Like I said, there isn't much there... one building boarded up. About 300 yards down river there is a farm house. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Toots" <thelma1@ameritech.net> To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 12:06 AM Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] South Branch and 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. > > > >