Images d'Amérique : West VirginiaSéries

Cette série de livres plonge dans le riche passé de la Virginie-Occidentale à travers une collection captivante d'images d'époque. Chaque volume donne vie aux cultures, traditions et au développement uniques des villes et communautés du 'Mountain State'. Explorez des histoires de croissance, de déclin et de renaissance capturées au fil du temps, offrant un portrait saisissant du patrimoine et des habitants de la région.

Ordre de lecture recommandé

Central City
Lola Roush Miller
128pages
5 heures de lecture
In 1893, a few businessmen purchased some land just west of Huntington, West Virginia, to develop a new community. Eventually, Central City--as it was called--bustled with industry, thriving on the five major factories that became the nucleus of the small city. Because of the booming job market, the community grew: families settled; homes, schools, and churches were built; and a government was established. When Central City was annexed into Huntington in 1909, the old industrial town all but disappeared, losing its own identity and rich history. Luckily, Central City's heritage was saved in the late 1980s, when a reunion for early families was organized and funds were allocated by the City of Huntington for the community's rebirth. Today Old Central City is touted as the Antique Capital of West Virginia and hosts Old Central City Days annually to commemorate the vibrant heritage of this almost-lost West Virginia town.
Historic Inns of Southern West Virginia
Ed Robinson
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,8(4)Évaluer
The evolution of lodging in Southern West Virginia from the late 1700s to today highlights the region's natural beauty and historical significance. The book explores diverse accommodations, including log cabins, stagecoach stops, and luxurious mineral springs hotels, many of which served as army hospitals during the Civil War. It offers insights into charming towns like Bramwell and Fayetteville, alongside more commercial areas such as Princeton and Beckley, showcasing the rich tapestry of the region's hospitality history.
Weirton
Dennis R. Jones
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,5(2)Évaluer
Weirton was originally settled as the village of Holliday's Cove, a strategic fortification along the Ohio River in northwestern Virginia. In 1909, a tinplate mill was established in northern Holliday's Cove, and Weirton was born. Thousands of immigrants of many nationalities came here to work and live, while Ernest T. Weir created his life's dream of a fully integrated steel plant. Weirton became the "Largest Unincorporated Town in the Country" and remained unincorporated for 38 years. In 1947, Weirton combined with Holliday's Cove, Weirton Heights, and Marland Heights to become the official City of Weirton. Thomas E. Millsop, president of Weirton Steel Co., became the first mayor, and the mill became a major factor in the city's success. Many historic moments, including the record snowfall of Thanksgiving weekend 1950, were highlighted in the Weirton Steel Employees' Bulletin. Weirton captures this event and tells the story of the "New City," which thrived in the 1950s and 1960s.
Guyandotte
Bob Withers
128pages
5 heures de lecture
Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Guyandotte Rivers, Guyandotte's first industries were logging and steamboat travel. In 1911, after the Civil War's Battle of Guyandotte resulted in most of the town being burned, Guyandotte's residents officially voted to become a part of the newer and larger city of Huntington. Today, Guyandotte is a historic neighborhood with several antebellum homes and landmarks that still stand proudly. Despite floods that ravaged the area in 1907, 1913, and 1937, the community hosts two major industries--Special Metals Corporation, maker of nickel alloys, and Grief Brothers Corporation, a producer of shipping containers. Along with images of the Guyandotte United Methodist Church congregation and the ever-popular Moore's Hardware, which dates from 1947, Guyandotte shares stories of the people and places that have shaped this historic Huntington neighborhood.
Around Shinnston
Robert P. Bice Iii
128pages
5 heures de lecture
Surrounding the West Fork River and its tributaries, the communities in northern Harrison County are rich in both history and pride. With an abundance of natural resources, such as coal and oil, the areas featured in Around Shinnston developed into industries that brought growth and commerce. Many of these towns were named for the coal companies that established mines there, including Gypsy and Owings. Viropa was named for Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, while Wyatt, previously called Goosetown, was renamed to honor a local physician. Big Elm once carried the roots of the largest water elm tree on record, and Enterprise was a large Indian territory. Shinnston is the largest community in Clay District (third largest in Harrison County) and is home to the oldest structure in this part of the state. These areas were the "heart of the Bituminous Coal Fields" and today take pride in their history.
