The story of John Henry, the steel drivin’ man, has been an idyllic story of strength ingrained in American folklore. His story of human strength overcoming mechanization gives school children who sing the ballad or read the story a glimpse into the golden days of the railroad.

Talcott Historian Bill Dillion believes that although John Henry was a real individual and his story true, that the truth is too frequently lost in musical or written representations of the steel driver.

Dillion, who visits schools to tell the real story of John Henry during Black History Month, said he feels the story was fictionalized in part because the hero was African American and the famous contest happened so soon after the Civil War, between 1870 and 1872.

“If it had been a white man who beat the steam drill, no one would have questioned the story. It would have been remembered as history. Because he was a black man, you have to prove 10, 12, 14 times over how he beat the steam drill,” said the historian.

In a family history written by John and George Hedrick, who worked cutting and bringing timbers into Talcott, the brothers remember seeing John Henry work on Big Bend Tunnel, said Dillion. They describe him has being between 30 and 32 years old, around 200 pounds and about 6 feet, 2 inches tall.

They said John Henry was a great singer and those who worked on Big Bend Tunnel would sing as they worked, punctuating the ends of their phrases with strikes of the hammer, Dillion explained.

Old timers whose oral histories were recorded in the late 1920s recall John Henry’s wife, Polly Ann, who lived in Pie Hollow, a then African American community that got its name from the pies, cakes and bread the women would sell to the workers of the tunnel, he said.

There is no headstone, but Polly Ann is believed to be buried in the Pie Hollow cemetery with a smooth river stone serving as a marker, he added.

Dillion explained that John Henry’s infamous race against the steam drill is true.

Men selling the steam drill would travel town-to-town and have competitions. When the steam drill proved it would beat the best steel driver, many jobs would be lost, he said.

At a time when mechanization was imminent, John Henry represented the strength of hand labor, he said.

At the Big Bend Tunnel, John Henry drove two 7-foot holes and the steam drill drove one hole 9 feet.

“I believe this story is true without a doubt, but I don’t believe he died with a hammer in his hand. It has been handed down that he was complaining about a roaring in his head. That night, at their home, he died. It has been concluded that it was a blood vessel that burst because of the extreme exertion,” Dillion explained.

After the Civil War, there were no heroes to speak of for some time, said the historian. John Henry is the first great hero to come after the Civil War.

The Great Big Bend Tunnel was completed in December 1872 and the Hilldale-Talcott Ruritan Club placed the John Henry statue in Talcott in December 1972.

The process of recognizing the site of this great historical event has been slow in coming.

The John Henry Days Committee first organized the festival in 1996 and today the John Henry Historical Park Steering Committee hopes to complete a park that will become a tourist destination and preserve the true historical story of the steel drivin’ man.

Dillion said the group plans to approach The Greenbrier owner Jim Justice about bringing in some famous figures who have been a part of John Henry films, like Denzel Washington and B.B. King, having them entertained at The Greenbrier, and bring national attention to the Upper Big Bend Tunnel.

“I think Justice is doing a heck of a job making West Virginia proud, and this park, once finished, will be something else that will bring pride to our state,” Dillion added.

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com

Help raise funds for John Henry Park



The John Henry Park Steering Committee needs to raise $1 million to finish the historical park.

Bricks, which will be used in the park’s construction, can be purchased for $100. Each brick will serve as a memorial or dedication with up to three lines of print, each 16 spaces or fewer.

Anyone wishing to purchase a brick can make their checks payable to John Henry Historical Park, c/o Hinton Area Foundation, P.O. Box 217, Hinton, WV 25951.

Please write “John Henry brick” in the memo section of the check and be sure to include what you want inscribed on the brick.

All donations, personal or through businesses, are tax-deductible.

For more information on donating time, skills or resources, contact the steering committee at jhparkinfo@gmail.com or call 304-832-6317.

Monetary donations can also be make online at www.johnhenrypark.com.

— Sarah Plummer