Thurmond in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
1923
Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024
1. 1923 Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 37° 57.485′ N, 81° 4.779′ W. Marker is in Thurmond, West Virginia, in Fayette County. It can be reached from Thurmond Road (County Road 25/2) south of Beury Mountain Road (County Road 25/2), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7 Thurmond Road, Oak Hill WV 25901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the New River Gorge and in Greater Charleston Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1922 (here, next to this marker); 1927 (here,
this page online
Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024
2. 1923 Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024
3. The National Bank of Thurmond
Photographed by Craig Doda, March 3, 2024
4. The National Bank of Thurmond
A Booming Economy
Thurmond's economy was strong enough to support two banks, with hundreds of thousands of dollars changing hands each year. Between 1910 and 1914, over 47 businesses contributed to Thurmond's robust economy. The community developed into a major center for private enterprise, a rare thing in a region where coal companies often held a monopoly within individual towns.
Where Money Changed Hands
The National Bank of Thurmond was considered a beautiful building to behold. The pillared facade seen today was added to this building's exterior in 1923 after the bank relocated here from inside Hotel Thurmond. This bank failed in 1931 during the Great Depression. The town's other bank, New River Banking & Trust Company (bank interior above), remained solvent but relocated to Oak Hill in 1935. Today it remains a financial institution, though now renamed.
Thurmond's economy was strong enough to support two banks, with hundreds of thousands of dollars changing hands each year. Between 1910 and 1914, over 47 businesses contributed to Thurmond's robust economy. The community developed into a major center for private enterprise, a rare thing in a region where coal companies often held a monopoly within individual towns.
Where Money Changed Hands
The National Bank of Thurmond was considered a beautiful building to behold. The pillared facade seen today was added to this building's exterior in 1923 after the bank relocated here from inside Hotel Thurmond. This bank failed in 1931 during the Great Depression. The town's other bank, New River Banking & Trust Company (bank interior above), remained solvent but relocated to Oak Hill in 1935. Today it remains a financial institution, though now renamed.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 7, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
