Grandview in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Skidders and Boomboats
May 6, 2022
1. Skidders and Boomboats Marker
While early explorers knew about the rich timber and coal resources in this region, it took the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad through the New River Gorge in 1873 to open the area up to major logging and mining operations. The C&O provided the key connection for coal mines and sawmills to get their products to market.
But coal mines, sawmills, and other entrepreneurs were on their own when it came to transporting their products down to the C&O main line. Before the construction of branch rail lines, getting those goods to market could be quite complicated.
Timbering operations here on the Grandview Plateau in the early 1890s involved hauling or “skidding” the timber by wagon to a circular sawmill at Crow. Milled products were then hauled by horse-drawn tram cars on narrow-gauge rails over to Grandview clifftop, then lowered via monitor to the New River, and finally ferried across the river via “boomboats” to Quinnimont.
Erected 2022 by Raleigh County Historical Society and National Coal Heritage Area Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed
May 9, 2022
2. Crow Ridge Tunnel Marker Series
This set of NCHAA markers summarizes the story of Raleigh County's first railroad, and subsequent historical developments.
this page online
Location. 37° 46.197′ N, 81° 4.13′ W. Marker is in Grandview, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. Marker is on Grandview Road (County Road 9) 0.1 miles east of Jewel Road, on the right when traveling south. Located at Grandview Shell Station, just off of I-64 exit 129. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1737 Grandview Rd, Beaver WV 25813, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Glade Creek Timber (here, next to this marker); Boom, Bust & Rebirth (here, next to this marker); Grandview Park (approx. 3˝ miles away); Big Beaver Creek Ancient Fortification (approx. 4˝ miles away); Shady Spring (approx. 4˝ miles away); Beckley Mill (approx. 5 miles away); Green Beret Birthplace (approx. 5.2 miles away); Clarence W. Meadows (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grandview.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2022, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on May 9, 2022, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 9, 2022, by Merle T. Cole of Daniels, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
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