(CIU)
219 Rock
Street, Bluefield, West Virginia 24701
Phone: (304) 327-4036 Fax: (304) 327-3425
CIU staff include:
Dr. Sudhakar
R. Jamkhandi
Mrs. Carolyn
K. Jamkhandi
Mr. Rodger
Woodrum
Mr. George
Bowling
Mr. Patrick
Mercer
Mr. David
Parris, CIU Program Coordinator-Site Visit Facilitator
Mr. John M.
Simmons, CIU Washington DC Liaison
Mr. Ashot
Navasardyan, CIU New York Liaison
CIU Liaisons
abroad:
Mr. Sergei
Zhigulov, CIU Russian Alumni Projects Coordinator, Kostroma, Russia
Ms.
Galina Masljakova,
Ms.
Olga Rabova,
Mr. Slava
Melin, CIU Liaison for Ryazan, Russia
Mr. Igor
Popov, CIU Liaison for Novgorod, Russia
Ms. Svetlana
Shislova, CIU Liaison for Lipetsk, Russia
Mr. Anatoly
Starunov, CIU Liaison for Yaroslavl, Russia
The primary objective of the CIU’s Training Programs is to provide international entrepreneurs and professionals exposure to American businesses and organizations similar to their own. These programs allow business leaders and other professionals to expand their contacts and opportunities that will enhance their ability to return home and develop and/or enhance their own enterprises and organizations.
ACCOMPLISHING
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Program Management
The CIU arranges individual job shadowing experiences and group learning sessions at area businesses and relevant state supported and private organizations that match the participants' professional interests.
Each of the
host organizations for the internships/trainers at various organizations has
agreed to mentor/train the participants on a voluntary basis, which means they are not paid for this
service. They hope that the
participants can readily transfer knowledge/strategies gained.
ACTION
PLANS
It is advisable that participants devote some time each evening to record issues and ideas that might be useful/implemented upon their return home.
LIVING
ARRANGEMENTS
During CIU
programs in West Virginia-southwest Virginia that require home stays,
participants will live with local families or individuals who participate in
this project on a voluntary basis, which
means they are not paid for hosting the international visitors. Each participant
may stay with at least two families.
Host families provide meals participants are encouraged to offer to cook
native dishes for host families as well as perform household chores. Participants eat lunch at area restaurants
or take bag lunches.
OTHER ELEMENTS OF HOME STAY PROGRAMS
TRANSPORTATION AND CIU'S CAR RENTAL
POLICY
Participants will be transported to meetings and internships by. Pick up from host family homes will generally be between 7:30 - 8:00 am and from the places of business (for business interns only) around 5:00 pm or as arranged.
Because of the
insurance liability, but more so because of the terrain and road conditions in
West Virginia and southwest-Virginia, the Center for International
Understanding does not allow
participants to rent cars.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance cards and the insurance policy manual along with the claims form will be distributed to participants during their orientation in Bluefield. The CIU has a good working relationship with (325-8307) in if our participants, will bill the insurance company only and waive the. For illnesses that require treatment at the local hospitals (Bluefield Regional Medical Center and Princeton Community Hospital), participants will be expected to pay the deductible ($25). Participants should note that pre-existing medical conditions/illnesses are not covered. This insurance is meant to be used for illnesses that occur during the program.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
From August to October, it is hot with occasional rain showers, so light clothing is recommended for participants for this time period. The weather in November-December is cooler with occasional snow showers, so warmer clothing is recommended. From February through May, winter weather conditions may still persist, so warmer clothing is recommended. Participants should plan to bring at least two formal outfits for special occasions.
PER DIEM, BOOK
ALLOWANCE, AND CULTURAL ALLOWANCE
A Meal Allowance ($25 per day), a Book Allowance ($150 per participant), and a Cultural Allowance ($100 per participant) are generally distributed weekly in proportionate installments. Participants are asked to acknowledge receipt.
SUMMARY-PROGRAM
GUIDELINES
All
participants must understand and follow the guidelines of the Community
Connections project. They must
earnestly undertake the program and fully apply themselves. All participants must participate in the
calendar of events arranged by. Personal
plans must not interfere with a participant's participation in the events that
are part of the Community Connections program. Any participant who does
not follow the program or conduct himself/herself in an appropriate manner will
immediately be sent back home.
The Community Connections program is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for all involved -- the participants, the US host organizations and trainers, host families, and the staff. We look forward to an exciting and successful program.
WORKPLACE AND HOME STAY ETIQUETTE
Workers in most workplaces dress neatly but casually and not all workplaces require men to wear suits. Women generally wear more formal clothing than men. However, all participants should bring two to three formal outfits for special meetings and events.
Participants will be taken to workplaces for meetings/internships in a timely manner by CIU staff. Punctuality is required of the American worker and international participants will be expected to do likewise.
Smoking is prohibited in most public places and businesses/organizations. Participants who intern at a family-owned business should inquire if smoking is allowed.
