- State:
- WV
- Site Type:
- Archaeology and History, Parks and Recreation
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)
- Started:
- 1934
- Completed:
- 1937
- Artist:
- Michael Arts Bronze
- Contractor:
- Dr. Roy Bird Cook
- Quality of Information:
- Good
- Marked:
- No
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
One of many county line historical markers placed in West Virginia. Each side denotes the county that is being entered.
The West Virginia historical marker program began in 1934 with the beginning research for the markers with the intention of placing markers around the state to encourage tourism. Dr. Roy Bird Cook, a Charleston druggist, a longtime commission member, and a vocational historian worked on the project.
Approximately 5,000 sites were collected with 440 markers selected by the commission for placement. Most of these along 44 state and federal highways.
The funds came from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration. In addition to the markers, a book of the 440 markers was published in a format easy to place in a glove box.
Source notes
Site Visit 13 July 2019.
“Initial Historical Marker Will Be Installed Monday,” The Charleston Gazette, 21 April 1937, p. 46, 65.
“First Historical Marker on Site of Capitol that Burned,” The Charleston Daily-Mail, 27 April 1937, p. 4.
West Virginia Historic and Scenic Highway Markers, Charleston, West Virginia, Mathews Printing & Lithograph Company, 1937.
Marking Our Past: West Virginia's Historical Highway Markers, Charleston, West Virginia, WV Division of Culture & History, 2002.
Site originally submitted by Ernest Everett Blevins on July 31, 2019.
Contribute to this Site
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal site.
Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site
Join the Conversation