Tours | Upper Pocahontas Com

Historic Durbin Walking Tour

Discover the stories that shaped our mountain town.

Begin your journey through Durbin’s past with this overview of the town’s evolution — from a small mountain settlement to a thriving railroad community.

The tour covers 1.4 miles and can be walked in any order, offering a glimpse into the people, industries, and events that shaped this unique Appalachian town.

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1 - A Valuable Connection

Discover how Durbin became a vital railroad hub connecting north and south. This sign explores the expansion of the Chesapeake & Ohio and Western Maryland Railways, which brought jobs, travelers, and growth to the region.

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2 - More Than a Water Stop

Learn how Durbin’s water tower, built in 1904, powered steam locomotives and sustained the town. This stop shares stories of the bustling depot and the daily rhythm of rail life along the Greenbrier River.

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3 - That’s a Lot of Sole!

Step back to 1902 when the Howes Leather Company tannery in nearby Frank employed hundreds of workers. This sign highlights the role of the leather industry in supporting local families and shaping the community’s identity.

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4 - 144 Steps to School!

Climb the memory-filled hillside to where Durbin’s school once stood. Generations of students made the long trek up 144 steps each day — a story of education, resilience, and community spirit.

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5 - Scenes Along Main Street

Explore early photographs of Durbin’s bustling Main Street, lined with shops, banks, and homes. This marker reveals how the town rebuilt after the 1913 fire and continued to thrive as a commercial center.

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6 - A Changing Industry

Follow the story of West Virginia’s timber boom and how logging shaped both the economy and environment. From early clear-cutting to conservation efforts, this stop illustrates a turning point in local industry.

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7 - One Damned Good Jail

Visit the town’s former jail, built in 1939 and humorously dubbed a “damned good jail” by the mayor. The sign recounts its colorful history — from police station to town hall — and the people who passed through its doors.

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8 - Ambush at Hanging Rock

Relive a tense moment from the Civil War when Union scouts were ambushed near the river crossing at Hanging Rock. This sign honors the local landscape’s connection to the broader national conflict.

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9 - Settling the Narrows

Meet Revolutionary War veteran John Slaven, one of the area’s earliest settlers. This marker tells how Slaven and his family built their home in the Narrows, helping establish the roots of what would become Durbin.

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10 - Wilmoth & Kerr Store

Step inside Durbin’s first general store — a gathering place for news, trade, and community life. Learn about the merchants who brought new goods and a touch of modernity to a growing mountain town.

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11 - All the Normal Vices

Peek into Durbin’s wilder side during the early 1900s, when moonshine, slot machines, and frontier justice kept lawmen busy. This stop reveals the lively mix of mischief and morality that defined small-town life.

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12 - Trains Changed Everything

In 1902, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway met the Coal & Iron Railroad in Durbin—transforming rural life overnight. The new connection brought jobs, trade, and easier travel, helping the town thrive as farmers and families flocked to the Greenbrier Valley.

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