Cairo WV History

North Bend State Park, championed into being in large part by the Cairo Lions Club long ago, was established with CAIRO as it’s “home” – how fortunate that has been over time. MUCH has changed. The Jughandle campground, shared here in a postcard image, was lost when the new dam came in- thousands of families spent hundreds of weekends there along the mighty Hughes. But things change. In my family all three children (including me) worked summers at NBSP. HOW many local youth (and adults) have gained employment there aver the 63 years North Bend has been a reality?

WHAT do you remember about North bend? It has surely been a BIG part of Cairo for decades….

The Indian petroglyphs on the Raber Farm at North Bend State Park. Uncovered by the summer work team at North Bend State Park while constructing the overhanging rock trail, summer of 1976 (?). An extensive film documentary was later created about this by Nancy (Summers) Curry the then Ritchie County Librarian. Wonder what became of that film?

Petroleum WV school – photo circa 1983. Note the photo with camper trailers in front of the building taken in early 2019 and posted here several weeks ago.

Where Oh WHERE are the surely hundreds of photos of this????

Ruth Flanagan shared: Robinson Lodge. My step grandmother Martha Stewart ran Robinson Lodge for years. Martha Stewart was better known as Ma Stewart and she ran it with a strong fist for years. Don’t know who she sold out to, then moved into Parkersburg. I remember square dancing there, turkey shoots and lots of good times. Maybe someone can come up with some pictures.

Ginger Ball wrote: My dad owned the property which Robinson lodge was on which he built our home on. Ruth Ann your dad taught me to square Dance. Martha was my dad’s partner and I remember her. I don’t remember any pictures. That was a long time ago, my dad was Philip Lemon I know there was a lot of people there.

Eva Jo Six posted: The Layfield reunion was held in front of the Robinson Lodge and the Rexroad reunion was just a short distance away, near the road bank toward Harrisville .

ABOUT early Grant District High School basketball:

shared by Elaine S. Strader;
According to my Dad, Owen Eugene Smith, before the building of the new gymnasium in 1921, basketball games were played outside on the tennis court that was in front of the gym.

Cairo’s first indoor basketball court was on the top floor of the Greer Supply building, now know as the R.C. Hardware. The top floor was refurbished and proper lines were painted. Two banking boards were built and after installing, teams were picked for the first game. The first game was also the last in that building. The two teams and the referee running the floors length set up vibrations throughout the building so severe that not a single gas mantle (light) remain intact in the entire building. The owner immediately stopped all activities on the new basket ball court. Grant District High School board of education drew up plans for the new gymnasium. The banking boards from the Greer Building were installed for the new court.