Upshur County

Formed in 1851 from portions of Randolph, Lewis, and Barbour Counties, Upshur County, West Virginia lies in the north central part of the state on the Allegheny Plateau. Rolling foothills and waterways such as the Buckhannon River paint a picturesque landscape, while warm-hearted residents provide testimony to the benefits of living in such amicable surroundings. Upshur County revisits this area during its earlier days, when time seemed to move much slower and wagon squeaks and horses' neighs were common sounds in the towns and along the roads. It also brings the reader into present-day Upshur County, highlighting the industrialization that has taken place in more recent times. This volume celebrates Upshur's long and rich heritage by lingering on the stories and images of historical sites, which include the offspring of the sycamore tree in whose hollowed trunk Samuel and John Pringle lived for three years in the 1700s and the old courthouse that was damaged by fire three times in its first six months of existence. Readers will no doubt recognize many of the traditions captured in these pages, including scenes of street parades and the famous Strawberry Festival.