The history of Renick, West Virginia

 

The history of Renick, West Virginia, is detailed in one of the sources, primarily through the account of Maybury G. Myles. Here's a summary of its development:

• Early Settlement: The area around what is now Renick was first settled in the early 19th century and was known as Falling Spring.
• Slow Growth: Despite being in a rich agricultural and grazing region, Falling Spring remained a small community until around 1900.
• Railroad Arrival: In 1900, the railroad was built into the town, establishing a station. The town was then named Renick in honor of the family who owned the land.
• Growth after Railroad: After the arrival of the railroad, the town of Renick began to grow, along with the surrounding area.
• Merger of Two Towns: For about five or six years, the area consisted of two communities, Falling Spring and Renick, but in May 1906, they merged into one, under the corporate name of Falling Spring.
• Name Change of Post Office: In the spring of 1914, the post office name was changed from Falling Spring to Renick, to avoid confusion between the two names for the same place.
• Incorporation: The town of Falling Spring was officially chartered in the spring of 1906.
• Early Town Council: The first town council included:
  • Mayor: Dr. H. S. Fleisher
  • Recorder: E. A. West
  • Councilmen: P. P. Ferrell, T. L. Renick, H. N. Renick, Dr. C. W. Albert, and W. N. Welch
• Subsequent Mayors and Recorders: Several individuals served as mayor and recorder.
  • Mayors included: Dr. H. S. Fleisher (7 terms), Willis Knight (1 term), J. P. Gilmore (1 term), J. P. Smith (1 term), and W. F. Knight (current at the time of writing)
  • Recorders included: E. A. West (4 terms) and M. G. Myles (6 terms)
  • George McKnight was the current recorder at the time of writing
• Town Improvements: By the time of the article, Renick had:
  • Electric lights
  • Two public wells
  • Macadamized roads
  • Board sidewalks
  • Concrete crossings
  • Plans for a waterworks system
• Disastrous Fire: In late March 1907, a fire destroyed several properties, including those of S. F. Myles, Henry Nicholas, and George Hill.
• Law Enforcement: Dr. H. S. Fleisher and J. P. Smith were noted for their strict enforcement of laws during their administrations.
• Business and Community: By the time of the article, Renick had numerous businesses and community services:
  • Four general mercantile establishments
  • A hardware store
  • A produce store
  • A grocery and confectionery store
  • A barbershop and pool room
  • An opera house and motion picture show
  • A livery stable
  • One electric and one steam flouring mill
  • Three blacksmith shops
  • A high school
  • A millinery parlor
  • A photograph studio
  • A bank
  • Two physicians
  • A local preacher and retired minister
  • A railroad station
  • A post office
  • A desk factory
  • A drug store
  • A stone crushing plant
• Location: Renick is located on the Greenbrier River and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, in a limestone-bluegrass region of Greenbrier Valley.
• Community Values: The town was described as having an atmosphere that is "physically, morally and intellectually" unsurpassed.
• Bond Issue: In May 1913, the town voted for a $4,500 bond issue to improve roads and construct concrete crossings.

This history shows that Renick grew from a small settlement to a thriving town in the early 20th century, due in large part to the arrival of the railroad.