There has been a lot of discussion about some towns that no longer exist. South Branch and FRENCH's Station are the same. The FRENCH's Station Post Office still stands. I hope to get a picture of it when the leaves fall and is more visible. Also, FRENCHburg is located on Little Cacapon River where Rt 50 crosses the river. Lastly, HIGGINSville is located about 3 miles down stream (Little Cacapon) from FRENCHburg or about 3 miles across the hills southward from FRENCH's Station.

Thanks for the info But it was called South Branch in 1884 and when I was asking about it the time frame was 1850. I have a map now and feel like I just inherited the state. Tootsie DanlHarris wrote: > There has been a lot of discussion about some towns that no longer exist. > > South Branch and FRENCH's Station are the same. The FRENCH's Station Post > Office still stands. I hope to get a picture of it when the leaves fall and > is more visible. > > Also, FRENCHburg is located on Little Cacapon River where Rt 50 crosses the > river. > > Lastly, HIGGINSville is located about 3 miles down stream (Little Cacapon) > from FRENCHburg or about 3 miles across the hills southward from FRENCH's > Station.

There must be a story behind the two names. Could it have been a boat port? That area was granted by Lord Fairfax to James FRENCH in 1749. There are records of barges and boats shipping to Alexandria/Washington carrying skins, wood and farm products from that area. The spot would be a great launching point (boats/barges) onto the Potomac and may have been a natural place for a rail station. It is still used to put in/take out canoes. The railroad was built before the War Between the States and FRENCH's Station was a warehouse/loading station for access for farmers, loggers, merchantile, manufacturers on the east side of the South Branch River to the railroad (Green Springs on the west side, Oldtown on the north). I haven't looked at the land records, but I understand the FRENCH's owned the area into the 1900s (Court Case - Mrs Florence FRENCH and Judge Armstrong, about 1900). Here it is referred to as FRENCH's Depot. In 1907, is was called FRENCH WV (B&O Railroad photos). I understand the building that still stands had a sign that said FRENCH WV. The general store photo (I estimate about 1920 photo based on peoples clothes) is FRENCH WV. The map I have says South Branch (1999). Today, I only know of one farm house and the old FRENCH's building there. I guess this is another way to forget a ghost town -- change names. Why change the name??? If I ever get to the Post Office archives, it would be interesting to look up the records. Curious. Not many people know Fredericktown was the original name for Winchester ... and for a long period. Dan Harris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Toots" <thelma1@ameritech.net> To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 9:17 PM Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] South Branch and FRENCH's Station > Thanks for the info > But it was called South Branch in 1884 and when I was asking about it the time > frame was 1850. I have a map now and feel like I just inherited the state. > Tootsie > > DanlHarris wrote: > > > There has been a lot of discussion about some towns that no longer exist. > > > > South Branch and FRENCH's Station are the same. The FRENCH's Station Post > > Office still stands. I hope to get a picture of it when the leaves fall and > > is more visible. > > > > Also, FRENCHburg is located on Little Cacapon River where Rt 50 crosses the > > river. > > > > Lastly, HIGGINSville is located about 3 miles down stream (Little Cacapon) > > from FRENCHburg or about 3 miles across the hills southward from FRENCH's > > Station. >

Dan, You don't know how I couldn't believe non of the people from the area knew there was a place called South Branch and not the river. If you get to what might be South Branch and take pictures would you please send me one???? In the 1884 Gazetteer it states this: South Branch Depot, a small station on the B & O, in Hampshire County, 20 miles from Romney ch, and 130 miles from Wheeling. Ex, B & O Mail daily. W. N. Guthrie postmaster. This South Branch has drove me crazy every since I got my ggrandfather's civil war papers and he and his friend thought they lived in South Branch and went to school somewhere. Which brings to mind does anyone know how to get a hold of the WV Education whatever? I found some school info online so it is possible I might luck out and find the school. Tootsie Shoemaker Tomlinson DanlHarris wrote: > There must be a story behind the two names. > > Could it have been a boat port? That area was granted by Lord Fairfax to > James FRENCH in 1749. There are records of barges and boats shipping to > Alexandria/Washington carrying skins, wood and farm products from that area. > The spot would be a great launching point (boats/barges) onto the Potomac > and may have been a natural place for a rail station. It is still used to > put in/take out canoes. The railroad was built before the War Between the > States and FRENCH's Station was a warehouse/loading station for access for > farmers, loggers, merchantile, manufacturers on the east side of the South > Branch River to the railroad (Green Springs on the west side, Oldtown on the > north). I haven't looked at the land records, but I understand the FRENCH's > owned the area into the 1900s (Court Case - Mrs Florence FRENCH and Judge > Armstrong, about 1900). Here it is referred to as FRENCH's Depot. In 1907, > is was called FRENCH WV (B&O Railroad photos). I understand the building > that still stands had a sign that said FRENCH WV. The general store photo > (I estimate about 1920 photo based on peoples clothes) is FRENCH WV. The > map I have says South Branch (1999). > > Today, I only know of one farm house and the old FRENCH's building there. I > guess this is another way to forget a ghost town -- change names. Why > change the name??? > > If I ever get to the Post Office archives, it would be interesting to look > up the records. Curious. > > Not many people know Fredericktown was the original name for Winchester ... > and for a long period. > > Dan Harris > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Toots" <thelma1@ameritech.net> > To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 9:17 PM > Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] South Branch and FRENCH's Station > > > Thanks for the info > > But it was called South Branch in 1884 and when I was asking about it the > time > > frame was 1850. I have a map now and feel like I just inherited the > state. > > Tootsie > > > > DanlHarris wrote: > > > > > There has been a lot of discussion about some towns that no longer > exist. > > > > > > South Branch and FRENCH's Station are the same. The FRENCH's Station > Post > > > Office still stands. I hope to get a picture of it when the leaves fall > and > > > is more visible. > > > > > > Also, FRENCHburg is located on Little Cacapon River where Rt 50 crosses > the > > > river. > > > > > > Lastly, HIGGINSville is located about 3 miles down stream (Little > Cacapon) > > > from FRENCHburg or about 3 miles across the hills southward from > FRENCH's > > > Station. > >

Thank you for posting this, Dan. It shows the French's influence for a very long time span. From what you have found, it would seem that the area was known by two names from about the mid-19th Century--odd! You mention the South Branch River--actually it is the South Branch (of the) Potomac River. If you ever check this out in the P.O. Archives, I hope you will be kind enough to share your findings with the list. Elaine DanlHarris wrote: > ... That area was granted by Lord Fairfax to > James FRENCH in 1749...The railroad was built before the War Between the > States and FRENCH's Station was a warehouse/loading station for access for > farmers, loggers, merchantile, manufacturers on the east side of the South > Branch River to the railroad (Green Springs on the west side, Oldtown on the > north)...I understand the FRENCH's > owned the area into the 1900s (Court Case...about 1900). Here it is referred > to as FRENCH's Depot. In 1907, > is was called FRENCH WV (B&O Railroad photos). I understand the building > that still stands had a sign that said FRENCH WV. The general store photo > (I estimate about 1920 photo based on peoples clothes) is FRENCH WV. The > map I have says South Branch (1999). > > Today, I only know of one farm house and the old FRENCH's building there....