The Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad is the oldest railroad in the United States, with its first line opening in 1830. By 1852, a line was built connecting Grafton, WV to Wheeling, WV, and the B&O would eventually play an important role in the Civil War.
Prior to the Waynesburg and Washington Railroad, the B&O was the primary rail that would service the southern portions of Greene County, Pennsylvania – although at that time the B&O did not venture into Pennsylvania. Stations along the line from Grafton to Wheeling, specifically Littleton, Burton, Hundred and Cameron, would be extremely important to the supply chain in Greene County, especially the remote southern and western portions.
Many general store owners and merchants received their goods off the B&O. These merchants would travel the distance from their business to the nearest station. The trip was so important that, in 1862, Jesse F. Carpenter was born in Burton, WV on a trip his parents were making to receive a shipment of goods for their store in Pine Bank, in Gilmore Township, from the Burton Station.
William Lantz and son Remembrance Lance owned a store in Blacksville, just across the line in WV, and one of their shipping receipts survives. On April 22, 1880, William Lantz and son paid freight charges for a shipment of hardware, nails and other items having been shipped to them from Wheeling. The shipping charges totaled 39 cents.
This receipt was found in Bruceton Mills, WV recently, and has since been archived for the collection at the Greene County Historical Society Museum.
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for upcoming presentations and events and be sure to stop by the museum for a visit to see our collection from the Waynesburg and Washington Railroad, including Locomotive #4, and to check in on the progress on Coach #6.
