The Inter-Mountain photos by Taylor McKinnie Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco stands with the new plaque that commemorates all of the mayors the City of Elkins has had over the years.

ELKINS — The City of Elkins held a ceremony with several former mayors for the unveiling of a plaque listing all Elkins mayors since the city’s founding.

On Wednesday, the City of Elkins unveiled a new plaque to memorialize all the mayors Elkins has had since 1890, when the city was founded. The ceremony, which was held at the Elkins Fire Department, was attended by former Elkins mayors Stephen Shepler, Jimmy Hammond, Judy Guye, Dr. I.D. “Duke” Talbott and Van Broughton, as well as their children and relatives. The reveal was a surprise to the former mayors, whose families kept the purpose of the ceremony a secret.

During the ceremony, Marco explained that, in the past, the list of mayors was kept on a poster board that has been worn and torn over the years. Marco said he wanted something a little more substantial to honor the mayors of Elkins and the service they provided for the city.

“Everything we’re doing today is based on the foundation that you left for us, and I want to thank you for that,” Marco said during the ceremony. “Because we couldn’t have any success unless you left us in a great place, and you all did. You all contributed greatly to our community, and I really appreciate you for it. This is just a small way for me to say thank you and to memorialize your service to our community and to our city.”

The former mayors were also given a “Challenge Coin” from Marco to commemorate the United States of America’s 250th anniversary this year.

Broughton also spoke during the ceremony, saying it was nice to see five former mayors all together. He reminisced about his time in the Elkins City Council under several of those mayors and commended Marco on doing a great job as the current mayor. During the ceremony, Hammond joked that, out of all the mayors, Marco was the one to “bring down the building,” referring to Elkins City Hall, which has been closed for restoration and recovery work since Aug. 31, 2024, after a sewage overflow incident flooded the building’s basement and first floor, including the Elkins City Police Department.

“None of us did that,” Hammond said, earning a laugh from his fellow former mayors and Marco.

Mikayla Goins, the Mayor’s Executive Secretary, said that the plaque will be displayed in City Hall once the building reopens this summer.

From left, former Elkins mayors Duke Talbott, Stephen Shepler, Van Broughton, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, former Elkins mayors Jimmy Hammond and Judy Guye.