FURNACE ACRES
Furnace Acres Sub Division was first
developed by Carl W Abe and eh sub-division was to have 44 lots Abe Farm. The sub-division was to have 44 lots Abe
Farm. The sub-division was to have 44
lots with the lots facing Rte 28 to be used for business and a community
playground.
The streets were named by using the middle
name of each developer, Frederick and Woodrow.
The original plans called for the tearing
down of the farm house (then occupied by Mr William Abe) and also the barn
behind the house. In 1956, the first
house was built on Lot No2 on South Frederick Ave. Mr Wiliam Abe was to occupy this house, but after refusing to
leave the farm house, an agreement between the developers and Mr Abe was
reached, that the arm house would be covered with siding and that the barn be
torn down. The parcel of ground is not
part of Furnace Acres sub-division.
No records were kept until Sept 1959, at
which time residents of the sub-division met at the home of Carl Abe for the purpose
of forming a corporation. The charter
was written by Mr James Swadley, attorney, from Keyser W Va.
The first death in the community was Mr Ray
Richardson, on Dec 22, 1959.
On Jan 11, 1960, residents met at the home
of Carl Abe and approved the charter and by-laws. The first board of Directors was elected, they were Blain McCullough,
Melvin Fisher, Carl Abe, Levi White and Richard Carskadon.
The first slate of officers were:
Carl Abe, President
Blaine McCullough, Vice President
Melvin Fisher, Treasurer
Mary White, Secretary
Richard Carskadon, Pump House Attendant
According to this charter, the sub-division
would be governed by and known as Furnace Acres Management Assn. Water rates were established at $1.00 per
1,000 gallons.
On June 11, 1960, the first child was born,
Sharon to Mr and Mrs Harry Calain.
In 1961, the deed for the pump house was
obtained.
June 1963, Article 8, Section 1 of the by
laws was amended so that the community could purchase the parcel of land
designated for a community playground.
In May 1965, the by laws were revised and
accepted. The water meters were sealed
during this year. The mailboxes were
installed during the fall of 1965.
In 1966, the community had its second death,
Mr Robert Shaw on Dec 21, 1`966.
In 1967, a snow removal plan was started with
each homeowner being assessed $2.000.
The first Christmas Tree lighting was held Dec, with Mrs Rita Savilisky
in charge of the program.
During the spring of 1968, the streets were
blacktopped by Mr Carl Stickley, contractor.
In Aug 1970, a special meeting, the new
by-laws were accepted by the community.
Two deaths occurred in the community during
1974, Mrs Mildred Fisher on Jan 13 and Mr Clair Diehl on Feb 1.
During 1975, work progressed on the
playground to the point of having blacktopped basketball court installed,
volleyball net acquired and posts erected, playground leveled, and safety fence
installed. Following many accidents at
the intersection o\in front of Dowdens Restaurant, a 40-mile speed limit restrictions
as installed. The building adjoining
the pump house was acquired on April 11, 1975, from Mr Frances Snyder. The alley in front of the pump house and
building was tarred and chipped.
Of the present 38 houses in Furnace Acres,
18 are occupied by the original owners or wives. Since 1956, there have been 77 different families to live in the
community. At the present time there are
129 persons living in Furnace Acres.
Submitted by Helen
McCullough and Mary White
MINERAL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA, FAMILY TRAITS, TRACKS
AND TRAILS