In the early years of the great depression, Wells Island was owned and farmed by H. A. Carpenter, the West Virginia Potato King! (He owned and farmed many of the other islands on this stretch of river, as well). It was exciting news when, in 1932, “A 50-acre field of alfalfa has been planted by H. A. Carpenter of St. Marys, W. Va., on one of his island farms in the Ohio River, thus embarking on a new venture in the agricultural realm.” Sounds cutting edge, right?
The article continues, “Several years ago, Carpenter began buying islands in the Ohio River. One after another he acquired them until he possessed one of the largest collections of the kind in the upper valley.”
“Then, for want of something to do with them, he tried out potato culture, and for several seasons past he has rated as the West Virginia Potato King. His largest crop was raised during the year just past. As a result many Mariettans and thousands of families in other cities are wintering on Carpenter spuds.”
“Crop rotation is advocated in modern agriculture even though your farm be one of those very rich alluvial deposits in the middle of a river, so Carpenter began to speculate on what to use in between potato planting and he decided that alfalfa would be most desirable. As a result he has prepared and seeded a 50-acre field on Wells Island, one of the larger ones of his group, and it will come into bearing during the Summer of 1932.”
“In the meantime, his potato-growing activities will be shifted to other lands and added acreage will be planted on Paden City Island to make up for the space given over to alfalfa.”
“Tractors and gang plows will be sent to the island in the next few weeks and the task of preparing the land for potatoes will be begun. Select northern seed will be planted and it will be brought in in carload lots from northern Michigan. The Carpenter potato planters will begin their work of seeding the fields by March 15, it is announced, and a large force of men, boys and women will be employed.”
(Text from “Plants a 50 Acre Field in Alfalfa,” The Marietta Times, Jan. 20, 1932)
Island Access: Paden City, WV, public access ramp at Paden City Park off SR 2
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