Rosbys Rock, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosbys Rock
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 Rosbys Rock
Location in West Virginia
Rosbys Rock
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| County |  Marshall |
| Elevation | 778 ft (237 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS ID | 1546066 |
Rosbys Rock is a small, unincorporated community located in Marshall County, West Virginia, in the United States. An unincorporated community is a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Rosbys Rock is well-known for an important event in railroad history!
Contents
The Story of Rosbys Rock
How Rosbys Rock Got Its Name
The community of Rosbys Rock was named after a man named Roseby Carr. He was a very important person in the history of the railroads. Roseby Carr and his son led two different construction teams. These teams were working to build a railroad line.
A Big Railroad Connection
On December 24, 1852, something amazing happened. The two railroad construction crews, led by Roseby Carr and his son, finally met! This meeting connected the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad all the way to the Ohio River. They met near a huge sandstone boulder. This boulder was about 900 cubic yards in size, which is like a giant rock! This connection was a huge deal for transportation and trade.
Trains and Tracks Through Time
When the railroad was at its busiest, Rosbys Rock was a very active place. Every day, eight passenger trains and between eight and twelve freight trains passed through the community. The B&O railroad crews even painted a special memorial sign on the big rock. This sign was to remember the important connection made there.
However, over time, train service changed. The last passenger train went through Rosbys Rock in 1957. The last freight train passed by in 1972 or 1973. In 1974, the train tracks were removed completely. An unpaved road, called Boulder Road, was built where the tracks used to be. This road is on the opposite side of Grave Creek from the paved Grave Creek Road.
Finding the Historical Marker
Today, there is a special historical marker that tells the story of this event. This marker is about 5 miles west of the actual big rock. You can find it at the intersection of Lafayette and 12th Streets, close to the Ohio River bridge. There are also extra signs on 12th Street that point the way to Grave Creek Road, helping people find this important historical spot.
