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Postcard of The Depot, one of Clarksburg’s main train stations. Ca. 1909.

A trolley in the early twentieth century.

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For decades, Clarksburg was the transportation hub of northern and western Virginia and later, of West Virginia. The first locomotive arrived in Clarksburg in 1856, heralding almost a century of constant expansion. By the early twentieth century, the main Clarksburg station was operating twenty-four hours a day. Prominent local figure Nathan Goff was instrumental in expanding rail operations in Clarksburg. This exhibit serves as a historical reconstruction of how Clarksburg would have looked during the heyday of rail travel. In this entry’s audio clip, railroad enthusiast and display creator Pete Secret shares some history and information about trains in Clarksburg. Be sure to also see the nearby display case with information about Clarksburg’s trolleys.

Railroads and Transportation

The Clarksburg History Museum formed in 2017 thanks to the efforts of volunteers. The museum was initially a part of the Harrison County Historical Society before becoming an independent entity. The museum opened on the second floor of the Harrison County Board of Education building in November of 2018. The first exhibits honored local veterans and included artifacts from Clarksburg’s history. After less than a year on the second floor, the Clarksburg History Museum moved to the first floor of the building. This space is almost two and a half times the size of the previous space, allowing the museum more room to showcase its continually growing collection.The Clarksburg History Museum includes a variety of items and artifacts spanning millions of years. The oldest things in the museum can be found in the Fossil Room, which encourages visitors to explore the area’s prehistoric beginnings. The formation of the city of Clarksburg is well documented in several displays. One case contains objects important to the founding of the city, such as the original flag and city charters. Another case honors the contributions of law enforcement and firefighters throughout Clarksburg’s history. Displays about the city’s trolleys and train systems cover historical transportation in and around the town. Finally, Clarksburg has been served by seven hospitals over the years, each of which is included in a medical exhibit.A strength of the Clarksburg History Museum is the information and objects pertaining to industry and employment. A display by Dominion Energy celebrates the company’s history in the area, which is almost as old as Clarksburg itself. Dominion Energy has been a significant philanthropic force for Clarksburg. A well-established profession throughout Appalachia is coal mining, and a display in the museum features lamps, a lunchbox, and miners’ hats important to the trade. Clarksburg was also a major glass-producing center, particularly for marbles. Two exhibits showcase glass objects created in Clarksburg. Additionally, many Clarksburg natives pursued a career outside of the city by joining the army. A full room of military equipment and gear includes items from every American conflict since World War I.The Clarksburg History Museum also commemorates the city’s cultural history. A number of exhibits explore the lives of famous Clarksburg natives. Perhaps the most famous resident is Civil War Confederate general Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson. On the opposite side of the conflict was John S. Carlile, often called the father of West Virginia for his role in securing statehood for northern Virginia. John W. Davis was Democratic nominee for president in 1924, though he lost to Calvin Coolidge. Gray Barker, a science fiction writer who inspired the film “Men in Black” lived and worked in the city. Many other individuals are included in the museum. Other cultural exhibits include historical objects from the nearby Robinson Grand Theater and a room devoted to the history of education in the area.In addition to historical exhibits, the Clarksburg History Museum also displays artwork by local artists and contains The Fiddlers Hand Gift Shop. Programming ranges from school field trip tours, to memorials and events dedicated to Clarksburg personalities like athlete Frank Loria. As the museum continues to expand and add new items to the collection, it is becoming an increasingly thorough cultural experience documenting the history of Clarksburg. Be sure to check out this entry's virtual tour, which features informational audio clips from the museum director, curators, and other relevant professionals.

The Clarksburg History Museum contains one of Harrison County’s most significant collections of historical objects. The museum was founded in 2017 and has constantly expanded its space and holdings. It focuses primarily on the political, economic, and cultural history of the city of Clarksburg. Exhibits include a fossil room, military room, theater equipment, mining items, biographies of important Clarksburg natives, and many other topics. In addition to the historical displays, the Clarksburg History Museum also offers educational and cultural programming, as well as The Fiddlers Hands Gift Shop. The museum is located in the Harrison County Board of Education building. This entry features a virtual tour of the museum, perfect for experiencing the collection from home, or supplementing an in-person visit. At each stop on the entry, qualified and passionate individuals share their perspective on different collections within the museum.

This collection of items was donated by the Robinson Grand Theater, a nearby historic entertainment venue. The theater opened in 1913 and was rebuilt and renovated several times over the years. The most recent renovation from 2014 to 2018 preserved a number of items related to movie projection and stage productions. Other objects include historic cash registers which dispensed correct change using an analog system. There is also information about Madge Stout Douds, one of the most significant figures connected to the history of the theater. In this entry’s audio clip, listen to the theater’s executive director, Ryan Tolley, as he discusses some of the items on display and how they relate to the theater’s rich history.

