Whereas the answer to the heretofore mentioned will never be known one fact is for certain-the Elk & Little Kanawha Railroad holds the distinction as the only railroad to exist in Calhoun County. Although the Little Kanawha Railroad and a subsequent connection to it by the E&LK were not realized it makes for curious conjecture that had this occurred would the life span of the E&LK have been extended. Had this railroad been completed through Calhoun County the tentative plans called for the E&LK to connect with it at Russett but obviously these plans never came to fruition. There were grand visions for this ill-fated (Little Kanawha Syndicate) railroad for incorporation into a competing trunk line but maligned financial and legal issues rendered the prophecy unfulfilled. From Parkersburg, the Little Kanawha Railroad was constructed with the intention of reaching Burnsville but was completed no further than Owensport in Wirt County. Another proposed development that did not materialize was a rail connection for the E&LK in Gilmer County along the Little Kanawha River.
It is interesting to note that the Elk & Little Kanawha Railroad optimistically explored constructing its line to Parkersburg early in its existence. At the end of the decade, another railroad would appear at Gassaway built to tap the natural resources in the tri-county region of Braxton, Gilmer, and Calhoun. Geographically, Braxton County-namely the location that became Gassaway-was established as the mid-point on the Coal and Coke Railway resulting in the construction of a large yard and locomotive service facilities. Chartered as the Coal and Coke Railway in 1903, it was at the vanguard of industrial development in Braxton County along the Elk River. Greater ambitions were in the works, however, when Henry Gassaway Davis purchased the railroad with the intent of expansion to Elkins. Direct link to the photo archives: Hur Herald Grantsville suffered a major fire in 1966: Hur Herald Some of the old news stories are a bit comedic, others quite sad, some can be both.
Hur herald archive#
To the west in neighboring Clay County, the Charleston, Clendenin & Sutton Railroad was completed beyond Clay Court House (Clay) to Otter (Ivydale) by the turn of the century. Calhoun County West Virginia News - Hur Herald Neat little website with a nice archive of old photos and news from 1880 forward, and current news as well. The region was rich with natural resources and the railroad was coming as a harbinger to prosperity. Example: 110 10 more expensive than national average.
West Virginia was an orchard of promise ripe for harvest during the first decade of the 20th century and its optimism shone throughout the Elk River valley. The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Fawn Creek area is 94.7 (lowerbetter).
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