Thurmond in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
The Railroad Was the Town
New River Gorge National River
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
The rails that you see here symbolize Thurmond’s essence—the railroad. These rails were truly Thurmond’s main street. Coal was king, but was worthless if it couldn’t get to market. Workers in Thurmond’s engine house kept the C&O Railway’s coal trains rolling, and the tons of coal shipped from Thurmond’s rail yards produced immense revenue for the C&O.
Every aspect of Thurmond centered on the railroad. It provided jobs and brought materials, merchandise, and paying passengers. People up and down the line flocked to Thurmond. At one time 20 passenger trains stopped daily. Thurmond was steam, smoke, cinders, noise, and the people who depended on the railroad.
"You really couldn’t keep (anything) clean though, because of the coal trains and soot and all that stuff. It was very hard to keep house in Thurmond…you could go out on the porch and sweep it at noon, and by four o’clock it was covered up with cinders again."
Mrs. Jane Graham Lawson.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 37° 57.534′ N, 81° 4.824′ W. Marker was in Thurmond, West Virginia, in Fayette County. Marker was on Thurmond Road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Thurmond WV 25936, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. July 2013 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1998 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1995 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1995 - 1998 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1995 (within shouting distance of this marker); Changing Town (within shouting distance of this marker); 1993 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1985 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thurmond.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on March 7, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 27, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.