Taylor County
Taylor County Historical Society
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Since its establishment in 1844, Taylor County has known all too well the cycle of growth, decline, and hard-won renewal. Industries such as the railroad, as well as glass, pottery, and brick factories, once provided employment and opportunity for local families and spurred the development of the region. But when these businesses were lost and economic hardship followed, local residents fought mightily to revitalize their community and, through persistence and heart, made Taylor County a welcoming home to new generations of residents. Through the ups and downs of over a century, Taylor County has struggled and triumphed, making its own history in small towns and rural communities. Taylor County, the location of both of West Virginia's national cemeteries, was the site of the first Union casualty during the Civil War. The county's railroad heritage played a prominent role, and the town of Grafton once served as a railway hub and destination for city travelers. Perhaps the county's most influential native was Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother's Day when she initiated a church service in Grafton in 1908. This historic church and Jarvis's birthplace are now local landmarks and honor the vision and determination of the woman who created an international holiday.
Logan County
F. Keith Davis
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Forged through time by varied cultures and numerous crises, Logan County provides an intriguing landscape that has nurtured equally intriguing people. In 1774, after the death of their beloved Chief Cornstalk, a tribe of Shawnee Indians led by his daughter, Princess Aracoma, settled into the area. From meager beginnings, the region began to grow, and in 1824, Logan County was formed and named in honor of Chief Logan, head of the Mingo tribe. By the late 1870s, during the height of the timber and coal industries, it was known as home to the Hatfields of the infamous feud. In 1921, Logan became the backdrop of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed labor confrontation in United States history. Logan County has had more than its share of coal mine disasters, labor uprisings, flash flood tragedies, and shady political shenanigans, but it has always been a naturally beautiful and, for the most part, peaceful place to live and raise a family. It has a fascinating past that is well worth revisiting.
Rainelle
Joan C. Browning
128pages
5 heures de lecture
Most of the lumber camps that harvested 8.5 million acres of West Virginia's virgin forest had faded into history when John Raine built Rainelle in the Meadow River basin in 1909. By recruiting workers of high morale and character, many of them highly skilled, Rainelle became noted as "the best hardwood sawmill town in the country" and "a town built to carry on." Through vintage photographs, Rainelle shares stories of the four generations who built and operated a prosperous Meadow River Lumber Company for 60 years, using the entire tree "from bark to bird's nest," and their descendants who continue building the town decades after the mill's closing. Rainelle captures founders and lumber workers, preachers and physicians, war heroes and athletes, businesses and churches, schools and recreation, as well as that spice of West Virginia life, politics and government.
Cabell County
James E. Casto
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,0(2)Évaluer
Established in 1809, Cabell County is located in West Virginia's Mid-Ohio Valley. When rail tycoon Collis P. Huntington pushed the tracks of his Chesapeake & Ohio Railway across the mountains from Virginia into Cabell County, he founded the town that would become the county's great metropolitan center. Business and industry soon began to rise, and Cabell grew into one of the Mountain State's busiest, most populous regions. This dramatic history of Cabell County begins with the arrival of the area's first settlers and continues into the 21st century. Introduced are James Holderby, Peter Cline Buffington, John Hunt Oley, and the other venturesome souls who set in motion the forces that made Cabell County the thriving place it is today. An informative text and 200 vintage photographs recreate key historical events, including the day when the James Gang robbed the Bank of Huntington, the sagas of Barboursville and Milton, the early days of Marshall University and its spectacular growth and success, and the strange but true story behind the creation of Ritter Park. Readers also gain a feel for life in past eras as they witness the paddle wheelers that plied yesterday's Ohio River and the steam locomotives that chugged their way through the county's history.
