Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 1, 1990 TAG: 9006020437
SECTION: SMITH MOUNTAIN TIMES PAGE: SMT9 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HARDY LENGTH: Medium
The family has moved its retail business four times in the last 50 years - each time to make way for progress along the Roanoke River.
"We put in 50 years down yonder, so I figure we'll put in another 50 up here," said Herman DeLong, 50.
Delong's father opened a country store in February 1940 in a frame building next to the covered bridge on the Bedford County side of Hales Ford.
The store moved nine years later when a new span was built over the Roanoke River.
Bigger changes came in the 1960s, when the Appalachian Power Co. dam at Smith Mountain forced DeLong relocate to higher ground. Herman DeLong and his wife, Reva, opened a modern-looking gasoline station and convenience store in 1963.
Earlier this year, rising land prices persuaded the DeLongs to sell out to Franklin County developer Ron Willard.
In April, they opened their new store at Hardy Road and Virginia 122 in Franklin County. It's called Come Back Market.
To install gasoline pumps, the DeLongs requested a zoning variance to build a canopy within the minimum 35-foot setback from Virginia 122.
Earlier this week, the Franklin County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the variance.
Herman DeLong - who has been working behind the counter since he was 12 - said he never considered retiring. "You put in your whole life - seven days a week. I expect it would take a little getting used to taking off."
The new store features the glass-top counters from their old store. An aerial photograph shows their Hales Ford Bridge store under construction.
Reva DeLong recalls doing a brisk business in the early 1960s, selling soft drinks and snacks to sightseeers who came to see the lake fill up.
"They would just come out there and sit on the hill and watch the water," she said.
Below are the results of some other zoning requests considered Tuesday by the Board of Zoning Appeals:
Frederick and Mildred Berst of Bowie, Md. Variance for porch already built onto Merry Point home that is closer than 20 feet from Smith Mountain Lake. Denied, 4-2.
Jeffrey L. Gring of Ferrum. Appeal zoning administrator's denial of request to build second home on waterfront lot zoned R-1 off Virginia 644. Upheld adminstrator's decision, 6-0.
The following requests were considered Tuesday by the Franklin County Planning Commission.
Tommy Barnhart of Boones Mill. Variance to build truck hauling business within 5 feet of adjoining property on U.S. 220. Denied, 6-0.
B. Howard Preston of Glade Hill. Variance to side setback requirements to build a garage onto his house at 814 and 876. Approved, 5-1.
Amendments to county subdivision ordinance that requires developers to obtain self-renewing road bonds and to show location of boat docks on subdivision plats.
The following request was considered May 21 by the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.
Earl M. Hodges. Rezone seven-tenths of an acre on Virginia 40 from A-1 to B-2 to operate an heating/air conditioning business. Special use permit to open an associated sheet metal shop. Motion to approve failed on 3-3.
by CNB