Participants should also inquire of their host families if they allow smoking in their homes. In some instances, some hosts may not even consume alcohol, so participants should adhere to the families' norms. Host families will share a key to their homes in case they are not present upon participants' return to host family homes. Participants will be shown how to operate various appliances and be briefed on other matters pertaining to the host family homes by the hosts on their first day. Participants are requested to share the responsibilities of the various members of their host families to truly experience American family life.
Immediately
following the orientation, participants are encouraged to buy phone cards. Participants are requested not to use the
host families' phones to place long distance and international calls.
Quite a few of the host families now have personal computers with Internet
access which can be used to e-mail the international participants’ families and
business colleagues.
INFORMATION ABOUT PARTICIPANTS'
CITIES/COUNTRIES
Participants are encouraged to bring photographs of family, picture post cards of their country/cities, brochures of their companies if available, at least 100 business cards in English with phone numbers that include the country and city codes and the phone number. Business cards should include e-mail addresses if available.
DIVERSITY
CIU staff includes people of diverse backgrounds and is reflective of the makeup of the communities in West Virginia. Because West Virginia attracted hardworking immigrants to its coalmines, present-day West Virginia is quite cosmopolitan with over fifty nationalities and ethnic backgrounds represented. Today, professionals from various countries continue to settle down in West Virginia and southwest-Virginia. Participants in the CIU's Appalachian Community Connection Program, then, will be exposed to a diverse society during their home stays and training/internships.
MERCER COUNTY AIRPORT
All participants arrive and depart from Mercer County Airport in Bluefield, West Virginia. They will be met at the airport by CIU staff and transferred to the Sleep Inn, Oakvale Road, Princeton, West Virginia for their first and last night stays. The phone number of the hotel is (304) 431-2800 and the fax number is (304) 425-7693.
EMERGENCY
CONTACT (PHONE) NUMBERS
PLEASE
MAKE A COLLECT CALL TO DR. JAMKHANDI DURING TRAVEL EMERGENCIES.
You will be living in a home or an apartment during your stay. Your host has been asked to provide you with a private room. You will probably have to share a bathroom with other members of the family. The following are some generalizations about American home life that you should be aware of:
Do Your Part:
In many American households, chores are shared by all members of the
family. Ask what you can do to help,
and observe the behavior of the rest of the family. Do not assume that the woman of the house does all of the
cooking and cleaning. American
meals: Let your host know if you have
any special requests or allergies for certain foods.
Breakfast
is often a “help yourself” meal, meaning that you can make your own, go to the
refrigerator and get what you need, etc.
If you are encouraged to help yourself, don’t feel you are being rude in
doing so. Americans usually eat a light
breakfast. Rarely will breakfast during
the weekdays be a complete meal with bacon, eggs, and sausage served at the
table with the whole family present.
For lunch, you will
either pack a lunch for yourself or go out to lunch at a restaurant with
colleagues from your office. If your
host family is willing, you may pack a lunch at home before work each morning. If you are having lunch at a restaurant with
a number of colleagues, you are expected to pay your share of the meal expenses
from your stipend.
Dinner is
usually the largest meal of the day served after each family member has
returned from his/her daily activities.
Dinner is usually served between six and eight.
Personal Hygiene: Americans have different
styles of personal hygiene, so it is important to respect the expectations of
the host family while in the United States.
Generally, Americans bathe every day and are accustomed to people using
personal hygiene products such as deodorant, shampoo, soaps, and perfumes. Ask host families if they prefer their guest
to use a different towel and washcloth every day or what their daily habits
are. should show guest where things are
and ask them if they have questions.
Conservation: Many Americans are conservation minded and
conscious of utility bills (e.g., take short showers, turn off all lights,
radios, and electrical appliances when not in use.)
Smoking: Many Americans do not permit smoking in
their home. If you smoke, feel free to
ask where you can smoke, and respect the rules of the house. It will be very obvious and discourteous if
you try to sneak a smoke in your bedroom or bathroom. Non-smokers are very sensitive to the smell of smoke. Expect to hear many comments about the
health hazards of smoking.
Telephone calls:
Local telephone calls in the city where you are staying
cost little or nothing, but calls to distant cities or states can be very expensive. Please do not make any long distant
telephone calls without prior permission from your host. If the call is important to you, you should
offer to pay for the charges from your stipend. You can ask them when the most inexpensive time is to talk.
Laundry: Please discuss this upon arrival with your
host family. You should take care of
your own laundry, though many hosts may find it easiest to add your laundry to
their regular wash loads. If you are
expected to use a Laundromat, the host family has been instructed to provide
you with information as to where and how to do it. If they offer the use of their washer/dryer, they should instruct
you in usage and in handling of special fabrics. They have also been asked to tell you where hand washing can be
done, and where to find a good cleaner.
Transportation:
CIU staff or host families
will be responsible for your transportation to other host families, training
sites and airport transfer. Arrange
evening transportation with the first thing in the morning. Also, confirm with the pick up time for the
next day. Please do not drive family
cars because of insurance restrictions.
During your observational training, you most likely will be meeting with
the decision makers of each organization you visit. This means that you will be dealing with important people in a
given organization or community.
Although this may seem obvious, these people are used to appropriate
business manners from everyone around them and you should treat them
accordingly.
