DODDRIDGE COUNTY – 1957
During my research for a completely different subject, I found an interesting history of our great county that contained some facts that have not been brought into print and I felt it more appropriate to simply print the entire article as it was written. Unfortunately, there was no author 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.
“HISTORY OF DODDRIDGE COUNTY”
“Recreation, and Entertainment, Opera,
Theatre, Hunting, Camping, Etc.”
OPERA HOUSE
“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-month 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 the 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
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.
ALLEN STORE AT CENTER POINT
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 MOTEL
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.
In my opinion, the most important take-away from this article is how many businesses were in West Union in 1957 and how much our small town has declined. Just try to imagine Main Street, West Union… The stores were not only existing but thriving. Restaurants were full of satisfied patrons. The bustling of the townspeople filled the streets and businesses. They found reasons to shop and dine here.
What caused this decline? One might blame the interstate (U.S. 50) that cut through our hills and small towns without regard for consequences. Did it have a negative impact on West Union and other small towns in its path? Research dictates that it did.
Did the removal of the railroad depots and ultimately the removal of the railroad lines themselves have a detrimental impact on the small towns?
Did the introduction of the automobile and better road conditions allow for citizens to travel to larger towns and cities offering larger selections and better prices also contribute to the decline?
Did modern big business & big tech contribute to this decline? It did make for one-stop shopping. In the case of businesses with purchase capabilities like Amazon, Wal Mart, and others, you never have to leave the comfort of your sofa to order whatever you need or want.
One might blame the downward spiral of the economy. It’s true that the economy has been difficult on small towns through the years.
One might blame the lack of work ethics of many of today’s citizens. It’s been said that too many of America’s citizens sit at home and just collect a check for one reason or another, making a career of receiving government handouts.
Some even tout it is the natural order of things for towns and cities to rise…reach their zenith…and then decline.
All are great points, but I contend the blaming game will get us nowhere. The fact is that when this article was written, the beginning of the great decline of America’s small towns had already began. West Union was simply far enough removed that it hadn’t felt the impact at the time. The truth is that pre-1950, the United States was a small-town nation.
“Wait a minute,” you say. “There were large cities back then like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas and others.”
You would be exactly right. However, there was also an enormous collection of small towns that reached from coast to coast and they were booming little towns, full of life. They were truly the heart and soul of America. But something happened back then. What was it that gave birth to the decline of our small towns?
I want to make one thing clear; I am not blaming anyone for anything. This decline began before many of us were even born and most others were but youths. West Union is not alone in this national small-town decline, but we, the people of our small town, are alone responsible for turning it around.
This is our small town. Will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? There is no middle ground this time.
God Bless and Stay Well
Patricia Richards Harris