Thurmond was once one the greatest railroad towns along the Chesapeake & Ohio railway. Founded in 1873 by Captain W. Thurmond it became the chief railroad center on the C&O mainline. In 1910 seventy five thousand passengers were documented as having passed through Thurmond. Let us imagine what the place would have looked like.
The year is around 1923, you have just alighted from the Cincinnati-Ohio C&O engine # 4. The two-story depot is buzzing with people. As you walk into town you notice the railroad tracks almost abut the sidewalks and busy ladies are brushing off the coal dust from their porches knowing well the dust will be just as bad within the hour. The air is thick with locomotive smoke and children dart in and out. There are two hotels and you are booked into the Hotel Thurmond. This hotel has thirty-five rooms, seven bathrooms and four hundred electric lights; oh boy this is luxury. As you approach the hotel you notice the first and second floor verandas extend to the railroad tracks.
Across the river the hotels main competition the Dunglen is more luxurious and boasts entertainment, it is nicknamed "Dodge City of the East." In fact the Washington post described the place as being "busier than Broadway on a Saturday night."
Despite its small size the town boasted two banks, two dry goods stores a jewelry shop and several grocery stores. Medical personnel included a doctor, Nurse and Dentist. There was also a small school and church.
The year is 2006 and the passenger depot is silent apart from the roar of the river which runs alongside. In 1995 the National Park Service restored the building for use as a visitor center it is also a flag stop for the Amtrak trains. Exhibits relating to its coal-mining heritage, furniture and rail artifacts are housed here. The building is closed today but will re- open on Memorial Day.
Walk around the town. On your right you will see the foundation of the old hotel and in the distance you can see the coaling station. A section of commercial buildings remain. The Bank of Thurmonds window sign offers 3 percent interest on savings. The oldest building in this commercial row is the Mankin Cox constructed in 1904. Restoration on these buildings is ongoing and information boards describe each section. The decline of Thurmond came with the depression when businesses and banks failed The change from steam to diesel engines totally sealed its fate.
Thurmond is now part of the New River Gorge National River. We hiked in from the Thurmond Minden trail a very pretty and easy hike (3.5 miles). This predominantly level trail crosses five railroad trestles with several overlooks of the New River. For movie buffs some scenes from the film Matewan were filmed in front of Thurmonds storefronts.
Thurmond Visitor center open 9am to 5pm from Memorial Day and 9am to 5pm weekends out of season. Phone (304)465-8550.