Parkersburg
Robert Anderson
128pages
5 heures de lecture
The history of Parkersburg is, essentially, the history of the United States. Founded shortly after Americas independence, Parkersburg grew from a small river town in what was once wilderness to a thriving industrial city to one that is currently redefining itself. Industrial giants, such as Camden and Cabot, made Parkersburg a leader in the oil and gas industry by the early 20th century. The maturing city boasted numerous factories, luxury hotels, upscale stores, and several ornate theaters while also serving as a rail hub. Parkersburg also took pride in education, with architecturally stunning primary and secondary schools and the building of a branch campus of West Virginia University. High school sports contributed to the citys reputation, with a lengthy list of statewide championships won by local schools.
Summers County
Ed Robinson
130pages
5 heures de lecture
4,8(5)Évaluer
Set in the post-Civil War era, the story explores the transformative impact of the steam engine on Summers County, particularly through the bustling hub of Hinton along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The community flourished amidst stunning landscapes, fostering vibrant neighborhoods and economic growth driven by lumber and riverboat traffic. Central to its cultural identity is the legend of John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man, who epitomizes the resilience and strength of the area's inhabitants as they navigated the challenges of modernization.
Huntington: The Levi Holley Stone Collection
John Witek
128pages
5 heures de lecture
A flea market discovery that became an art museum sensation, this collection of photographs by Levi Holley Stone presents the city of Huntington, West Virginia, as it has never seen before. Stone's lens reveals a city of contrasts: a blend of broad boulevards and crumbling alleys, a mix of monuments and mud. It is a place where cars share the road with horses, roughnecks loiter in pool halls, and theatergoers enjoy extravagant musicals direct from Broadway. Newcomers flocked to this commercial hub on the Ohio River, and Stone's images of steamboats, trains, and motorcars show how they traveled. He captured the river, too, when it was frozen enough to walk across and furious enough to drown the city more than once. Stone was born in Huntington in 1898, and he photographed his hometown obsessively. Even his closest friends never knew that the photographs they took for granted were sensitive works of art.
Mercer County
William Archer
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Mercer County, West Virginia, has a rich history that predates the Civil War by nearly 25 years. The book explores the county's origins, highlighting its development and significance in the context of American history. It delves into the lives of early settlers, the cultural influences that shaped the region, and the socio-political dynamics leading up to the Civil War. Through detailed narratives and historical insights, readers gain an understanding of how Mercer County played a pivotal role in the broader tapestry of American society during a transformative era.
Lincoln County
Ralph D. Triplett
130pages
5 heures de lecture
Lincoln County was named for Pres. Abraham Lincoln, and the county seat, Hamlin, was likely named for his vice president, Hannibal Hamlin. Created out of Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, and Putnam Counties in 1867, Lincoln County is characterized by the geographic oddity of three north-flowing Guyandotte, Mud, and Coal. The county developed around its rivers and their tributaries, strategically using them to operate mills and transport goods. Timbering was its first major industry, and readers will see images of the log rafts and push boats that operated along these streams. Arrival of the railroad in the early 20th century opened another transportation artery. There was also a major oil boom around this time. Fossil fuels have remained important to the county s economy, particularly natural gas and coal. Lincoln County highlights what life was like in area communities such as West Hamlin, Branchland, Harts, Hamlin, Griffithsville, and Alum Creek."
Wayne County
James E. Casto
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,5(2)Évaluer
Wayne County, West Virginia, was established on January 18, 1842, from part of Cabell County and named for Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne. The state's westernmost county, it lies at the juncture of two the Ohio and Big Sandy. The town of Wayne is the county seat. Although the southern half of the county was first to be settled, it was slow to develop. In contrast, the northern part bordering Cabell County grew rapidly. The city of Huntington ultimately expanded westward into Wayne County, an area now known as Westmoreland. In addition to Wayne and Huntington, the county has three other incorporated Ceredo, Kenova, and Fort Gay. In the 19th century, timbering and farming were the county's economic mainstays. The southern end of the county experienced a growth spurt when, in 1890, the Norfolk & Western Railway was completed to Kenova. Today, many residents commute to Huntington or nearby Ashland, Kentucky. The county is the birthplace of gospel singer Michael W. Smith, major league pitcher Donnie Robinson, and Fannie Belle Fleming, better known as stripper Blaze Starr.