At lectures and formal events, do not interrupt
speakers or talk during a speech unless it seems to be the norm. Write down any questions and post them after
the speaker has finished his or her formal presentation. In such setting, there will almost always be
a question and answer period afterwards.
On the other hand, if questions are acceptable, do not be afraid to ask
the question that is troubling you.
Most likely someone else will have the same confusion you do. If something seems entirely foreign to you,
ask your training coordinator or a helpful colleague to explain the
practice or issue.
In the United States, you will find many women and minorities in positions
of power. Modes of conduct in this new
age of “equal opportunity” are still being formed but following are some
general things to keep in mind.
Just as there are now federal laws about sexual harassment, so are there
laws to regulate conduct between races.
Like the former Soviet Union, the United States is a country with many
ethnic groups. Relations between groups
can be outstanding when each tries to be sensitive to ethnic differences.
Defining sexual harassment precisely is not easy but it certainly
includes slurs, threats and derogatory comments. It also includes offensive jokes, unwelcome sexual advances and
other similar comments. To avoid any
confusion – personally and professionally, Americans prefer to be very
businesslike in the workplace.
Americans are very mindful about their personal grooming, possibly more
so than most other cultures. During
your stay, you might visit a large drug store and note the array of personal
grooming products. This is a
multi-billion dollar industry, as the ads you will see on television will
attest.
Listed below are
some general notes about American customs in the work place.
Americans are
expected to arrive at work on time. Be
on time for meetings or appointments scheduled during the work day. If you didn’t bring a calendar or
appointment book request or purchase one.
During the work day,
Americans generally have a lunch break (30-60 minutes) and often short rest
breaks (“coffee breaks”). Determine the
allowable lunch time at your place of business, and comply.
If you are invited to lunch or out for coffee, you should
offer to pay for yourself. This is
common practice among co-workers. Avoid
excessive personal telephone calls at work and no long distance calls
without talking first with your training coordinator about
payment/reimbursement for the call.
Write down
instructions for using the copier, computer, telephone, FAX machine, and
various other pieces of equipment. Ask
about the office policy for using such equipment, as some businesses limit
personal use of these machines due to cost. Many public buildings are
considered “smoke free” and by law you may not smoke. If you smoke, find out about the smoking policy. Even if you can smoke in your work area,
check with nearby workers to see if they have any objections. You may work very
late sometimes as you shadow the top manager in his or her work. Often the operators of small business put in
long days, plus weekend and evening work in order to have a successful small
business.
BLUEFIELD,
WEST VIRGINIA
Imagine a place where the living is easy...everyone's a neighbor...and the land is rich in beauty and heritage. Welcome to The Bluefields where this small town feeling mixes with progressive business and industry for a fresh point of view. The Greater Bluefield area is a refreshing, mountainous community make up of two cities ‑ Bluefield, Virginia and Bluefield, West Virginia ‑ situated in two shallow valleys in the Appalachian Mountains. Highways, bus lines, rail and air services provide easy access to and from the Bluefield area.
Named by early residents, who observed a blue landscape colored by native chicory in bloom, Bluefield hugs the eastern part of Mercer County and is bordered on the south by East River Mountain, which is part of the Southern Appalachian Mountain Range. At an elevation of 2,612 feet in its downtown area, and 3,487 feet at the top of the East River Mountain Overlook Park, Bluefield offers wonderful scenic views.
The Bluefield City Government and Board of Directors are dedicated to creating a positive and growing economic climate for existing businesses as well as new prospects. This is accomplished by identifying and promoting all available buildings and other commercial sites, encouraging citizen input, offering generous tax incentives, as well as working closely with the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, the South Bluefield Merchants Association, the Mercer County Development Authority, and other agencies.
Area Labor and Demographics
The area's labor market includes mining repair and rebuild, geology and environmental services, wholesale baking, innovative wood industry products, training centers, limestone manufacturers, distributor center and warehousing, manufacturing and distributors, high tech coal mining, engineering and service, oil and natural gas exploration, and health and service occupations.
The current unemployment rate for the area is 4.1%. Skilled workers in sufficient numbers are presently available to perform a wide range of job requirements for industry and service organizations.
Bluefield, West Virginia lies at the hub of several major transportation routes serving the eastern United States. Not only does this network facilitate excellent intra‑regional transportation links, but it also offers outstanding intra‑regional networking potential.
I‑77 provides an ideal link with major northern population centers like Cleveland and via I‑79, Pittsburgh, I‑77 offers excellent access to major centers in Virginia and North Carolina, as well as many major population centers in the southern United States.
I‑64 provides access to the Midwest. With I‑64 east of Beckley, West Virginia and US Route 460 in Virginia, the area has excellent service to the East Coast. I‑64, I‑77 and US Route 460 all provide convenient connections with I‑81, which extends from Tennessee to New England.
Railroads:
Norfolk Southern Corp., which operates in 21 states and the Province of Ontario, Canada, serves Bluefield. It is the only railroad service serving from the Atlantic Coast all the way to points on the Missouri River. The terminus, at Norfolk, serves as one of the great ports on the East Coast with convenient shipping facilities to Europe as well as Central and South America. The closest railroad station that provides passenger services is at Hinton, about fifty miles north of Bluefield.
