July 14, 2023

Broadway Reflections

Rockingham County

Broadway is a small town in an agricultural area. Don’t be fooled by the sign advertising axe throwing. It’s a quiet town with a bit of an artsy vibe.

Black and White Weekend / Street and Reflections

The town is located where Linville Creek enters the North Branch of the Shenandoah River. It became an important shipping point in the 1800’s. At that time it was called Kuster’s Mill.

I always assumed it earned the name Broadway because it was on a broad plain along the Shenandoah. This is particularly noticeable when you enter from the mountains of West Virginia through a rather narrow pass, and find yourself in comparatively flat land. Local legend tells a different tale, as I saw posted in the Plains District Museum in nearby Timberville.

After the Civil War, the railroads came to town and it “became a ‘boom town’ noted for its ‘merry making’ by those who congregated to deliver their products.. Some of the local residents stated that these ‘ruffians’ were on a broad way to destruction.”  

That’s an interesting theory, but I think mine is more logical.

11 comments:

  1. Beards and broads... Really??? LOL

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  2. Axe Throwing? Now that´s first.

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  3. We've got an axe throwing restaurant here, too. Never understood the combination. Weird!

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  4. Pizzeria and axe throwing? Sounds a strange combination :) Love your photos, and the information.

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  5. Many bars/pizza places used to have darts games available...or so I think I remember.

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  6. Great street shot with the basketball player headed for a pizza or to throw an axe. Perhaps both.

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  7. I think I’ll pass on the axe throwing. A good pizza, however, is always welcome.

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  8. Axe throwing?! Wow! Interesting history, both versions,

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