west virginia project

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Unit 8's Americana 2007 decorations

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The History of West Virginia

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West Virginia was the only state formed as a direct result of the Civil War. In 1860, with the election of President Lincoln, many southern states began to secede from the Union, setting the stage for the Civil War. On November 15, 1860, a convention was held in Richmond to decide whether Virginia would also secede from the Union or stay. For the first two months of the convention, the general consensus among the delegates was that Virginia would stay in the Union. However, on April 12, 1861, Ft Sumter surrendered to the Confederate forces and three days later, President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion. It was these events that convinced the majority of the delegates that it was time for Virginia to secede from the Union. On April 17, 1861, the Ordinance of Secession was passed by a vote of 88 to 55. The Western delegates withdrew from the convention and began to plan an opposition to the ordinance.

Throughout the western part of Virginia, citizens met in support of the opposition to the ordinance. The majority of western Virginians opposed the Ordinance of Secession.

John Carlile

"On May 14, John Carlile proposed a resolution for the creation of the new state of New Virginia. Opponents deemed this proposal revolutionary, and the majority of the delegates supported resolutions offered by the Committee on State and Federal Resolutions, which recommended that if the people of Virginia approved the Ordinance of Secession on May 23, western Virginians would elect delegates to a Second Wheeling Convention to begin on June 11, 1861."(from http://www.wvculture.org/history/statehood/statehood05.html)

On May 23, 1861, the Ordinance of Secession was approved by the voters of Virginia. During the months that followed, the citizens of western Virginia met to voice their opposition or support for the ordinance. When Governor John Letcher announced that the ordinance had been passed and that most of the votes from western Virginia had not been delivered to Richmond, the voters were outraged.

On August 6, 1861, the delegates of the Second Wheeling Convention reassembled. During this convention, the delegates passed an ordinance that voided the actions of the Richmond Convention, declaring those actions "illegal, inoperative, null, void, and without force or effect."

The convention then assembled a committee on the Division of The State. After a week of deliberations, the committee presented a dismemberment ordinance to the delegates of the convention. Delegates then debated for several days over the boundaries of the new state. On August 20, 1861, the committee proposed that the new state, to be named Kanawha, would consist of 39 counties, with 7 more counties to be added if the majority of those voters approved of it. On October 24, 1861, the voters in the counties of the newly proposed state would have their say.

"You have taken the initiative in the creation of a new State," convention president Arthur Boreman remarked in adjourning the convention. "This is a step of vital importance. I hope, and I pray God it may be successful; that it may not engender strife in our midst, nor bring upon us difficulties from abroad, but that its most ardent advocates may realize their fondest hopes of its complete success. So far as I am personally concerned, I am content with the action of this Convention; I bow with submission to what you have done upon this subject."

Map of the proposed new state of Kanawha

After the ballots were counted, it was shown that 18,408 had voted in favor of the new state while only 781 opposed. On November 26, 1861, delegates met in Wheeling to create a constitution for the new state. Among the issues discussed at the meeting were the name of the new state, boundaries and slavery.

The name "Kanawha" was opposed by many of the delegates who said that there were already a county and two rivers with that name. A lengthy debate began over the name of the new state. Some spoke in favor of including "Virginia" in the name while others opposed it. Eventually, the name "West Virginia" was selected.

West Virginia voters went to the polls on May 28, 1863 to elect their new officials. Arthur I. Boreman of Wood County was elected as West Virginia's first governor. Governor Boreman referred to West Virginia as "the child of the rebellion," and stated that "to-day after many long and weary years of insult and injustice, culminating on the part of the East, in an attempt to destroy the Government, we have the proud satisfaction of proclaiming to those around us that we are a separate State in the Union."

Arthur I. Boreman

Eventually, the question of constitutionality of the formation of the new state was brought before the United States Supreme Court, in the case of Virginia vs West Virginia (1870). Virginia repealed the act of cession and in 1866 brought about a suit against West Virginia, asking the court to declare the counties of West Virginia as part of Virginia. The Supreme Court sided with West Virginia and there was never any further debate on the matter.

Beginning in 1865 during Reconstruction, Virginia and West Virginia argued over West Virginia's share of the pre-War Virginia debt. In 1915, the issue was settled by the Supreme Court who ruled that West Virginia owed Virginia $12,393,929.50. The debt was paid off in 1939.

Besides the dispute over the debt, disputes over the exact location of West Virginia's border in some of the northern mountain regions of Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia continued well into the 20th century.

Map of the new state of West Virginia

On this day in West Virginia History:

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Click HERE to see what happened today in West Virginia History.

Railroads of West Virginia

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The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) is the nation's oldest railroad and more than half of its line it located within West Virginia's borders. The B&O was created in order to speed up shipping of goods from the Ohio Valley, a process that before the creation of the B&O took weeks to do. This railroad was considered very valuable. It was so valuable that both the Confederacy and the Union sides fought desperately to keep the B&O from falling into enemy hands.

As the industries of America became more and more mechanized, the factories needed more and more coal to heat their furnaces. The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad made mining in the southern part of West Virginia - an area which is very mountainous - possible. It was on this railroad that the legend of the railman John Henry was born.

John Henry Monument

John Henry is an African-American folk hero, who has been the subject of many a song, play and story. Like other folk heroes such as Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill, John Henry served as a mythical representation of a particular group within the melting pot of the 19th-century working class. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry)

The legend of John Henry starts off with him being born big and strong, growing up to be the greatest steel driver in the world. However, with the invention of the steam hammer comes the danger of losing his job. In an effort to save his job and the jobs of his coworkers, he challenges the inventor to a competition: John Henry vs The Steam Hammer. He wins the contest, but suffers a heart attack and dies. This story is usually seen as a metaphor for the futility of fighting technology. In any case, John Henry became an important symbol of the working class and a monument in his honor was placed near Talcott, West Virginia. No one is sure if John Henry did indeed exist or if a competition between a man and a steam hammer ever happened, but today, his legend lives on.

While larger railroads took advantage of the abundance of coal, smaller railroads were built by timber companies to haul lumber. One such train is the Cass Railroad. In its yesteryears, the Cass Railroad hauled tons of lumber. But today, it hauls hundreds of passengers on scenic trips. One of its engines, the Shay #5, celebrated its centennial birthday in 2005. Other railroads that offer scenic tours include the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, the Tygart Flyer, The Cheat Mountain Salamander, and The Durbin Rocket.

Fall Foliage Tour

Railroads helped West Virginia to grow and prosper, but they also served to help showcase the beauty of the state to the world. Even rail lines that are no longer in use attract visitors to the state. There are currently more than 375 miles of these "rail trails" in West Virginia. Rail trails are formed when communities come together and turn a former rail line into a trail that can be used for hiking,walking, biking and running.

The B&O Railroad Slideshows

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B&O Railroad Stations in West Virginia

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West Virginia Railroad Events for 2007

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Here is a partial list of special events held by the various railroads in West Virginia:

May 25
Murder Mystery Special - Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Murder mystery, train ride, buffet dinner. Fee for event. Cass, 800-CALL WVA. www.cassrailroad.com

June 1-3
Whistles, Wings and Wildflowers Weekend - Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Birding and wildflower train with nature walks, talk and exploration of the outdoors. Lodging discount available. Cass, 800-CALL WVA. www.cassrailroad.com

June 16
Fiddles and Vittles Train - Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Evening train ride, buffet-style dinner, live bluegrass music. Also available other dates throughout the summer. Cass, 800-CALL WVA. www.cassrailroad.com

July 13-14
Roundhouse Raildays Roundhouse Raildays celebrates the historic one-of-a-kind roundhouse with exhibits and entertainment. Martinsburg, 304-260-4141. www.martinsburgroundhouse.com

July 18-21
Durbin Days Carnival, great entertainment, train rides, fireworks, parade and much more. Durbin, 800-336-7009. www.pocahontascountywv.com

July 23-29
Cowen Historical Railroad Festival Pageants, parade, fishing contest, car and motorcycle shows, horseshoe contest, arts and crafts, food and entertainment. Cowen, 304-226-3206.

