THURMOND, WV (LOOTPRESS) – One home in a small, but well-known West Virginia town was once used in the filming of a popular film in the 1980s. Although no one has lived in the house for years, it still stands today.
Deep in the New River Gorge sits the historic railroad town of Thurmond, which currently boasts a population of five people. Unlike other towns in the New River Gorge, Thurmond thrived off the railroad instead of coal mines. It was an important freight hub and service stop for steam engines along the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.
Thurmond saw much success leading up to the 1950s before steam engines became obsolete and once recorded over 400 residents.
After its heyday and before the National Park Service purchased most of the property in town, it was once the set of John Sayles’ 1987 movie “Matewan” which was filmed in Thurmond.
The movie was based on the true stories of the coal mine worker’s strike and attempt to unionize in 1920 which eventually led to the infamous “Matewan Massacre” in Mingo County. The Massacre resulted in the deaths of 10 people.
The John Bullock/Roger Armandtrout home, also known as the Fatty Lipcomb house, was used as the boarding house in the film. The large historic structure remains today and sits at the west end of town beside the Marilyn Brown house.
The structure underwent major repairs in the early 2000s by NPS officials. Visitors can walk straight to the famous home which is now part of the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, although going inside the structure is prohibited.
The whole town was also used in the film and structures were tweaked to resemble the theme of the film. Several Fayette County residents were featured in the movie.
