the colonial era. Several hundred people were living in the area by
1800, including the families of two of Gov. Patrick Henry’s sisters, who were some of the
earliest salt producers (Museum of the Middle Appalachians, n.d.). During the 1850s the
Virginia-Tennessee and Salt Branch Railroad came to the area, and by the 1860s every southern
state east of the Mississippi River supplied its citizens salt from Saltville (Whisonant, 2015).
Because of the importance of Saltville in the supply of salt during the Civil War, two
battles occurred in an effort to prevent the fundamental mineral from being produced for the
Confederacy. Salt was used in the preservation of foods, to provide a necessary nutritional need
of men and animals, and to make medicine. The first battle to occur at Saltville was on October
2, 1864 and was a clear Confederate victory (“Battle of Saltville,” 2009). Salt production
continued soon after the second battle on December 20, despite rampant destruction of the salt
works by the North (Whisonant, 2015).
From the late 1800s into the 1960s, salt continued to be produced under several different
companies. During the booming years of salt production, disaster struck when a dam that was
built to hold back waste material broke on Christmas Eve, 1924 (Mcspadden, 1988). Nineteen
people were killed in the event, and residents today still talk of the “Muck Dam Disaster”
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(Weaver, 2006). In the early 1900s, other chemicals besides salt began to be produced. As time
passed, the products ranged from baking soda to rocket fuel. This rocket fuel made from
chemicals from the mines at Saltville became the fuel that sent Neil Armstrong to the moon
(Whisonant, 1998). By the 1970s, people were becoming more environmentally conscious, and
increasing EPA regulations led to the closing of the plant (Whisonant, 1998). After the booming
years of the company town, this closure left Saltville in a serious state of economic downturn.
Fortunately, tourism and recreation have come to support the town of Saltville and its
residents. In 1978, the well fields were designated a recreation area and wildlife sanctuary
(Turnage, 1994). Throughout the years between then and now, Saltville has continued to heal.
Not only have tourism and recreation played a role in the recovery of the town, but industry has
returned. In 1994, an energy company leased land from the town to store natural gas in the
existing salt caverns. Removal of the brine from caverns lead to the return of salt production
(Newcombe, 2012).
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Newspaper Article
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Timeline
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Travel Brochure
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Collage
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Descriptive Paragraphs
Today feels like autumn, despite being so near the end of winter with spring just on the
horizon. The air feels crisp and the sky is what I like to call “October blue.” I drive down the
windy, curvy Appalachian Mountain road, and take in the serene sights of cattle grazing lazily in
the fields. As I carefully approach town, I decide to stop for a moment at the Battlefield
Overlook. After all, who could resist the breathtaking view of the vast valley below? Saltville
seems a million miles away from up here. It is beautiful, a sleepy little town nestled between the
towering mountains. I can see the salt ponds, where sea grasses grow, and sea birds settle, over
300 miles from the nearest ocean. I sit in contemplation upon the crooked rock wall snaking the
edge of the overlook, and breathe in the freshness of that cool, fall-like air. I give one last
melancholy stare out at the expanse in wonder of what it was like in this very spot in October of
1864. I imagine the air might have felt much like today, with the added edge of anxiety that
must have been at the forefront of things that were soon to occur.
As I slowly climb back into my car, I am transported back to today. It is March 2018
again, and I am finally driving into the quaint little town. Seeing the neatly lined streets and
comfortable homes makes me feel a little sense of local pride, even though I am not from here.
That sense of pride becomes felt even more so when I see the blue and white “Panther Pride”
signs all about town. The sense of pride is felt here from end to end as I make my way through
the narrow streets. I take my time today; I am here to know, to feel, to enjoy Saltville. My first
stop inside the town limits is down by the salt ponds. I wonder what the locals are thinking of
me as I nonchalantly take my camera out in the vast parking lot and begin quickly snapping
photos of the geese floating sleepily on the pond. The American flag is flying high and proud
here while flapping noisily in the brisk breeze. As I peacefully stroll around the edge of the salty
pond, I am suddenly transported back into time. There was a time long ago, when in this very
spot, a group of early humans feasted on a mastodon. I close my eyes and try to envision what it
was like, colder than today, with flora and fauna unlike the towering pines and mighty oaks of
today. I can hear the sounds of celebration as the mastodon crashes down. I can almost smell
the musky air which soon fills my nostrils with evidence of roasting meat. Could this have been
the same Saltville?
I am beginning to feel more of that chill in the air as the sun is gradually making its way
lower in the sky. I feel a sense of urgency. I must squeeze in one more site of this sleepy little
town before the impatient sun sets beneath the horizon. Just a few short miles more I drive, and I
swiftly approach the old Palmer Grist Mill. My first reaction is pure awe. The old mill is a
beauty, and like the rows of worn-out company houses and charming historic churches I passed
on the way, she takes me back to times long passed. There in my mind’s eye, I can envision the
hustle and bustle of folks scurrying about, shoulder to shoulder, smiling and waving at neighbors
and friends that they pass on their way down the busy company town street. The sense of pride
grew here in the company town days, when the area boomed with prosperity even during The
Great Depression. The sounds of the salt plant in the background and the constant murmur of
people doing business seldom quieted. Back then, they all had someplace to go and something to
do. I blink my eyes and realize I am here today, and the company town is no more.
