First, thank you for making the trip to Pleasant Valley Road. So much of Pleasant Valley Road has changed since when I worked out there in 1971 at what used to be Galis Electric later was FMC Mining Equipment. Galis used to manufacture underground mining equipment and they had a electric motor plant in the yellow L-shaped building that you passed just before you reached the gas stations. Most of the people that I worked with, I believe have passed on. The other building, which you came upon was about 1/4 mile back across from what used to be WV Electric. That was the assembly plant that Galis sold to FMC in 1971 or 1972. I drove out to the motor plant with a guy who had purchased a 1939 Dodge sedan. That car was a tank. I think it weight over 6,000 lbs. The bridge you drove over was a replacement for a metal bridge that was condemned. It's weight limit was 2 tons so the the car I mentioned weighted more than the bridge was supposed to support. Yeah we took risks then too. I have some interesting stories about working out there in the 1970's.
0:22 That is where the "original" PV road begins now - the road from the connector tied into it around 2008 or 2009 before the giant fill buried the section between there and the intersection with State Street. O.C. Cluss is where the Starlight Drive-In Theater was. 7:23 is the replacement for the old Benton's Ferry Bridge, a combination through (over the tracks) and deck (over the river) truss bridge built around 1910. It was a one-lane wood-floored bridge with lots of shakes and rattles. Long-time legislator and native of nearby Kingmont Nick Fantasia was instrumental in getting funding for this new structure some thirty years ago. It sees a lot of traffic for those wanting to get to Pleasant Valley Road while avoiding the interstate. 8:14 This is a record of history as it was shot before the twin arch bridges over the Tygart were demolished for the new six-lane bridge (still under construction at this writing), which isn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the old bridges.
First, thank you for making the trip to Pleasant Valley Road. So much of Pleasant Valley Road has changed since when I worked out there in 1971 at what used to be Galis Electric later was FMC Mining Equipment. Galis used to manufacture underground mining equipment and they had a electric motor plant in the yellow L-shaped building that you passed just before you reached the gas stations. Most of the people that I worked with, I believe have passed on. The other building, which you came upon was about 1/4 mile back across from what used to be WV Electric. That was the assembly plant that Galis sold to FMC in 1971 or 1972. I drove out to the motor plant with a guy who had purchased a 1939 Dodge sedan. That car was a tank. I think it weight over 6,000 lbs. The bridge you drove over was a replacement for a metal bridge that was condemned. It's weight limit was 2 tons so the the car I mentioned weighted more than the bridge was supposed to support. Yeah we took risks then too. I have some interesting stories about working out there in the 1970's.
Thanks Alexander.
0:22 That is where the "original" PV road begins now - the road from the connector tied into it around 2008 or 2009 before the giant fill buried the section between there and the intersection with State Street. O.C. Cluss is where the Starlight Drive-In Theater was. 7:23 is the replacement for the old Benton's Ferry Bridge, a combination through (over the tracks) and deck (over the river) truss bridge built around 1910. It was a one-lane wood-floored bridge with lots of shakes and rattles. Long-time legislator and native of nearby Kingmont Nick Fantasia was instrumental in getting funding for this new structure some thirty years ago. It sees a lot of traffic for those wanting to get to Pleasant Valley Road while avoiding the interstate. 8:14 This is a record of history as it was shot before the twin arch bridges over the Tygart were demolished for the new six-lane bridge (still under construction at this writing), which isn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the old bridges.