Evening star., 1929-09-01
WEST VIRGINIA TRIP
PAYSAUTO|ST WELL
Northwestern Turnpike Goes
Through Interesting and
Historical Sector.

Any motor trip that includes the
! Northwestern Turnpike, u. S. so, or a
part OF it, is certain to pay the motorist
big dividends, because no other highway
has more of interest per mile of road
Not only is the eastern terminus of this
great motor road literally next door to
such Eastern cities as Washington and
Baltimore, but Pittsburgh and Columbus
| find themselves within particularly easy
reach of the section of this trunk line
highway that lies between Parkersburg
and ClarkSburg
At ParkerSburg two famous highways,
the Northwestern Turnpike and the
Staunton- -Parkersburg Pike, had their
western terminals in early days and
! played an important part in the settle
| ment Of Western Virginia and the
northwest territory; Today the juno
ton Of U. S. so. extending from Wash
ington to the Pacific. and U. s. 81. from
the Lakes to Florida. makes Parkers-
burg as important from the tourist
standpoint as it was to the pioneers Of
a century or more past.
The Northwestern Turnpike, or that
section Of U. S. so extending from
Parkersburg to Winchester, is typical
Of those early roads which followed the
traces" of the trapper and pioneer
hunter on the trail of Indian and buf-
falo, and which gradually developed
into modern highways
Grew Up Around Outpost.
Parkersburg, where the Little Kama
Wha emptieS into the Ohio, once Meals
Station, like so many other West Vir-
ginia cities, grew up around frontier
outpost The city was incorporated in
when the construction of some large in
dustries such as the Viscose plant. have
developed Parkersburg into a huStling
city along the Ohio.
In the Ohio River, a short distance
south of the city, lies Blennerhassett
Island, on which once stood the man
sion Of Harmon Blennerhassett. Here
Blennerhassett brought his young bride
from England and lived, loved and
Burr, plans were laid for an empire in
the great Southwest. For these plans
Burr was arrested on a charge of
treason. Blennerhassett was ruined
along with Burr and fire and flood de-
stroyed the palatial home. But the
flavor Of romance will remain there
forever. Plans have been considered to
preserve this island and maintain 1t as
State park, and some State clubs are
considering the reconstruction and
restoration of the mansion and its fur
nishings. But without any special care
the island Is nevertheless an emerald
gem of rare beauty on the blue expanse
of the Ohio.
27-Acre High Campus.
Parkersburg has the only vitrolite
plant and the largest electrical porce-
lain plant and shovel plant in the world.
Visit her model high school with con-
crete foot ball stadium on its 27-acre
campus, 3O-acre city park with pavilion,
lovely lily ponds and flower gardens of
rare beauty, large city Fairgrounds and
modern tourist camp. There are nu-
merous interesting manufacturing estab-
lishments, Of which the Viscose plant,
of course, comes first This plant,
manufacturing rayon yarn, employs
3, 900 persons and plans are being con-
sidered to double and triple the number
Wood County, of which Parkersburg
is county seat, and its neighboring
counties are rich agricultural communi-
ties. Gas and oil brought wealth to
many farm owners, far In excess OF any
wealth that could be brought by farm
ing. Ritchie and Doddridge Counties
lie to the east.
The old inn at Pennsboro built in
1910, entertained many prominent VS.
itors in the early days of the old turn
pike. West Union, once Lewisport, Is
county seat Of Doddridge County
Salem also grew up around a frontier
outpost. It boasts of Salem College.
denominational school, and 1t also has
the State Industrial School for Girls.
Crosses 10 at CIarksburg.
At Clarksburg the Northwestern
Turnpike crosses U. S. 19, the North
South route from the Great Lakes
through Morgantown to Bluef1eld and
thence to the South.
Clarksburg, named for George Rogers
Clark, has the largest tumbler factory
and the largest toy marble factory In
! the world. Near it Is the deepest well.
Here was born Gen. Thomas J. Stone
wall" jackson, John w. Davis, Demo-
cratic candidate for President against
Coolidge in 1924, and many other
prominent citizens. The beautiful cha
teau of Melville Davisson Post, famous
short story writer, is few miles distant.
Clarksburg has everything which goes
to make q city great; manufacturing,
coal, oil and gas, farming, great COM
mercial activity, good roads radiating in
eyery direction, q rich trading area and
ample railroad transportation facilities.
Clarksburg also has fine, hotels and good