September 29
Harvest Day & Harvest Special Train - Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Town fills with demonstrations, antique engines, storytelling, live music, dancing and train rides. Cass, 800-CALL WVA. www.cassrailroad.com

October 20-21
World-Famous New River Train 300-mile round-trip rail excursion from Huntington to Hinton, with a trip through the 65-mile New River Gorge. Huntington, 866-639-7487. www.newrivertrain.com

November 10-11
Pocahontas NRHS Model Train Show Complete show for all railroad enthusiasts. Family event not to be missed. Bluefield, 304-431-2593.

The Battle of Carnifex Ferry

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"The Battle of Carnifex Ferry took place on September 10, 1861 in Nicholas County, Virginia (now West Virginia), as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.

Learning of Col. Erastus Tyler's rout at Kessler's Cross Lanes, Brig. Gen. William S. Rosecrans moved three brigades south from Clarksburg to support him. On the afternoon of September 10, he advanced against Confederate Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd's camps at Carnifex Ferry. Darkness halted several hours' fighting. The strength of the Union artillery convinced Floyd to retreat across the Gauley River during the night. Floyd blamed his defeat on his co-commander Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise, contributing to further dissension within the Confederate command. "

(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carnifex_Ferry)

Rosecrans' decisive victory over Confederate Brigadier General John Floyd made the formation of a new state possible by protecting western Virginia from Confederate advances.

Located on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon near Summersville, the Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park was established to commemorate the Battle of Carnifex Ferry. It is one of the oldest state parks in the United States. Located within this 156-acre park is the Patterson House Museum, picnic areas, three overlooks of the Gauley River, and hiking trails. Living history demonstrations and a reenactment of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry are done during the Civil War Weekend (held this year on September 8-9, 2007). Civil War memorbilia and souvenirs are also offered for sale.

Patterson House Museum

Every other year in September, hosted by Co. A of the 36th Virginia Infantry (West Virginia's oldest and most authentic living history organization), the Battle of Carnifex Ferry is reenacted on the same ground it was orginially fought on. This two-day event features living history demonstrations of camp life, military drill,and a reenactment of the Federal assault on the center of the Confederate line. This event is considered to be one of the finest small scale reenactments in the eastern United States.

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield Map

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Current Weather in West Virginia's Capital City

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Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

West Virginia's State Stamp

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This is the West Virginia state 34 cent stamp from the Greetings From America commemorative stamp series. The United States Postal Service released

this stamp on April 4, 2002. The retro design of this stamp resembles the

large letter postcards that were popular with tourists in the 1930's and 1940's.

Summersville Lake - Fun for Everyone

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Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia, is a man-made reservoir near Summersville. It was constructed between 1960 and 1966 by the US Army Corps of Engineers in order to control flooding along the Gauley and Kanawha Rivers, as well as to provide recreation and enable fish and wildlife management. The Summersville Dam, a 390 ft x 2280 ft structure and the second largest rock fill dam in the Eastern United States, was built to hold back the water. Usually dams are named after the nearest town with a post office. The nearest town to the dam was the town of Gad. However, instead of calling it the Gad Dam (insert joke here), they named it the Summersville Dam. This broke a long-standing tradtion in the naming of dams.

The lake is excellent for boating and fishing. Small mouth and large mouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill, walleye, and the occasional rainbow trout can be found in the lake's clean, clear waters. The lake has rock cliffs and boulders and other cover which provides an ideal environment for the fish to live in.

The lake is also excellent for scuba diving. The lake has an average visibility of 20 to 45+ feet and a maximum depth of 327 feet, and the water temperature ranges from 60 to 80+ degrees. From this it is easy to see why Skin Diver Magazine calls Summersville Lake the "Little Bahamas of The East." Scuba diving and snorkeling are very popular in this lake, as there are numerous boulder gardens, overhangs and swim-throughs to explore.

As well as the water activities, visitors to the lake can also enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, rock climbing and wildlife viewing.

Summersville Lake

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West Virginia Rock Climbing

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West Virginia is one of the highest-rated rock climbing areas in the eastern United States.

Cass Railroad State Park

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Cass, West Virginia was founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (now known as Westvaco). It was built as a company town to meet the neds of the men who worked in the nearby mountains cutting hemlock and spruce trees for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company.

In 1960, due to the decline of the timber industry in the region, the town of Cass was abandoned. The rail line at Cass and the Shay locomotives (the only locomotives capable of making it up the steep grade) were planned to be scrapped, but Russell Baum, a railroad fan, purchased the line and convinced the legislature to make Cass Railroad into a state park. in 1963, the first train filled with tourists instead of timber made its way from the Cass Depot, headed four miles up the line to the Whittaker Station.

The Cass Scenic Railroad train ride takes you 11 miles up the track which was laid in 1901 by immigrant workers. Traveling on steep grades of the Cheat Mountain, the train runs through switchbacks with a grade of up to 11% (a 2% grade on modern railroads is considered steep). Three trips are available: a two-hour round trip to Whittaker Station, a five-hour round trip to the ghost town of Spruce, and a five-hour round trip to Bald Knob, the second highest point in the state.

A logging camp has also been recreated at the park by the Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association. This camp shows both the living quarters and the equipment used by the loggers.

Nowadays, the town of Cass remains relatively unchanged. The old company houses have been restored, adding an air of nostalgia to the town. There is a museum and a company store in the park which tourists can visit and buy souvenirs.

Vintage West Virgina Photos

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Hawk's Nest - A Place of Beauty and Tragedy

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View of the New River Canyon from Hawk's Nest State Park

Hawk's Nest is a peak on Gauley Mountain in Ansted, West Virginia. The name "Hawk's Nest" came from the many fish hawks which nested in the cliffs at that point. When the railroad began blasting in the area between 1869 and 1873, the hawks left and never again returned. The Chesapeake and Ohio railway, which ran through the area, was completed on January 29, 1873 and a celebration was held at Hawk's Nest Station.

Beginning in 1927, Hawk's Nest Tunnel, a three-mile long tunnel was constructed to divert the waters of the New River under Gauley Mountain. In the tunnel, silica was discovered and the workers were asked to mine the silica, but they were not given protective masks. As a result of this, many workers died from silicosis, a disease which affects the lungs and is caused by inhilation of silica dust. Although there are no definite statistics, several sources agree that as many as 700 of the 2,000 workers died from this disease.

A nearby West Virginia Historical Marker at Hawk's Nest reads:

"Construction of nearby tunnel, diverting waters of New River through Gauley Mt for hydroelectric power, resulted in state's worst industrial disaster. Silica rock dust caused 109 admitted deaths in mostly black, migrant underground work force of 3,000. Congressional hearing placed toll at 476 for 1930-35. Tragedy brought recognition of acute silicosis as occupational lung disease and compensation legislation to protect workers."

Hawk's Nest Overlook

Thunder In The Valley

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"Thunder In The Valley" is an annual event held in Charles Town, West Virginia to help celebrate and remember its Civil War heritage.

During the Civil War, Shenendoah Valley was a strategic point as it was on the main travel route between the north and the south, and the control of the town of Charles Town changed hands between the Confederate and the Union 18 times. Harper's Ferry, another town in the valley, changed hands 8 times.

