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A Journey Back In Time |
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Before continuing your journey back in time to the Town Of Davis as it once was, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Mrs. Pearle G. Mott. Mrs. Mott, a lifelong resident of Davis authored the book "History Of Davis And Canaan Valley." This book is probably the most comprehensive document ever written concerning the history of our community.
All historical data on these pages was compiled from the book "History Of Davis And Canaan Valley." What appears on these pages is by no means the complete history of Davis but rather a thumb nail glimpse into our past . As time permits I hope to expand this view of our past. Should you have any data that you would like to contribute to these pages feel free to E-mail it to the web master.
The Town Of Davis was established in 1885. At an altitude of 3,200 feet it is said to be the highest incorporated town east of the Mississippi River. In 1885 the town began to grow rapidly, Davis was a Mecca for carpenters, houses were hastily built to accommodate the rush to the new town. by 1895 there were 600 dwelling houses and a population of 3,000.Many stumps were left standing in the rush to clear land and build homes, and the town became known for a time as "Stump Town". It was said that for the first few years one could travel over the town by stepping from stump to stump. The first residents of Davis were Mr. and Mrs. James Parsons, who lived in a boxcar in 1884 and boarded the railroad engineering and survey crews. Elias Lantz (1828-1900) and Martha kepner Lantz were among the first settlers in Davis, arriving here from Preston County.
The first hotel (Blackwater Hotel) was built in 1886 by the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway Company
Land Purchase of future town of Davis
(From a scrapbook owned by A. T. Shoemaker, Thomas, West Virginia.)
United States Senate, Washington, D.C.
December 25, 1882Dear Elkins [Stephen B.]
You will recollect I told you I had bought (845) eight hundred and forty five acres land around and about the junction of Blackwater and Beaver Creek at $15.00 per acre; this looks like a large price, but mark my prediction when I tell you that within a few years it will be found cheap; it is well timbered and has the coal mines of the Upper Potomac and is about the only place to fix our town of "Davis", and in making deed, I have made you, T. B. and myself each third of; if not agreeable to you, you can assign to us. I feel sure the land between Fairfax Stone and Beaver and Blackwater is very valuable, worth $100 per acre now. Please keep this letter and see how it comes out.
love
Davis [Henry G. Davis]
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