West Virginia

Name: Marshall County
Brand: Gary L. Rider
SKU: 9781467128049
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

The remote valleys of West Virginia resound with the echoes of history. The Mountain State was birthed by the cataclysm of a Civil War, a disunion presaged by John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry. The earliest twangs of country music sound from hills and hollers that eavesdropped on ten-thousand years of unrecorded speech. Read the transcript of West Virginia history, from the inauguration of Mother’s Day in Grafton to the aftershocks of the Silver Bridge disaster in our catalogue of West Virginia history books. [View all West Virginia books]

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Marshall County

Southern West Virginia

McDowell County Coal and Rail

Summers County in Vintage Postcards

Harpers Ferry

Wheeling in Vintage Postcards

Bluefield in Vintage Postcards

Charleston

Parkersburg in Vintage Postcards

Ritchie County in Vintage Postcards

Marshall County

9781467128049

$24.99

Marshall County lies at the historic, cultural, and economic crossroads of West Virginia, bounded by the Ohio River to the west, Mason-Dixon Line to the south, Pennsylvania to the east, and the city of Wheeling to the north. Its rich history began over two millennia ago when the Adena people constructed the world-famous Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville. After European settlers arrived, farms gave way to railroads and factories, and Marshall County became a regional hub for manufacturing as well as the site of the notorious West Virginia Penitentiary. Today, the area is enjoying a renaissance as people rediscover Marshall County's unique history, beautiful landscapes, and hospitable traditions.

Southern West Virginia

9780738516653

$24.99

The history of West Virginia is the story of coal and the people whose lives are forever changed by it.

Coal was mined in Southern West Virginia even before the state's birth in 1863 but was mostly consumed within a few miles of where it was dug. When the railroads arrived on the scene, they not only provided a means of getting that coal to market, they also brought in trainloads of workers to the sparsely populated region. With the mines generally located in remote, out-of-the-way spots, operators were forced to build housing for those workers and their families, as well as company stores, schools, and churches- everything needed in a small community. Overnight, the nation's demand for coal turned sleepy, little places in Southern West Virginia into boomtowns and helped cities such as Charleston and Huntington grow and prosper as gateways to and from the coalfields.

McDowell County Coal and Rail

9781467121927

$24.99

Over 200 fascinating postcard images show early coal mining in McDowell County and how it progressed throughout the years.

Coal was discovered in McDowell County, located in the Billion Dollar Coalfield of southern West Virginia, in 1748, but it was not explored or mined until the early 1800s. Mill Creek Coal & Coke Company shipped the first railroad car of coal in March 1883 via the Norfolk & Western Railway. By the early 1900s, hundreds of mining companies dotted the county's landscape. The coal from McDowell County fueled the nation's home heating and steelmaking businesses and both world wars. As the coal industry developed, the local population grew; by 1950, the county had grown from a few hundred people to more than 100,000. .

Summers County in Vintage Postcards

9780738541518

$24.99

Summers County was created in 1871 from parts of surrounding counties. The community's history is based in industry, as the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad was routed through Hinton, the county seat, and booming coal mines fueled the thriving economy. The flourishing homes and businesses of yesterday have been largely preserved through the effort and determination of citizens, allowing residents and visitors to learn the county's history and appreciate its roots. Summers County in Vintage Postcards is a tribute to the founders of Summers County, to its influential residents, and to anyone who has visited and enjoyed the area's natural beauty. In this volume, readers will explore the county's most historically significant structures, such as the Graham House at Lowell, the Summers County Courthouse, the Great Ben Tunnels at Talcott, and Bluestone and Pipestem State Parks.

Harpers Ferry

9780738542911

$24.99

Harpers Ferry, located at the confluence of the beautiful Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, offers visitors a breathtaking view described by Thomas Jefferson as a "scene worth a voyage across the Atlantic." From George Washington's 1796 establishment of the federal armory, through John Brown's 1859 raid to foment slave rebellion and Civil War battles, and to one of the first successful colleges for African Americans, Harpers Ferry has played a significant role in America's history. Hundreds of vintage postcards, many of which are very scarce today, depict this history, the various scenic views and buildings in town, and the daily lives of townspeople over the last century.

Wheeling in Vintage Postcards

9780738515328

$24.99

The history of Wheeling and Ohio County is both eclectic and engaging. Beginning in the colonial era when the legendary Betty Zane saved Fort Henry from an Indian attack by hiding gunpowder in her skirt, Wheeling eventually emerged as an important link between Eastern cities and the rest of the United States. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge, the Old National Road, and the B&O Railroad all passed through the bustling Ohio County. Over the years, Wheeling has been labeled everything from "Victorian Wheeling" to "Sintown USA," and these monikers represent the diverse qualities of a town molded and shaped by the steel, coal, tobacco, and transportation industries. Whether residents and visitors frequented the impressive Victorian mansions or Wheeling's infamous brothel district, they always had something to write home about. The incomparable collection showcased in this book spans five decades and was begun and continued by the Carney family.

Bluefield in Vintage Postcards

9780738516875

$24.99

Nestled at the foot of East River Mountain in the southern tip of West Virginia, Bluefield calls itself "Nature's Air-Conditioned City" and is a place of great cultural, industrial, and natural wealth. The early to mid-1900s were a booming time for the city, thanks to coal mining and the Norfolk and Western Railway. For the many people who lived in or traveled through the region during that era, postcards provided a simple and convenient way to send both personal correspondence and business communications. Today, Bluefield continues to change and evolve but maintains a strong sense of history, with many of its buildings and homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Charleston

9780738542652

$24.99

Take a trip back in time and see how downtown Charleston, West Virginia, looked nearly 100 years ago. This new book is the most complete collection of historic Charleston postcards ever published. The images illustrate how Charleston grew from a small town to become the state capital and a thriving commercial center, and each postcard offers a nostalgic look back at the 20th century. Charlestonians will fondly recall many of the buildings that no longer exist, such as the old public library, Ruffner Hotel, and Charleston National Bank. Likewise, postcards of Capitol Street will evoke memories of once-bustling shops, like Diamond Department Store, McCrory's Five and Dime, and S. Spencer Moore. These postcards freeze moments in time, taking readers on a stroll through downtown Charleston in the early 1900s.

Parkersburg in Vintage Postcards

9780738518176

$24.99

Historically, Parkersburg's rapid development can be attributed to its position at the junction of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers. Steamboats and, later, rail transportation sealed the area's destiny as a successful community. In 1896, Parkersburg resident Gustavus Edward Smith produced images of Parkersburg on a newly developing novelty, the picture postcard. The first in West Virginia, these picture postcards were created two years before the cards were even legally recognized by the United States Postal Service. At the turn of the 20th century, as citizens were enjoying Parkersburg's business, political, and social atmosphere, the postcards industry was thriving on the public's demand for likenesses of interesting buildings,
streets, parks, events, and even disasters.

Ritchie County in Vintage Postcards

9780738517100

$24.99

Ritchie County, West Virginia, named for famed Richmond journalist Thomas Ritchie, was originally founded in 1843 from portions of Harrison, Lewis, and Wood Counties. In the late 19th century, Ritchie County found itself directly on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Line. Early postcards from this era capture the county ripe with natural resources and the grandeur of the quickly developing region. The production of oil and natural gas has been a chief source of development since the early 20th century and continues today. The area is also known for its agricultural and manufacturing developments including livestock, grain, glassware, and lumber products.