CHAPTER 79
The Tracy Family History
Epilogue
Sometimes, when searching for a story you stumble into
another story that is even more interesting. This is what happened when I neared
the completion of the family history. I discovered that some of our family
plantations in Albemarle, Virginia, are currently owned by John W. Kluge, an
obscure billionaire who currently owns half the world and has an option on the
other half.
Mr. Kluge's rise to fame and fortune began with his
developing the nation's largest chain of independent TV stations called
Metromedia. He sold them to Rupert Murdock for two billion dollars. Fox
Television Network was based upon this transaction. You will all recognize Mr.
Kluge's logo today, for he previously owned, or currently still owns, ORION
Pictures.
Mr. Kluge owns 10 plantations (Apparently, in Virginia they
are called farms.) On Morven Farm (Not one of our plantations.) he has built a
250 room mansion. He did own Spring Hill, which is ours and possibly others that
are ours.
"The land on which lies the old cemetery (Mountain Plains) is currently owned by
an industrialist."
As for the man who was in the business of knowing things, I
don't think he knows that on his farm land next to the old Mountain Plains
Baptist Church lies the unmarked graves of a couple from whom American history
descends.
Research gets confusing at this point.
Apparently, Mr. Kluge donated the 10 farms to the local University. You would
think that the university would maintain the farms in their natural state into
perpetuity. I think the university sold the farms and converted them into cash!
This means ours farms are back in private hands...maybe.
I like to study history. I would hate to have lived it.
--Jim Tracy
the end.
My family history web site has 79 chapters. If you would like to
know more about the other chapters then go to my
Home Page
www.thetracyfamilyhistory.net
About the Author