| West Jefferson | |
I find it easy to go along through life and take things for granted, to forget about all the work it took to get our society to the point it is in now. The following quote about West Jefferson is an example:
- A press release from Washington, D.C. says that Route 40, the National Highway, will be given priority rights to federal aid funds which are to be diverted to the strategic highway system. A part of the war department's military highway system...it must be brought up to military specification at an early date. (Madison Press, November 25, 1940.)
In other words, the highway needs to be four lanes to quickly move troops and equipment in the case of a military emergency. So obviously in 1940 the National Road through Ohio was just a 2-lane road, not the 4-lane mostly-divided highway it is now.
This picture shows downtown West Jefferson today with the four-lane National Road running through the heart of it. It is easy to forget that over the past 200 years this town has transformed from a trading post on a dirt path to a modern town on a four lane highway. I find it fun to look at the picture and try to imagine horses on a dirt path, or Model T's on a two-lane road.
It has been hard to locate information about West Jefferson history. Originally named "Jefferson", after Thomas Jefferson, the "West" appears to have been added to keep from confusing the town with a Jefferson in eastern Ohio. The most recent census counts 7,411 residents, showing the town is now officially a city.
But even though West Jefferson is growing, it still retains that "small town" feel. There are a couple of chain stores but most of downtown is still the local bank, the "mom and pop" restaurants, the small town hardware store. Things move a little more slowly and the people are friendly. If you stop in West Jefferson be sure to eat at Ann and Tony's restaurant; they have great home-cooked food and a tourist shop where you can pick up a postcard or two.
For more information visit the city of West Jefferson Web site at www.villageofwestjefferson.com.
