The Ghost Town of THURMOND, WV - A Good Town Gone Bad

Comments · 2.9K

• AL

  @alexanderthurmond7172 · 4 years ago · pinned

  Thank you for making a video about this. My relatives are the Thurmond’s of Virginia and it’s very cool to see a documentary about their life!

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• TI

  @timothylegg · 4 years ago

  Back in 1982, my mother had a wreck in this town.  She was driving up a street in a 69 Ford and there was a chain across the road. One of the poles was ripped from the ground and an irate man came out and said he owned the street.  My mother challenged him that in the US, no one owns public roads, even if you bring a chain across it and he is responsible for the vehicular damages.  He ran off to "call the police" and we never saw him again.

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• MA

  @marvwatkins7029 · 3 years ago

  I like the way Tom superimposes old photos over existing scenes. Quite well done.

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• 1W

  @1woodyjr · 4 years ago

  Back in the early 90's, I worked for an environmental remediation firm. When the engine house caught fire, it was obviously was extinguished. However, the fire continued to smolder and burn below ground due to the old wooden ties and all the coil spoil in the area. My company was called on to remedy the situation as the underground fire was slowly creeping towards the CSX mainline. The fire was threating to shut off the million dollar coal trains passing through daily. To yield the fire from spreading, we installed a bentonite slurry wall between the mainline and the fire towards the river, keeping the fire from spreading. We then excavated the smoldering area, removed all the RR ties, and extinguished the balance of the fire. A super interesting place and project that we worked on. Because it was remote, we relied upon a lot of locals and their businesses to support us with equipment and supplies. Wow did the locals have so many stories about the place and the people!

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• CK

  @ckind2098 · 4 years ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBKOIRxeNX0&amp;t=418">6:58</a> &quot;the hotel burned down, which interrupted the poker game&quot; the dry delivery of that line got a good laugh from me 😆<br>Really well done video!

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• DO

  @donalmeadows794 · 4 years ago

  Thank you both for &quot;respectfully&quot; sharing the History of Thurmond WV. I was born and raised in Charleston WV. &nbsp;When one is a West Virginian, your always a Mountaineer.<br><br>I remember (I&apos;m 77 now) an uncle that was an Engineer operating a coal fired steam locomotive in the 1940&apos;s and 50&apos;s. &nbsp;He worked out of the Raleigh Yard just outside of Beckley WV. &nbsp;I wish everyone that shares West Virginia&apos;s History was as respectful as you. COAL, the railroads and coal miners were/are responsible for aiding in building America. (Steel industry, &nbsp;heating, coal generated electricity and more)<br>Again, thanks.

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• TW

  @twowickie · 4 years ago

  Genuinely difficult to believe this is an amateur video. I feel like this is something I could catch on PBS. Wonderful work, both in front of camera and behind. Kudos.

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• HE

  @herbrv · 4 years ago

  My family was from Thurmond. My paternal Grandmother, Wealtha Harvey was the last funeral at the Thurmond Union Church. &nbsp;My Dad&apos;s sister, Dixie (Harvey) Parrish owned the Captain Thurmond Home until her death in Dec. 1970. When I returned from Vietnam, I too, went back to Thurmond to live. First at Aunt Dixie&apos;s, then to the little two room shanty behind the Thurmond Bank and later to another house in Thurmond. I have the Thurmond Bank statement and receipts (hand written) where my Grandmother paid on her house. I also have the receipt from Collins Funeral home for my Grandfather&apos;s 1949 Funeral. Also several photos that are rarely seen on Thurmond sites.

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• DA

  @dawnmorris3718 · 4 years ago

  My husband and I visited Thurmond a few years ago. &nbsp;We were visiting New River and just love to drive around. &nbsp;This is a fascinating place and there are still people living there, up behind all these buildings.

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• RE

  @rebeccafantstegall1899 · 4 years ago

  Now THIS is what YouTube should be used for. Excellent!! I could watch videos like this all day. Love the history.👏👏👏👏👏

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• RE

  @ReptileRedux · 1 year ago

  I love the atmosphere of this channel.<br>No sensationalism in the titles or thumbnails... just quality, interesting information.<br>Thanks for all the great work.

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• KE

  @keithhodgson6489 · 4 years ago

  From a UK perspective this is a fascinating story about a town unknown to us. &nbsp;Especially like the way old photos are superimposed on current visuals. Many thanks - most enjoyable.

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