Mount Hope "S" Curve

Locally known as the "S-Curve" this unique roadway found within the town of Mount Hope historically follows the Giles, Fayette & Kanawha Turnpike.

Prior to it being an official state route this road was the primary trail through Fayette County. The characteristic, S, in the S-Curve, design has a discouraging history.

On March 1, 1837, the Virginia General Assembly formed the Giles, Fayette & Kanawha Turnpike Company to build a 15-foot-wide road from Pearisburg, Virginia, to Gauley Bridge in Fayette County. Begun in 1838, the turnpike was completed a decade later, running from Pearisburg to Red Sulphur Springs in Monroe County, to near present-day Hinton and Beckley, through Fayetteville, crossing Cotton Hill and New River, and connecting with the James River and Kanawha Turnpike—present Route 60—near Gauley Bridge. It was a valuable trade route and became strategically important during the Civil War. Connecting travelers going to Fayetteville and Beckley, the town of Mount Hope was an important stop along this early trail.

The Blake Inn, where the charter of Fayette County was signed, could be found at the intersection of the route. After the Inn's destruction, the New River Hotel would be built. The hostelry was commonly known as the New River Clubhouse. It was here that businessmen and Coal Barron's would meet. At the hotel, they would enjoy some downtime, but they were also busy building their fortunes. As mechanization became more prominent in Southern West Virginia, the road system would begin to change from dirt to macadamized roads.

As unionization in the coalfields began to rise, coal companies became creative in how they could reduce their losses because of labor disputes. Through city planning, they developed a strategy to segregate the town by ethnicity, laboring class, and the privileged businessmen. They felt by keeping everyone segregated they would limit unionization and maintain control of the mines.

This can be seen in the S-Curve as it was designed to keep those in coal and politicians on the macadamized road, while the immigrants and newly emancipated slaves had the mud roads they could travel.

Powell, Bob. March 1, 1837: Giles Fayette & Kanawha Turnpike Company Formed, West Virginina Public Broadcasting. March 1st 2017. Accessed March 4th 2022. https://www.wvpublic.org/radio/2017-03-01/march-1-1837-giles-fayette-kanawha-turnpike-company-formed.