Air Service:
Bluefield is served by the Mercer County Airport, which has a 4,743‑foot runway and is approximately six miles from Bluefield and eight miles from Princeton. Colgan Air offers four trips daily to Washington DC designed to meet incoming and outgoing flights. The airport also provides Hertz Auto Rentals. Service available for private craft, 24‑hour weather services, tie‑downs, all grades of fuel, and flight service in field.
State of West Virginia Tax Incentives
West Virginia offers many tax incentives to encourage business and industry to locate in the state. These incentives also benefit industries presently doing business in the state.
The information that follows highlights major incentives and the principal tax structure of the state. A more detailed tax package can be furnished by the Governor's Office of Economic & Community Development and the State Tax Department. Both departments routinely provide tax comparisons between West Virginia and other localities.
Business Investment and Jobs Expansion Tax Credit (Super Tax Credit)
The amount of qualified investment is based on the useful life and cost of real and personal property. To illustrate the qualified investment for property having a useful life of eight years or more is 100% of cost.
Useful Life Percent of Cost
1 to 4
years..............................................................................0%
4 to 6
years..............................................................................33
1/3%
6 to 8
years..............................................................................66
2/3%
8 years or
more.....................................................................…100%
The super credit is applied at the rate of one‑tenth for ten years beginning with the first taxable year the investment is placed into service or use.
The number of new jobs created that are directly attributable to the taxpayers qualified investment determines the portion of qualified investment allowable as a credit.
The annual credit allowance may offset up to 100% of business franchise tax and net corporate income that are attributable to the qualified investment, and 80 percent of sales tax on purchases for use of business. The list includes:
·Business and Occupation
· Carrier
Income Taxes
· Corporation
Net Income Taxes
· Personal Income Taxes (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership and Sub-chapter S Corporations)
· Twenty percent of workers compensation premiums.
City
Government
The City of Bluefield operates under the guidelines of the council‑manager form of government: a city manager is appointed by the board of directors to serve as the administrative head of municipal government.
The board of directors provides policy direction for the city manager and his staff. The board also appoints citizens to sixteen city boards, commissions and authorities. Four of these, the Parking Commission, the Sanitary Board, the Housing Authority, and the Library Commission, have full time staffs.
Recreation
Department
The City of Bluefield maintains a full‑time, professional staff consisting of a Director, Activities Scheduler, Secretary, Maintenance Foreman, Assistant Foreman, a seven‑man Maintenance Crew, 10 seasonal employees, and a part‑time Hardy Street Center Supervisor, all for which objectives are to maintain and develop a broad, comprehensive range of recreational programs and activities for all age groups throughout the city.
Supporting the programs, the city has also invested heavily in physical developments that include a variety of facilities.
City Park and
Recreational Complex
The 40‑acre City Park Complex is the most dynamic of the city's recreational facilities. This widely used facility consists of a walker's track, 1.3 mile hiking trail, the legendary Ridgerunner Train, picnic areas, playgrounds, sand volleyball court, softball fields, baseball fields, and an equestrian ring.
There also remains a 460‑acre tract of undeveloped woodlands for future growth. Another focal point of the City Park Complex is a multipurpose recreational facility adjacent to the City Park. This facility includes a City Auditorium capable of housing a number of activities and programs with special events scheduled on a weekly basis.
Just to outline a few, the recreation department has hosted the Bluefield Mountain Festival, WCW Wrestling, Bluefield College basketball games, concerts, religious groups, public dances, business and parties, and a variety of school activities. The city recreation department maintains a close relationship with schools, churches, civic groups, and local businesses in order to provide safe and productive recreational programs for a cross section of the community. The Youth Center just next door entertains the city youth daily with pool tables, air hockey, and a variety of other games and sports.
Bowen Field and Mitchell Stadium, located in the center of the area, are two of the finest stadiums (baseball and football respectively) in the state of West Virginia. Bowen Field is the home of professional baseball's Appalachian League Bluefield Orioles. Mitchell Stadium boasts a seating capacity of 10,000 spectators for the high school and college football games it typically hosts.
Completing the complex are nine tennis courts which support both organized tournaments and chance matches throughout the week. A 12‑acre parking lot which accommodates more than 1,000 vehicles makes it possible for nearly all these facilities to be used at the same time.
Citywide Recreational Facilities and
Programs
A system of 16 park and playground facilities supplements the City Park and Recreation Complex by extending recreational opportunities into each neighborhood of the city. The Parks and Recreation Department utilize these facilities to provide a wide range of activities on a continuous basis. For youth, the Recreation Department offers six basketball leagues, two football leagues, and cheerleading.
A number of skills programs are also taught on a regular basis. Included in these activities are swimming, tennis, and baton twirling. Adult programs USSA softball leagues, step aerobics, and church and co‑ed volleyball and basketball leagues.
Overall, the city of Bluefield's Parks and Recreation Department maintains a vibrant set of programs with a place in them for all residents of the city. Ever changing, the Parks and Recreation Department is constantly seeking out new and interesting activities to advance the department's range of programming and services. With this approach, the Parks and Recreation Department hopes to improve the quality of life for every Bluefield resident.
