Bedford, Virginia

"Worlds Best Little Town"

Page Five

The second event was the Boom of 1890. Liberty, like many other places in southwest Virginia, was seized with an urge for expansion. Ever since the Great Fire, the town had grown amazingly. Liberty, in fact, hoped to imitate Roanoke and become a thriving industrial center. Many promoters were drawn to the little town, and several new land companies were formed, such as the Central Land Company, headed by 0. W. Kelsey, and the Bedford Real Estate Company, of which E. P. Vandershee was president.

Land adjacent to town was bought by these companies, and a map of the period shows that the newly acquired property was divided off into proper streets and avenues. At this time the name "Liberty" was changed to "Bedford City", and an imposing new hotel, called Hotel Bedford, was built on the site of the Elks National Home.   However, the expected "Miracle" never happened. As a result, businesses failed, banks closed, and Bedford experienced a depression impossible to describe. When the town recovered by slow degrees, it was evident that Bedford would never attain the status of a Big City. In fact, the term "City" was dropped, and the citizens seemed content that their town develop at a slower pace.

  The following is a list of the known  Mayors of Liberty,  according to      Edward Pollock in the Sketch Book of Liberty

    Mayors of   "Old Liberty"     

*       Samuel Hoffman - elected June 5, 1849

*        Dr. John A. Otey - elected June 8, 1850

*        William L Hoyt - elected October 3, 1853

*       John A. Wharton served until June 5, 1849

*        Hugh White - elected May 9, 1854

*       P. Bell - elected July 25, 1855

*      John R. Steptoe - elected July 30, 1856

*   (Minutes missing from Feb.18, 1857 - Nov.27, 1860)  

*       Dr. John A. Otey - elected Nov.27, 1860

*    (Minutes missing from May 3, 1862 to Oct 23, 1866)

*    John A. Otey (Minutes missing from Oct. 23, 1866)

*       W. Leftwich - elected July 23, 1867

*       Dr. T. M. Sawyer - elected April 13, 1871

*        P. Sell - elected July 1, 1878

*        McLeod Kasey - elected July 1, 1880

*       Dr. C. A. Board - elected June 14, 1881

*        Dr. T. M. Bowyer - elected July 1, 1884

*       Dr. C. A. Board - elected Jan.12, 1886