Although most residents sided with the Union, people of Grafton and this area were divided. - See 29 traveler reviews, 49 candid photos, and great deals for Grafton, WV, at Tripadvisor. West Virginia State Police are investigating a new but undisclosed lead in the 1986 disappearance and death of an Oak Hill girl, State Police Cpl. At the request of Ms. Anna Jarvis, the congregation of this church recognized mothers and their significance to the formation of our country. 47–48. P. F. Gillispie, Mayor. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908 and the city is home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. The population density was 1,491.1 people per square mile (575.9/km2). The Tygart Valley River flows through Grafton. "Mr. Blue, a Virginian of the old school, was greatly moved...and...an offer of $300 for 900 acres...and their ruined home...was quickly accepted."[14]. It was formed out of parts of Barbour, Harrison, and Marion counties in Virginia. Stay in-the-know with all the latest updates,upcoming events & much more. Western Maryland 2-8-0 #835 (Class H-9) leads the assault up legendary Black Fork Grade (3%+ in some locations) near Hendricks, West Virginia on November 13, 1952. This town served as the county seat of government from the county's founding in 1844 until a county election in 1878 moved that honor to Grafton, West Virginia. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org. [7] The population was 5,164 at the 2010 census. The Northwestern Virginia Railroad and its rail yard and machine shops at Grafton were also a probable objective of the Jones-Imboden Raid in April 1863. Media in category "Grafton, West Virginia" The following 85 files are in this category, out of 85 total. Email us, or follow along on social media to see what’s happening in and around Grafton. The median income for a household in the city was $18,981, and the median income for a family was $25,161. >> Page 2 History: A Brief History of Grafton. The International Mother's Day Shrine. No injuries were reported. The dam was one of Pres. It … Wooley, J.T, and Peters, Gerhard, "The American Presidency", December 1, 1978 Invitational White House Interview of President Jimmy Carter by Eldora Nuzum about the Appalachian Regional Commission, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 1999–2009. Get in . 3; Medium. By the mid-fifties, however, many employees had to relocate due to changes in the economy as industrial jobs waned. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.80 square miles (9.84 km2), of which, 3.67 square miles (9.51 km2) is land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2) is water.[32]. [10] According to family tradition, Current traded a "gray horse" for 1,300 acres of land located where present-day Grafton developed. Construction on the Grafton Municipal Hospital by the W. P. A. While not every image we have has been scanned into this database, it showcases a small selection of our many photographs, glass plate negatives, tintypes, prints, and other still images. People moved elsewhere for work.[27]. Because of the residents' efforts, Grafton was given an All-America City Award by the National Civic League in 1962, the smallest city that year to receive the award. Gen. Lee soon replaced Porterfield with CSA Gen. Robert S. The population was 5,164 at the 2010 census. 50 (W of the tygart river bridge). Congressman (and future Confederate colonel) from nearby Marion County. Whether you want to know about Grafton's history, census information, data or when the library is open, these key links make it easy to get around Grafton - virtually. This was opened in 1868 to provide a burial ground for Union soldiers who died in West Virginia's military hospitals and battlefields. The B&O work crews completed the line on January 11, 1852 and the first "iron horse" arrived two days later. Location of Grafton in Taylor County, West Virginia. In 1835, John Blue purchased 300 acres from the Current family and shortly thereafter “Bridge Valley” (present day Fetterman) began to grow. WVRHC's growing online collection of 50,000+ historic images pertaining to West Virginia and the central Appalachian region, digitized from the Center's extensive physical collection. The Federal Government selected Grafton as the site of the national cemetery for its proximity to the Maple Avenue Cemetery, which already contained the remains of many US Civil War veterans. [12] He is interred at the Grafton National Cemetery. West Virginia has a rich collection of historical places in Grafton and beyond. This was a young man who was only 19 years old and started surveying for fees at the age of 15. CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of January 12, 2021, there have been 1,664,418 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 103,203 total cases and 1,634 deaths. Also, at one newly established gauging station, Three Forks Creek near Grafton, the peak discharge, 12,000 ft3/s, was estimated to exceed the 100-year recurrence interval. Grafton is located at 39°20′30″N 80°1′11″W / 39.34167°N 80.01972°W / 39.34167; -80.01972 (39.341757, −80.019817),[31] along the Tygart Valley River. Some are very high quality and some are just low quality internet size images, but all document the history and lifestyle of the town and … On the evening of May 22, 1861, the two forces had a small scuffle in the town of Fetterman, which is now a part of Grafton, that resulted in the death of Thornsberry Bailey Brown who was the first soldier killed in the Civil War. According to a Harrison-Taylor 911 supervisor, a call was received at 8:55 a.m. regarding a fire at a residence. . The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. Grafton-Taylor County (West Virginia) Health Department confirms more than 40 COVID-19 cases GRAFTON, W.Va. (WV News) — Grafton Taylor County Health Department has confirmed 44 cases of COVID-19 in the last four days, bringing the total … ", Memorial Day services at Grafton National Cemetery include a special tradition known locally as "Flower