Blue John Remembers: That on this particular occasion I was driving from Richmond toward Williamsburg with a companion who was observing the four-lane divided highway with a lively interest and a critical eye. As we drove along the wide, smooth pavement and admired the green median strip that separated us from traffic going in the opposite direction, my companion spoke. “Well, at last they are beginning to catch up with me!” Approaching a curve where there was no apparent reason for a curve he let out with a burst of the particular brand of profanity that distinguished him. “N-n-n-o-w look at that, why in the blankety-blank did they have to put in this curve? Ignorance rules the world!” Those who knew him well recognize that it was Uncle Henry Roberts speaking. H. Roberts had been a crusading advocate of good roads ever since the coming of the automobile to the extent that he was written up in The Country Gentleman under the title of “ Henry- Good Roads- Roberts”. When Uncle Henry said “ Good Roads” he did not mean simply patching up existing roads, nor did he mean building the new roads to anything but the highest standards. On this point he carried on a long and dogged feud with the State Highway Department. He demanded wide rights-of - way, elimination of dangerous curves, steep grades, grade crossings, while the Highway Department operating on a limited budget would demand, “Where is the money coming from?” To which Uncle Henry would reply, “That is a mere detail.” I helped him prepare a map of Virginia on which he projected a system of four-lane , limited access, super highways connecting every major city in the state. He had detailed cross-sections of the roads drawn, showing center parkway, also clover-leaf intersections, all far in advance of state highway planning at the time. This he had printed a brochure at his own expense, and mailed copies to the Highway Department, as well as interested good-road advocates, automobile clubs, and county officials. If Uncle Henry could see how closely the plans for the new Federal super A deluxe highways follow the ideas so neatly set out in his brochure, I am sure he would chuckle and repeat, “Now they are checking up with me!” Not only did H. Roberts lead the fight for good roads, he was a far-sighted leader in many civic projects in his home town. He was one of the original promoters in the erection of Hotel Bristol: he advocated the construction of the underpass on Piedmont, and the covering of Beaver Creek; he was instrumental in interesting Lee Long in the development of the Lee Heights sub-division, as well as a number of other civic improvements. As a man, he was a unique character; as tenacious as a bulldog in fighting for the projects he advocated, and as stubborn as a Missouri mule in opposing those he considered wrong. His life-long handicap of stuttering seemed not to embarrass him. He often turned it into an asset when speaking. When working up to a climactic point, he would almost get to the punch line, and then with an “ Uh-uh-uh” he would become bogged down until with a snap of the finger he would burst out with a “ Dammit” and then proceed to hammer home his point with a forceful flow of language. It will be a long time before this town will see another as far-sighted as H. Roberts, and the town does not yet appreciate the unselfish service he gave it. As from beyond the skies, he sees many of the things he fought for put into execution, I can imagine hearing him sing his favorite little tune, “Little boy blue, come blow your horn, the sheep’s in the meadow and the cow’s in the corn, Oh me- Oh my.”
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:52:24 +0000
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