1908 - Bluefield's Start

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Roanoke Times - February 22, 1908

BLUEFIELD'S START

Interesting Story Told by W. B. Morton of the City's Origin

   An interesting story is related by Mr. W. B. Morton, of Union, W. 
Va., in regard to a visit paid to that part of the country by the 
late F. J. Kimball, for several years president of the Norfolk and 
Western railway.
Mr. Morton says:
   In the spring of 1881 John Graham and Dr. James O'Keefe, before 
any others known to me, came into the section looking afters its 
development. At that time S. M. Graham and myself were merchandising 
at Falls Mills. One day the above named gentlemen stopped at our 
store, inquiring the way to Abbs Valley. No one then suspected the 
nature of their business, but very soon afterwards Dr. O'Keefe 
returned and began taking options and buying coal lands at and where 
Pocahontas is now located, making his head quarters in the Abbs' 
Valley vicinity. It was not long until the lands which Dr. O'Keefe 
had taken options upon were being purchased, nor until F. J. Kimball, 
then president of the Norfolk and Western railroad, also visited the 
section. With him were George Steele, of Philadelphia, and a young 
lady, whose name I have forgotten. I remember the party called at our 
store one Sunday morning to obtain some articles required in their 
dining car, which was drawn by a pair of horses. From there they came 
on to Graham ("Pinhook" is was called then) and dined on the side of 
the road where the Keys planing mill is now situated. The fire used 
in preparation of the meal was made with pieces of fence rails lying 
about. While Mr. Kimball and his party were enjoying the picturesque 
scenery of old Wright's Valley, the cook got out his long-handled 
skillet and old-styled coffee pot, with the three-cornered rack upon 
which it rested, and soon announced the "last call for dinner." This 
being ended, the party proceeded on their way to Tazewell courthouse.
   Next after Mr. Kimball's visit, was a party composed of C. D. 
Wentworth, William Ingles, A. V. Shell (who still lives in Graham) 
and others - all engineers, who made the preliminary survey of the 
New River division of the Norfolk & Western to Pocahontas, which was 
let to contract the same year.
   When it was assured that the road would be built, I bought land at 
Graham (or Pinhook). Soon after my purchase, Mr. Thomas Graham, Sr., 
and Mr. J Dickenson Sergeant, of Philadelphia, purchased lands from 
Mr. J. B. Linkous, laying it off into town lots with a view to 
building a town - the present town of Graham. However reproachful 
"Pinhook" was in name, it was a location thought to be an important 
point for a depot.
   Mr Thomas Graham was a man of large affairs. On a return trip from 
Mexico, where he had large mining interests, he stopped at Graham. 
While here he heard rumors of the purchase of lands by the railroad 
company three miles east of Graham - where Bluefield now stands, and 
inquired of me what I knew about it. As I was not informed in the 
matter, he sat down to my desk and wrote a letter to this partner, 
Mr. Sergeant, who, in turn, wrote to President Kimball. A copy of Mr. 
Kimball's reply was sent me by Mr. Graham, and read as follows:

   N. & W. Railroad Company
    F. J. Kimball, President
   Philadelphia, July 7, 1887
J. Dickenson Sergeant, Esq.,
420 Walnut Street, City:

Dear Sir - The letter Mr. Graham sent me by you is before me. 
Bluefield is a summit on our road about three miles east of Graham.
   For the economical handling of our business, it is necessary that 
we should have yards, sidings, etc., at that point, hence the 
purchase for our railroad company of the land referred to by Mr. Graham.
   Bluefield is very much as described by Mr. Graham, there being 
only sufficient level ground for our yards and any houses which may 
be built there will naturally be by the railroad company for the use 
of their own men.
   We propose to use the yards (it being a summit) in making up our 
trains - particularly the coal trains - from our Pocahontas Flat Top 
field. I should not consider, therefore, that it would in any way 
compete with or interfere with the development of the town of Graham, 
where there is plenty of level ground in the vicinity, with water for 
manufacturing purposes, etc., and where will be the junction between 
our Clinch Valley and our New River divisions.
   Your truly,
(Signed) F. J. KIMBALL
                 President


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