HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 113

(By Delegates Howell, A. Evans and Rowan )

Requesting the Division of Highways place signs on United States Route 220 at the Mineral/Hampshire County border, United States Route 50 at the Mineral/Grant County border, State Route 28 at the Mineral/Hampshire County border and also the Maryland/West Virginia state line, State Route 42 at the Mineral/Grant County border, State Route 46 at the Maryland/West Virginia state line, State Route 93 at the Mineral/Grant County border, and State Route 956 at the Maryland/West Virginia state line stating: "Mineral County, Celebrating the Sesquicentennial, 1866 - 2016".

            Whereas, Mineral County was created on February 1, 1866, by an Act of the West Virginia Legislature, from the existing Hampshire County. The name was selected for the great mineral reserves that are found in the county; and

            Whereas, Mineral County has played an important role in West Virginia history. Two important forts for the early settlers of Mineral County were built in Frankfort Village and New Creek. In 1755, during the French and Indian War, Colonel George Washington gave orders to build a stockade and fort at Frankfort Village. During a battle at the fort, Colonel John Ashby was attacked but made "a most remarkable escape to the fort." Colonel Ashby was later put in command of the fort and remained there through the Revolutionary War. The fort and the town were later named Fort Ashby. In addition, the fort in New Creek helped secure the area for the English during the French and Indian War. New Creek was also an important military base during the Civil War because its fort, located on the site where Potomac State College now stands, commanded roads leading to the South Branch and Shenandoah Valleys. In addition, it was a training camp for Union soldiers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. After the Civil War, New Creek Station became the "railhead" for the commercial interests of a large territory; and

            Whereas, Many immigrants in the 19th century worked their way across the coalfields of Pennsylvania, down through Maryland, and settled in Mineral County. The area’s population reflects a diverse mixture of Mennonites, Germans, Swiss, English, Scots, Italians, Chinese, Irish and Jews; and

            Whereas, Perhaps the most prominent historic figure was the industrialist Henry Gassaway Davis, who began as a brakeman for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at age 20 and lived in Piedmont early in his life. Davis later was elected to the U.S. Senate and ran for vice president in 1904, when he and Democratic presidential candidate Alston Parker lost to Teddy Roosevelt. Davis founded Elkins and owned his own railroad; and

            Whereas, Mineral County is the birthplace of many notable West Virginians including Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the mother of Abraham Lincoln, Walter E. "Jack" Rollins, who cowrote "Here comes Peter Cottontail" and "Frosty the Snowman", John Kruk, former All-Star Major League baseball player, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a prominent African-American scholar and author; and

            Whereas, It is fitting and proper that the Legislature recognize Mineral County and celebrate its Sesquicentennial; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and place signs on United States Route 220 at the Mineral/Hampshire County border, United States Route 50 at the Mineral/Grant County border, State Route 28 at the Mineral/Hampshire County border and also the Maryland/West Virginia state line, State Route 42 at the Mineral/Grant County border, State Route 46 at the Maryland/West Virginia state line, State Route 93 at the Mineral/Grant County border, and State Route 956 at the Maryland/West Virginia State line stating: "Mineral County, Celebrating the Sesquicentennial, 1866 - 2016"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates, forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.