Located along Route 52, near Bramwell in Mercer County, Pinnacle Rock State Park is one of the more interesting wayside parks operated by the West Virginia State Park System. Towering above the rugged mountains in the southeastern part of the state, Pinnacle Rock is an unusual sandstone formation reaching 3,100 feet above sea level.
The park was opened in 1938 when the Conservation Commission purchased a 26 acre tract of land surrounding the rock. Parking areas, walkway and a large picnic shelter with a huge stone fireplace were then constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in conjunction with the state of West Virginia. Today there are nearly 400 acres, which include Jimmy Lewis Lake located within the park boundary.
Bluefield Area Arts & Crafts Center
500 Bland Street, Bluefield, WV.
325‑8000
The Arts & Crafts Center is located in Bluefield's historic "Old City Hall," a massive Classical Revival building designed by noted architect Wilbur Mills in the 1920s. Explore several changing exhibits featured in the Paine Gallery, and handmade crafts and artwork, which are available for sale in the center's shop. Other facilities include a theater, which is the home of the Summit Theatre, and a restaurant. The Summit Theatre presents four plays a year, including a children's musical in the summer. Free tours of the building, which also houses the Science Center of West Virginia and the Bluestone Convention & Visitors Bureau, are available on request.
Bramwell Historic District
Downtown Bramwell, five miles from
Bluefield, WV.
248‑7114
Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Bramwell was settled by wealthy coal mine owners at the end of the 19th century and was once considered the richest small town in America. Visitors can explore the town's rich heritage by taking a walking tour of the historic and lavish homes. Buildings along the way include the Edward Cooper House, the Hewitt House and the Schoew House. The Bramwell Millionaire Garden Club hosts guided public home tours of the coal baron mansions in May and December.
Downtown Bluefield, WV Historic
District
Downtown Bluefield, WV.
325‑5442
Stroll through the area and view such sites as the Bluefield Daily Telegraph Building, the elegant Elks Lodge and Opera House, the West Virginia Hotel and the Bailey Building. Walking tour brochures are available at several downtown locations. Guided group tours from the Craft Public Library are available with advance notice.
Eastern Regional Coal Archives
600 Commerce Street, Bluefield, WV.
325‑3943
This local history room is dedicated to collecting, preserving and making available the Coalfield Heritage. The library houses photographs, oral history tapes, diaries, books, music, film, company recorded memorabilia, maps and other coalfield materials. Please call ahead for an appointment.
Historic Crab Orchard Museum &
Pioneer Park
Routes 19/460, Tazewell, VA, between
Bluefield and Richlands.
540‑988‑6755
This is the region's most comprehensive historical museum, dedicated to life on the Appalachian frontier 150 years ago. Exhibits include log homes, horse‑drawn equipment and early automobiles. Also featured are artifacts from Native Americans dating from 10,500 years ago, a real life diorama of a Cherokee settlement, regional crafts, food and art, and one of the most diverse collections of antique weapons in America. Pioneer Park features 13 historic log and stone buildings furnished to recreate the 1830s.
Pocahontas Exhibition Mine & Museum
Route 659, Pocahontas, VA.
540‑945‑2134
This is the world's first show mine, opened in 1882. The mine was in operation for 73 years and produced more than 44 million tons of coal. This National Historic Landmark, Virginia's official state coal heritage museum, offers a spectacular view of a 13‑foot‑tall coal seam. The mine maintains a temperature of 52 degrees year‑round. Open April through October. Walking tours of the historic town of Pocahontas may also be arranged.
Princeton was founded almost a quarter of a century before the Civil War. Its growth accelerated in 1908 with the arrival of the Virginian Railroad's first passenger train. Supporting businesses and industries, the town's rail industry opened the area's future growth. Princeton, being the county seat, is located in the southern tip of West Virginia, approximately 100 miles from the State Capitol in Charleston.
Mercer County was formed on March 17, 1837 by an act passed by the General Assembly of Virginia from territory taken from Giles and Tazewell Counties. Thereafter, a meeting of Commissioners from neighboring counties was held in Gadeville to find a location for the new county's courthouse. Since General Mercer fell mortally wounded at Princeton, NJ, Princeton was named the county seat.
Only two voting precincts were initially provided, one at Princeton and the other at Pipestem. All buildings in the area were of the log type and although the entire section was a vast underdeveloped wilderness, the population grew comparatively rapidly. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the area was included in WV, which was part of the Union. A large percentage of the residents joined the Confederacy and ten companies went to battle for the Confederacy.
PRINCETON FIRSTS
• French C. Smith was the 1st settler
in the community where Princeton was located.
• The first merchant was Theodore
Jordan.
• The first hotel keepers were James M.
Bailey and Charles W. Calfee.
• The first shoemaker was Isham
Brinkley.
• The first tanners were Thompson and
Champman.
• The first blacksmith was Daniel
Straley.
• The first resident physician was Dr.
R.B. McNutt.
• The first newspaper was the Princeton Journal, a publication begun by George W. Anderson in 1876.
