A Peek into Summers County’s Past: John Henry

TALCOTT W.Va. (Hinton News) – I love the history of Summers County as a whole; however, Pence Springs and Talcott are my two passions within that. Coming upon the 28th anniversary of the John Henry Days festival this July 10-13, I felt the need to give Talcott and John Henry a little shout out, as I wear my green t-shirt that says “Talcott” on it.

Each year, there is a theme for the event; this year is “Takin’ A Ride In ‘25.” I have talked about the John Henry whisky decanters, the John Henry museum that was the old LG Rhodes store in Talcott, which was donated by Donna and Ellery Wykle, the John Henry Museum Restoration Gala that my mother and I planned after Donna passed away in 2013, and the large roadside statue.

The Hilldale-Talcott Ruritan Club set out to have a statue made to commemorate the legend of John Henry. I purchased a fantastic John Henry artifact from an online auction in Roanoke, VA, several years ago. This little statue was sold as just one of the many means of raising the funds to have the statue made and placed over the top of the Big Bend Tunnel, where he died in competition during its construction, and where he stood until being relocated to the park.

The original card that hung on the chalkware statue I purchased at auction reads: “John Henry, The Steel Driving Man The figure you have purchased is a small replica of an original statue of John Henry, the Steel Driving Man who gained fame in racing the steam drill in the C.&O. Railroad Big Bend Tunnel at Talcott, West Virginia in the late 1800’s. But who, in so doing, died from the exertion.

History has it that John Henry is not a legend, but was a real man, who worked in the tunnels and lived and died at Talcott, West Virginia, where a John Henry Park is being developed for all to see.

The original sculpture by Charles O. Cooper, Sculptor, of Williamstown Gallery, Williamstown, Michigan, is eight feet tall, of bronze, and in the spring of 1972, will be placed over the Big Bend Tunnel where John Henry died.”

Now, for a series of photos from the day the statue was brought into Talcott in 1972 and placed on the pedestal where it stood for decades. First is a photo of him being brought through the Big Bend Tunnel, where he died in competition during its construction. It was very symbolic to have him come into Talcott through this tunnel.

Next is a photo of where he emerged from the tunnel on his way “uptown” in Talcott. The third is of him being unloaded from the train to be placed on a truck to haul him to his final resting place over the Big Bend Tunnel, where he stood for decades. Last is a photo of a crane lowering him onto the stone base where he majestically stood for years. With a crowd of spectators looking on.