Early Parkersburg-Court Square - Parkersburg WV
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 15.948 W 081° 33.966
17S E 451164 N 4346426
In 1773, Robert Thornton claimed 1400 acres encompassing today's downtown Parkersburg, but sold it ten years later to Captain Alexander Parker, for whom the town was later named.
Waymark Code: WM131MQ
Location: West Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2020
Views: 0
Early Parkersburg-Court Square-- In 1773, Robert Thornton claimed 1400 acres encompassing today's downtown Parkersburg, but sold it ten years later to Captain Alexander Parker, for whom the town was later named. The first permanent settler was Captain James Neal who erected a blockhouse in 1785. By 1800, the village had grown to a number of log cabins, a store and a tavern and was called Newport. In 1810, the town was laid out and from then on was known by its present name. Parkersburg has experienced several boom periods starting first with oil in the early 1860s. Later prosperity came from a thriving timber industry and from being a military center during the Civil War. The scene at the left was Court Square, just a few blocks from here, in the early 1900s.
Group that erected the marker: Blennerhassett Historical Park Commission
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Little Kanawha Connector
In Blennerhassett Point Park.
Parkersburg , WV USA
26101,
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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