During "Thunder In The Valley," participants dress up in Union and Confederate dress and re-enact battles. Replicas of Union and Confederate camps are set up during this event, along with the formation of wagon train to Charles Town and a military ball. Also, the "Blue/Grey Classic Horse Race is run.

Fasnacht - Mardi Gras in West Virginia

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In New Orleans and other places in the world, the period before lent is celebrated as Mardi Gras.

West Virginians in the city of Helvetia have their own version of Mardi Gras called Fascnacht. This celebration was brought to West Virginia in the 19th century by Swiss immigrants. Fasnacht is a combination of the celebrations of Mardi Gras with the Winterfest of Switzerland.

The residents of Helvetia prepare for Fasnacht by deep frying donuts, rosettes, and hosenblatt pastries in lard and by decorating the town hall with Swiss lampions (paper lanterns with candles) and ribbons. The hang an effigy of Old Man Winter by the neck in the middle of the dance floor and create elaborate masks.

At dark on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, the people of Helvetia don their masks and decorate their homes with scary figures to frighten away Old Man Winter. They congregate at the local restaurant, light the lampions and march to the dance hall, where they parade around the dance floor as their masks are judged. Then they dance schotisches, waltzes, polkas, and squares until midnight, when the effigy of Old Man Winter is taken down, roughed up, cursed at and thrown into a bonfire and burned, showing that it is time for Winter to end and Spring to begin.

The Oil and Gas Industries in West Virginia

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In the early 1800's, oil and gas were of no importance to West Virginians. As a matter of fact, oil and gas were frequently hit by drillers when drilling for salt and were considered a nuisance. So much oil was diverted to the Kanawha River that it became known as "Old Greasy" to the boatmen. In 1815, while drilling for salt, gas was first struck in Charleston. By 1826, oil was used for lamps in factories and workshops.

"On the Little Kanawha River, near the Hughes River, was a stream called Burning Springs Run, named because there were two springs at its mouth from which natural gas escaped. As early as 1781, Thomas Jefferson described the brilliant flame which could be produced by thrusting a lighted candle into the escaping gas at this site. Because gas and salt brine were often associated, the Rathbone brothers bored a salt well near these springs. However, rather than salt, at a depth of 200 feet they hit petroleum and by boring deeper, they were able to produce 200 barrels per day in 1859. Although petroleum was not the treasure that the Rathbones sought, they were encouraged by their find and drilled a second well which yielded 1,200 barrels of petroleum daily. News of the Rathbone brothers' discovery spread rapidly and created tremendous excitement. By 1861, a town with several thousand inhabitants had sprung up. All of the light in the newly-formed town, including that for a brilliantly lit hotel, was provided by natural gas. The widespread use of gas in this town marked the beginning of the era of gas development in West Virginia. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil were being floated down the river to Parkersburg where they were then sent to other cities by rail or river. The Burning Springs oil field was one of only two oil fields in America prior to the Civil War. But by 1876, there were 292 wells in the State, producing a total of 900 barrels daily. Parkersburg was the chief oil market. "

(from http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geoldvog.htm)

West Virginia's oil industry reached its peak in 1900, producing 16 million barrels. The oil industry began to decline after that, although the gas industry was growing. From 1906 to 1917, West Virginia was the leading producer of gas in the United States. After that, the state's gas production declined, until 1970 when it gained momentum again.

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

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The exhibition coal mine in Beckley, West Virginia was once an actual working coal mine that now is a popular tourist attraction. In 1910, the mine closed and it repoened in 1960 as a tourist attraction. The city of Beckley was built around the mine's entrance and the area around it became a city park.

At the mine, you can take a tour thru the actual mine conducted by a real miner. You can also visit the gift shop, tour the coal museum, visit a coal miner's house, visit a coal town church, and tour the kid's learning center.

The coal miner's house and coal town church are furnished on the inside with antiques from the 1940's and 1950's to give you an idea of what life was like back then.

Coal Heritage Trail

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Coal Heritage Trail is in southern West Virginia. It begins in Beckley and travels south to Bluefield. The byway is nearly 100 miles long and follows WV 16 and US 52.

Fall Colors of West Virginia

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Coal Mining in West Virginia

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In 1742, John Peter Salley took an exploratory trip across the

Allegheny Mountains and reported an outcropping of coal

along a tributary of the Kanawha River. He and his companions

named this tributary the Coal River, and his report became

the first reference to coal in what is today West Virginia.

(from http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geoldvco.htm)

Miners in Raleigh County

It wasn't until the mid 1800's that coal mining began to be a major industy in West Virginia. Until that time, although coal was known to exist in West Virginia, there wasn't a real need to mine it because of the abundance of wood and lack of coal manufacturing industries. In 1810, people of Wheeling began to use coal from a nearby mine to heat their homes. In 1811, the first steamboat on the Ohio burned coal from the Ohio banks. By 1817, coal began to replace charcoal as fuel for many Kanawha River salt furnaces. in 1836, due to the enormous amount of attention given to the western Virginia coal fields, Professor William B Rogers, Virginia's foremost geologist, was sent to the mines to analyze the coal in eight counties. By 1840, the total coal production was up to 300,000 tons. Between 1840 and 1860, many coal companies were organized and corporations were established under the laws of Virginia to encourage financial investments from foreign countries.

When the Civil War broke out, the Kanawha Valley mines were closed. Many of the dams along the river were destroyed and confederate troops set up camps in the valley, preventing shipping. The Elkins and Fairmont coal fields in the north remained active, providing coal for the Union.

Fayette County, West Virginia miners

After the Civil War, renewed interest in the state's mineral resources brought new growth and development of the coal industry. By 1880 there were extensive operations in Mineral, Monongalia, Marion, Fayette, Harrison, Ohio, Putnam, and Mason counties. In 1901, the Fairmont Coal Company was formed, which later became the Consolidation Coal Company. Many of the coal mines owed their success to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. As the railroad grew, the coal became more available for marketing, making the coal fields prosper.

As the coal industry grew, mining methods and laws changed rapidly. In the earliest days, local farmers and slaves surface mined the coal, using picks and shovels to remove the overburden. The coal was then dug out, shoveled into baskets and sacks, and carried away. Later, sleds, wheelbarrows, and carts came into use in deep mining, hauled by oxen, mules, goats, dogs, and sometimes men. Progress in mechanization was slow, as operators did not want to pay for expensive new equipment, and miners feared being replaced by it. Also, many felt that the old bank mule was more reliable. By 1890, however, electric coal cutting, loading, and hauling machines came into use, and mules were used less frequently. After 1936, mechanization went forward very rapidly, with shuttle cars, long trains, conveyor belts, and all kinds of large mining machinery coming into common use. Large-scale surface mining did not start until 1914, but with the development of huge shovels and draglines, the overburden can now be removed more easily and in recent years this method has become a major method of mining coal in West Virginia. Two peaks occurred in West Virginia's coal production: in 1927 production reached 146,088,121 tons and in 1947 it peaked at 173,653,816 tons. (from http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geoldvco.htm)

Because the coal mines were often located far from towns, the coal companies often built their own coal company towns, complete with company stores, affordable housing, churches, and sometimes even recreational facilities for the miners and their families. A method of bookkeeping using coal scrip (tokens) was even established, due to the miners' daily needs. Miners could get an advance credit on their salary in scrip to buy necessities from the company store. Each mine had its own scrip symbol on the tokens, which could only be used at the local company store.