Strewing Day." This neighborhood (now a suburb of Grafton) became known as Blueville and it — along with the nearby area called "Valley Bridge" (present day Fetterman, or Ward 1) — began to grow after the Turnpike was completed in 1834. She was predeceased by : her parents, Roy C. Shaffer and Bertha Shaffer (Martin). Darkness falls in a forest in northern West Virginia, out of which the Grafton Monster allegedly appeared. He was a Scots-Irish immigrant who fought in the Revolutionary War in 1778, had landed in Maryland and moved into the interior. Counties. The population was 5, 164 at the 2010 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. GRAFTON, W.Va. (WV News) — Emergency crews responded to a structure fire on Grafton’s Victory Avenue Tuesday. This service lead to the creation of Mother’s Day which is a National Holiday held on the second Sunday of May every year. According to another local historian, "Haymond never mentioned his county as desiring the [rail]road; but being well acquainted with the geography of north-western Virginia, he quietly got the following clause attached to the bill: 'That the said railroad to be constructed through the territory of Virginia, shall reach or cross the Tygart's Valley River at or within three miles of the mouth of Three Fork Creek in the county of Taylor'". Recurrence intervals for the peaks equaled or exceeded 50 years at all five of the aforementioned sites in the Tygart basin, and four were in excess of 100 years. CountiesConfirmed CasesRecoveredActive CasesDeaths. Grafton, city, seat (1878) of Taylor county, northern West Virginia, U.S., on the Tygart Valley River, north of Tygart Lake.Settled in 1852 by construction crews of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, it is thought to be named for the “graftin’ on” (junction) point for branch rail lines.It was chartered in 1856. 1928 2; 1860-1870 1; 1893 1; 1895 1; 1906/05/01 1; 1911 1; 1912/11/11 1; 1921 1; 1925 1; 1926 1; 1964/01/28 1; Ca. [9] Grafton was also among the first cities in the United States to observe Memorial Day.[9]. Guide to Grafton, West Virginia ancestry, family history and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. Grafton is located in the heart of northern West Virginia. Grafton City Hospital. [12] Alternatively, railroad crews may have referred to the town as "Graftin" because it was the point at which a number of branch railroad lines met (grafted to) the railroad's mainline. Grafton suffered a severe economic and emotional loss from these changes. John T. McGraw, a financier and major contributor to most of Grafton's buildings, was the principal town builder. ‡This populated place also have portions in an adjacent county or counties, Daniel Carroll Toomey, The War Came by Train: the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad during the Civil War (Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum 2013) pp. Raiders did destroy the 3-span bridge across the Monongahela River at Fairmont due north of Grafton (the largest on the line) as well as several smaller bridges, but Grafton's rail yards protected by Mulligan's Brigade, the First and Eighth Maryland and Miner's Indiana battery were not attacked.[24]. About 26.6% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources confirms 37 additional deaths related to COVID-19. In 1942, West Virginia enacted a law that required students and teachers to salute the American flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 613 Civil War soldiers are buried as unknowns and their graves are identified with six-inch square marble markers. Western Maryland 2-8-0 #835 (Class H-9) leads the assault up legendary Black Fork Grade (3%+ in some locations) near Hendricks, West Virginia on November 13, 1952. The resulting smoke from the railroad industry was a chief factor in hindering the growth of the city. B. Bradford, Finance Comm. Review Highlights “So much history!” You must stop in here if visiting the area. There were 2,512 housing units at an average density of 684.5 per square mile (264.3/km2). Save. [12], John Wolverton Blue (1803–1889) was in charge of the construction of Virginia's Northwestern Turnpike from Aurora to the Tygart Valley. Sponsor- City of Grafton. Forum for those interested in railroad history in Grafton - Massachusetts, West Virginia, Ohio and Grafton, NSW Australia and Grafton, New Zealand On June 14, the first governor of West Virginia, Arthur Boreman, officially dedicated the cemetery. 15 Reviews #3 of 9 things to do in Grafton. It was a booming railroad hub in the 1920's and was a small industrial center where glass and pottery were made through World War II and into the 1950's. West Virginia (WV) Grafton ; Grafton - Things to Do ; The International Mother's Day Shrine; Search. [20] Most Grafton residents, immigrants brought in to work for the railroad, sided with the Union. Historically, each year a parade begins in downtown Grafton and winds to the cemetery, where town children place flowers at each grave marker. The Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad arrived in 1852 during the construction of the nation’s first trans-Appalachian railroad. Within a year Grafton had emerged as a booming railroad town with several residences and stores. The Confederate forces were pushed south of Grafton under General B.J. Drawing of Grafton City Hospital, in Grafton, West Virginia. Restructuring of the railroads and heavy industry through the late 20th century resulted in the loss of more jobs and, ultimately, population. Grafton, West Virginia is only a twenty minute drive from Fairmont, Morgantown or Clarksburg. Union private T. Bailey Brown and another soldier were confronted by confederate scouts and ordered to halt. Hispanic or Latino people of any race comprised 0.67% of the population. Not that it makes this version any more true, but in his remarks at Grafton on Oct. 16, 1948, as part of his "Rear Platform" visit to West Virginia, President Harry Truman said, "I have always liked the story I read once about how Grafton got its name. The old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station in Grafton, West Virginia, built in 1911, a year before 30 passenger trains a day passed through this B&O junction town Contributor Names Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer Created / Published 2015-05-03. Instead, Brown drew his pistol and fried at the lead confederate, grazing his ear. See more ideas about West virginia, Grafton, Virginia. Active Cases. There are approximately 8,122 people living in the Grafton area. In 1958, the women of Grafton organized a parade on Main Street to attract jobs for residents of the community. West Virginia History OnView . These deaths include an 81-year-old female from Wood County, a 75-year-old male from Berkeley County, a 70-year-old female from Brooke County, a 77-year-old female from Wood County, a 96-year-old female from Kanawha County, a 69-year-old male from Berkeley County, a 72 … Grafton Railroad History. 1920 1; ca. The Current Family, one of Grafton's first residents, were late seventeenth-century Irish immigrants who entered the continent by the way of Maryland. Males had a median income of $22,765 versus $16,629 for females. The median age in the city was 41.7 years. Besides his bank, McGraw built a number of buildings along Main Street, and also the streetcar system that was used for many years. The population was 5,164 at the 2010 census.Both of West Virginia's national cemeteries are located in Grafton. The Grafton, West Virginia sales tax rate of 7% applies in the zip code 26354. [21] The Grafton Guards led by Col. George R. Latham became Company B of the 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment days after Virginians (over the objection of most of western Virginia) voted for secession on May 23.[22]. Notes ... Today in History - May 9; Rights & Access. [13] According to a local historian, "Blue, upon awakening the next morning, heard the wife of Current sobbing bitterly" over the impending loss of her "cabin home...[and] vegetable and flower garden" because of the planned right-of-way for the road. Family and friends can light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Contractor, Don J. Byrum Inc., Wheeling. Excitement here normally came by railroad rather than lurching out of the forest. Garnett. Work being done by the Work Progress Administration on the Grafton Municipal Hospital. Nestled inside of Taylor County, Grafton is centrally located about 25 miles from Morgantown, WV and 23 miles from Clarksburg, WV. A massive flood which swept through town in 1888 wrought many changes including destruction of the historic (1834) covered bridge at Fetterman. Create your history experience by exploring our iconic Mother’s Day Shrine or visiting one of the only National Cemeteries in West Virginia. It is the county seat of Taylor County. In 1921, the Daughters of the American Revolution led an effort to get a modern hospital in Grafton. Most of the 47 people killed in this incident were in Pendleton and Grant counties, according to the National Weather Service. The Beginning The settlement of Grafton was part of a rapid movement west to the new frontier in the early to mid-1700’s. Although the Union controlled the B&O terminal in Grafton, the Confederates often raided the area to disrupt its importance. Aerial view of Grafton, West Virginia Contributor Names Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer Created / Published [between 1980 and 2006] Subject Headings ... Today in History - May 9; Rights & Access. The day concludes with a memorial service officiated by a prominent West Virginian. Historical Newspapers from West Virginia (1808 – 1904) (genealogybank.com) Quickly identify names and keywords and phrases in over 450 million publications, obituaries, marriage announcements, birth announcements as well as other items written and published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. Grant's speech was interrupted several times by noisy southern sympathizers.[26]. The living history museum traces the fascinating connection between a West Virginia community and the First Lady in the 1930s. There were 2,575 housing units at an average density of 699.5 per square mile (270.2/km2). 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. It … For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males. 1. The racial makeup of the city was 98.07% White, 0.84% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. James Current fought for America’s Independence against the British and died August 15, 1822 at the age of 92 and his wife, Margaret, died in 1830 at the age of 93. The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. Among the earliest settlers were James Current (ca. The per capita income for the city was $9,616. Named to Top 100 Healthcare Leaders for 2019. In 2017, the City of Grafton celebrated the 150th continuous Memorial Day observance, the longest ongoing Memorial Day observance in the United States. Grafton developed from early white settlements at the confluence of Three Fork Creek with the Tygart Valley River, part of the headwaters region of the Monongahela River watershed. Both of West Virginia's national cemeteries are located in Grafton. With the Grafton Guards in Wheeling, Porterfield occupied Grafton on May 25, but left three days later for Philippi, when he realized his vastly outnumbered forces were facing a pincer movement from troops under the Wheeling militia's Col. Benjamin Franklin Kelley (soon to become a Brigadier General and who would station his Railroad Division at Grafton) as well as various Ohio and Indiana units sent by Union General George McClellan, a U.S. Army officer turned railroad man whom President Lincoln had placed in charge of the Department of the Ohio. The 1985 Election day floods were notable in Grafton. This page was last edited on 13 January 2021, at 18:27. Forest near Grafton, West Virginia, out of which the Grafton Monster allegedly appeared. J. Kincaid said last week. He had previously made a survey of western Virginia. 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