In The Short Rows
Latest In The Short Rows
Five years after fire, a Surry staple’s sad conclusion
Fire has shaped and reshaped human history. From the time early man learned to use it to improve his life, fire has been a means ... Read more
3 days ago by Staff Reports.
Hoping Americans ‘do the right thing,’ as Churchill said we would
As Independence Day approached two weeks ago, a county resident whose love for this country is unimpeachable sadly predicted that the Republic as we know ... Read more
1 week ago by Staff Reports.
An ode to idioms: Country people talk sense
I ate my first tomato sandwich from this year’s crop last week — white bread, mayonnaise and a touch of pepper only — and it ... Read more
2 weeks ago by Staff Reports.
Summer concerts are back, reviving 34-year tradition
The Smithfield Summer Concert Series, a downtown tradition for 34 years, will return to the Gazebo Stage at 228 Main St. on Friday. Smithfield’s ever-popular ... Read more
3 weeks ago by Staff Reports.
Drought of ’80 was reminder that rainy days aren’t all bad
More than 5 inches of rain in much of Isle of Wight and Surry broke the back of an increasingly dry spell over the past ... Read more
1 month ago by Staff Reports.
Steamboat era saw Pagan Creek rebranded a river
Second in a series When does a creek become a river? When it needs to be dredged, according to local oral Smithfield history. From its ... Read more
1 month ago by Staff Reports.
Pagan Creek helped Virginia commerce thrive in late 1700s
Prime real estate lots in the town that Arthur Smith envisioned in 1752 were those located on the Pagan Creek, but not because waterfront lots ... Read more
2 months ago by Staff Reports.
Meet Nhi Tran, whose story should inspire us all
A recent survey conducted by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation determined that nearly two-thirds of Americans could not pass the test required to become a United ... Read more
2 months ago by Staff Reports.
Sundays at Four founder is deserving Citizen of the Year
Add Citizen of the Year to the well-deserved accolades Mary Cole has received for her tireless contributions to the Smithfield community. Mary was actually named ... Read more
2 months ago by Staff Reports.
America has lost its sense of collective good
Post-World War II America was quite different than the country we inhabit today. American still had the “can do” attitude that defeated Nazi Germany, its ... Read more