As the coal industry continued to grow, many of the coal companies began to be run by out of state superintendents and being supported by out of state capital. Immigrants from Wales, Scotland and England were brought over to work in the coal mines. The superintendents brought over cheap foreign labor and often abused them with poor medical care, long working hours and inferior living conditions in general. The poor working conditions in the mines brought about the first West Virginia coal mining legislation in 1883. This legislation appointed a state mine inspector who was to inspect all mines for adequate safety conditions. The state union of United Mine Workers of America was established in 1890 in Wheeling to push for better working conditions. The West Virginia Department of Mines was created in 1905 to enforce inspection laws. However, it wasn't until the Franklin D Roosevelt era that the federal goverment stepped in to help the miners. The National Industrial Recovery Act established an 8-hour work day and a minimum wage provision. The act was later declared unconstitutional, but by then most of the mining companies had unionized. Since the 1930's, the union has been a force in providing for the welfare, retirement and other benefits for miners.

Coal Mines

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Tourism in West Virginia

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Click HERE to see a tour book of West Virginia.

The Hatfields and The McCoys - A Bitter Feud

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The Hatfields and The McCoys - you have probably heard of these names before, and after you read their story, you will probably recognize it...you will probably even notice its similarity to movies you have seen and songs you have heard. In fact, their legendary feud has become a metaphor for feuding families in general.

The story revolves around two families: the Hatfields, led by William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield (1839-1921), and the McCoys, led by Randolph "Ole Ran'l" McCoy(1825-1914). Both families had acquired a lot of land and respectability, with the Hatfields being more affluent and well-connected politically than the McCoys.

William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield

Randolph "Ole Ran'l" McCoy

The Hatfields lived on the West Virginia side of the Tug Fork River, and the McCoys lived on the Kentucky side. Both families were involved in the making and selling of moonshine, and both families were involved in pro-Confederate guerilla activity during the Civil War.

"Peace was never natural along the Tug's banks. Especially not in the mid-19th century.

The men here doted on their skills at guns and fights, their spit-the-devil-in-the-eye fearlessness, their huge families, their freedom. For them, government barely existed. Courts were few and police protection almost nonexistent, with public servants dreading to venture into the hollows and backwoods near today's Matewan, W.Va. and Pikeville, Ky.

Rugged outdoorsmen, often intelligent and usually illiterate, they made whiskey, logged timber, fished and hunted. And they excelled at their crafts. Many were such uncanny marksmen that the story is told of a shy mountain boy who put a bullseye through a coin thrown into the air without any of those present having seen him even draw his gun. The stuff of legend? Likely, but indicative at least of the tenor of the time and region." (from http://www.blueridgecountry.com/hatmac/hatmac.html)

Before the Civil War, there was actually peace among the two families. Often times, a Hatfield would marry a McCoy and nothing was thought of it. That would not be the case in later years.

The Civil War actually played a big part in the feud, and many people regard Asa Harmon McCoy as the first victim of the feud.

Devil Anse Hatfield formed The Logan Wildcats, the most feared guerilla band to patrol the Tug River banks, out of the need to defend his home against the Union soldiers. The Hatfields felt a great deal of hatred toward the McCoys as Asa Harmon McCoy, younger brother to Ole Ran'l McCoy, had joined the Union Army.

Asa Harmon McCoy

When Harmon was discharged from the Union on Christmas Eve in 1864 due to a broken leg, he was met with a warning from Jim Vance, Devil Anse Hatfield's uncle, that he could expect a visit from the Logan Wildcats. Several nights later, after having taken refuge in a nearby cave, Harmon was shot dead. The first suspect, of course, was Devil Anse Hatfield. But later, after having found out that Devil Anse had been confined to his bed during the time of the shooting, the blame fell on Jim Vance. Because joining the Union army had been seen to be a disloyalty to his family, even his own family believed that Harmon had brought on the murder himself. However, in the end, no suspect was ever brought to trial, though most people to this day believe that it was Jim Vance who had murdered Harmon McCoy.

For thirteen years after this incident, there was peace along the banks of the Tug River.

That was until the infamous "Pig Incident."

One autumn day in 1878, Ole Ran'l stopped by to visit Floyd Hatfield, his wife's brother-in-law. Upon his visit, he saw a familiar looking pig. He accused Floyd of theft and both parties went to court.

Floyd won the case. The feud was on again.

Bill Stanton, a nephew of Ole Ran'l, who testified at the pig trial, was the next one to be killed in the feud. Within months of the trial, he was shot and killed by Paris and Sam McCoy. Sam was tried for the murder of Bill Stanton in a Hatfield court and was acquitted. Some writers believe that Devil Anse had called for the acquittal as a gesture of peace, but the gesture was futile. The McCoys were angry that Sam was put on trial in the first place. Instead of gratitude toward the Hatfields, they felt even more rage toward them.

With the two families at war again, it seemed like a foolish idea for a Hatfield to fall in love with a McCoy during this time. But that is what happened.

Roseanna McCoy was the daughter of Ole Ran'l McCoy, and Johnse Hatfield was the son of Devil Anse Hatfield. The two met at a spring election in 1880. He was 18 years old at the time and already an established bootlegger and ladies man. She was about a year older than him and considered to be one of Pike's County's most beautiful girls. Soon after, she left her family to live with the Hatfields in West Virginia. Needless to say, Devil Anse was none too pleased with the idea of a union between the two lovers.

Roseanna eventually returned to her family, but when the two tried to rekindle their relationship, the McCoys kidnapped Johnse and took him prisoner. Fearing her brothers would kill Johnse, Roseanna borrowed a neighbor's horse and rode to find Devil Anse to alert him of his son's danger. Devil Anse and his sons and neighbors cut off the McCoys at a shortcut and rescued Johnse.

But Roseanna would not be rewarded for her bravery. She was shunned by Johnse, who ended up marrying her cousin Nancy only months later in 1881. Ole Ran'l considered her ride to save Johnse as an unforgivable sin. Roseanna, who was pregnant at the time, contracted measles and miscarried her child.

In 1882, during the election and seemingly without provocation, Tolbert, Pharmer and Bud McCoy murdered Ellison Hatfield, brother of Devil Anse, by stabbing him 26 times and shooting him in the back. After his death three days later, the three McCoy brothers would be murdered, tied to Paw Paw bushes, their bodies riddled with bullets.

Between 1880 and 1891, more than a dozen members of both families had been killed due to the feud. The violence between the feuding families was so bad that special officer Frank Phillips was appointed by Kentucky's Governor in 1887 to arrest the murderers of the McCoy brothers. Frank Phillips offered an outlandish sum of money as a reward and let loose dozens of bounty hunters to track them down.

Determined to leave no witnessed to their crime, the Hatfields raided the McCoy's home on New Year's Day in 1888, killing Alifair McCoy (daughter) and Calvin McCoy (son), and burning the McCoy home to the ground.

After the raid, Roseanna was left to tend to her mother's wounds. She grew more and more depressed, and younger than 30 years old, she died soon after.

The Hatfield Clan - 1897

Eight Hatfield men were kidnapped and brought to Kentucky to stand trial for the murder of Alifair McCoy. The Supreme Court became involved in the trial, due to issues of illegal extridition and due process. All eight men were eventually found guilty, seven of them getting life sentences and one executed in a public hanging, which was illegal at the time. Some say this was done to serve as a warning to end the violence. The families eventually agreed to end the violence in 1891.

On June 14, 2003, descendants from both families signed a truce in Pikeville.

Hatfield and MCCoy kids playing tug-of-war in the schoolyard

Both Devil Anse and Ole Ran'l survived the feud untouched, and both lived well into their 80's. Ole Ran'l died of burns on March 28, 1914, while Devil Anse died of pneumonia on Jan. 6, 1921.

