William Bradford Alwood was an early pioneer of pest management and fruit culture. He was referred to by his peers during his era as father of Virginia horticulture, the savior of the Virginia fruit industry, and a worldwide expert in pomology, viticulture, enology, and pest management. At Virginia Tech he is regarded as the father of our horticulture and pest management disciplines and as one of the University's greatest scientists. Today we stand on the shoulders of this giant to further the science of agriculture.
Alwood Homes on VPI (VAMC) Grounds
VPI faculty lived on campus throughout their tenure. Faculty Row was located along the circle of what is now the Virginia Tech Drillfield.
From his first days on campus, Professor Alwood and his family occupied
the "Rock House" (later known as the Alwood house). That house was
located away from Faculty Row - on the northeast end of the drillfield.
In September 1899, Alwood and his family moved to a new house built for
him in the old orchard (later occupied by Dr. Watson in 1902). At that
point the offices of the president, commandant and treasurer were moved
to the Rock House. That turned out to be a very fortunate move for the
Alwood family for during the night of February 14, 1900, in spite of the
efforts of the fire brigade, the Rock House was destroyed by fire. The
conditions that night no doubt contributed to the disaster as the wind
was blowing a gale and temperature was 10 degrees above zero. In the
fall of 1902, another new house was built for Professor Alwood in the
old "Solitude" orchard and Dr. Watson occupied his old house there. The
new house was located just north of the Solitude mansion near the ice
pond.
Alwood
worked and lived on the Virginia Tech drill field. Horticultural Hall
was built in 1890 for the
agricultural experiment station. That building was later used by the
Agricultural Extension Division, by several academic departments, and
by women students until it was torn down to make way for the approach
to Burruss Hall in 1936. Alwood's home (the Rock House) was located
to the east of the horticulture building. Alwood and his family moved
from that home to one in Faculty Row near Solitude in 1899 and later to
another home in the same area. The Rock House became the Administration
Building. Alwood's move from the Rock House was fortunate for on a
blustery night in February, 1900 it burned. It was rebuilt in
1904. Photographs of these buildings are provided to the left.
