A focus on the past may be hurting Bluefield's future

How well this article states it-to be what we should be we have to move from the past.Many many cities in America have as Bluefield lost their"downtown" as population moved to the suburbs and outward the shopping stores moved with them.I can remember the overcrowded streets-the trains bringing shoppers in from the coalfields and the stores yet while we have none of that "downtown" now thewre is more in the area than ever before-more eating more shopping as an example look from Bluefield Va out to the mall and Princeton there is more to choose from than we ever had-we have in the area many major fast food places,which we never had here, we have many of the national goods stores so we can get almost anything out there...oh yes we have internet where you can get absolutely any item you desire from anywhere.....so we have more than we ever had.Like the most of American cities the key lies in not hanging to a faded glory day BUT encouraging & accepting a different make up of downtown.
For 3 years I lived in a beautiful bustling rapid growing city of Chula Vista Calif,with over 300,000 people they have the same problem we do...they lost their coveted downtown yet they have virtually anything one could want.....out in malls where the people live!

Im not racist but I will never go downtown to see all the shops and cafes because of all the black men that stand on the corners there....Its creepy.

I was told that decades ago that there was talk of a ski resort on East River mountain but the rich people in the area stopped that fast. If they continue to work on the interstate near the mall then eventually it would go from Mich. to myrtle beach I believe and we could have more tourist and business coming our way.

I for one think Blue field is gross and nasty. I use to live there when I was a child. I recently went back to visit and could not believe what I seen. The houses looks as if they need to be tore down. the roads are in bad shape. I seen only a handful of whites. I would not live in that town again, even if I was paid millions. There is no pride. I'm ashamed to say that is my hometown. If u get offended by my comment then you are obviously living in that wreck of a town.

I have to say I agree with you...Tammy, it is nasty...and most of the ones there are leaving and going to Princeton to share their "drugs"! Blacks on every corner selling drugs and yelling at cars passing by...it's not right!

Tammy wrote:

I for one think Blue field is gross and nasty. I use to live there when I was a child. I recently went back to visit and could not believe what I seen. The houses looks as if they need to be tore down. the roads are in bad shape. I seen only a handful of whites. I would not live in that town again, even if I was paid millions. There is no pride. I'm ashamed to say that is my hometown. If u get offended by my comment then you are obviously living in that wreck of a town.

those conditions depend on the part of town ...long ago the old decripit east & west end was a slum at best but out in south Bluefield there are really nice homes--it is clean and the residents do have pride.Bluefield is a lot more than the areas lining the railroad tracks.That are was nearing slum status some 45 years ago.
As for the ski area I did hear thet and I assure you that those rich "POWERS THAT BE" will stop anything that is not the way they want it-they are not interested in anything they do not own & control!They are a part of living in the past that is a problem here and everywhere...if they can own it & get the money fine if not they do not want any outsiders and they will do all they can to literally RUN IT OUT OF TOWN.This at best an ignorant mindset....keep hoping they can die off BUT up comes another rich kid to carry on the tradition!!!!

My grandfather told me that he believed that the rich people in town didnt want that resort because their believed they would have to pay their help more because of standard wages in town would go up. Its sad that people like that control the town and look at what they have to live with now...criminals and druggies everywhere. Every time I visit now I go in the Bluefield walmart and its so different everyone looks like a bum or a gangster.

The righ "families" made their wealth over the years as most rich do...by literally starving their employees with starvation wages --this is how they made their wealth - no they did not want anything in town that would cause a forced rise in wages,or that they did not have control of.
They got rich by depriving others!I never will have anything but I can say when i die I never starved anyone to death to get ahead. I worked for years for skinflints and the onesa I worked for were far more generous than the old powers that be.

As for what is at Wal Mart please do not judge all in Bluefield by that it seems to draw a brackish bum & gangster crowd.....you see some normal people but walmart is weirdsville...oh I do not shop there....wla mart treats their employees like dirt and the customers not a lot better so I make it my policy to avoid wal mart it is the pits!!!!