Bluefield
William R. Archer
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,0(3)Évaluer
The remarkable story of Bluefield represents a unique combination of geology, geography, and opportunity. Once just the confluence of a handful of family farms in southern West Virginia, Bluefield was put on the map, literally, in the 1880s, when the Norfolk & Western Railway came to town. The company’s influence on the rural landscape was overwhelming, and soon, Bluefield was transformed into the center of a coal-fired universe and became a major thoroughfare for the then-thriving mining industry. Though the company—not the coal—was king in Bluefield, enterprising men and women could, and did, share in its success. The city evolved into a successful supply center for the enormous network of towns that sprung up almost overnight throughout the region’s coalfields. For the next 60 years, Bluefield experienced dramatic growth, enticing a diverse group of newcomers who helped to build the strong cultural heritage that continues to play a prominent role in the community to the present day.
West Virginia in the Civil War
Richard A. Wolfe
128pages
5 heures de lecture
West Virginia in the Civil War chronicles the role West Virginians played in the Civil War through the use of vintage photograph West Virginia, Child of the Storm, was the only state formed as a result of the Civil War. West Virginia witnessed battles, engagements, and guerrilla actions during the four years of the Civil War. The struggle between eastern and western Virginia over voting rights, taxation, and economic development can be traced back to the formation of the Republic. John Brown's 1859 raid on the United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry played a major role in the Civil War, which started in western Virginia with the destruction of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad property. When Virginia voted to secede and join the slave-holding Confederacy, the counties of western Virginia formed the pro-Union government known as the Restored Government of Virginia in Wheeling. West Virginia in the Civil War chronicles the role West Virginians played in the Civil War through the use of vintage photographs.
Wyoming County
Ed Robinson
128pages
5 heures de lecture
4,0(1)Évaluer
Wyoming County boasts a rich coal heritage and stunning landscapes, making it a hidden gem in southern West Virginia. Its history, rooted in Native American culture and early farming, evolved with the arrival of the Deepwater Railroad in 1906, solidifying its role in coal production. By the 1920s, it became a leading coal producer. The county also has a notable sports legacy, producing prominent athletes and coaches. Today, it attracts tourists with recreational sites like Twin Falls State Park and the Coal Heritage Trail, showcasing its historical significance.
Mingo County
Andrew Chafin
128pages
5 heures de lecture
The youngest county in the state of West Virginia, Mingo County was formed in 1895. With its majestic mountains and rolling hills, Mingo County has rich natural resources, including timber, coal, gas, and oil. This beautiful area was the location for the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud, which began during the Civil War and expanded throughout southwestern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. It was also the site of a tragic attempt to unionize the coal miners of Mingo County. In May 1920, the Matewan Massacre placed Mingo County in the national spotlight when Matewan chief of police Sid Hatfield and his group of union miners had a shoot-out with the Baldwin-Felts detectives who had come to town to evict striking miners from their homes. Today, the residents of Mingo County live peacefully beside the Tug Fork River. Mingo County reflects the warm-hearted, patriotic, friendly, hardworking people who call this area home.
Along the Kanawha River
Joseph Phillips
128pages
5 heures de lecture
The book delves into the historical significance of the Kanawha River in West Virginia, highlighting the development of towns like Buffalo, Eleanor, Winfield, and Nitro from the 19th century onward. It explores the river's role in transportation and community growth, alongside the unique identities of each town, including their agricultural roots and historic architecture. Key events such as Civil War-era life, early 1900s floods, and the economic challenges of the 1930s are documented, showcasing the resilience and diversity of these communities along the river.