The Bank of Durbin under construction during the winter of 1904-1905. The town of Durbin, incorporated on June 20, 1906, was built on land owned by John T. McGraw and named for his brother-in-law and Grafton bank teller, Charles R. Durbin. Sr. The Bank of Durbin opened for business in 1905. E. L. "Leroy" Fenton, from Elk Garden in Mineral County, was the first cashier. C. E. Carpenter was assistant cashier. Directors were W. J. Yeager, J. Hall Wilson and Kenna Rexrode. The bank statement on June 11, 1918, lists capital of $25,000; surplus and undivided profits $7,000; and deposits $136,000. The Bank of Durbin merged with the Bank of Marlinton during the financial crisis of the 1930s. (Courtesy of Pocahontas County Historical Society, ID: PHS000157)

Access the “Preserving Pocahontas” Digital Library at www.pocahontaspreservation.org
If you have photographs or documents to be scanned for the county Historical Archive Project contact Preservation Officer B. J. Gudmundsson at 304-799-3989 or email info@pocahontaspreservation.org

Preservation News

The Pocahontas County Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting on Sunday, November 25, at 2 p.m. at the home of Ruth Taylor in Hillsboro. The program will be on the history of the Pleasant Green School and Pleasant Green Church. A walking tour of the church and cemetery is planned, weather permitting. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. For information or directions call Bill McNeel at 304-799-4369.

"Preserving Pocahontas" is now working to locate historical documents relating to the Civil War in Pocahontas County. Items will be digitized for preservation and for online research. Selected items will be reproduced and displayed at the Hunter House Museum next summer. If you have Civil War letters, tintypes or other memorabilia to loan for scanning please contact Preservation Officer B. J. Gudmundsson, at 304-799-3989.