Devil Anse's burial site

The story of their feud has inspired many songs, tv show episodes and movies. A few examples of this are:

- On the Flintstones cartoon, there was an episode of the "Flintstones vs. the Hatrocks" ... a parody of the Hatfields and McCoys

- Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has a section which strongly parallels the Hatfield-McCoy feud. In chapter 18, the feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons is highlighted with a similar circumstance where a daughter of the Grangerford family runs away to join a boy in the Shepherdson family.

- "This successful life we're living has got us feudin' like the Hatfields and McCoys..." These are part of the lyrics to "Luckenbach, Texas," recorded in 1976 by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

- In the Disney Channel show House of Mouse, a sketch in one of the episodes involved a family feud between two families called the Coyfields and the McHats.

- The 1951 Abbott and Costello comedy film, Comin' Round The Mountain was about a feud between the Winfields and the McCoys.

- In the 70s and early 80s, SeaWorld had a water ski show based on the Hatfield-McCoy feud.

- In the 1946 Disney animated feature, Make Mine Music, the first segment is a song by The King's Men Quartet about a Hatfield-McCoy style feud between two families, "The Martins and the Coys", set to animation.

Charleston - The State Capital

2007-06-06T21:01:00.001-07:00

Located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers, Charleston is the capital city of West Virginia. It is the largest city in West Virginia with a population of around 247,401 (as of 2006). The first permanent settlement in the city was Ft Lee, built in 1788. It was built by Col. Clendenin and his company of Viriginia Rangers. The city was named Charles Town, probably after Col. Clendenin's father, Charles. Later on, the city's named was shortened to Charleston to avoid confusion with another Charles Town in present day West Virginia.

By the 1800's, salt brines were discovered along the banks of the Kanawha River, and the first salt well was drilled in 1806. The discovery of salt in Charleston created a very prosperous time for the city. The city flourished and so did its economy. By 1808, 1250 pounds of salt were being produced a day.

In 1815, while drilling for salt, Captain James Wilson struck the first natural gas well. In 1817, coal was discovered and it became used as the fuel for the salt works. Eventually, the Kanawha salt industry declined after 1861, until World War I. During World War I, a demand for the chemical products of chlorine and caustic acid came about. These chemicals could be made from salt brine, so the salt industry was revived.

Charleston was not always the capital city of West Virginia. For years after the state was founded, the capital of West Virginia floated between Wheeling and Charleston. Finally in 1877, after a vote by the citizens of the state, Charleston was chosen as the capital city.

Now that Charleston was the center of government, it began to grow in size. Natural resources including coal and gas and new industries such as chemical, glass, timber and steel contributed to the city's growth. New construction was booming across the city. A number of these buildings, including churches and office buildings are still standing to this day.

During World War II, the first and largest synthetic rubber plant was built near Charleston, providing its products for the war effort. The construction of this plant blocked Wertz Field's (the airport at the time) approaches, so the airport was closed. In 1947, the Kanawha Airport (now named Yeager Airport) was built. One of the most phenomenal engineering accomplishments of its time, the building required clearing 360 acres of land on three mountaintops, moving more than nine million cubic yards of earth. At that time, the construction of Kanawha Airport was reportedly the second-largest earth-moving project in history, behind the construction of the Panama Canal.

Charleston, West Virginia

2007-06-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

2007-06-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is the name of a 750-acre group of five bog wetlands located in the Monongahela National Forest, situated in the highlands of the Allegheny Mountains at an elevation of 3400 feet.

The land is highly acidic covered with all sorts of decaying vegetation. The peat and decaying organic matter is more than 10 feet thick under the plant cover. Cranberry Glades supports a diverse collection of plants, including cranberries, sphagnum moss, and carnivorous plants including the purple pitcher plant. The moss produces tannic acid, which is used to tan skins and hides in the production of leather. Also, the mosss is spongy and like quicksand and can pull you under if you get stuck in it. Due to this and the fragile nature of the Glades, walking off of the boardwalk trail is strictly prohibited and hefty fines will be issued if one is caught doing so.

The climate of Cranberry Glades is cool and wet, similar to that of New England and Canada. This is the result of the surrounding mountains draining their cool air down to Cranberry Glades.

"Cranberry Glades is considered an island of north muskeg in the south. It is very unusual and one of West Virginia’s two flora Natural Wonders. The other, is Dolly Sods. With many things to see and discover, Cranberry Glades has become a very popular tourist attraction in West Virginia over the years. There are many rare species of birds, animals, and plants that are left here from long ago. All of these unique factors have made Cranberry Glades what it is today."
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberry_Glades_Botanical_Area)

Falls of Hills Creek - A Hidden Treasure

2007-06-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

Located in a narrow gorge in the Monongahela National Forest, off of the Highland Scenic Highway is the Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area. Inside this 114 acre area are 3 waterfalls. Lower Falls is 63 feet tall, making it the second tallest waterfall in West Virginia. Middle Falls is 45 feet tall and Upper Falls is 25 feet tall. The area is also a great place to view spring wildflowers - over 40 different species of wildflowers have been recorded in the area.

The three falls can be reached by a trail. The first part of the trail that leads to the Upper Falls is a gentle walk and is handicapped accessible. The trail leading to the Middle and Lower Falls is strenuous, consisting of stairs and boardwalks, and can be slippery. But from the pictures posted below, you can see that the view is indeed worth the walk.

The Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area

2007-06-06T16:14:00.001-07:00

Fall in West Virginia

2007-06-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

2007-06-06T14:58:00.002-07:00

Shepherdstown, West Virginia is considered to be the oldest town in West Virginia. The first settlement in Shepherdstown was recorded in 1730. The town was named after Thomas Shepherd, who was the first settler and founder of the town. Many of the first settlers were of German descent, and a German school was founded in 1762. To this day, the main street in the town is called German Street.

Historically, Shepherdstown is remembered for James Rumsey, who, on December 3, 1787, conducted a successful trial of his invention, the steamboat. The Rumsey Monument was established to commemorate this event.

Shepherdstown also holds an important place in the Civil War era. Three miles northeast of Shepherdstown is Antietam Battlefield, where the bloodiest single day's battle of the Civil War was fought.

Battle of Antietam

Another battle, the Battle of Shepherdstown (also known as the Battle of Boteler's Ford), took place between September 19–20, 1862.

"Shortly before dusk on September 19, Union General Charles Griffin led a small force of 500 infantry and sharpshooters from Fitz-John Porter’s V Corps across the Potomac River at Boteler’s Ford. They attacked the Confederate rearguard (commanded by Brig. Gen. William N. Pendleton), capturing four artillery pieces before being recalled. Pendleton reported to Robert E. Lee that Federals were now on the Virginia side of the river, and that he had lost part of his artillery.

Early on September 20, Porter pushed elements of two divisions across the Potomac to establish a bridgehead. A. P. Hill’s "Light Division" marched 5 miles back towards Shepherdstown and counterattacked under fire from Union artillery across the river on the Maryland hills. Porter, receiving reports that his infantry on the Virginia side was badly outnumbered, ordered a withdrawal. However, the colonel of the inexperienced 118th Pennsylvania (the “Corn Exchange” Regiment) refused to retire until orders were received through the proper chain of command, and his regiment became isolated. As the Confederates approached, the Union regiment panicked, with men scrambling down the steep cliffs and crossing the ford and a nearby dam. Several men drowned in their attempt to reach safety, and the regiment reported 269 casualties out of 737 men.

This rearguard action at Shepherdstown discouraged any further significant Federal pursuit of Lee's retiring army."

(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shepherdstown)

The Shepherdstown National Historic District was established and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 with a boundary increase to include the entire town in 1987.

Nowadays, Shepherdstown is a small college town with a modest population of around 1800 people.

