Upper Historic James River Closed to Fishing and Swimming

Sam · August 1, 2021

Here is the story as best as I can post it:

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/fishermen-unware-of-james-river-sewage-spill-tuckahoe-creek

Now, for my part of this story...

Wednesday, July 28th, we had our American Legion Crab Feast which was a fantastic success. We estimate we had around 470 people in attendance for all the crabs they could eat, the beer and soft drinks they could drink, corn, and the greatest hot dogs south of New York's Coney Island.

I was in charge of the event which was to end at 8 PM that evening, when I was standing in the area between the two pavilions when three boys came up to me and asked for help. They had on only their swim trunks. Nothing else. No PFDs. No water shoes. No ID's. No tee shirts. No sunscreen. No sunglasses. No caps. Only their swim trunks and a smile.

They told me that they had graduated from Cosby High School and were on the river floating down to the Huguenot Bridge from James River High School Ramp when their plastic raft hit something in the water and sank. (Cosby is supposed to be the best high school in Chesterfield County, Virginia, too. Kids are supposed to be smart. Then again....)

They swam to shore about a quarter of a mile down river from our Post and walked, barefoot, along the bank, the woods, and our rock parking lot to ask for help to get back to the James River High School ramp to pick up their car to drive back to Huguenot Flatwater and pick up their other car. When I asked them where they had their car keys, they old me that they hid the in their unlocked vehicle at the James River High School ramp.

They also had no idea about the river flowing to the east or which way was east or west. They wanted to swim back to the James River School ramp and I told them to forget that idea and we would give them a ride to their car.

I got Admiral K to agree to give them a ride in his brand new Ford F-250, which he was not too excited about since their swimsuits were still wet. But he gave in, put them in the back seat, and took them back to the James River ramp.

On Thursday morning during our Post clean up day after the crab feast, Chesterfield County personnel came by and tacked up a "No Fishing or Swimming" sign on our small pavilion closest to the river and told us about the sewage leak. We all wondered at the same time if they three boys were in the contaminated water. But they did not smell bad; they seemed to be in good health; and made no complaints about the river water.

And the leak was down river by Tuckahoe Creek and Bosher's Dam so they were OK. Had they continued their journey down to Huguenot Flatwater they would have been in the middle of the spill for sure if they survived going over Bosher's dam or walking around it.

God looks after the dumb people and these three boys could have gotten very ill or drowned at Bosher's' dam but for the blessings of God.

So having their crappy plastic raft sink by our Post was the best thing that could have happened to them.

Hope they get their careers going (CSX Railroad and plumbing and heating for 2 and community college for the third) and pay a lot of FICA.