Crum combines its location on the Tug Fork with a series of stories tied to specific places. These include a political episode at Crum High School, memories of Josiah Marcum, and historical accounts of the river. Some connections lead to individual places in Crum, while others consider the Tug Fork beyond the community. This interplay between local history and the regional river landscape gives the place several perspectives.

Crum on the River and in the Road Network

The Tug Fork flows past the community of Crum in Wayne County. Crum lies downstream from Kermit on the Tug Fork. Another geographic reference is where State Route 152 crosses U.S. Route 52 near Crum. The riverfront location and road intersection offer different ways to orient yourself: one describes Crum’s position on the water, the other an intersection near the community. Together, they place Crum both along the river and within the road network.

Kennedy’s Campaign Trip in May 1960

One particularly well-defined episode took place at Crum High School. In May 1960, during his campaign trip ahead of the West Virginia primary, John F. Kennedy’s motorcade pulled into the school’s gravel parking lot. Kennedy gave a brief speech on the entrance steps to the few residents and school staff members in attendance. He then walked down the steps and shook hands with members of the Crum High Band. The parking lot, speech, and encounter were all part of the same visit. The political occasion is set alongside a small local scene involving school staff and band members.

Church History and Josiah Marcum

Silver Creek United Baptist Church in Crum was founded in 1823. Another dated event in local history concerns a historic road marker: on March 25, 2006, it was unveiled and dedicated at Silver Creek Baptist Church in Crum in honor of Revolutionary War soldier Josiah Marcum (1759–1846).

Marcum connects Crum to a story that extends beyond the community. For many years, he owned extensive lands on both sides of the Tug River: in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and on the Virginia side, which later became Wayne County. As a blacksmith and gunsmith, he was so skilled that he was known throughout the region as “The Vulcan of the Big Sandy Valley.” Land ownership across a later county boundary, craftsmanship, and a regional nickname are different aspects of this local history; the marker commemorates Marcum with a specific date and place.

Literature and Football

Crum is also a setting in literature. Lee Maynard’s semi-autobiographical novel “Crum” is set in the small, poor West Virginia town where Maynard grew up. In one literary characterization, Crum is described as a rugged coal town on the border between West Virginia and Kentucky. These literary references offer a narrative perspective on the place.

A look back at sports strikes a different note: Crum won the Class A state football title after defeating Masontown Valley 20–18 in Elkins. The opponent, game location, and score make this contest a clearly defined part of local history.

Historic River Routes

A historic raft trip along the entire Tug Fork reached Crum. It ran from the confluence in Welch to the river’s mouth at the Levisa Fork near Louisa, Kentucky. This places Crum along a story that considers the river’s entire course. In the wider region, the Tug Fork was historically used during high water to transport rafts and logs to Kenova. The raft trip that reached Crum and the transport toward Kenova tell of different historic uses of the river: one as a route from Welch to Louisa, the other as a transportation route in the wider area.

Discover more destinations: Kenova.

See the broader travel overview: Wayne County.