More than 100 years ago, the community of Teas was established and emerged.
May 10, 1910, a charter was granted to the Marion Extract Company of not less than $300k and not more than $600k. The officers named on this charter were W.H. Teas of Ridgeway, PA, President and E.M. Campbell also of Ridgeway PA, Vice President. Also J.C. Campbell of Marion was named Secretary and Treasurer. Within a few days of this charter, the company purchased land in Rye Valley which was located along the line of the Marion Rye Valley Railroad. This was designated to be used for the new extract plant that would soon dominate the area. It would be one of the largest of its kind. Read more about the Teas Extract Plant here.
The extract plant was expected to be in full operation by January 1, 1911. It would employ more than 100 men on startup.
Teas was named for William Holmes Teas (1876-1930). Mr. Teas built a spacious home near the extract plant he would oversee which is still standing today. He was born in Patterson, NJ to the Reverend John Teas and Elizabeth M. Holmes-Teas and was a graduate of Penn State College. His father was pastor of a United Presbyterian church. He worked in and around Philadelphia for a while after graduating college until he met his wife, Margaret Hoblitzell. He later established the offices of the Marion Extract Company and then following that, the extract plant and the town of Teas. The family spent about 5 years in the area and were well known. They had 3 boys. In the photo shown, you see the home that Mr. Teas built. It was later the home of G. H. Wilson and family. (shown in photo).
The Teas Extract Plant proved to be very profitable in the area and brought jobs to many. It also brought many people to the area and created a need for company housing, a couple of stores, a school and all of the community events and activities that come along with an influx of people. Teas School operated until approximately 1957 according to most.
The Teas Family relocated to a home along the Chesapeake Bay where he passed away from a brief illness of influenza which turned into bronchial pneumonia on April 28, 1935. Mrs. Teas then made her home in Nashville, TN where the principal factory was then located. William Teas was interred in the West Laurel Cemetery in Philadelphia. A brief service was described in their home in Sharspoint which is near Annapolis, MD. Services were conducted at the Blair Funeral Parlors where services were conducted jointly by Dr. Goodridge Wilson of Marion, VA and Dr. Johnson, Rector of Old St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis
The Teas Community prospered until production slowed; most of the chestnut trees were gone from which they used for extraction by 1930. The extract plant was eventually vacant. The company housing disappeared one by one, stores closed, the post office closed and those people then used the one at nearby Sugar Grove. Once a booming little industry town, it gradually became the quiet little suburb of Sugar Grove we have today, retaining its name.