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

2007-06-06T14:58:00.001-07:00

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad - A Ride Through History

2007-06-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad is a tourist railroad based in Romney, West Virginia. It runs from Romney to Moorefield, with occasional all day trips to Petersburg using diesel power. Part of the trip runs through "The Trough," a passage along the South Branch of the Potomac River, an area known for Bald Eagle sightings.

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad operates on the track of the South Branch Valley Railroad, established in 1978 by the state of West Virginia to operate a rail line abandoned by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad(B&O). Riders on the train enjoy a 3-hour ride through the beautiful West Virginia landscape, passing by several historic farms, and may spot a Bald Eagle or two.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

2007-06-06T14:04:00.001-07:00

Grave Creek Mound

2007-06-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

The largest and one of the most famous Adena burial mounds, Grave Creek Mound is located in, the appropriately named, Moundsville, West Virginia. The mound is 62 feet high and 240 feet in diameter and is over 2000 years old. Evidence shows that the mound was built in successive stages from about 250-150 B.C.. Originally a moat with a width of 40 feet and a depth of 5 feet encircled the mound. It is said to have been discovered by Constantine O'Neal in 1770, a full 33 years before Lewis and Clark wrote of it in their journals during their expedition after the Louisiana Purchase.

"About 1000 B.C. marks the beginning of a new period in North America. Called the Woodland Period, this period lasted until about 700 A.D. During this time, a new culture emerged and made signigicant settlements in what is now known as West Virginia. These people are known to us today by the general term the Mound Builders, so called for their practice of creating earthen burial mounds and other earthworks. The Mound Builders lived over a wide range from the Atlantic, the Midwest and the Ohio Valley to the Mississippi Valley. The term "mound builders" refers to several cultures that span a period of about 20 centuries. " (from http://www.wvculture.org/sites/gravecreek.html)

The Adena people lived from about 1000 BC to about 1 AD, and were the first group of people to adapt this way of life. They lived in eastern United States in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York.

The mounds were usually built as part of a burial ritual. Most of the people were cremated, but more important people were buried in the flesh along with various artifacts such as beads, pipes and copper ornaments.

The building of the mound must have been a huge task as over 60,000 tons of earth had to be moved, ans the Adena people did not use the wheel and had no horses. The dirt has to be carried out by the basket full, an enormous task as you can imagine. Once there were thousands of these mounds found in the United States. But today, only a few still exist. The Grave Creek Mound is the largest of the remaining Adena mounds.

Lewis and Clark wrote this is of the Grave Creek Mound in their journals:

September 10, 1803

"The rain ceased about day, the clouds had not dispersed, and looked very much like giving us a repetition of the last evening's frallic, there was but little fogg and I should have been able to have set out at sunrise, but the Corporal had not yet returned with the bread—

I began to fear that he was piqued with the sharp reprimand I gave him the evening before for his negligence & inattention with respect to the bread and had deserted; in this however I was agreeably disappointed, about 8 in the morning he came up bring with him the two men and the bread, they instantly embarked and we set out we passed several very bad riffles this morning at at 11 Oclock six miles below our encampment of last evening I landed on the east side of R. and went on shore to view a remarkable artificial mound of earth called by the people in this neighbourhood the Indian grave.—

This remarkable mound of earth stands on the east bank of the Ohio 12 miles below Wheeling and about 700 paces from the river, as the land is not cleard the mound is not visible from the river—

this mound gives name to two small creeks called little and big grave creek which passing about a half a mile on each side of it & fall into ohio about a mile distant from each other
the small creek is above, the mound stands on the most elivated ground of a large bottom containing about 4000 acres of land the bottom is bounded from N. E. to S. W. by a high range of hills which seem to discribe a simecircle around it of which the river is the dimater, the hills being more distant from the mound than the river, near the mound to the N. stands a small town lately laid out called Elizabeth-town there are but about six or seven dwelling houses in it as yet, in this town there are several mounds of the same kind of the large one but not near as large, in various parts of this bottom the traces of old intrenchments are to be seen tho' they are so imperfect that they cannot be traced in such manner as to make any complete figure; for this enquire I had not leasure. I shall therefore content myself by giving a discription of the large mound and offering some conjectures with regard to the probable purposes for which they were intended by their founders; who ever they may have been.—

the mound is nearly a regular cone 310 yards in circumpherence at it's base & 65 feet high terminating in a blont point whose diameter is 30 feet, this point is concave being depressed about five feet in the center, arround the base runs a ditch 60 feet in width which is broken or intesected by a ledge of earth raised as high as the outer bank of the ditch on the N. W. side, this bank is about 30 feet wide and appers to have formed the enterence to fortifyed mound—

near the summet of this mound grows a white oak tree whose girth is 13 ½ feet, from the aged appeance of this tree I think it's age might resonably calculated at 300 years, the whole mound is covered with large timber, sugar tree, hickory, poplar, red and white oak &c—

I was informed that in removing the earth of a part of one of those lesser mounds that stands in the town the skeletons of two men were found and some brass beads were found among the earth near these bones, my informant told me the beads were sent to Mr. Peals museum in Philadelphia where he believed they now were.— "

(from http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/hilight.php?id=11&keyword=september+10,+1803&keyword2=&keyword3=)

Grave Creek Mound

Prickett's Fort State Park - A Trip To The Past

2007-06-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Located in Marion County, West Virginia, Prickett's Fort State Park is a re-creation of the original Prickett's Fort of 1774, which served as a refuge from Native American war parties. Built in 1976 by the Prickett's Fort Memorial Foundation, the 22-acre park serves as a living history museum, where participants recreate scenes of 18th century frontier life, complete with period attire and demonstrations of various colonial crafts, such as weaving, spinning and blacksmithing. The park also features a gun shop which offers the only public demonstrations of 18th century firearm manufacturing in the state.

Covering a 100 ft x 100 ft square, the fort is surrounded by 12-foot-high log walls and blockhouses at each corner. Within the fort's walls are 16 tiny cabins, some with earthen floors, along with a meeting house and a storehouse. The original Job Prickett house, built in 1859, sits right outside the stockade walls of the fort. Another house, the Jacob Prickett Jr. log house, built in 1781, was detroyed by an arsonist on March 7, 2005.

Prickett's Fort State Park

2007-06-06T13:08:00.001-07:00

Vintage West Virginia Postcards

2007-06-06T12:41:00.001-07:00

The Greenbrier Resort - The Lap of Luxury

2007-06-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

The Greenbrier Resort is a luxurious Five-Star hotel, located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virigina. Every US president since Dwight D Eisenhower has stayed in its Presidential Suite.

"A spring of sulphur water is at the center of the resort property. It issues forth below the green dome of the white-columned Springhouse that has been the symbol of The Greenbrier for generations. Beginning in 1778, people came to "take the waters" to restore their health. For the first one hundred and twenty-five years the resort was known by the name White Sulphur Springs." (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greenbrier)

Besides being a world class resort, during World War II, the Greenbrier Resort served as an army hospital and as the relocation center for some of the Axis diplomats still within the United States. Between 1959 and 1962, an underground bunker was built at the resort for the purpose of acting as an emergency relocation center for Congress in the event of a nuclear holocaust - a fact that remained a secret until 1992 when it was revealed to the public in a story issued by The Washington Post. After the story was issued, the government immediately decommissioned the bunker. Currently, the bunker is featured as an attraction and visitors can now tour the declassified facilities.

The Greenbrier Resort also offers a world class golf course. In 1979, the Greenbrier was the host of the first Ryder Cup contested under the current format of United States against Europe. It also hosted the Solheim Cup in 1994, the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup.

The Greenbrier Resort is a registered National Historic Landmark and a registered Historic Place.