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Conclusion
Since the introduction of tourism and recreation, much effort has led to the existence of
what is now a spot frequented by people visiting from all over the nation. Flipping back in the
register located at the Museum of the Middle Appalachians during my visit, I saw signatures
from visitors from Michigan and Texas, for example. Saltville currently has a golf course, nature
trail, saltwater wave pool, and many historic sites such as Salt Park, Palmer Grist Mill and
community theater, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (circa 1896), Steam Locomotive No. 11, and the
Civil War Battlefield Overlook. I was honored to be able to visit many of these during my
research for this project.
In fact, my initial fascination with Saltville occurred during a visit in town to bring my
children to the Hardy Roberts Memorial Wave Pool. When the pool closed that day for rain, we
visited the museum which we had driven past dozens of times. We had seen Woolly and Baby
as we passed through town. Yet, we had never taken time to explore the history of Saltville until
that day. It was then that I saw what eventually fascinated me about Saltville. The history of the
town was richer than I could have imagined. I am still in awe that evidence dating back to pre-
Clovis man has been uncovered. The significance of salt during the entire history, from pre-
Clovis to today, is fascinating.
As I hope to become an elementary school teacher locally in either third,
fourth, fifth, or sixth grade, I believe I will be able to use the knowledge I have gained about
local history to enlighten my students. Because the history of Saltville has evidence from so
many periods of time, it can be a rich source of information. In addition to history, Saltville also
holds promise for teaching my future students science. Fossils, dig sites, natural gas storage, and
the local resource of salt all come to mind when thinking of the Virginia Standards of Learning
that are addressed in elementary school classes. Saltville is also located on the largest fault in the
Eastern United States. Evidence of the formation of the Appalachian Mountains can be seen in
the geology of Saltville. Ideally, I would love to take my future students to tour Saltville,
particularly the Museum of the Middle Appalachians. The museum main hall is laid out
chronologically, and it addresses almost every piece of research that I encountered in my study
of Saltville.
These days in Saltville during the week, people come together for jamborees, and
annually there is a festival featuring the life-size models of the adult and baby woolly
mammoths. Upon driving into Saltville, there is evidence everywhere of pride in the history of
the town, as well as belief in its future. You can still see some of the company houses built
during the booming years, in addition to the historic churches, the steam locomotive, and the
mill. You can take a tour of the museum and learn about Saltville’s history, “From the Ice Age,
to the Space Age, and Beyond.” You can take a dip in the pool, stroll on the trail, or play a few
rounds of golf. Whether you enjoy learning of the past or enjoying recreation and tourism in the
present, Saltville is a great destination. It is a small town with a big story to tell, and that story is
all about the salt.
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References
Battle of Saltville. (2009, October 2). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-
history/battle-of-saltville
France, C.A.M., Zelanko, P.M., Kaufman, A.J., & Holtz, T.R. (2007). Carbon and nitrogen
isotopic analysis of Pleistocene mammals from the Saltville Quarry (Virginia, USA):
Implications for trophic relationships. Science Direct, 249, 271-282.
Gelbart, M. (2013, August 1). The Saltville fossil site in Virginia. Georgia Before People.
Retrieved from https://markgelbart.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/the-saltville-fossil-site-in-
virginia/
Glanville, J. (2004). Conquistadors at Saltville in 1567? A review of the archaeological and
documentary evidence. The Smithfield Review, 8, 70-108. Blacksburg, VA: Montgomery
County Branch Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
Glanville, J. (2005). Improper archaeology, “Fabulous Saltville,” and the ancient history of
Southwest Virginia. The Smithfield Review, 9, 55-100. Blacksburg, VA: Montgomery
County Branch Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
Mcspadden, M.F. (1988, December). The Muck Dam Disaster: Christmas 1924. The Mountain
Laurel, The Journal of Mountain Life. Retrieved from
http://www.mtnlaurel.com/history/1506-the-muck-dam-disaster-christmas-1924.html
Museum of the Middle Appalachians, 123 Palmer Avenue, Saltville, VA.
Newcombe, T. (2012, August). Saltville, Virginia: A company town without a company.
Governing the States and Localities. Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/gov-
saltville-virginia-company-town.html
Saltville’s Rich History. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.saltville.org/history
Schubert, B.W. & Wallace, S.C. (2009, August). Late Pleistocene giant short-faced bears,
mammoths, and large carcass scavenging in the Saltville Valley of Virginia, USA.
Boreas, 38, 482-492. doi 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2009.00090.x
Turnage, M.A. (1994). Company Town Shutdown. Annapolis, MD: Berwick Publishing.
Weaver, J.C. (2006). Images of America: Saltville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.
Whisonant, R.C. (1998). Mineral fights: Civil War battles for southwestern Virginia’s lead and
salt. The Smithfield Review, 2, 77-90. Blacksburg, VA: Montgomery County Branch
Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
Whisonant, R.C. (2015). Arming the Confederacy: How Virginia’s Minerals Forged the Rebel
War Machine. Radford, VA: Springer.
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Wright, J. (2012, February 12). The most fascinating two square miles in the eastern United
States. Indian Country Today. Retrieved from
https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/the-most-fascinating-two-square-miles-in-
the-eastern-united-states/