Shively, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shively, West Virginia
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 Old Shively P.O., 2016
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 Shively, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Shively, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Logan |
| Elevation | 696 ft (212 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1555614 |
Shively is a small, unincorporated community in Logan County, West Virginia. It's located in the United States, specifically in the state of West Virginia. You can find Shively along the Smokehouse Fork of Big Harts Creek.
To get to Shively, you would use County Route 3. It's about 7.2 miles from Harts and 9.3 miles from Chapmanville.
Contents
Exploring Shively's Location
Shively is mainly known as the area that includes the Smokehouse Fork and Buck Fork sections of Big Harts Creek. These forks are like smaller streams that branch off the main creek.
Shively's Past: A Look at Its History
How Smokehouse Fork Got Its Name
The Smokehouse Fork has a cool story behind its name! It was sometimes called the "Forks of Hart" in old records. This name comes from an early settler named Stephen Hart (or Heart), or maybe his father. They built a smokehouse near the mouth of the fork to cure venison, which is deer meat.
First Families to Settle Here
Many families were among the first to settle in the Smokehouse and Buck forks areas. These included families with names like Butcher, Bryant, Conley, Dingess, Elkins, Farley, Hensley, Lambert, Mullins, and Tomblin. They helped build the community from the ground up.
The Lincoln County Feud Connection
Some important events of the Lincoln County Feud happened in Shively in 1889. These events took place at the homes of Henderson and Hugh Dingess on Smokehouse Fork. Back then, the lower part of Smokehouse Fork was actually part of Lincoln County. The Lincoln County Feud was a series of conflicts between families in the region.
How Shively Got Its Name
The community of Shively is named after Charles Nelson Shively. He moved to the area around 1908 from Georges Run, Ohio. The name "Shively" first appeared on a map in 1910. It was shown at the mouth of White Oak Fork, which is part of Smokehouse Fork. Later, the name moved to the lower part of Smokehouse Fork, near Wolfpen Branch, where the current post office building stands.
Shively's Economy: Timber and Coal
Timber: The Main Industry
For a long time, the main way people in Shively made a living was through timbering. This means cutting down trees and processing wood. In the 1880s and 1890s, Albert Dingess Sr. was a very important timberman in the area. A company called C. Dingess & Company also operated a timber business here in the 1890s. To help move the cut timber, several "splash dams" were built on Smokehouse Fork. These dams would hold back water, then release it in a rush to float logs downstream.
Coal Mining in Recent Times
In the late 1900s, a coal mine started operating on Browns Run, which is also part of Smokehouse Fork. This shows how the economy of the area changed over time, from timber to coal.
Shively's Post Office History
The Shively Post Office was first opened around 1923. A. Butcher was the first postmaster from 1923 to 1924. Mail was delivered three times a week back then. Many different people served as postmasters over the years, helping the community stay connected. Ina E. Adams, John S. Butcher, Sallie Farley Adkins, and Nora St. Clair all held the position at different times, serving the community for decades.
Learning in Shively: Schools Through the Years
Historic Schools in the Community
Over the years, several schools have served the children of Shively. Some of these old schools include:
- Browns Run School (started in 1892)
- Buck Fork School (started in 1894)
- Hugh Dingess School (started in 1897)
- Conley School (started in 1897)
- George Mullins School (started in 1910)
- White Oak School (started in 1923)
Out of all these, only Hugh Dingess Elementary School is still open today. In the 1925–1926 West Virginia Educational Directory, some teachers listed with Shively addresses were Ina Adams, Anna Butcher, and Lester H. Cross.
Current Schools for Shively Students
Today, students from Shively attend schools in nearby communities. They go to Chapmanville School, Harts PK-8 School, Chapmanville Middle School, and Chapmanville Regional High School.
People from Shively: Notable Residents
Many interesting people have called Shively home over the years. Here are a few:
- Charley Conley (1871–1919)
- Floyd Dingess (1856–1888)
- Henderson Dingess (1829–1902)
- Hollena Dingess Brumfield (1863–1937)
- Hugh Dingess (1858–1916)
- James Burwell "Burl" Farley (1856–1937)
- Paris Hensley (c. 1851 – 1937), a preacher
- Stonewall Hensley (1893–1977), also a preacher