Links to Check Out:

Official Greenbrier Web Site

The Greenbrier Resort Slideshow

2007-06-06T11:48:00.001-07:00

Lost World Caverns

2007-06-06T10:59:00.002-07:00

120 feet under the surface lies the underground world of Lost World Caverns. Discovered in 1942, Lost World Caverns is a place of beauty and wonder, filled with stalactites that hang from the cave ceiling (from the Greek stalaktites, meaning "drip") and stalagmites, that rise from the cave floor. In 1973, the National Parks Service named Lost World Caverns a Registered Natural Landmark. The caverns offer tourists a self-guided tour, for those that are just there to see the sights, and "wild" cave tours, for the more adveturous, which require spelunking gear and a whole lot of crawling. The temperature in the cave remains at a constant 52 degrees, no matter what the temperature is above ground.

Robert J. Traister writes in his book, Cave Exploring, "The large size of the rooms, with magnificent panoramic views, are more comparable to some of the larger western caves. The decorations of Lost World Caverns are among the most spectacular cave formations in the United States, and they occur here in their most beautiful form."

Among the formations seen in the cave is the "Ice Cream Wall," a calcite wall so named for its creamy white coloring. Another famous feature of the cave, the "War Club" is a 28 foot tall stalagmite, estimated to be some 500,000 years old. This stalagmite went into the Guiness Book of World Records in 1971, when Bob Addis sat atop the "War Club" for 15 days, 23 hours, and 22 minutes, setting a record for stalagmite sitting - I doubt there was a previous record for this. "Goliath," estimated to be five million years old, is so named due to its size - it is 40 feet tall and 25 feet in circumference. "Snowy Chandelier," is the largest stalactite at Lost World and one of the largest compound stalactites in the United States. Other cave formations include "The Birth Canal," "The Castle" (which visitors are allowed to touch - it grows one cubic inch every 100-125 years), "The Bridal Veil," and "The Chapel," a place where many couples have gotten married.

Lost World Caverns Slideshow

2007-06-06T10:59:00.001-07:00

The Coal House - A Roadside Attraction

2007-06-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Coal House was built in 1959 by Tip Myles and is located in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Built out of 30 tons of coal, it has served in the past as the West Virginia visitor center, a lounge, and a gift shop, but it is reportedly closed as of 2006.

There are also 2 more coal houses in West Virginia, one being just a few hundred feet from The Coal House, and the other being located in Williamson, WV.

Organ Cave - A Natural Landmark

2007-06-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

Named for a massive calcite formation resembling a pipe organ, Organ Cave is the second largest commercial cave in the eastern United States. The mouth of the cave is 150 feet below the surface and the total depth of the cave reaches to 486 feet. With its many twists and turns, there are still over 200 passages that have never been explored.

The cave was discovered in 1704, but evidence has been found that shows the cave had long before been used by Native Americans, since at least as early as 8000 BC. The ceilings and walls of the cave are lined with fossilized coral, better known as flint. Flint was an important resource to Native Americans, who used it for arrowheads and knives, as well as to make fire. The many arrowheads and cutting tools that have been found near and in Organ Cave are evidence of Native American presence near and in the cave.

Organ Cave is one of the most, if not THE most, historic caves in the United States. It contains the largest collection of Civil War hoppers left in the USA that are located in one place. Organ Cave also served as a shelter for General Robert E Lee and his men during the Civil War. Even religious services were conducted in the cave for more than a thousand of service men. The cave was also an important mining source of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), which is used in the production of gunpowder.

"Within the depths of Organ Cave lies the Hopper Room, a well-preserved refinery built by Confederate soldiers at the beginning of the American Civil War. Built of hardwoods, hoppers are large vats that held the nitrate rich soil mined by the soldiers inside the cave. Each hopper was filled with over 2 tons of mined rock and soil, then men poured water over the soil, leaching the minerals from the earth and carrying into troughs placed beneath the hoppers. This water was then filtered and evaporated to leave behind saltpetre suitable for gunpowder production. A simple but laborious process, hoppers were used to refine saltpeter in the soil into the snow-white crystals needed for making black powder. The Hopper Room contains 37 of the original 52 saltpetre hoppers built by the Confederates."
(from http://www.organcave.com/CWHistory.htm)

In addition to this, the walls of the cave serve as a museum of Native American sketches, petroglyphs and writings. The meaning and age of the petroglyphs remains a mystery to this day.

Important paleontological finds in Organ Cave include: Black Bear, Bobcat, Dire Wolf, Armadillo, Porcupine, Brown (Grizzly) Bear, Saber-toothed Cat, Complicated-toothed Horse, Long-nosed Peccary, Caribou, and the tooth of an American Mastodon.

History Timeline of Organ Cave:

1704 - discovered.
1791 - visited by Thomas Jefferson.
1800s - mining of saltpetre and exploration started.
used as a shelter and for saltpeter production during the War of 1812 and the Civil War (1861-1865).
1873 - first published accounts of tourism.
1822 - John Rogers became the cave. It was now called John Roger's Organ Cave.
1836 - John Rogers sold the cave to James Robinson.
1878 - his grandson James H. Boone got the cave.
1900s -James H. Boone opened the cave to the public, using candle light.
1914 - pathways and Edison light bulbs installed.
1926 - sold to George Carter.

Organ Cave Slideshow

2007-06-05T23:20:00.001-07:00

Babcock State Park - A Photographer's Dream

2007-06-05T22:38:00.002-07:00

Located along the New River Gorge in Fayette County, West Virginia, is Babcock State Park. The park offers activites such as camping, canoeing, fishing and hiking. In this park is the famous Glade Creek Grist Mill, considered to be the most photographed tourist site in West Virginia. It has been the subject of many a postcard and painting.

The Glade Creek Grist Mill is a replica of the Cooper's Mill which was located nearby. The Glade Creek Grist Mill was completed in 1976 and is made up of parts of 3 other West Virginia mills. The basic structure of the mill came from the Stoney Creek Grist Mill which dates back to 1890. Other parts of the mill came from the Spring Run Grist Mill and the Onego Grist Mill.

Nowadays, the Glade Creek Grist Mill is a fully operational mill which provides freshly ground cornmeal and buckwheat flour which visitors to the park may purchase in the park's gift shop.

Babcock State Park Slideshow

2007-06-05T22:38:00.001-07:00

Blackwater Falls State Park

2007-06-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

Blackwater Falls are one of the most scenic and photographed places in West Virginia. Located near Davis, WV, Blackwater Falls State Park offers many activites such as hiking, camping, boating and fishing. Blackwater Falls State Park is named after the Blackwater River, whose waters drop five stories and then twist and turn through an eight mile long gorge. The river is called "Blackwater River" as the waters are a brownish black color. This is due to the tannic acid from fallen red spruce and hemlock needles.

Blackwater Canyon Photo Slideshow

2007-06-05T17:05:00.001-07:00

Seneca Rocks - A Rock Climber's Paradise

2007-06-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Rising 900 feet above the North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Seneca Rocks is one of West Virginia's best known scenic attractions, and is very popular with rock climbers.

Seneca Rocks is a crag composed of Tuscarora quartzite, a hard metamorphic rock, nearly 250 feet thick.

"The rock is composed of fine grains of sand that were laid down approximately 440 million years ago, in an extensive sand shoal at the edge of the ancient Iapetus Ocean. Years of geologic activity followed, as the ocean was slowly destroyed and the underlying rock uplifted and folded. Millions of years of erosion stripped away the overlaying rock and left remnants of the arching folds in formations such as Seneca Rocks."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_Rocks)

The Summit of Seneca Rocks

The Capitol Building

2007-06-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

West Virginia's state capital was not always Charleston. When the state was first formed, the state Legislature covened in Wheeling, WV and elected Charleston as its state capital effective April 1, 1870. However, in 1875, another Legislature voted to move the state capital back to Wheeling. But in 1877, still not satisified with Wheeling, another Legislature decided that the citizens of West Virginia should be allowed to select the state capital. Their choices were Charleston, Clarksburg or Martinsburg, and they chose Charleston.

