506 Cliffview Road , Galax, VA 24333(Carroll County)

The Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency was founded by William G. Baldwin in the early 1890s. The agency was originally founded in Charleston, WV and moved his business to Roanoke, Virginia to oversee all of Norfolk Western railroad security. William hired Thomas L. Felts as a partner with is agency. Thomas was a lawyer and a native of Galax, Virginia. William hired Felts to provide legal advice for the firm and by 1910 they formed the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency.

The company primarily started off providing railways with security and armed guards. They provided investigative and security services against train robberies, train accidents and other crimes. This eventually led the company to providing detective work at the state and federal levels.

The Baldwin-Felts were best known for the crime stopping heroism against the infamous Allen Family of Carroll County. Members of the Allen Family were wanted for a courthouse shootout in 1912 in Hillsville, Virginia that left a Judge, Sheriff, Prosecutor & juror member dead. The Baldwin-Felts agency intervened (Led by Thomas Felt) and the agency was able to locate and arrest all of the fugitives.

The Baldwin-Felts Agency was also involved in the famous Matewan Massacre in West Virginia where seven Baldwin-Felts Agents were killed including two of Thomas Felts own brothers. The shootings were led by Matewans Chief of Police Sid Hatfield.

Mourning the loss of his men and two brothers, Thomas Felts and his desire for vengeance brought sweet revenge just one year later. As Sid Hatfield approached the top of the courthouse steps for his hearing, Baldwin-Felts agents opened fired and killed Sid Hatfield. All agents claimed self defense and no charges were filed. Thomas Felts had gotten his revenge.

As railroad crimes decreased in the early 1900s, the Baldwin-Felts Agency started to do work in the mining industry. The Mining Companies would hire the agency to maintain law & order for mining management disputes, provide intelligence from the unions and suppress strikes. The Baldwin-Felts agents became the muscle for the mining companies for many years.

William G. Baldwin went on to work in the Financial Industry. He served as bank president, as well as, board member for several different banks. Thomas L. Felts was also involved in banking and served as the president of First National Bank of Galax. He was later elected as a Virginia State Senator. William G. Baldwin dies at the age of 75 in 1936. Thomas L. Felts died a year later at the age of 69. He owned several farms during his life and was known as a very public-spirited man who was very caring for his community.

Thomas L. Felts built his Cliffside residence in Galax, Virginia in 1902 and the Victorian mansion & cottages including the incredible 216 acre farm that surrounds it is being offered at public auction on Friday November 9, 2012. This historic Victorian manor house offers 6 bedrooms and 4 baths, expansive porches and is complemented by several one and two bedroom cottages nearby. The home has been maintained in excellent condition and offers endless uses and potential. The New River Trail State Park has over 57 miles of recreational trails stretching from Galax to Pulaski. The Cliffside property offers long frontage on the New River Trail State Park as well as Chestnut Creek, which is a tributary to the New River and is stocked with trout. There are multiple original barns and out buildings throughout the property. A covered picnic shelter and three cottages are only a few steps away from the Chestnut Creek and the New River Trail.

The possibilities are limitless with the multitude of uses this property offers. This property will be offered in 13 tracts. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to purchase part or all of this beautiful estate and all of the history that goes with it.

Carroll County, Virginia

Auction - 200 Acres Offered in Tracts - November 8 and 9, 2012