West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 135 by Charlie Miller

More early business-

There was a famous well in front of the Baptist Church on the southwest corner of Main and Center Streets that had a large wooden trough where stagecoach horses were watered.

Murray Lumber and Grain was established in 1890 by John Murray; he was previously in business with his brother-in-law Frank Gallagher. (The Gallagher & Murray Lumber on the north side of the railroad tracks. It was previously owned by James Peene. John Murray was born in 1857 and died in 1955 and is buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. He was prominent in early West Jefferson history.)

A. F. Dietsch was the Sunset Oil Company manager on the east end of Main Street.

Finley Strother had the Central Garage north of Main St.

Martin Miller had the Standard Service Station on W. Main St. He later had a car dealership and sold new Nash cars. It was in the present building where the eye doctor, Dr. Ferguson, is currently.

Bill Strosnider had the Good Gulf Gas Station at the intersection of Main St. and London Road.

Bill, William Willis Strosnider, was born in West Virginia on April 22, 1886. He came to West Jefferson around 1930 and opened up his gas station. He died on April 5, 1974, and is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

The Co-op Cream Station started in 1924 and was operated by Lem Gregg. The business was located on the northwest corner of Center and Town Streets.

Lester Burnham made use of the old Cooper Shop for broom corn drying. (The Cooper Shop sat on the corner of Washington St. and Pennsylvania Ave. in the Railroad Addition. The Shop was owned by Daniel Priest, born January 17, 1817, in Massachusetts. He came to West Jefferson around 1860 and opened his cooper shop, where he made the barrels out of the local oak that was cut. He died February 17, 1885, and is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.)

J. W. Simpkins operated a tavern on the site, later occupied by the American House Hotel that burned to the ground in the spring of 1882. (John W. Simpkins was the first Mayor of West Jefferson. He also served as the first Post Master of West Jefferson, a Justice of the Peace, and an Associate Judge. He came to Jefferson as the National Road was being built ca. 1836, bought a lot in the wilderness, cleared it, grubbed it, and erected a building that was used as a tavern. He was born in 1780 and died August 17, 1858. He is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The American House sat on the current site of the west end of the Huntington Bank parking lot.)