Taken sometime in the 1940's, this is the old C & O Railroad depot in Hurricane, W.Va. Until the 1960's an occasional passenger train stopped here as well as a few freights. If I remember correctly, it was torn down about 1970 and the wood used to build a barn for the Chief of Police. The area then became a parking lot and a rather cheesy gazebo was built later next to the tracks. About 15 or so years ago, the large water tank just down the track was demolished. The switch tower across the tracks was also razed quite a few years ago. I was only about 11 years old when the depot was torn down and even then I was mad as a hornet about it. What makes this so ironic is the fact that Hurricane owes its existence to the railroad, having been moved nearly 2 miles from the James River and Kanawha Turnpike so as to be near the new track in 1873. The only commemoration of our ties to the C & O now are a very small museum in a caboose behind the fire station and a couple of murals on the fire station walls. This image was given to my Aunt by the high school librarian who was an avid photographer. He was still teaching when I was in high school and he led the photography club.  I still have it in its frame. View full size.
Taken sometime in the 1940's, this is the old C & O Railroad depot in Hurricane, W.Va. Until the 1960's an occasional passenger train stopped here as well as a few freights. If I remember correctly, it was torn down about 1970 and the wood used to build a barn for the Chief of Police. The area then became a parking lot and a rather cheesy gazebo was built later next to the tracks. About 15 or so years ago, the large water tank just down the track was demolished. The switch tower across the tracks was also razed quite a few years ago. I was only about 11 years old when the depot was torn down and even then I was mad as a hornet about it. What makes this so ironic is the fact that Hurricane owes its existence to the railroad, having been moved nearly 2 miles from the James River and Kanawha Turnpike so as to be near the new track in 1873. The only commemoration of our ties to the C & O now are a very small museum in a caboose behind the fire station and a couple of murals on the fire station walls. This image was given to my Aunt by the high school librarian who was an avid photographer. He was still teaching when I was in high school and he led the photography club. I still have it in its frame. | Click image for Comments. | Home | Browse All Photos