Talcott, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Talcott, West Virginia
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 Talcott, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Talcott, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Summers |
| Elevation | 1,526 ft (465 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24981
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| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1547876 |
Talcott, also known as Rolinsburgh or Rollinsburg, is a small place in Summers County, West Virginia. It is called an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
Talcott is located along West Virginia Route 3 and the Greenbrier River. It lies east of Hinton, which is the main town in Summers County. Talcott is about 1,526 feet (465 meters) above sea level. It has its own post office with the ZIP code 24981.
Discovering Talcott's Past
Talcott got its name from Captain Talcott. He was a civil engineer who worked for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Captain Talcott was in charge of building the Big Bend Tunnel, an important project for the railway.
The Legend of John Henry
Talcott is famous for being linked to the amazing story of John Henry. He was an African-American railroad worker in the 1800s. The legend says that John Henry had a race against a steam-powered drill. He used his hammer to drill by hand and won, but sadly, he died right after.
Many people in the Talcott area believe this legend really happened there. A historian named Louis Chappell visited Talcott in the 1920s. He talked to railroad workers who said they worked with John Henry. These workers were building the Great Bend Tunnel for the C&O railway near Talcott. Their stories made it seem like John Henry was a real person. However, it was hard to prove if all parts of the legend were true.
To remember this famous legend, a statue of John Henry was put up in 1972. It stands on Big Bend mountain, near the Great Bend Tunnel, in John Henry Park. Every July, Talcott hosts an event called "John Henry Days." This festival celebrates the legend with storytelling, duck races, craft booths, and other fun activities.
Fun Things to Do in Talcott
Talcott is right next to the lower part of the Greenbrier River. Because of this, many activities in the area involve the river. People enjoy fishing, boating, and canoeing.
There's a public boat ramp right by the Talcott Bridge. This is a popular spot to start a boat trip down the Greenbrier River all the way to Hinton, WV. You'll see many fishing camps and summer houses along the river in this area.
