Bastian, Virginia

Bastian is an unincorporated community in Bland County, Virginia, United States. Bastian is 4 miles (6.4 km) north-northwest of Bland. Bastian has a post office with ZIP code 24314.^[2]

History

The town of Bastian, Virginia was first settled between 1905-1908. Bastian was originally named Parkersburg after Parker Hornbarger, who inherited most of the land the town was built on. Jack Hager also owned some of the land (one hundred and fifty acres). Much of the land was later owned by James Starks and Eli Leedy until the Virginia Hardwood Lumber Company opened a large mill which operated until 1944. The name "Bastian" came from the manager of Bland County's only railroad, F.E. Bastian. Wallace J. Bruce took responsibility for the town's water supply and for the development of the town. Until 1923, the town did not have a school with more than one room. Schools located near Hunting Camp Creek accommodated local students until then. With the arrival of the Virginia Hardwood Lumber Company in 1927, the population greatly increased. This increase made additional classrooms a necessity. Several small schools were built during this time. It was not until 1955, however, that a modern brick building was built at the cost of $112,215.79.

The town has been home to many business and industries over the years. The W.F. White Lumber Company, the G.W. Miller Mining Planing Mill, the Virginia Hardwood Lumber Company, the Canva Mining Company (manganese), and the C&A Lumber Company have all operated in the town. Today General Injectibles Vaccines a wholesale pharmaceuticals is one of the major employers. In the 1930's, Bastian was also home to one of the most distinguished CCC Camps of the New Deal and thousands of young men passed through its doors.

As the lumber industry grew, new methods of transporting the materials were needed. In 1912, the New River, Holston, and Western Railroad company built a railroad to Rocky Gap, Virginia. In 1914, Mr. W.E. Mingea Jr. of Abingdon, Virginia, who owned all the big survey in Bland County, decided to build the railroad from Bastian to Suiter. The train ran from Narrows, Virginia, up through Niday and Round Bottom, to Rocky Gap. It continued from there to Hicksville, Bastian, and Suiter. This train served many purposes, including transporting people until it was discontinued in 1946.

Around the 1930's, Bastian became the first town in Bland County, Virginia to use electricity. They received it from the generator of the Virginia Hardwood Lumber Co. Since their generator generated so much electricity, there was enough to run both the company and the town.

By the mid-40's the CCC Camp, Virginia Hardwood Lumber Company, and the railroad had all closed down.

In the early 1970's, Interstate 77 was constructed and it's path takes it through the eastside of Bastian.

References