The White Oak Railway was constructed during the early-1900's and came under the control of the New River Company. The short-line railroad was originally incorporated to provide citizens of the area a direct rail-connection between the primary business centers in Beckley, Mount Hope, and Oak Hill.The railroad consisted of two unconnected "pieces" that never were completely finished. The first section consisted of about 7 and ½ miles of track connecting with the C. & O. Railway at Carlisle, running from there through Oak Hill to Stuart. The second section was about 4 to 5 miles in length connecting with the C. & O. Railway at Price Hill Junction, running to a mine located at Price Hill.Under an agreement with the C. & O. Railway, the White Oak Railway operated passenger and freight trains along the tracks of the C. & O.'s White Oak Branch between Glen Jean and Carlisle. In 1912, the New River Company sold the locomotives and rolling stock of the White Oak Railway and jointly leased operation of the railroad to Virginian and the C. & O.
From Left to right are Hugh W. F. Amos, Frank Amos, Autumn Amos, and Mrs. Hugh Amos.Hugh W. F. Amos built the first telephone company in Central West Virginia, the Weston-Central.
Transporting Equipment Over Little Kawaha River Bridge, Burnsville, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1912
Description:
Water well drilling equipment, owned by Tom Fletcher, who is pictured standing beside the rig with the white shirt and suspenders, is being pulled across the bridge by horses. Charles E. Crutchfield has the reins. In the suit and bow tie is Anson Wade, a teacher. The bridge was built in 1893.
Millinery Shop and Weston-Central Telephone Company Office, Burnsville, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1910
Description:
From left to right are an unknown boy, Janie McCoy (Mick), Mary Sue Campbell (Fletcher), Eugenia Campbell (Fidler), and Minnie Campbell (Shreve). The Weston-Central Telephone Company, which was owned by Hugh Amos, was located in the upstairs section of the building. The operators were known as 'Hello Girls.'