• The first bank in Princeton was
opened in 1874 by H.W. Straley.
• The Princeton Journal was the first newspaper published in Mercer County. The first issue was printed in 1878, and it was considered a Democratic paper. It contained only local news and advertisements.
• In 1884, baseball first appeared in
Princeton with Judge C. W. Smith as Captain of the team. The players used no equipment
to prevent injury, and the ball was colored blue.
• Princeton got another team a few years later. It was captained by the Honorable Robert N. French, a lawyer from Arizona.
• The first baseball game was played with Concord in June 1886 and Princeton emerged the winner of the first baseball battle in Mercer County.
• John Barberie owned and operated the first automobile in Princeton. In 1909, it was used as a taxi between Bluefield and Princeton. It was an International Hi‑Wheel and cranked from the side.
• On November 21, 1908, the first
passenger train arrived over the Virginian
• May 22, 1909, was the arrival of the
first passenger service between Deepwater and Roanoke.
PRINCETON AND THE CIVIL WAR
Princeton existed 24 years before the start of the Civil War. Although West Virginia broke away from Virginia because it was part of the Confederacy, Princeton was sympathetic to the Confederacy. In 1862, the Princeton Courthouse was filled with the Confederate army, commanded by Captain Jenifer. He had the town burned when it was under the threat of the Union soldiers. At the battle of Princeton, the federal loss totaled 18 killed, 56 wounded and 21 missing.
THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR
After the Civil War, Mercer County was politically and financially wrecked. The War left Mercer County without a courthouse. In autumn of 1865, Judge Harrison of Monroe County moved the county seat from Princeton to Concord (now Athens). The courthouse fight went on for more than four years. Court records were shuffled back and forth between Princeton and Athens, and courts were held in both. The courthouse fight ended in 1874 with Princeton named county seat once again.
RELIGION AFTER THE WAR
For 15 years after the War, Princeton did not have a church building of any kind. In 1881‑1882, the Baptists and Methodists united and formed a church. It cost about $800.00. The partnership did not last very long, however. There was a lot of fighting and bickering. Eventually, the town again separated into two separate religions. In 1885, the Baptists sold their part of the Church to the Methodists. The husbands and wives both attended church, but they could not sit together. The men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other. In 1885, the Baptists built their own church. It cost $5,000.00 to build and was considered the finest church south of the Kanawha River at the time.
EARLY PRINCETON BANKING
In 1872, the Bank of Princeton was chartered. It had capital stock of $25,000.00. The vice president was Judge David Johnston, an ex‑Confederate soldier. On August 2, 1889, the Princeton Banking Company was chartered, and it also had capital stock of $25,000.00. It took over the assets of the Bank of Princeton and paid its liabilities. The Bank of Mercer was chartered on May 3, 1893, with capital stock of $25,000.00. It was organized for the purpose of meeting the requirements of a decision of the West Virginia Court of Appeals decision. It was a short‑lived bank. When its purpose was accomplished, it surrendered its charter and disposed its assets to the Princeton Banking Company.
EARLY EDUCATION
There were few educational advantages in Princeton after the war. School opened in October and continued for six months. Princeton had no school building and the Board of Education refused to build a school house. Classes were held in one room rented by the Board of Education. The teachers were paid $18‑25 a month. Many students used the same books for all six years of their educational experience and they received no grades.
COURTS AND POLITICS
The Circuit Court met three times each year. It was an event that Princeton's citizens anticipated so huge crowds assembled on court days. The first murder case tried in Mercer County after the War was State of West Virginia versus William A. Fanning. Fanning was accused of killing a man named Reed on May 21, 1878. The case was tried as a self‑defense, and Fanning was acquitted. At the time, there was only one political organization‑Democratic. There were only 75 Republican votes in the county. There was usually one Democratic Rally every Presidential year, and all male voters of the county attended. The Republican Party eventually grew because of the people flooding into the county from other states.
EFFECTS OF THE VIRGINIAN RAILWAY
The growth of Princeton from the Civil War to the construction of the Virginian Railway was slow. During the construction of the N&W Railroad, Princeton did experience some business activity, although it was limited. Princeton seemed to be at a standstill, while Bluefield was experiencing rapid growth. Construction of the Virginian Railway through Princeton caused an election designed to move the courthouse from Princeton to Bluefield. The special election was called by the County Court on March 16, 1906. It was cold and stormy on Election Day, but almost every eligible citizen voted. Princeton won the election and the Courthouse remained there.
PRESENT DAY PRINCETON
During the 1980's the community's population expanded by nearly 25% and the job growth rate has more that doubled that. In 1990‑1994, 30 new businesses opened along with construction permits totaling more than $15 million. Indicators predict that the job growth rate will continue to at 6%. The community stands as an industrial and service center. Princeton's centralized location at the third most active interstate interchange in the state (I‑77 and U.S. Rt. 460) makes it the transportation network center. I‑77 runs from the Great Lakes to Florida. This major route is utilized mostly for shipping and tourism due to its link to I‑64. Princeton is equipped with all the utilities and natural resources required for new business and industry. Communications include print, radio, television and telephone. The city of Princeton and surrounding areas has a new water system that can handle five million gallons of water per day, expandable to 15 million gallons. A multitude of recreational and cultural activities are provided within the City of Princeton through the Princeton Recreation Center, the City Park, and the Hunnicutt Stadium and Sports Complex. Residents enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle throughout all four seasons. The surrounding environment provides opportunities for fishing, hiking, sporting events, swimming and much more!
