During my research on a completely different subject, I found an interesting history of our fair county that contained some facts that have not been brought into print (at least that I have heard about). I felt it more appropriate to simply print the entire article as it was written than to rephrase it. Unfortunately, there was no author identified, so I cannot give credit for the piece nor attest to its validity. I shall pass it on to you exactly as it was written back then. Some of the contents, I am certain you already know. Perhaps there is some that you did not. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
HISTORY OF DODDRIDGE COUNTY
Recreation, and Entertainment, Opera,
Theatre, Hunting, Camping, Etc.
“The Opera House now the Luxury Apartments by the Courthouse is one of the oldest buildings in West Union. It goes back to 1900 and how much farther we do not know. On Nov. 24, 1900, the Merchant’s Carnival was held in it by Prof. F. P. Sheen of Cincinnati. It was sponsored by the Christian Endeavor of the U. B. Church.
In 1906, it was owned by S. P. Smith. An Institute favoring a seven months school was held in it in August 1906. Moving pictures were shown in it in 1935.
Many national figures spoke here. A good example was Senator Dolliver of Iowa, one of the gifted orators of America and a native of Preston County, W.VA. (Of course, we know that he Opera House was recently torn down to make way for the new Doddridge County Courthouse Annex.)
Today we have a moving picture theatre in Town.
Middle Island Creek, which runs through Doddridge County, is the longest creek in the world. According to the Conservation Commission, it is one of the ten best fishing streams in the state.
It has been said that Doddridge is the most rural of all the counties in West Virginia and one of the best for hunting. During 1956 season, there were 331 deer killed in the county for any deer was legal game for hunters that year. For the six days of the season in 1957, there were 75 legal deer killed.
Crystal Lake for Summer and boating and swimming just out of West Union on Rt. 18; the Golf Course at Smithburg; the Recreational Center of the 4-H Camp at Smithburg; Bluestone Recreational Grounds at the High School and the new Community building opened in 1956 for skating, dinners, parties, meetings, etc. makes Doddridge County a recreational center.
Business and Banking
The West Union Bank dates back from 1892 and is the oldest bank. Probably around 1898, the First National Bank organized. It seems the old records have not been kept. The third bank was the Doddridge County Bank and it was closed in 1933.
During the depression, the First National Bank was closed for a time and was reorganized and reopened in Dec. 1933.
In previous chapters, we have dealt with Farming, Manufacturing, Glass Factories, Gas and Oil, Mills, etc. at some length.
In 1906, John A. Morgan was a tailor in West Union and did steam and dry cleaning. That year, the town had also the Era Photograph Gallery. There have been a number of laundries, one of them was the Lee Pon.
In the 1920’s, Wm. Dilly operated the West Union Bakery for a number of years.
The Allen Store at Center Point is more than 100 years old and as the largest variety of goods, probably, to be found anywhere in the state on one floor in any unincorporated town. It has been said that in the old days, this store purchased a carload of snuff.
The store at Leopold is of the pioneer type including the Post Office with a large stock and great variety. They still have the stick candy in the wide mouth jars.
Greenwood has the modern motels and Smithburg has the Superior Dairy.
The Markey Store was founded in 1880 by the father of J. B. Markey. It is a large clothing Department Store of a size rarely found in a town the size of West Union.
The D. E. McNutt Store in West Union started as an O. J. Morrison Store in 1923. It is owned by D. E. McNutt now.
The writer has lived in ten towns in West Virginia and finds more advantages in West Union than any town in which he has lived. For more than 30 years the town has had mail delivered to the homes. And the post office officials have been the kindest, and most considerate and courteous too. Many do not realize the value of a quiet clean town such as West Union.
West Union has: The A. and P., Franklin Variety, Western Auto chains, several groceries home owned, the large Star Furniture, three hardware stores, several restaurants, Farmer’s Cooperative dial telephone system, fine water, two undertakers, two jewelers, two barbers, paint and paper shop, two beauty shops, T. V. shop, dress shop, drug store, Dairy Queen, confectionary, dry cleaners, shoe repair shop, two large garages, plaining and lumber dealers, and electricity with a Monongahela Appliance Store. The above mentioned, and several more business and advantages are found in West Union.
The U. S. mint uses only 12 cents worth of metal in every dollar’s worth of nickels.”
I’m not sure how that last sentence fits into our story, but it was included, and I printed as it was written.
The Doddridge County Farm Service, Inc. located at 100 Garrison, Avenue in West Union was originally established by Israel Bee Hutson as the West Union Feed and Supply Company. It was incorporated on June 6, 1940. It was later owned by his son, Cecil Hutson.
On December 1, 2008, the Doddridge County Farm Service, Inc. was revoked for failure to file an annual report. Officers were Paul Weekly, Director, Bill Ingram, Director, Johnson Williams, Incorporator, J. Pitts, Incorporator, Marvin Osbourne, President, John Strickling, Secretary, Jeff Stefanov, Treasurer, and Stolke Hurst, Jr., Vice President.
God Bless and Stay Well
Patricia Richards Harris
