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Halcyon, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
  Halcyon  Halcyon | |
| Coordinates: 37°58′47″N82°5′37″W / 37.97972°N 82.09361°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Logan and Lincoln |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS ID | 1742534 [1] |
Halcyon is an unincorporated community located on the West Fork of Big Harts Creek in Logan and Lincoln counties, West Virginia, United States.
Halcyon describes the upper West Fork section of Big Harts Creek, specifically Piney Fork, Workman Fork, and Marsh Fork. The lower section of Piney is located in Lincoln County. Topographic maps for 1910 and 1912 show main West Fork originating in the head of what is today known as Workman Fork; topographic maps for 1925 and 1928 show this part of West Fork as Workman Fork. Between 1912 and 1925, then, the headwaters of main West Fork became known as Workman Fork. Workman Fork includes Long Branch. Based on the 1925 map, Marsh Fork and Workman Fork meet to form the beginning of main West Fork. However, the 1910 and 1912 maps indicate that Marsh Fork, like Long Branch, were originally considered branches of main West Fork. The primary tributaries of Marsh Fork include Thompson/Barker Hollow and Brushy Fork. The primary tributaries of Piney Fork are Rattlesnake Branch, Lick Fork, Haw Bush, and Alford Branch.
Early pioneer settlers who arrived between 1800 and 1840 included members of the Elkins, Vance, Dingess, Thompson, and Workman families. Later settlers included members of these families: Alford, Baisden, Belcher, Bryant, Caldwell, Davis, Farley, Farmer, Farris, Fleming, Gore, Headley, Kirk, McCann, Mullins, Riddell, and Tomblin.
During the Civil War, local families supported the Confederacy.
The area hosted one minor event of the Lincoln County feud in 1889.
Polk's West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory (1923-1924) identified Halcyon as consisting of 100 residents. It was situated 15 miles northwest of Logan, the county seat and banking point, three miles west of Chapmanville, the nearest shipping point, and 50 miles from Huntington.
Timbering served as the community's primary industry. Albert Dingess, Jr. operated a store, gristmill, and sawmill. Polk's West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory (1923-1924) identified Dingess as the owner of a general store and grist mill.
The Halcyon Post Office was established in 1906. Albert Dingess, Jr. served as postmaster from May 3, 1906 until April 20, 1921. Everett Dingess took possession of the office on April 20, 1921, served as acting postmaster from May 11, 1921, and became postmaster on September 21, 1921, holding that position until July 14, 1923. Polk's West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory (1923-1924) identified Dingess as the postmaster and stated that mail was delivered tri-weekly. The post office was discontinued on July 14, 1923, its service transferred to Ferrellsburg in Lincoln County.
The following schools, all located in Logan County, once served the community: Bud Dingess School, Lee Dingess School (located at Barker Hollow), Piney School, and Workman Fork School. The Piney and the Workman Fork school buildings still exist and have served as residential structures in recent decades.
Workman Fork United Baptist Church was established at the mouth of Workman Fork in the early 1930s. Other churches in the area include Piney Community Church on Piney and Morning Star Church at the mouth of Brushy Hollow.
"Punkin Center," located in the bottom between the mouth of Piney and the mouth of Workman Fork, was the location of "good time" houses.
In the early 1920s, a Bryant-Dingess feud occurred in the community. At least one person was killed in the troubles.
Electricity arrived to the community in the 1930s.
On April 19, 1956, Wilson "Doc" Workman, a World War I veteran, was murdered at his home. The case remains unsolved.
Today, Halcyon youth attend one of these schools: Chapmanville Primary School, Harts PK-8 School, Chapmanville Middle School, or Chapmanville Regional High School.
Logan County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,567. Its county seat is Logan. Logan County comprises the Logan, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Charleston–Huntington–Ashland, WV–OH–KY Combined Statistical Area.
Harts is a census-designated place (CDP) at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States, situated along the Guyandotte River. As of the 2010 census, its population was 656. Harts is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The Harts CDP includes the unincorporated communities of Harts, Atenville, Ferrellsburg, and Sand Creek.
Chapmanville is a town in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,025 at the 2020 census. Chapmanville is named for Ned Chapman, an early settler who operated a store and post office. It was incorporated in 1947.
The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi (267 km) long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans. It drains an area of the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau south of the Ohio between the watersheds of the Kanawha River to the northeast and Twelvepole Creek and the Big Sandy River to the southwest. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.
Southern West Virginia is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Southern West Virginia is known for its coal mining heritage and Southern affinity. The region is also closely identified with Southwestern Virginia and Southeastern Kentucky, with close proximity to Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. Today, Southern West Virginia continues to grapple with poverty and declining population. The region is located in West Virginia's 1st congressional district, which is represented by Carol Miller.
James Edward "Ed" Haley was a blind professional American musician and composer best known for his fiddle playing.
Chapmanville Regional High School is West Virginia's first cross-county consolidated high school, combining students from Chapmanville High School in Logan County with students from Harts High School in Lincoln County. CRHS is located in Chapmanville. It is operated by Logan County Schools, but funded by both counties. The school hosts roughly 600 students in a given academic year.
Ferrellsburg is an unincorporated community in southern Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States. It is located in Harts Creek District and is part of the Harts census-designated place.
Dingess is an unincorporated community in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. Dingess is 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Lenore and 13 miles (21 km) west of Logan. Dingess has a post office with ZIP code 25671.
Ethel is an unincorporated community in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. Ethel is located on West Virginia Route 17, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east-northeast of Logan. Ethel has a post office with ZIP code 25076.
Verdunville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. It is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Logan, the county seat. Verdunville has a post office with ZIP code 25649. The Verdunville CDP includes the neighboring community of Shegon. As of the 2010 census, the total CDP population was 687.
Shively is an unincorporated community located on the Smokehouse Fork of Big Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. Shively is accessed by County Route 3. It is situated 7.2 miles from Harts and 9.3 miles from Chapmanville.
Whirlwind is an unincorporated community on Big Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, United States.
Atenville is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States. It is a residential community located in Harts Creek District and is part of the Harts census-designated place.
Toney is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States. Its post office was established in 1904 by Brad Toney, merchant.
Gill is an unincorporated community and former railroad town in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States.
The Lincoln County feud occurred in the Harts Creek community of Lincoln and Logan counties, West Virginia, between 1878 and 1890.
Big Harts Creek, often shortened to "Harts Creek" or "Big Hart," is a major tributary of the Guyandotte River in Lincoln and Logan counties, West Virginia.
Grant District, formerly Grant Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally established as a civil township in 1863, and converted into a magisterial district in 1872. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, the area of Grant District was included in the new Northern Magisterial District. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.
Ravenswood District, formerly Ravenswood Magisterial District, is one of five historic magisterial districts in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States. The district was originally known as Gilmore Township, one of five civil townships established in 1863; the name officially became "Ravenswood" in 1871, and Jackson County's townships were converted into magisterial districts in 1872. When Jackson County was redistricted in the 1990s, the area of Ravenswood District was divided between the new Northern and Western Magisterial Districts. However, the county's historic magisterial districts continue to exist in the form of tax districts, serving all of their former administrative functions except for the election of county officials.
