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(rshsdepot) Oak Hill, WV
From the Fayette Tribune=2E=2E=2E
OAK HILL - Throughout the near record-breaking summer heat, members of the=
White Oak Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society labored
tirelessly to restore the Oak Hill Depot, which is considered the last
remaining Virginian Railway depot in West Virginia=2E It is also the oldes=
t
standing public building in Oak Hill=2E
Built around 1903 by the White Oak Railway Company, the station served as =
a
checkpoint for counting coal cars and tonnage=2E As a combination passenge=
r
and freight station, it produced added revenue for the company=2E
On Oct=2E 31, 1917, the Virginian purchased all of the White Oak Railway
Company property=2E The Virginian stretched eastward only 596=2E8 miles fr=
om
southern West Virginia to two coal piers in Virginia: at Sewell Point,
Norfolk, and Hampton Roads, the largest ice-free harbor in North America=2E=
From there the "black gold" was shipped to worldwide markets=2E Some coal
went to the C&O at Deepwater, Gilbert and Stone Coal Junction, and to the
N&W at Gilbert=2E=20
"The Virginian was one of the richest little railroads in the world," wrot=
e
Lloyd D=2E Lewis, author of "The Virginian Era=2E"
Perhaps of special interest to Fayette countians, the Virginian Railway wa=
s
planned in the home of Col=2E William N=2E Page at Ansted=2E At the first
stockholders' meeting held there on April 15, 1907, he was named Virginian=
Railway president=2E
Standard Oil millionaire Henry Huttleston Rogers was the Virginian's
builder=2E Mr=2E Rogers ordered the best engineering and construction
techniques for the railroad=2E The Virginian became the most solid railroa=
d
in America=2E
It was equipped with huge locomotives, ran the heaviest trains in the
world, built and bought big coal cars, and built tall strong bridges and
long tunnels=2E It was an industry leader for several reasons: profitabili=
ty,
efficiency, and highest construction standards of the era and "family
spirit=2E" Larger competitors N&W and C&O sought after it=2E
Virginian historian H=2E Reid, author of "The Virginian Railway," said, "T=
he
VGN was a Real Railroad - one of immense equipment and wealth=2E"
In railroad annals some consequential events having great impact upon the
lives of families living here in Fayette County during the course of the
last century were:
* 1903 - The White Oak Railway Company, expanding its line, laid the rails=
from Glen Jean through Oak Hill to Lochgelly, and built the White Oak Depo=
t;
* July 1, 1909 - The official opening of the Virginian Railway;
* Nov=2E 12, 1912 - The Virginian and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railways
jointly leased all of the White Oak Railway Company property;
* Oct=2E 31, 1917 - The Virginian purchased the same, granting the C&O
Railway continued joint operation rights;
* 1958 - The last full year of the Virginian's production; and
* 1959 - The Virginian merged with the Norfolk Western Railway=2E
Today, when we in the year 2002 drive past the Oak Hill Depot, it is
difficult to realize, but certainly impressive to consider the immense
fortune that rolled over those tracks for nearly six decades=2E Cars were
heavily laden with tons of sought-after bituminous coal of the highest
quality=2E Every car was listed at the depot by the station dispatcher as
they lumbered slowly through town on their way to worldwide markets=2E
So important was the railroad to the development of the town and its
environs, the road adjacent to the tracks was originally called Railroad
Avenue and later Virginia Street, and in time, Depot Street was named
Central Avenue=2E
I can still hear the creaking moans and low groans of the cars as they
slowly moved down the rack past my Grandmother Hill's house on Railroad
Avenue=2E They moved so cautiously that from her yard a little pre-schoole=
r
learned at a very early age how to spell her name: Virginia=2E
Lest we forget, the Oak Hill Depot and the tracks have a story to tell=2E
They are worthy of preservation=2E The White Oak Chapter is very proud and=
very fortunate to have this opportunity to restore such an important
Fayette County landmark and to establish an historical museum therein=2E T=
he
White Oak Chapter appeals to everyone interested to come join in this
worthwhile project=2E
Chapter meetings are held every second Monday of the month at 7 p=2Em=2E a=
t the
City of Oak Hill's fire department, located on the corner of Virginia
Street and Summerlee Avenue=2E
For more information, please call Ed Chaffin, president, at 304/255-6267=2E=
(Carolyn Hill is a charter member of the White Oak Chapter of the National=
Railroad Historical Society=2E Her sources include "The Virginian Era," Ll=
oyd
D=2E Lewis, TLC Publishing, Inc=2E, 1992, and "The Virginian Railway, H=2E=
Reid,
Kalmbach Publishing Co=2E, 1961=2E)=20
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
------------------------------