John-Boy arrives at the Charlottesville Bank and Trust Company to talk to Mr. Carter about his arrears payment on the press his has bought from Mr. Johnson. Mr. Carter says that unless he can come up with the collateral to cover his loan then the Bank will have to repossess the printing press on Wednesday. John-Boy suggests that he has 10 acres of land that he could put up. Mr. Carter refers John- Boy to the Interstate Land Company which has been buying land in the area.
John-Boy goes to see Mr. Shelby at the land company. He is surprised to hear that he could get $4 an acre when it usually goes for about $1 an acre. He believes that their must be some sort of catch but in the end sells his 10 acres of meadow for $40. Grandpa is beside himself that John-Boy has sold the land to save his press.
Mr. Shelby stops by Ike Godsey's store. Through a series of half truths he reveals that his company is looking to mine gold. Using manipulative tactics he convinces the Godsey's to put a $5 hold of their 12 acres of land. He wants to buy up 80 acres from the other neighbors.
John-Boy investigates what the Interstate Land Company is doing in another part of the county. He sees the devastating effects that their hydralic mining methods has on the land.
The family prepares the farm for a storm that is beginning to brew. John-Boy finds Grandpa up on the meadow saving wild flowers that will be lost now that the land has been sold. He is still at odds with his grandson.
Esther tries to get Zeb to see reason about John-Boy’s decision to save his press but Zeb wins her over by talking about the importance of the preserving the varieties of wild flowers from John-Boy’s meadow before they are lost to the mining company.
John-Boy asks the Reverend if they can hold the Sunday service up on his meadow. Mr. Shelby arrives with hopes of convincing the land owners to sell their property but John-Boy and Grandpa make impassioned pleas to prevent the mountain from becoming a mining company town. The neighbors decide to preserve the land and not make a quick buck. Mr. Shelby decides to keep the meadow instead of selling it back to John-Boy.
FAQs
Elizabeth breaks both legs in a fall from a log pile. When she comes home from the hospital, the family must adjust to her injuries and devise ways to help her walk again, something the Doctors aren't sure she'll be able to do.
Who played Glenn Oldfield on The Waltons? ›
John Fink: Glen Oldfield.
Does John-Boy sell his land? ›
Mary Ellen experiences her first challenges as a nurse.In a desperate attempt to make a loan payment on his printing press John-Boy sells his 10 acre meadow on Waltons Mountain, deeply upsetting Grandpa.
What happened to Mary Ellen's son on The Waltons? ›
In season six, they welcome a son, John Curtis Willard. In season seven, Mary Ellen receives a telegram notifying her that Curt has been killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, but in season nine she learns he is still alive, using an assumed name.
Why did Erin and Paul divorce on The Waltons? ›
During the end voice over , John boy states that Erin's marriage is as strong today as it was when they got married , but in A Walton Thanksgiving reunion , she is divorced and states that it was because she found out Paul was cheating on her .
Did Merle Haggard play on an episode of The Waltons? ›
Haggard appeared in an episode of The Waltons titled "The Comeback," season five, episode three, original air-date October 10, 1976. He played a bandleader named Red, who had been depressed since the death of his son (Ron Howard).
What happened to the original John-Boy on The Waltons? ›
In March 1977, Thomas left the series and his role was taken over by Robert Wightman. However, Thomas returned to the role in three Waltons TV movies in the 1990s, including A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion in 1993. Thomas won an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1973.
What two actors played John-Boy on The Waltons? ›
Wightman replaced Richard Thomas in the role of John-Boy Walton in the TV series The Waltons. He played the role beginning with the show's eighth season in 1979 until the end of the series in 1981.
What does John-Boy do today? ›
He won an Emmy Award for the role in 1973 and has worked steadily since, including several “Waltons” TV movies. Most recently, he played supporting characters in the TV hits “The Americans” and “Ozark” and narrated “A Waltons Thanksgiving” in 2022.
How did The Waltons become so rich? ›
The Waltons are the richest family in America thanks to their stake in Walmart, the world's largest retailer by sales. An estimated 45% of Walmart's stock is held by the families of seven heirs of founders Sam Walton (d. 1992) and his brother Bud (d. 1995).
John Boy Farms is a 6th-generation family farm that has been growing crops since 1879. The operation is located in the fertile Red River Valley of southern Manitoba, 20 minutes from Winnipeg.
In what episode of The Waltons does Elizabeth break her legs? ›
S6 E19 | The Ordeal
Ben and Jim-Bob feel guilty after Elizabeth breaks her legs in a fall from a log pile they stacked improperly.
What happened to John-Boy's leg on The Waltons? ›
He fractured his ankle filming a motorcycle scene for September 30, 1955 (1977).
What happened to Elizabeth from The Waltons? ›
Instead, the now-56-year-old became an educator and has worked as both a teacher and a principal. Read on to find out about Cotler's life after The Waltons and how she moved from being a child star to a children's educator. RELATED: See What Erin From The Waltons Looks Like Now at 60.
