The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-15
(By Lew i. Harr,j

OF about 800 acres situated across the
deep 'avine, OF Coal Run hollow, at
Iforded an excellent proposition for IN.
dustrial and residential growth. An.
immense bridge. 400 feet long AMI 1OO
fleet high was necessary to be con.
structed to connect the proposed ad.
dition to the town. The construction
OF Belt Line r. R, OF more than a
mile in length and also necessary in
their development. The men who I'M.
deFtook this work gave to it great
amount Of time and energy because
the proposition was large and the ven.
ture uncertain, to what was then a
small town.
A company was organized, consist.
ing Of Messrs. ]. E. Watson, s. l..
Watson, A. B. Fleming, c. w. Arnett,
Q. s. Mckinney and C. L. Smith. The
land vas purchased and Faimont ave.
me laid ont, extending southwark a
distance of 5000 feet from Coal Run.
The first effort to sell lots was made
at public sale in May, 1892. This was
in the days Of lamp posts with no nav.
ed streets or street car lines. Lots
were sold from $4,000 to 5000 A
great many people attended the sale
but few bought I nave since heard
hundreds Of people say that they did
not see then how the lots could ever
become worth the money paid for
them. The farmers came into town
from The country and compared the
values of their farms with the lots
when were selling for few hundred
dollars. The prices seemed so alb.
surd that but few If them ventured ia
buy.
Fairmont avenue remains TODAY
stretching southwsrl from the foot
OF Main street a distance OF C.OOO feet
No change OF any consequence has
since been made in the direction. It
Is paved to 10th street, or within 150O
feet Of its length. 1t affords all the
conVentences OF modern city. To-day
the lots that were first placed on sale
on Fatrmont avenue out as far as 81
street are worth about 100000 per
front foot. From Sd street TO sto
street they will average $125.OO per
front foot, and conservative estl.
mate VI the remainder of the frontara
would be at least $500 per front foot
The entire lot frontage on FaIrmon,
avenue alone, not taking into copsid-
Grafton the improvements is probably
worth $1,222,000. This valuable front.
age 10 to-day adorned with SO res!den.
ces and buildings. The handsomes at
aggregation OF structures to be found
on any avenue in the State of West
Virginia. All complete, symmetrical
imposing and Of architectural beauty,
THE buildings on this avenue represen.
an actual cost Of from $4,000 to 800.
600 dollars representing a grand tota,
of about $1,223,000 in improvements
alone 1t is on this avenue at the cor.
ner Of First street that toe building
OF the Young Mems Christian As5ocfa.
ton is being completed, which Is ono
Of the hondsomest structures Of fti
Kind in the country. 1t is on this ave.
nue. between I'd and Sd streets that
the leading educational institution Of
our State, except the State UNIVERSITY
Is located. the Normal School. Tie
avenue reaches its climax in develop
ment from 9th to 18TH street where
is located the beautiful and famous
Fairmont Farms, the home of G. w
Watson. The phenomenal growth Of
Fairmont avenue within fifteen vears
from its infancy has reached about
two and one-haIf million dollars, Whua
the result 10 startling in its nature
and can hardly be comprehendel nv
those not in touch WITH the resources
of Fsirmont and vicinity, it is only an
index of what has taken place during
the past fifteen years, and only by a
study of these facts can we predict
what may be accomplished during the
next fifteen years. We are yet in our
infancy. Our possibilities are great
by a careful and concentrated effort
on the part II our people to attract
new brains and capital to utilize our
resources and natural advantages, we
cannot estimate what the extent AMI
character Of our growth will be.
OUR MANUFACTURERS ABROAD.