University of Virginia Library

PENOLA

Penola, situated on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad, five miles south of Milford, was named in honor of
John Penn, of Caroline and as nearly the name Penn as possible
without confusing it with an existing name in Virginia at that
time. The original name of the station was Polecat, so called
from Polecat creek which runs nearby.

Here are stores operated by T. B. Jeter, E. M. Coleman
and R. C. Richardson, and excelsior mills operated by W. R.
Jeter, Caroline's largest land owner, and Lyon and Smith. Here
also are the Rose Hill Lumber Company, operated by L. D.
George and John W. Clark, and a flour mill, operated by
George R. Jeter.

There are several well-known estates, among them "Marl
Hill," of the Coleman family, and now owned by the Dews,
"Thornberry," of the George family, "Fairford," of the George
family, and others. It is quite probable that as much mail is
distributed from this office as from any other of similar classification
in the State.