The WPA Guide to West Virginia: The Mountain State

Federal Writers' Project

Trinity University Press, Oct 31, 2013 - History - 559 pages

During the 1930s in the United States, the Works Progress Administration developed the Federal Writers’ Project to support writers and artists while making a national effort to document the country’s shared history and culture. The American Guide series consists of individual guides to each of the states. Little-known authors—many of whom would later become celebrated literary figures—were commissioned to write these important books. John Steinbeck, Saul Bellow, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ralph Ellison are among the more than 6,000 writers, editors, historians, and researchers who documented this celebration of local histories. Photographs, drawings, driving tours, detailed descriptions of towns, and rich cultural details exhibit each state’s unique flavor.

The beautiful landscape as well as the significant role of the coal mining industry are both detailed in the WPA Guide to West Virginia. The essay “Country Folk and Country Ways” gives the reader an idea of how rural life was in the Mountain State in the early 20th century and the descriptions of Charleston, Clarksburg, and other cities are complete with stunning photographs of classic Southern architecture.

Contents

• The Way West Virginians Are: 3
• Natural Setting: 8
• Natual Resources and Conservation: 21
• History: 30
• Population and Its Distribution: 61
• Contemporary Government: 65
• Agriculture: 70
• Industry: 76
• Labor: 88
• Transportation and Communication: 97
• Newspapers: 112
• Education: 116
• Religion: 123
• Medicine and Public Health: 129
• Folklore: 136
• The Arts: 144
• Architecture: 159
• CITIES: 167
• Berkeley Springs: 169
• Charleston: 177
• Charles Town: 196
• Clarksburg: 209
• Fairmont: 216
• Harpers Ferry: 224
• Huntington: 235
• Morgantown: 249
• Parkersburg: 260
• Shepherdstown: 269
• Wheeling: 281
• TOURS: 299
• Leeburg VaCharles TownMartinsburgBerkeley SpringsPaw PawCumberland Md State 9: 301
• Charles TownMiddlewayKearneysville State 51 Unnumbered Road: 309
• Frederick MdHarpers FerryCharles TownRipponWinchester Va US 340: 314
• Williamsport MdFalling WatersMartinsburgBunker HillWinchester Va US 11: 317
• Winchester VaRomneyClarksburgSalemParkersburgBelpre Ohio US 50: 320
• Cumberland MdKeyserMoorefieldPetersburgFranklinMonterey Va US 220: 334
• MoorefieldBakerWardensvilleWinchester Va State 55 State 259: 341
• Junction US 220Hermit IslandSmoke HoleKetterman Unnumbered Road: 344
• Cumberland MdRidgeleyFort AshbyRomneyPetersburgMarlington State 28: 347
• Harrisonburg VaElkinsBuckhannonWestonSpencerRipleyMasonPomeroy Ohio US 33: 355
• Redhouse MdElkinsHuttonsvilleLewisburgRoncevertePrinceton US 219: 368
• Valley HeadWebster SpringsCowenCamdenonGauleyJunction with US 19 State 15: 386
• Waynesburg PaFairmontClarksburgWestonGauley BridgeBluefieldTazewell Va US 19: 390
• SummersvilleRichwoodCranberry GladesMill Point Unnumbered Road: 402
• SuttonGassawayClendeninCharlestonYawkey State 4 State 13: 405
• EllenboroGrantsvilleBelva State 16: 409
• Marietta OWilliamstownParkersburgRipleyCharleston US 21: 413
• CharlestonRed HousePoint PleasantGallipolis Ohio US 35: 416
• Covington VaWhite Sulphur SpringsLewisburgEast RainelleGauley BridgeCharlestonHuntingtonAshland Ky US 60: 426
• Covington VaSweetspringsUnionHintonBeckleyRacineYawkeyWest Hamlin State 3: 452
• Junction with US 19MatoaksLoganWest HamlinHuntington State 10: 462
• Wytheville VaBluefieldWelchWilliamsonWayneHuntingtonIronton Ohio US 52: 469
• East Liverpool OhioCHesterWeirtonWheelingMoundsvilleNew MartinsvilleParkersburg US 30 State 2: 480
• New MartinsvilleClarksburgBuckhannonWebster Springs State 20: 494
• Oakland MdTerra AltaKingwoodMorgantownNew Martinsville State 7: 499
• Monterey VaHuttonsvilleElkinsGraftonFairmontMoundsvilleWheeling US 250: 506
• Washington PaTriadelphiaWheelingBridgeport O_ US 40: 515
• APPENDICES: 521
• Chronology: 523
• Bibliography: 533
• 1940 Census Figures: 542
• Index: 545

Bibliographic information

• Title: The WPA Guide to West Virginia: The Mountain State; American guide series
• Author: Federal Writers' Project
• Publisher: Trinity University Press, 2013
• ISBN: 159534246X, 9781595342461
• Length: 559 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / State & Local / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)