SHOPPING
Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia is a creative approach to a very businesslike idea; to develop and market West Virginia Made products, foster a vibrant cottage industry among the States' artisans and agricultural producers, and strengthen and preserve West Virginia's rich cultural heritage. Tamarack serves as a unique destination, offering year‑round festivals, workshops, performing arts, craft production and retail areas, nature trails, theater and gallery, as well as a food court featuring West Virginia foods‑so visitors can experience the sights, sounds, tastes and textures that are truly The Best of West Virginia!
Our area has much to offer for your shopping pleasure. Stores in Downtown Princeton provide a boutique style atmosphere you'll enjoy. Our downtown area is now undergoing major renovations to better serve the needs of our community & its guests. Downtown will make you feel right at home!
If you like meeting your shopping needs under one roof, the Mercer Mall is within 15 minutes of downtown Princeton. Here, you will find major department stores, a food court, and more.
NIGHTLIFE
No matter what your style, we have it all. Whether you are into country line dancing, hip hop, or you simply enjoy relaxing and getting together with friends...we've got it!
CAMPING
The gorgeous mountains of West Virginia provide an exciting & relaxing camping experience. We have many state parks in our area, along with privately owned campgrounds.
FAMILY FUN & MORE! Family Fun Center Just off Hwy 460 in Princeton, WV. For more information, call (304) 487‑1502 Enjoy activities for the entire family. Bumper Boats, driving range, putt‑putt golf, go‑cart track,
video arcade, snack bar, and more!
NKS
West
Virginia
West
Virginia, the only landlocked South Atlantic state, is bordered by Pennsylvania
on the north, Maryland and Virginia on the east, and Kentucky and Ohio on the
west. Very irregular in shape, with two
panhandles—a northern one jutting up between Pennsylvania and Ohio and an
eastern one squeezed by Maryland and Virginia—West Virginia has about
five-sixths of its 1,880-km (1,170-mi) border marked by rivers or mountain
ridges. Lying wholly within the APPALACHIAN
MOUNTAINS, and thus well deserving of its nickname, the “Mountain State,” West
Virginia claims the highest mean elevation (approximately 457m/1,500 ft) of any
state east of the Mississippi and the most rugged terrain.
The
state’s population in 1970 (1,744,237) equaled that of 40 years earlier. During the 1970s, however, revived interest
in the state’s primary resource, coal, drew many new residents to the state
(205,407 between 1970 and 1980) and increased the population by 11.8%. By 1990, however, the population had
declined sharply to 1,793,497.
West
Virginia lies within three physiographical provinces. At Harpers Ferry a scenic and strategic pass of the Potomac
provides a gateway through the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS. To the west the Ridge and
Valley region occupies most of the eastern panhandle. A prominent east-facing
escarpment, the Allegheny Front of the ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS, marks the beginning
of the Appalachian Plateau, which covers three-fifths of the sate. The highest elevations in West
Virginia—Spruce Knob (1,483m/4,865 ft), Bald Knob (1,476 m/4,842 ft), and Big
Spruce Knob (1,418m/4,652 ft)—are found along the eastern edge of the plateau.
West
Virginia’s steep slopes generally offer shallow, clay, acidic soils, favoring
the growth of forests. Occasional river
floodplains provide blacker, more fertile soils, and limestone bedrock helps
neutralize acidity.
The
state’s northwestern boundary follows the right bank of the OHIO RIVER for 412
km (256 mi), and the POTOMAC marks West Virginia’s northern border with
Maryland. Fish and Middle Island creeks
and the Little Kanawha, Kanawha, and Guyandotte rivers flow across the
Appalachian Plateau northwestward into the Ohio. The north-running West fork and Tygart rivers join in Marion
County to form the MONONGAHELA, which flows north into Pennsylvania.
West
Virginia has about 70 smaller public fishing lakes and ponds but no large
natural body of water. Artificial
reservoirs on the New, Gauley, and Tygart rivers afford flood protection,
low-flow augmentation, and recreation.
With a
mid-latitude continental climate, featuring cyclonic storms in winter and
thunderstorms in summer, West Virginia receives about 100 mm (4 in) of rain
each month. Greater amounts occur at
higher elevations, but downwind or eastward of mountains precipitation drops to
as low as 810 mm (32in) a year in parts of Pendleton County. Temperatures range form January’s average of
1 deg c (34 deg F) to July’s 22 deg C (72 deg F).
The many
steep, narrow valleys make flash flooding West Virginia’s most feared
weather-related phenomenon. In 1972 the
Buffalo Creek Flood killed 125 people after a mine refuse pile collapsed,
blocking normal drainage.
