Adamston, West Virginia facts for kids

Adamston, West Virginia was once a small town in Harrison County, West Virginia. It was officially made a town in 1903. Adamston had a train station for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and its own post office. Today, Adamston is a neighborhood that is part of the city of Clarksburg, West Virginia.

What Was Adamston?

Adamston was a small community located in Harrison County, West Virginia. It was officially recognized as a town in 1903. The town was an important stop for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which helped connect it to other places. It also had its own post office, which was important for sending and receiving mail. Over time, Adamston grew and changed. Today, it is no longer a separate town. Instead, it is a neighborhood within the larger city of Clarksburg, West Virginia.

How Adamston Got Its Name

The town of Adamston was named after a man named Josias Adams. He was the first person to own the land where the town was built. Naming towns after important landowners or founders was a common practice in the past. This helped people remember who started the community.

A Town with Big Ideas: The 1912 Election

Adamston gained national attention in 1912 for a very interesting reason. The people of Adamston elected a mayor and city government who were part of the Socialist Party of America. This was quite unusual for a small town at that time. Some of these leaders were even re-elected in 1915.

Many people wondered why this happened. Experts later studied the election. They found that workers from the local window glass factory played a big role. These workers were very involved in the town's politics. Also, a large part of the town's Belgian-American population strongly supported the Socialist candidates. Their combined efforts helped the Socialist Party win the election.

Becoming Part of Clarksburg

In 1917, Adamston became part of the city of Clarksburg. Other nearby towns, like Broad Oaks, North View, and Stealer Heights, were also added to Clarksburg at the same time.

Many people believed there was a specific reason for this change. It was generally understood that making these smaller towns part of Clarksburg would reduce the political power of the glass factory workers. These workers had formed strong groups in their small towns. By joining them with a larger city, their influence in local government became less noticeable.