Grafton High School - Re Echo Yearbook (Grafton, WV)

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The first house built in Grafton was in 1811. It was occupied by the Yates family, then later by the Mackin family. The first child born in Grafton was reported to have been born in this house. It was located where the Kisner Esso Station now stands. Yates Avenue was named for this Yates family. The first Catholic Church was erected in Grafton, May. 1857 and was dedicated in November of the same year. The first court house in Taylor County was located in Pruntytown and occupied on March 22, 1849. The county was established in 1844 and was named for U. S. Senator John Taylor of Caroline County, Virginia.

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HISTORY OF GRAFTON Taylor County was a part of that vast domain of Virginia known as West Augusta prior to the Revolutionary War. It was an unbroken, tractless wilderness, whose only stillness was broken by the shrill battle cries of the savage bands of Indians. The first record of white men in what is now Taylor County is that of David Tygart and Robert Files who are credited with the discovery of the Tygart Valley River. In 1834, the Northwestern Turnpike was completed to the banks of the Tygart Valley River, and in 1835 a covered bridge was built over the river. A village quickly sprang up at the north end of the bridge called Covered Bridge , (Fet-terman). On March 17, 1852, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad completed its line to Valley Bridge and built a roundhouse and machine shop on the land opposite the present Hazel Atlas Glass Plant. Industries such as a tannery, bootmakers, grist mills, saw mills, tobacco factory, and a general store soon began to establish themselves. In 1856, the citizens of Valley Bridge petitioned the Legislature of Virginia for a charter to incorporate their village. The name was changed to Fetterman in honor of Mrs. Sarah B. Fetterman, who was the owner of practically all the land covered by the village. In 1854, Grafton Junction was without a railroad station and all goods were carried to the Valley Bridge by train and then had to be hauled back to the Junction. With the growth of Grafton Junction, the B O established a station composed of two small frame buildings at the foot of St. John Street which was used for both freight and passenger business. By 1856, the population of Grafton Junction had increased to 606, and the citizens petitioned the Virginia Legislature for papers to incorporate, which were ratified, and became effective on March 15, 1856. In the same year the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad erected the old road deportment shops and pumping station, and that summer the foundation for the historic old Grafton House was begun in the triangle between the tracks of the B O and the North West Virginia Railroad. In 1857, the North West Virginia Railroad was completed to Parkersburg, and the B O immediately purchased the property of this railroad; the Grafton House was opened; and the first band to be heard in Grafton came in on one of the trains; a plant for the manufacture of illuminating gas was erected; and in 1859 William Siegfried established the first weekly newspaper, called the Grafton Guardian. During the years of 1855, 1856, and 1865, many of the churches established themselves in Grafton. The Presbyterians, Catholics, Methodist Episcopal, and the Baptist were among the first. When the Governor of Virginio started a movement for all slave-holding states to secede from the union, he met with bitter opposition from the western counties. Virginia seceded on April 17, 1861. George Latham, sensing the coming struggle between the North and the South, opened a recruiting station in his newspaper office, and by May he had a full company enrolled. Colonel George A. Porterfield was ordered to seize the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from Harper's Ferry to Grafton by the Governor of Virginio. At the same time Captain John A. Robinson, who was camped in Fetterman, was ordered to take Grafton, but he was stopped by the Grafton Guards and no further attempt was made to seize the town. In 1866, John W. Blue donated free burial ground to the city which later bought eight additional acres from him. In 1870, the first Taylor County Foir was held and the Central School was opened; in 1871, the court house was moved from PrunJytown to Grafton; in 1872, the first Grafton High School was started; and during the years of 1873 and 1875 Main, Latrobe, and St. John Streets were paved with cobble stones, and George Brinkman began the foundation of a three story brick building that was to house the Opera House. Mail service was established on local trains operating between Grafton and Parkersburg on August 31, 1881 and on the Grafton and Greenbrier Railroads on March 1, 1884. Grafton Park was the site of many picnics and old-time dances. The Grafton and Greenbrier Railroad went through the park and offered ten cent fares to and from the park. It became a favorite playground because of its fine bathing beach and delightful shade. The big fire of 1887 started in an ice cream parlor and took thirty-three buildings in its course. In 1890 the West Virginia Reform School was established. During this year the Merchants and Mechanics Bank was opened and a year later natural gas was brought into the town for fuel purposes. By this time the population of Grafton was 3,159. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built an extension of the Grafton and Belington branch from Tygart Junction to Buck-hannon in 1895. In 1900, E. M. Wilkins was granted a franchise to operate an electric street railway, charging no more than five cents fare. Many people will remember the early 1900's because of the typhoid epidemic. Washington, Market, Haislip, and Grand Streets were paved during 1902. It was this year that a violent hailstorm swept the town, causing great damage to trees and garden crops. In 1903, Fetterman was annexed to Grafton; Maple Avenue was paved with brick; and John Philip Sousa brought his world famous band to the Opera House for a concert. On May 10, 1908, the first Mothers' Day service was held in Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church. Miss Anna Jarvis, of world fame as the founder of this day, was born at Webster and lived her early life in Grafton. For seven years she served as a teacher in the old Central School. During the Twentieth Century, Grafton has shown as much progress as in the past. In 1911, the Willard Hotel, now known as the Hotel Grafton, and the new Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station were built. The Tygart Dam was started in 1934 and is the largest flood control dam this side of the Mississippi River. Since then the Tygart Lake State Park has been developed until it ranks among the top. Picnic areas, a modern bath house, a concrete slab for bathing and new concession facilities have been erected plus a few cabins for tourist accommodations. In 1939, our present high school was begun and was equipped with all modern facilities. Its first class was graduated in 1940. Also, many new industries have established themselves in the city. The potentials Grafton showed one hundred years ago have been and are being realized. Yet we know that the work is not done but just begun, for in its future Grafton holds the possibilities of a thriving industrial city and many more years of progress.

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This is the first locomotive used on the Parkersburg Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for hauling fast freight. John H. Gigley was the engineer. The Grafton House and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station were built between the railroad tracks leading to Wheeling and Parkersburg. It was in this hotel that the attack of the Civil War against the Confederates at Philippi was planned. It was built in 1857. Some of the leading businesses of 1876 were located on Railroad Street. Important in that day was the boardwalk which extended from Ethel to St. Johns Street. Many of the town's people gathered here to watch the trains come and go. This old Ross Winan's Cornel Engine ran between Grafton and Piedmont. Eight of these engines were transferred to the Parkersburg division in 1857 to handle the traffic. Previous to this picture the Confederate Troops were camped at Fetterman. Captain Robinson, in charge of Confederate Troops, hod taken his men for a tour of the town when they saw the stars and stripes proudly flying in front of the home of Mrs. George Latham. Robinson asked her to take them down and when she flatly refused he highly insulted the flag. Upon this act George Jordan, who had been watching from the porch of the Ward House, threw a chair at Robinson, knocking him from his horse. Quite indignant, Robinson started to order his men to open fire. When he saw Latham's men approaching in the distance, he and his men ran back to Fetterman. They remained here until two women spies reported that forces of Union soldiers were on their way to Grafton. Among these troops were two men destined to become president of the United States—Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. The Union forces took Grafton without firing a shot. 10