Deciduous
hardwoods of valleys, notably cherry and Appalachian oak, give way at higher
elevations, where temperatures are lower and soils thinner, to scattered
patches of conifers. The southern limit
of Canadian vegetation runs through the states. Wildlife includes deer, bears, squirrels, rabbits, foxes, skunks,
opossums, and raccoons. Mountain
streams teem with trout, carp, and perch, and such fish are beginning to return
to rivers and valleys.
Commercial timberland covers about 80% of West Virginia’s land
area. During the 19th century
the forests supplied charcoal-fired iron furnaces; during the early 20th
century they provided the lumber to build cities and towns throughout the
eastern United States. Over rapid exploitation
could not continue, however, and the 1920s and ‘30s saw forest fires and severe
erosion. After the establishment of
natural and state forests, large tracts that were once farmed have now reverted
to tree cover.
The salt
brines of the Kanawha river valley, long taken advantage of by the Indian (the
Indian word kanawha is believed to mean “place of the white rock”),
provided the initial incentive to bore holes into the earth to remove valuable
resources. The technology developed for a salt mining was utilized in drilling
the world’s first petroleum well at Titusville, Pa., in 1859. A year later a successful well at Burning
Springs in Wirt County began West Virginia’s petroleum boom. Since the 1890s, however, bituminous coal
has constituted the state’s most valuable mineral resource. It has been estimated that nearly 40% of
West Virginia is under laid with coal and the tonnage thus far mined is only a
small percentage of the recoverable reserves remaining.
Most West
Virginians live along the Kanawha, Ohio, and Monongahela rivers. During the 19th century, other
manufacturing and mining towns sprang up at key sites along the railroads. West Virginia’s population density, however,
is the lowest of any South Atlantic state and has declined even further with
the recent drop in the state population.
CHARLESTON (the capitol), Huntington, Wheeling, Morgantown, Parkersburg,
Fairmont, and Weirton are the only cities with more than 20,000
inhabitants. About one out of ten
residents lives in the state’s most populous county, Kanawha, centered at
Charleston, but West Virginia’s population is still predominantly rural, with
nearly two-thirds of the population living outside metropolitan areas.
West
Virginia’s population is mostly white.
Blacks make up about 3% of the population, and the Hispanic and Asian
populations each constitute less than 1%.
Major European ethnic groups include the English, most of whom migrated
from Virginia, and Scots-Irish and German, who arrived by way of Pennsylvania. Those of English descent generally tend to
belong to Baptist and Episcopalian congregations. Scots-Irish are usually Presbyterian, and the Germans of the
eastern panhandle belong to Amish, Mennonite, or Church of the Brethren
congregations. Later Roman Catholic
immigrants from Ireland and eastern and southern Europe concentrated in the
state’s industrial centers and in the coal field areas.
West
Virginia’s institutions of higher learning include 10 state-supported
institutions as well as private institutions—such as Alderson-Broaddus,
Bethany, Davis and Elkins, Salem Teikyo, and West Virginia Wesleyan, all
founded by 1904, and Wheeling Jesuit College, established in 1954. In West Virginia schools at the elementary
and secondary school level, attendance is compulsory between the ages of 7 and
16.
In 1976,
Charleston opened a new center for both performing arts and display of arts and
crafts. Huntington and Parkersburg also
have art galleries, and throughout the state a variety of fairs exhibit
handicrafts and sponsor country music revivals. A few cities have symphony orchestras.
HARPERS
FERRY was the scene of the famous raid (1859) by John BROWN that foreshadowed
the violence of the Civil War. Near
Harpers Ferry, across the Potomac River in Maryland, is a national historical
monument, the CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL.
At the other end of the state, downstream from Parkersburg, Harman
BLENNERHASSET built a mansion (c. 1800) on an island in the Ohio that still
retains his name. There, Aaron Burr,
with Blennerhasset’s unwitting assistance, set about to establish an empire in
the southwest.
West
Virginia has 9 commercial television stations and numerous commercial radio
stations (both AM and FM). The state’s
25 daily newspapers include the Charleston Gazette and Daily Mail, the
Huntington Herald-Dispatch, The Parkersburg News, and the Wheeling
Intelligencer (founded in 1852) and News- Register.
West
Virginia’s economy is dominated by coal mining, concentrated in the Monongahela
valley and south of the Kanawha valley, and by a chemicals industry located
along the Kanawha and Ohio rivers and based on the state’s natural resources of
salt, coal, petroleum and natural gas.
In 1893,
West Virginia has 21,000 farms (compared to 35,000 in 1964). The average size of these farms was 82
hectares (203 acres). Since World War
II, production has shifted from dairying and general farming to livestock breeding,
taking advantage of local hay production.
The eastern panhandle specializes in apples and peaches, and Hardy
County along the Virginia border raises about 10 million chickens annually.
West
Virginia has more hardwood saw timber than any other state in the union. Approximately three-quarters of the state’s
area are woodland. Peak harvesting of
West Virginia’s forests came in 1909, when 1.5 billion board feet of wood were
cut.
Hunting and Fishing are major recreation industries. Squirrels, rabbits, deer, grouse, and wild turkeys constitute the most p