Hur Herald

Hur Herald Archives

Search Hur Herald Contact Hur Herald
Sunny Calhoun Couty West Virginia Calhoun County West Virginia Rural Scene  
Sunny Calhoun Couty West Virginia Sunny Calhoun Couty West Virginia
Calhoun County West Virginia Rural Scene Calhoun County West Virginia Rural Scene
Calhoun County Personal News Calhoun County Obituaries Calhoun County Opinion and Comments People and Humor Calhoun County Ancestry Photo of the Day
We Get Letters Calhoun County Events Columns Calhoun County Weather Submit News Tip About Hur Herald
Calhoun County Links Hur herald Guestbook Calhoun County Sports

Sponsor

RITCHIE'S CAIRO STILL CHURNING SINCE 1821 - Tunnels, Trails And The Ritchie Mine

(08/04/2026)

Historic Bank of Cairo

Made in West Virginia shop one of several outlets

By Bob Weaver

The Ritchie County town of Cairo, founded in 1821, still has the flavor of times past, but is now beginning to offer a glimpse of the opportunities for outdoor discovery and recreation, with the rails to trails and the new dam being built nearby.

In the center of the village is the original Bank of Cairo, a symbol of flourishing times over one hundred years ago. The building is on the National Historical Register.

Walking through Tunnel 19

Safety compartments for folks when trains came through

The light at the far end of cut-stone Tunnel 19

The old 62-mile B & O Railroad bed from the 1850's, which has been turned into a biking and hiking trail, brings most new visitors to the village. Most impressive are the massive hand cut train tunnels along the way. We walked through "Tunnel 19."

The town now has several shops, including a 1940's-50's ice cream parlor, a bike shop and a gallery featuring made in West Virginia products. The town has its own museum. Nearby is one of the state's most relaxing state parks - North Bend.

A 1940's-50's real life ice cream parlor

Fountain serves the goodies

A spur railroad line was built to the famous Ritchie Mines and later to Macfarland.

(Some of the places mentioned in this story are closed)


Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal
The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001