Spruce

 What is the history behind the abandonment of Spruce, West Virginia

Spruce, West Virginia, was a logging town established in 1902 along Shavers Fork of Cheat River in Pocahontas County. Its history and eventual abandonment are closely tied to the boom and bust of the timber industry in the region[1][4].

The town was founded to support the logging operations of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (later known as Westvaco). In 1904, the company built a pulp mill near the original settlement, which led to the creation of a new community also named Spruce. The original settlement was then renamed "Old Spruce"[4].

During its peak, Spruce held the distinction of being the highest and coldest town in the eastern United States, situated high in the mountains of Pocahontas County[1]. The town was served by the Greenbrier and Elk Railroad, which was crucial for transporting timber and workers[4].

However, the town's prosperity was short-lived. In 1925, the pulp mill in Spruce closed, and its equipment was relocated to the company's paper mill in Luke, Maryland[4]. This closure marked the beginning of Spruce's decline, as the primary source of employment disappeared.

As the timber resources in the area were depleted, the logging industry became unsustainable. The West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company eventually abandoned the town[2]. The final blow came when the Western Maryland Railway, which had taken over operations in the area, decided to wipe Spruce from the map by burning down every remaining structure, leaving only concrete remains[3].

Today, Spruce exists as a ruined ghost town, with only remnants of its past remaining in a remote mountain meadow, serving as a testament to the boom-and-bust cycle of resource-dependent communities in West Virginia[1].

Citations:
[1] Spruce Is An Abandoned Town In West Virginia - OnlyInYourState https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/spruce-ghost-town-wv/
[2] Spruce: - Ghost Town http://shaversforkcoalition.org/Voices/voices-chapter4.htm
[3] How to get to Spruce, West Virginia's ruined ghost town - WBOY.com https://www.wboy.com/only-on-wboy-com/how-to-get-to-spruce-west-virginias-ruined-ghost-town/
[4] Spruce, West Virginia - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce,_West_Virginia
[5] Secluded Ghost Town in the Mountains | Spruce, West Virginia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_9T_Ea5T7I
Are there any notable landmarks or features left in Spruce

Notable landmarks and features left in Spruce, West Virginia, include:

- **Concrete Endwalls of the Mill Powerhouse**: These are among the most prominent remnants.
- **Foundations of the Endless Chain Conveyor**: Visible near the mill site.
- **Concrete and Timber-lined Spillway of the Millpond**: Located at the base of the hill.
- **Building Foundations**: Various foundations from the old mill and other structures are still visible.
- **Archaeological Significance**: Parts of Spruce have been excavated, revealing more about its history[1][3][5].

Citations:
[1] Spruce: - Ghost Town http://shaversforkcoalition.org/Voices/voices-chapter4.htm
[2] MICHIGAN GHOST TOWN: The Old Lumber Town of Spruce, Alcona ... https://99wfmk.com/sprucemichigan/
[3] Spruce Is An Abandoned Town In West Virginia - OnlyInYourState https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/spruce-ghost-town-wv/
[4] Secluded Ghost Town in the Mountains | Spruce, West Virginia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_9T_Ea5T7I
[5] The town of Spruce https://www.msrlha.org/spruce/