Interview Date - June 11, 1976
ALEX: We're running off the leaders on this particular tape. In
Durbin, West Virginia, June 11, 1976. We are sitting outside the, what we
believe to be the home of a man that we have been told name is Charlie Cromer
who was an engineer in the... uh... woods and operated the engines... been told
that he is a pretty good source of information and we are hoping that he is here
and we will be visiting with him in the next few minutes.
ALEX: My name is Alexander... sit still, sit still... My name is
Alexander. I am from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
Do you know where that is? Here is my card Sir. I am writing... uh..
business history of the lumber industry over and I have been interviewing a lot
of people, interviewed Cecil Houchins over on the mountain and Odey Cassell, a
number of people you might know.
CROMER: Oh, yes.
ALEX: Oh, a fellow by the name of Mullins over on the Williams River
Road and I have interviewed, Emmett Galford who lives over on Williams River
Road. He is about 85 years old. I don't know whether you know Emmett
or not... Galford.
CROMER: I think I do... I don't.
ALEX: Yeah, well you do know Odey, don't you?
CROMER: Oh, yeah.
ALEX: You know, Cecil?
CROMER: Oh, yeah.
ALEX: They tell me that used to work up in the woods a little bit.
I think they told me you ran an engine.
CROMER: I did used to run an engine.
ALEX: When did you work? Who did you work for?
CROMER: I worked for the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company.
ALEX: Run one of the old Shays.
CROMER: Yeah, I ran all of them.
ALEX: Is that right?
CROMER: Yeah.
ALEX: What was your number... did you stay with mostly... what number
engine?
CROMER: Mostly No. 3. I handled it on most steep grades.
ALEX: Well.
CROMER: No. 7 I ran it 5 years on the head of Stoney River.
ALEX: Is that right?
CROMER: Stoney River Dam had a track over it.
ALEX: When did you start working over there, Mr. Cromer?
CROMER: In 1910.
ALEX: 1910.
CROMER: Uh huh.
ALEX: Well things were really booming then, I guess.
CROMER: Oh yes, all right.
ALEX: Okay. What about ... uh...
CROMER: ... at least three months out of every year on account of
water 'n they built a dam up there at the head Stoney River... 65 feet high,
21... 2100 feet across backed the water up four mile 'n a mile wide...
ALEX: Is that right?
CROMER: Put me on top of the mountain.
ALEX: Is that right?
CROMER: ... safe on top.
ALEX: Well, they put a lake up there then. What was the purpose
you say of that?
CROMER: Dam that stream up in the summertime. 'N they always lost
three months outs the year.
ALEX: Because the water got too low?
CROMER: Yeah, got too low 'n they didn't have water enough for 10
inches and that furnished water all the time... one four foot one... bring water
all the time.
ALEX: I see.
CROMER: A fellow name of Russ Penn he let it run next to _________
avenue.
ALEX: Did you say Russ?
CROMER: Russ, Russ Penn.
ALEX: Russ Penn.
CROMER: Owned the same railroad, you see right of way. They
built theirs outa dirt.
ALEX: What company built there's out of?
CROMER: Cement.
ALEX: Cement? Is that dam still back there? Or is it gone?
CROMER: Oh, it's back there. I loaned neighbors all my pictures
an' I never got none of 'em back. They say they'll bring 'em back, but...
ALEX: Yeah, they don't. Yeah, yeah that happens. You hold
on to them.
CROMER: He got them and he knows nothing about them.
ALEX: Yeah, that happen... That's a picture of you at the engine, is
it? Or...
CROMER: I got a hold of it.
ALEX: Yeah... how old were you then Mr. Cromer? On No.3?
CROMER: 1918.
ALEX: 1918 that picture?
CROMER: Yeah, because they... 'n I was in the last draft would of but
the war ended. There's the dam.
ALEX: Oh yes, that's it.
CROMER: That's Number 3 (engine).
ALEX: Now, that was located where? That's quite a look... that's
quite a fine dam there. Where was it?
CROMER: Was in 19__... I was there 5 years... took 5 years to build
it. They built it and then it broke up... broke a place 3... sent about 60
(cough) 200 feet, no a hundred foot then they went back and made another... so
altogether I was there 5 years... there's No. 7 engine, its' pictures up yonder.
ALEX: Oh, that's a nice looking engine. You say you spent most
of your time on No. 7.
CROMER: ... I got No. 9 that was an old Climax engine from Cass.
ALEX: Uh huh.
CROMER: I was workin' to get it.
ALEX: Yeah, Well that's been good many years ago.
CROMER: I went to work on the railroad about 1904.
ALEX: Uh huh.
CROMER: Made 15 cents and hour an' in... I... first they paid me 60
dollars a month 'n when I went to Stoney River, they paid me 110 dollars... big
money there.
ALEX: Yes sir... Well, can you tell me anything that... you hauled
that lumber into Cass, huh?
CROMER: Hauled logs in there, now...
(Power source went dead and lost rest of the interview. As mentioned
Mr. Cromer was an excellent source with much to tell. It was unfortunate
not to have been able to have an entire transcript.)