Tasley, Virginia
Tasley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 300.[1]
History
Tasley, once known as "Accomac Station", traces its rootss to the coming of the railroad to the Eastern Shore in 1884. When the station at Tasley was completed rail service began in earnest. The postal service set up a post office at "Tasley" in 1884. At one time, Tasley was a bustling railroad town, boasting the first electric power plant, first paved road and first self-organized volunteer fire company in the county.[2] The Shore's main highway, US 13, ran right through the middle of town. Steamships from Baltimore docked at nearby Onancock; the produce and goods were carried from there to Tasley's busy rail station for fast shipment. In its heyday, Tasley boasted three restaurants, four general stores, a hotel, post office, rail station, two tractor dealerships, two sawmills, volunteer fire company, ice plant, coal sales, car dealerships, several produce grading sheds and power plant.
When the railroad ceased passenger service in 1958, the town was dealt a blow, but the coming of the Route 13 bypass in the mid-1960s robbed Tasley of its commercial and industrial status. The town fell into a deep slumber for many years before the growth in neighboring communities spilled over into its boundaries. Today, Tasley is home to A&N Electric Cooperative, which provides electric power for the entire Eastern Shore of Virginia; the Foodbank of the Eastern Shore is headquartered there and Studebaker's Antiques sells top of the line vintage advertising items worldwide. A new fire station has been built, and several formerly empty buildings have been purchased and repurposed.
References
- Virginia Trend Report 2: State and Complete Places (Sub-state 2010 Census Data). Archived 2012-07-11 at Archive.today Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed 2011-06-08.
- Eastern Shore News March 12, 1997