By Beverly Belcher Woody
There are places in Patrick County where the land itself seems to remember.
In the foothills and along the lower slopes of Bull Mountain, just north of Patrick Springs, there once stretched rows upon rows of apple trees—orderly, fruitful, and full of promise. According to the wonderful book History of Patrick County, Virginia, these hillsides were once covered by orchards first known as the Atwood Orchards, later acquired by E. Cabell Tudor in 1934. At one time, the Tudor Orchard was likely the largest in southern Virginia, and from this rich soil, apples were shipped to many parts of the world.
Like so many things rooted in time, the orchards eventually changed. As the trees aged and became unproductive, they were abandoned, and the land was turned to hayfields and pastureland. Yet even now, the story of that orchard remains—woven into the land and the families who called it home.
The Tudor name is one deeply planted in Patrick County soil. According to the History of Patrick County, Virginia, William and John Tudor moved from the Smith River to the Critz area before the Civil War, and their descendants would become prominent in local affairs. E. Cabell Tudor (1881-1951) rose to be the leading orchardist in the county, while also operating businesses in Danville and Roanoke. Walter P. Tudor (1883–1963) was active in business and politics. Russell H. Tudor (1888–1971) followed the orchardist’s path. Miss Maude Tudor (1897-1990) and Mrs. Mabel Tudor Grogan (1901-1986) devoted their lives to education as longtime teachers at Hardin Reynolds.
Looking deeper into their roots reveals a family firmly anchored in Virginia history. Brothers William and John Tudor were the sons of Robert Tudor, Jr. and his wife, Martha Wray Tudor, originally of Brunswick County, Virginia.
William Tudor married Joyce Purdy on the 28th of January 1840 in Patrick County, and together they raised at least eight children on this land.
John Tudor married Nancy Ann Dillon on the 9th of March 1843 in Patrick County. Nancy was the daughter of Carrington Dillon and Mary “Polly” Spencer. Their family grew into what could only be described as a living network of Patrick County history—interwoven with many of the area’s well-known families. Daughter Mary Elizabeth married Jefferson Hill; daughter Sarah married Joseph Cruise; son William Abraham married Martha Jane Lee; daughter Martha Lucinda married Andrew Jackson Smith; son John Henry Lane married Rebecca Grady; daughter Susan Ann married James Washington Ore; son Jesse Carrington married Marietta Joyce; son Robert Hill Tudor died of typhoid at a young age; son Greenville Jefferson married Nancy Elizabeth Bowles; daughter Nancy Catherine married Braxton Atkinson; little Virginia Alice Tudor died at age five; and son James Harbour Tudor married Annie Vernon.
From this line came Ernest “Cabell” Tudor, son of William Abraham and Martha Jane Lee. Cabell married Lydia Stowe on the 15th of January 1908. Lydia was the daughter of William “Buck” Stowe and Josie Bowles Stowe. Cabell married again on the 25th of October 1924 to Annie Gravely, daughter of Henry Clay Gravely and Mary Ann Turner of Henry County.
It is through Cabell Tudor’s leadership that the orchard reached its height—and through a June 3, 1937, letter to the editor of The Enterprise that we are given a rare glimpse into its daily life and operation.
The letter, entitled A Very Valuable and Interesting Industry, paints a vivid picture of a thriving agricultural enterprise and the hard work that sustained it:
“A few days ago, I took a very interesting trip with J. J. West to the Tudor orchard. This was the first time I had been through this since it was in Mr. Tudor’s hands. It is worth a trip to see.
We first went to the machine shop, then to other points in the orchard. It is watered by a system of pipes running all through the orchard and coming from a reservoir built up in the mountain having an elevation of about 80 feet above the top of the Asa Wood Mountain which gives good pressure to all sections.
We went to the three processes (which are situated in different sections) which prepare the spray solution to spray this large orchard. The day I visited it they were spraying with Bordeaux mixture and running twenty sprays with two men to each one; making forty-three men scouting one at each pump.
Mr. West informed me that this orchard could be sprayed in from three to four days, while by the old system it would take one man and a good deal longer, and consequently all the orchards could not be sprayed at the proper time.
I don’t know anything about packing apples, but in going through the packing house it appears to me to be up to date. It is 80 ft. wide and 180 ft. long, with a basement to pack the culls in and on upstairs floor for storage of barrels, baskets and any other supplies they may have. I suppose the Tudor Orchard has the largest payroll by the year in the County. They have a prospect (if nothing happens to the apple crop before harvesting time) of 300,000 bushels, which would cost from $25,000.00 to $40,000.00 to save. This would be a great help to our County.
The citizens of this County should do all in their power to help these orchards along, as it is the means of lots of money being circulated in our midst. I think there should be a hard surface road built from Rhody Creek Bridge through the orchard, so that people passing through our section could go through the orchard. This would be a good advertisement for Patrick County.
I think Mr. Tudor, who was born in Patrick, should be commended for the money he has spent in our community and the improvements he has made and is continuing to make.
J. J. West, who is manager of this orchard, seems to be the right man in the right place, as everything seems to move along like clockwork. Mr. Editor, I think it would be worthwhile for you to go down some day with Mr. West and go over this orchard and give it a real write up.
I forgot to say that the only drawback I see is not having a good road through the orchard.
Signed, C. I. E.”
Those who knew Mr. Tudor spoke of him with deep respect, crediting him with one of the keenest executive minds in the city. Though he was not an active member of any church, his generosity quietly spoke for him—he contributed thousands of dollars to the building funds of several churches, leaving behind a legacy of support that would stand long after his passing.
His business leadership was both broad and impressive. Mr. Tudor served as president and general manager of the Virginia Brewing Co., president and general manager of the Magic City Laundry and Dry Cleaners, and vice president of the Peoples Ice and Cold Storage Co. Through these roles, he helped shape the economic life of his community, guiding enterprises that served countless families and workers.
Yet even as his work carried him into the bustling life of Roanoke, his ties to Patrick County remained strong. Mr. Tudor was the owner of several large apple orchards in Patrick County and one in Roanoke County. These orchards, rooted in the same rich land that raised him, stand as a quiet reminder of the enduring connection between a man and his homeplace. He also owned the Tudor Ice and Cold Storage Co., in Danville, further extending his influence across the region.
Even in his passing, the mark of his work was evident. Because of Mr. Tudor’s death, the Magic City Laundry did not pick up or deliver clothes until after his burial—a small but telling reminder of how closely his life was tied to the daily rhythms of the community he served.
Tudor Orchard was more than rows of apple trees—it was a livelihood, a gathering place, and a source of pride for the entire county. It supported families, circulated money through the community, and stood as a testament to what careful work and vision could build upon Patrick County soil.
And so, like so many stories rooted in Patrick County, the tale of Tudor Orchard reminds us that the land remembers. It remembers the hands that tended it, the families who built their lives upon it, and the quiet labor that sustained a community. Though the orchards may have faded, their legacy still lingers in these hills—carried forward in memory, in name, and in the enduring spirit of Patrick County.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, you may contact Woody at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626.
