Turnpike Boosts Beckley Area in Its First Year
In its first year the 88 mile West Virginia Turnpike has become an economic asset to Beckley and Raleigh County. Payroll data show 61 county employees earning about $92,704 in 1955 in maintenance and toll operations. Beckley hosts 27 of these workers with total payroll around $84,000 for three Esso stations. Glass House Restaurant area workers number 90 with August pay nearly $14,000. Local merchants received about $33,601 in Beckley purchases during August, with annualized estimates near $400,000. The county derives roughly $720,000 yearly from these payrolls. Tourism and passing traffic also boost business, with travelers contributing significant per-day spending estimates. The Turnpike opened the full length a year ago today and is viewed as a local economic stimulus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Virginia
Beckley
Raleigh
Raleigh County
Beckley Area
Glass House
Beckley Glass
Comptroller’s Office
Bradley
Flat Top
Crab Orchard
Helen
Shady Spring
Beaver
Rhodell
Odd
Prosperity
Blue Jay
Skelton
Glen Morgan
Piney View
Coal City
Ghent
Ury
National Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce
Charles R. Bowers
Beckley Chamber of Commerce
Home burglarized in Shady Spring house
A Shady Spring resident returned home Monday night to find his house burglarized. State Police are investigating the burglary reported by Arnold Johnson.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shady Spring
Arnold Johnson
Condition Said Good For Herbert McGinnis
Herbert McGinnis of Eccles is reported in good condition today by Beckley Hospital spokesman.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herbert McGinnis
Eccles
Beckley Hospital
Patteson Optimistic On First Anniversary
On the West Virginia Turnpike anniversary, general manager Okey L. Patterson likens one year of operation to growth with rising interest earnings. He notes 33 percent, 49 percent, and 58 percent interest in successive quarters, funds set aside to cover coupons, and confidence the project will strengthen before long.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Virginia Turnpike
Okey L. Patteson
Register
Break-even goal cited for West Virginia Turnpike progress
Patteson provided figures from the first full day on November 9, 1954 showing 3,124 passenger cars generating 2,448 dollars and 651 trucks yielding 2,349 dollars for a total 3,775 vehicles and 4,796 dollars. October 1955 average daily traffic and revenue show 4,058 cars earning 4,451 dollars and 1,028 trucks earning 4,034 dollars amounting to 5,085 vehicles and 8,453 dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Patteson
Also Mentioned on This Page
Neville St
Kroger Store
W. Main ST. Beckley, W. VA
Murphy Store
Ford
Grady Whitlock
Neville
Ovember
Beckley 2
Kyle Cleaners Inc
Kanawha ST
Beckley Industrial Saving & Loan CO
Main Street
the Fabulous Thunderbird
Ord
Lifeguard Design
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!