Mankin-Cox Building

The Mankin-Cox Building sits at the southern point of downtown Thurmond.

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Quick Facts

Significance:

Historic Building

Thurmond Walking Tour Stop 4

The Mankin-Cox Building marks the southern most point of downtown Thurmond. The town added the commercial district because of the income coming into Thurmond. In Thurmond, the C&O Railway was making millions of dollars in the early 1900s to 1910s.

In 1904, Dr. J. W. Mankin built the Mankin-Cox building. He ran his medical practice on the second floor on the right side of the building. On the first floor, his wife operated the Mankin Drug Company. She had her degree in pharmaceuticals and mixed medications for patients. The drug store also sold toiletries, magazines, and other sundries, or miscellaneous items.

On the left side of the building was the New River Banking and Trust Company. It was one of two banks that operated in Thurmond during the boom years. After years of service in Thurmond, the bank moved to Oak Hill, West Virginia. The Mankin-Cox building had many other businesses in it over the years. These included a dentist office, pizza parlor, and arts and crafts shop.