Sullins College - Sampler Yearbook (Bristol, VA)

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BRISTOL BEFORE As early as the Revolutionary War, the section of Virginia and Tennessee around Bristol was the scene of many historical events and the source of many interesting stories. The most interesting event, perhaps, was con- nected with the battle of Kings Mountain. The sol- diers who went from this region to play so gallant a part in the battle gathered under the Pemberton Oak. Since that time, the soldiers of many wars, even as recently as the World War, have assembled un- der the Pemberton Oak before setting out on their dangerous missions. In his Recollections of an Old Man,” Dr. David Sullins tells us that in 1847 he passed through what is now Bristol on his way to Emory and Henry Col- Sapling Grove King ' s Meadows lege. The lumbering old stage coach in which he was riding stopped at Sapling Grove Post-Office, now known as Bristol. Where the main business part of the city now stands were the meadows of Mr. James King, a Pres- byterian minister. His house was on the Virginia and his meadows on the Tennessee side of the state line. Page 6

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AND ABROAD

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COLLEGE SULLINS A few years later the coming of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad helped to determine the loca- tion of the town of Bristol. It is said that the shortest and best route would have passed through Paper- ville, two or three miles east of Bristol. Mr. King entertains the surveyors. But the story goes that Mr. King had plenty of ham and eggs and Colonel Goodson, who owned the land on the Virginia side, had some fine brandy in his cellar. Both gentlemen were very hospitable, and, it is further said, the engineers who were locat- ing the road had a liking for these good things and often lodged where they were. The railroad comes to Bristol. That good ham and eggs and old rye were a deciding factor in locating the railroad— and the city — is not a known truth; but, where there had been only a little hamlet, a city began to grow. People came from far and near to grow with the city. Among them was Dr. David Sullins, a Methodist minister who came to preach at a little church on Lee Street. Dr. Sullins passes through Sapling Grove on his way to Emory and Henry. Page 7