HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 52

(By Delegates M. Poling, Anderson, Andes, Barill, Barker, Border, Butcher, D. Campbell, T. Campbell, Cann, Canterbury, Caputo, Craig, Crosier, Doyle, Ennis, Ferns, Ferro, Fleischauer, Fragale, Frazier, Givens, Guthrie, Hall, Hatfield, Hunt, Iaquinta, Jones, Kominar, Kump, Lawrence, Mahan, Manchin, Manypenny, Marshall, Martin, Michael, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Moye, Nelson, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Pethtel, L. Phillips, R. Phillips, Pino, D. Poling, Poore, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Shaver, Sigler, Skaff, Smith, Staggers, Stephens, Storch, Stowers, Swartzmiller, Talbott, Varner, Walker, White and Williams)

Requesting that bridge number 01-10-9.94 on County Route 10 near Moatsville in Barbour County, West Virginia be named the “James A. Wright Memorial Bridge.”

    Whereas, James A. Wright was born on July 7, 1924 in Moatsville, West Virginia to Scott Albert and Cora Virginia Janes Wright; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright married Geraldine Mae Freeman Wright and together they raised twelve children, had twenty-four grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright attended the Riverdale School, a one room schoolhouse in Moatsville and later received his GED at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright began his working career in a coal mine near Moatsville and worked in later years as a mechanic, truck driver and appliance repairman and surveyed homes for repairs; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright was part of three generations of Wrights who lived in close proximity of the bridge and kept the area clean of trash and debris; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright and members of his family helped make a scenic area on the river near the bridge a favorite swimming locale that served as a community meeting place; and

    Whereas, The original bridge was a covered bridge that was destroyed in 1910 by a flood. A ferry was used to cross the Tygart Valley River during the construction of a new bridge that was completed in 1912; and

    Whereas, The B&O Railroad Station was located at the bridge. The area also included a merchant store, barber shop, blacksmith shop, planing mill, grist mill, coal tipple, post office, a church and several nice homes. One of these homes had a bathroom and running water which no one else had. The train hauled passengers as well as coal cars. Local people would commute to sell goods and services, including milk, cream, butter, nuts and crates of chickens; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright knew the bridge’s history and its importance to economic development of the area and loved to share his vast knowledge with visitors to the area; and

    Whereas, The Corps of Engineers continue today to frequent the area for periodic checks on the property. They refer to James A. Wright as a landmark since he knew the history surrounding the bridge area and lived his life in Moatsville for almost eighty years; and

    Whereas, James A. Wright passed away at his home on August 18, 2004 at the age of eighty and was laid to rest at the Tacy Cemetery; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 01-10-9.94 on County Route 10 near Moatsville in Barbour County, West Virginia the “James A. Wright Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge the “James A. Wright Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, to his loving wife of sixty years, Geraldine, who continues to live in the family home, and to his surviving children, Judie Frey, Rachel Marteny, Murl Wright, Susie Bolyard, Charlotte Haddix, Margaret Hathaway, Dian Mitchell, Sharon Ball, Patricia Poe, Jim Wright and Rickey Wright.