Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company Records

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company Records, 1890-1892, SC 0299, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
0.08 cubic feet 1 folder
Creator:
Basic City Mining, Manufacturing and Land Co. and Tim Abbott Americana
Abstract:
The Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company Records, 1890-1892, comprise one folder of financial records documenting the activities of Augusta County's Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company Records, 1890-1892, SC 0299, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company Records, 1890-1892, comprise one folder of financial records documenting the activities of Augusta County's Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company. Documents include invoices; receipts; cancelled checks; a prospectus of the Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company; and other assorted financial records. As treasurer of Basic City Mining, J. A. Wise frequently received and/or signed the aforementioned documents. Billheads for Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company and Basic City Iron Works are included.

Biographical / historical:

Jacob Reese, an industrialist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, purchased land (including Lithia Spring) near what is now Waynesboro, Virginia and on December 6, 1889, in partnership with several other developers, incorporated as the Basic City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land Company. The company owned more than 2,000 acres on both sides of the South River and east to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Basic City, Virginia was incorporated as a town on March 3, 1890 at the approval of the Virginia General Assembly. The town purchased land from Basic City Mining for $25,000. Samuel Forrer (1838-1916) served as the company's president with J. A. Wise as treasurer, M. A. Booker as secretary, Edward McMahon as first vice president, C. A. Holt as second vice president, and Edward Echols as third vice president.

The town of Basic City merged with Waynesboro in 1924 at the recommendation of the state legislature's Committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns.

Acquisition information:
Acquired from Tim Abbott Americana in November 2019.
Arrangement:

The documents are housed in one folder.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard