Designated as an historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, Thurmond, WV is the least populated municipality in WV. Named for Captain W.D. Thurmond who settled here in 1844, the acreage originally was payment for a surveying job, but not until the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad crossing at Dunloup Creek in 1892 did the Thurmond boom begin. Pictured here are the remains of the commercial district which included a bank, Lafayette (“Lay Flat”) Hotel, post office, and various businesses. There was no intervening street between railroad and commercial buildings...no need. The remainder of town simply climbed the mountain behind the commercial buildings. Mr. Thurmond banned alcohol on his property, so spirits could only be purchased by crossing the New River to Thurmond’s version of a Red Light District, the famous/infamous Dun Glen Hotel, home of the world’s longest running poker game of 14 years, according to Ripley’s Believe It or Not. If buildings had the gift of speech, material for several novels could be generated here. Maybe throw in a movie. Oh, wait! A movie has been filmed here, but that’s another story. What a treat to spend the day painting this place. Hopefully, it will be just one of many days to come.
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