Robinson Grand Theater

The museum’s fossil room is curated by the West Virginia Fossil Club. The room contains a large number of  fossilized specimens, almost all of which come from West Virginia. Items in the collection include fossilized flora, fauna, gems, and minerals. Displays are updated and expanded through the fossil club’s ongoing expeditions and fossil-finding ventures. Some highlights of the room include lepidodendron fossils, a type of tree that existed from 359 to 2 million years ago; fossil coral examples, West Virginia’s state gem; and information about the giant ground sloth, a large animal that is also West Virginia’s state fossil. Learn more about all these items in the audio entry from Sue Hurst, president of the West Virginia Fossil Club.

Fossil Room

West Virginia has a long tradition of coal mining, and Harrison County is no exception. For most of the state’s existence, coal has been the primary source of economic revenue. Many miners lived in the neighborhoods surrounding Clarksburg and used trains, trolleys, and other forms of transportation to go to the mines each day. The artifacts in this case provide insight into the historical daily life of miners through the most vital pieces of equipment: lanterns, a lunchbox, and helmets. In this entry’s audio clip mining equipment collector and former tipple worker Bill Hurst discusses some of the objects in the display.

Mining Display

During the Civil War, Clarksburg was the site of no major battles or skirmishes. However, it was a crucial supply depot for Union supplies. General George B. McClellan established his headquarters near the city during the early phases of the war. At one point, Clarksburg had seven thousand soldiers camped in the city, prepared to defend supply lines from Confederate attacks. Despite the Union presence in the city, Clarksburg was a town divided. Two of the most important Civil War figures to hail from Clarksburg, John S. Carlile and Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson, are emblematic of this divide. John S. Carlile was a Virginia senator and staunch opponent of Virginia’s secession from the Union, going so far as to call the decision, “a crime against God.”1 After helping found the Reformed Government of Virginia via the Wheeling Conventions, Carlile was critical in arguing for West Virginia statehood. On the other side of the conflict, Stonewall Jackson served as a Confederate general. He was one of the South’s most successful commanders and played a key role in many military victories. Throughout the war, personal loyalties of Clarksburg citizens remained divided, though Union control of the area was firmly maintained. In this entry’s audio clip, West Virginia Civil War historian Rick Wolfe talks about Stonewall Jackson and John S. Carlile.

The Civil War

The Veterans Room contains a huge variety of objects from almost every American conflict in the twentieth century. Items come from both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even some items from the Gulf War. Uniforms, weaponry, bags, field equipment, rations, and tools in the room are all authentic. Most of the objects in the collection were sourced from Clarksburg and outlying community veterans. Some pieces, such as the German World War II uniform, are not from the immediate area, but help place the local objects in a broader context. In the entry’s audio clip, hear from Alva Ford, a military history enthusiast who curates the collection. The specific pieces on display vary as Ford acquires new objects and rotates what is on view. Ford maintains a strong commitment to preserving the items for future generations. 

Veterans' Room

The School Exhibit Room commemorates the history of education in Harrison County. Though the county once boasted over one hundred schools, that number has now shrunk to a quarter of the original institutions due to consolidation. Artifacts range from the nineteenth century through the twentieth, and include furniture, garments, and paper materials. Some highlights of the collection include a coal stove once used to heat a one-room schoolhouse. The teacher would have had to arrive well before the students in order to begin heating the room. Another significant object is a diploma from West Virginia University awarded to Charles W. Lynch in 1874. You might have some trouble reading it however, as it is written in Latin. In this entry’s audio clip, museum president Michael Spatafore discusses these objects and more in the context of Harrison County’s historical schools.

School Exhibit Room

Dominion Energy has been a powerful economic and philanthropic force in the Clarksburg area for almost as long as the city itself has existed. Many generations of Clarksburg natives have worked for Dominion Energy or its subsidiaries providing power to the area. In addition to providing jobs in Harrison County, Dominion Energy has also cultivated a reputation for philanthropy, especially involving education. The Dominion Energy exhibit includes a variety of display cases and artifacts donated by Dominion Energy that showcase the company’s history in Harrison County. In this entry’s audio clip, Dominion Energy external affairs employee Christine Mitchell recounts some of her former and present impressions of Dominion Energy and its impact on the local community. 

Clarksburg History Museum

Railroads and Transportation

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