John F. Kennedy is shown shaking hands on “Deep Third” in downtown Williamson when he was campaigning in the area back in 1960. Kennedy went on to win the nomination and become president of the United States. That section of town was a thriving area in years past.
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. – Although no relics are left from the business district known as “Deep Third,” a monument sits on the corner of Third Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Williamson that honors the businesses that thrived there during the 1940s.
During the 1940s, “Deep Third” housed more than thirty businesses. The business district began at the corner of Third Avenue and Pike Street and ran to Vincent Street.
Johnny Fullen, NAACP President of the Williamson Branch recalls the businesses in “Deep Third” stating, “It was a very nice business district. It wasn’t only black. People of different ethnicities had businesses in this area. I remember how beautiful Dr. Whittico’s Drug store was. He and his wife, who was an R.N., had that place for years.”
Fullen continued stating, “It was something the community could be proud of. Deep Third produced good people that went on and became good citizens. They went off and got good educations and they came back to Williamson.”
Fullen also played a role in having the monument erected. “I went to the Mayor, who at that time was Darrin McCormick, and asked him if we could recognize Third Avenue.”
In the future, Fullen hopes to have Deep Third recognized in the National Historic Register…