Photo courtesy of the Historical Wirt County Facebook group Shown above are two ways to cross Tucker’s Creek into the town of Elizabeth. On the left is the bridge of the Parkersburg/Elizabeth turnpike and on the right, the bridge of the Little Kanawha Railroad. At that time Tucker’s Creek was the western boundary for the town.

Work to begin Monday; south side presents a busy scene — alive with laborers and active with

preparations — demand for houses

A large load of scrapers, etc., to be used by Contractor Fuccey in grading the L.K.V.R.R. [Little Kanawha Valley Railroad], arrived last evening from up the river. They were landed at the George Street ferry and were unloaded there to-day and conveyed to the place where work will be begin.

Several carloads of horses arrived yesterday for the same purpose.

A numerous gang of Italian laborers have been camping out on Two-mile hill [Pike street hill], for a week or so patiently waiting for work to be begun. Mr. Fuccey will occupy J.W. Davis’ house in Tavennerville, during the progress of the grading at this end of the road.

The influx of laborers, etc., have caused a big demand for houses on South Side and the landlords, who have for months been letting impecunious tenants occupy their houses are now trying to get rid of them in order to fill their tenements with more profitable renters. In consequence a number of ejectment suits have been brought before Squires Kirk and Wilson and more will probably follow.

The Parkersburg Daily State Journal

June 4, 1897

***

First train will enter Elizabeth tomorrow

The first train carrying paid freight from this city to Elizabeth and intermediate stations will leave the Little Kanawha Railroad depot to-morrow morning.

Freight was shipped to-day. Among the shippers were the wholesale grocery stores, the Novelty Mill, who filled a car with feed stuff, etc., and the Parkersburg Ice Company, who filled a car full of ice.

Yesterday was the last day the company was given to run a train into Elizabeth, but although the men worked hard and were worked last night, it was impossible to bridge Tucker’s creek, which is the corporation line of that village. An iron span ninety feet long is to be swung across that stream. A trestle is being built and will be completed, so that a train will be run into the town to-morrow. This is to be a temporary structure. The iron span will be up in a few days. From now on freight will be received at all stations. Several cars of lumber will be brought down from Burn’s Bros.’ mill tomorrow evening.

The Parkersburg

Weekly State Journal

March, 1898

***

The Little Kanawha Railroad stations

The Little Kanawha Railroad has at present seventeen stations located along the line including this city and Palestine. The stations and their distances from this city are as follows: South Parkersburg, 1 mile; Krafts, 2 mile; Stewarts, 3 mile; Geigers, 4 mile; Nicolette, 5 mile; Creels, 6 mile; Kanawha, 10 miles; Cool Spring, 12; Slate, 14; Fishing Camp, 16; Hughes River, 17; Newark, 18; Sandy Bend, 21; Standing Stone, 22; Elizabeth, 26; Palestine, 30.

The Parkersburg Sentinel

April 18, 1898

***

Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical Society. Would you like to help preserve our past for future generations? The society offers informative monthly meetings and an interesting, 20-page quarterly newsletter. Dues are just $20/year. Send to: WCHPS, P.O. Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.