Goldbond, Virginia

Goldbond is an unincorporated community in Giles County, Virginia, United States.

Goldbond, Virginia
Unincorporated community
Coal train in Goldbond
Goldbond Goldbond Goldbond
Coordinates: 37°22′48″N 80°39′59″W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Giles
Elevation	1,788 ft (545 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24150[1]
Area code(s)	540
GNIS feature ID	1483687[2]

Goldbond is located on Stony Creek and State Route 635, 5.3 miles (8.5 km) northeast of Pearisburg. The name Goldbond derives from an earlier limestone processing works situated in the community, National Gypsum Company, which produced 'Gold Bond' gypsum wallboard. Prior to the company's presence, the area was known as Kerns, Virginia, after the Kern's Bread Company which once operated there.

Archaeological evidence collected by locals along with area history suggest the community that is now Goldbond saw military action during the American Civil War; however, no official markers note this at present.

Notable landmarks in the area include two family cemeteries (those of the Moser and Reed Families), a covered mill, a former elementary school (now a private residence), and a former local store which also served as a community U.S. Post Office until its closing on July 30, 2005. Prior to moving to a community post office format Goldbond's post office, which opened February 21, 1923, was operated on land belonging to the Reed Family. This first office was later shifted to the home of Postmasters Irene Moser (née Reed) and Tyree Moser, Sr. in whose family postal operations of the community ran for more than 60 years as noted in an extensive article in the area's newspaper, the 'Virginian Leader,' on the occasion of the couple's retirement and the office's moving in the early 90s.^[1]

Notable residents

Tyree Moser, Sr. (1921-1998) - In addition to his retirement duties as an assistant postmaster, Goldbold native and resident, Tyree Moser was also noteworthy in and around the area as a former member of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, a combat veteran of the Second World War (landing at Utah Beach in the Normandy Campaign before participating in the Northern France Campaign and Rhineland Campaign). Moser was also recalled for military service during the late 40s/early 50s in the days leading up to the Korean War but was later discharged due to numerous family commitments. He returned to become notable as a local chairman of the Republican Party in which role Moser met with several senior politicians visiting the area including William C. Wampler and John Warner as well as Warner's then wife actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Awards and decorations

Below are military awards and insignias given to Tyree Moser which at one time were on display in Giles
but which, following his death, were returned to his family in other parts of Southwest Virginia.

U.S. Military Decorations Campaign Medals and Unit Awards Army Good Conduct Medal American Campaign Medal European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ 3 award stars World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal Meritorious Unit Commendation (Originally a Laurel Wreath Patch)

U.S. Army Badges, Patches and Insignia Combat Infantryman Badge Expert Infantryman Badge Sharpshooter Badge Marksman Badge Honorable Service Lapel Button 36th Infantry Division Distinctive Unit Insignia 6th Armored Division (United States) Distinctive Unit Insignia

References

1. United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved 2012-02-15.
2. "Goldbond". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.