Many Names of Bluefield, VA - Tazewell Co. VA


THE MANY NAMES OF BLUEFIELD, TAZEWELL CO., VA
TAZEWELL COUNTY , VIRGINIA HERITAGE VOL I 
(page 4-5 submitted by: Irma Nunn Webb, Graham Historical Society, 
article written about 1994-95) 

HARMAN- PIN HOOK-GRAHAM-BLUEFIELD,TAZEWELL CO., VA., and LINKOUS 
RESERVATION 
In 1883, Graham voting district was established by Tazewell Court and 
followed shortly by the following order: “It having been suggested by 
citizens of Graham, a village newly incorporated, that no election 
officers have been appointed for that place, the court doth therefore 
appoint S. M. Graham, Registrar, J. M. McCall, R. A. Miller, and W. E. 
Bane, Judges of Election said for corporation.”

The town was named for Colonel Thomas Graham, engineer and promoter from 
Philadelphia. He was in Tazewell County to survey for the construction 
of the Norfolk and Western Railway. Graham purchased a tract of land and 
laid out the streets of an embryo town.
Prior to incorporation, the settlement was first known as “Pin Hook”. In 
honor of a Confederate War hero, the post office was also for a time 
known as Harman.
In 1884, Capt. John L. Linkous, a Confederate Army officer, was elected 
first mayor of Graham. A large landholder, he established the “Linkous 
Reservation” in what is now the 300 block of Tazewell Avenue. The house 
is still standing and is occupied. Linkous is buried in a small family 
cemetery behind the house.
In 1924, by general election, Graham’s name was changed to Bluefield to 
form a “larger Bluefield” area with Bluefield, Mercer Co., WV. At the 
celebration there was a large crowd and many distinguished visitors 
including the governors of West Virginia and Virginia.
The town of Bluefield has grown from a population of approximately 150 
in 1884 to 5,363 in 1990, date of the last census. Although the general 
arrangement of downtown has been preserved, most of the original 
buildings have been replaced. The oldest building in the downtown 
section, Harman Lodge, was erected in 1895, and is presently undergoing 
restoration. Also of historical interest are the Old Bank of Graham, 
built in 1909, and the Coal Field Mural, commissioned by President 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, that hangs in the post office.
William E. Osborne, who has lived in Bluefield, Tazewell Co., VA., for 
eighty-three years, recalled “Pioneer Merchants” who were recognized by 
the town in 1940: 
J. E. Baylor 
O. A. Metcalf 
Billy Nash 
S. N. Huffard
Mr. Baylor had a nice clothing and dry goods store in the building now 
occupied by Don Harris, Jeweler. O. A. Metcalf had a mattress 
manufacturing plant; Billy Nash had a grocery and dry goods store. S. N. 
Huffard opened the Graham Furniture Store, later known as the Chicago 
House Furnishing Company. Mr. Huffard had salesmen in Mercer, McDowell 
and Tazewell Counties for direct sales for his customers.
William E. Osborne recalled other main street businesses: 
Bluestone Bedding Company, Graham Pharmacy, W. B. Morton, Fink & 
Fraizer, Snell Doak Matthews, T. A. Osborne, J. T. Spracher and John 
Spracher. Jamison Store was the first chain store to open, followed by 
A&P and Krogers. There were two big hardware stores, one owned by W. A. 
Thornhill and the other by Mr. Ashworth. Frank Denardo operated a fine 
shoe repair shop and Fred Amato owned a super restaurant near the N&W 
station.


Submitted by arizonaeagle@uswest.net

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