Eight years later, on May 1, 1885, a capitol building was opened in Charleston. This building would serve as the capitol building for 36 years, until January 3, 1921, when it was destroyed by a fire. With the destruction of the capitol building, a makeshift capitol building, dubbed the "Pasteboard Capitol," was constructed. However, on March 2, 1927 , this building was also destroyed by a fire. Luckily, by the time of the second fire, a Capitol Building Commission had been established, and it was this commission which authorized the construction of the present Capitol building on the North Bank of the Kanawha River in East Charleston.

The Capitol building was designed by Cass Gilbert, was also the architect of the United States Treasury Annex and United States Supreme Court Building. The Capitol is made of buff limestone over a steel frame and is of the Renaissance design of architecture.

"It is dominated by a 293-foot-high dome, which is five feet higher than that of the United States Capitol. The building required more than 700 carloads of limestone and 160 carloads of steel weighing 4,640 tons. Limestone pillars, each weighing 86 tons, support matching Roman Corinthian porticos at the north and south entrances. Beneath each portico are 2,800-pound brass and copper doors decorated with elm, hickory, beech and maple leaves representing West Virginia's native hardwood trees. Gracing the east and west entrances are limestone heads of Greek and Roman deities, which were sculpted in place. :It is dominated by a 293-foot-high dome, which is five feet higher than that of the United States Capitol. The building required more than 700 carloads of limestone and 160 carloads of steel weighing 4,640 tons.Limestone pillars, each weighing 86 tons, support matching Roman Corinthian porticos at the north and south entrances. Beneath each portico are 2,800-pound brass and copper doors decorated with elm, hickory, beech and maple leaves representing West Virginia's native hardwood trees. Gracing the east and west entrances are limestone heads of Greek and Roman deities, which were sculpted in place."

(from http://www.charlestonwv.com/visiting_chas/capitol.asp)

West Virginia's Capitol Building cost $$9,491,180.03 to build and covers 16 acres, with a floor space of 535,000 square feet. The interior flooring is made of marble and Italian Travertine. In the Capitol's 292 foot-high dome, weighing two tons, hangs a Czechoslovakian-imported crystal chandelier. It is lowered every four years for cleaning upon the inauguration of a new governor or re-election of an incumbent. Because of its size and weight, it takes 3 1/2 hours to lower it and 4 1/2 hours to return it to a stationary position.

for more info on the Capitol Building, click HERE.

Covered Bridges - A Look Into The Past

2007-06-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Covered bridges provide a glimpse into the past and are important historical landmarks. However, covered bridges, being made of wood, are more susceptible to damage caused by the elements, as well as from arsonists and vandals. As a result, many of the bridges of yesteryear have vanished. But thanks to historical preservationists and other history enthusiasts, there are 17 remaining covered bridges in West Virginia, many having been renovated to preserve this piece of history.

Early bridges, were made of wood as it was a plentiful and easy to come by resource. But the elements (wind, rain, fire, etc) were very hard on these structures, causing them to have a very short lifespan...maybe ten years or even less. By covering them, it protected the bridge and extended its lifespan.

Covered bridges are usually found in rural areas and are generally thought to be old-fashioned. But the covered bridge has its purposes. For one thing, covered bridges are similar looking to barns and make it possible to transport cattle without startling them. And another thing, by covering the bridge, it extends the lifespan of the working part of the bridge. For example, the bridge, uncovered, may only last 10-15 years, but by covering it, it may last 70-80 years.

There are 17 remaining covered bridges in West Virginia. They are: Barrackville, Carrollton, Center Point, Dents Run, Fish Creek, Fletcher, Herns Mill, Hokes Mill, Indian Creek, Laurel Creek, Locust Creek, Mud River, Phillipi, Sarvis Fork, Simpson Creek, Staats Mill, and Walkerville.

Links to check out:

West Virginia Covered Bridges
West Virginia Covered Bridge Photography

Covered Bridges in West Virginia

2007-06-04T15:25:00.001-07:00

The New River Gorge

2007-06-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

The New River Gorge National River was established in 1978 and is part of the National Park Service. It was established to protect the New River, which stretches 53 miles from Hinton, WV to Ansted, WV. This area is a popular recreation area and attracts daredevil BASE jumpers who jump from the bridge on the annual Bridge Day, as well as whitewater rafters. The New River is said to have some of the best whitewater rafting in the country.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a major landmark of the area. With a length of 3030 feet and a span of 1700 feet, it was, for many years, the longest steel arch bridge in the world. It is 876 feet high over the New River, making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second highest in the world (until 2004 it was the highest in the world. The Millau Viaduct in France is now the highest at 886 feet). The New River Gorge Bridge is also featured on the West Virginia state quarter.

Construction on the bridge began in June 1974 and was completed on October 22, 1977, at a total cost of $37 million dollars. Built out of Cor-ten steel which was used to eliminate the need for repainting, it was designed by the Michael Baker Company, under the direction of Chief Engineer Clarence V. Knudsen.

The New River Gorge Bridge is the site for the annual Bridge Day. Held every year on the 3rd Saturday in October to commemorate the completion of the New River Bridge, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and open to BASE (Building Antenna Span Earth) jumpers who jump from the bridge with parachutes and also offers demonstrations of rappelling and ascending. Bungee jumping is not allowed on the bridge since an accident in 1993. The largest extreme sports event in the world, some 200,000 spectators are expected to come to this year's Bridge Day on October 20, 2007, with some 450 Base jumpers and hundreds of rappellers. It may be surprising to know that with such high numbers of BASE jumpers and other daredevils attending Bridge Day over the years, that there have only been 3 fatalities since Bridge Day began in 1980.

Links to check out:

Official Bridge Day site
Bridge Day history
Guide to Bridge Day

Bridge Day at the New River Gorge

2007-06-04T12:12:00.001-07:00

New River Gorge

2007-06-01T22:15:00.001-07:00

Cardinal and Rhododendron Postcard

2007-05-30T21:53:00.001-07:00

The Belle of West Virginia

2007-05-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

Harper's Ferry

2007-05-30T21:45:00.002-07:00

Ah! tell me not of heights sublime,
The rocks at Harper's Ferry,
Of mountains rent in the lapse of time--
They're very sublime--oh very!
I'm thinking more of the glowing cheek
Of a lovely girl and merry,
Who climb'd with me to yon highest peak--
The girl of Harper's Ferry.
- St. Leger Landon Carter - The Girl of Harper's Ferry

Harper's Ferry is located on the banks of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers where Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet. The town was originally known as Shenandoah Falls at Mr. Harper's Ferry (1763) due to the ferry Robert Harper owned and operated. Historically, it is most noted for John Brown's raid on the Armory in 1859.

John Brown was an abolitionist who led a group of 22 men on a raid on the Arsenal, seizing weapons he believed he could use to start a slave uprising in the South. During that time it was illegal to assist fugitive slaves, so many people believed this act to be treason. John Brown and his group were eventually captured, and John Brown was put on trial for treason, where he was found guilty. He was hanged as a result of his conviction. Although he was killed for his attempts to free the slaves, his actions were a major catalyst in the Civil War.

The Civil War was the downfall of Harper's Ferry. Because of its strategic location, both Union and Confederate troops moved through Harper's Ferry. The town changed hands 8 times between 1861 and 1865.

"When Virginia seceded in April of 1861 the US garrison attempted to burn the arsenal and destroy the machinery. Locals saved the equipment, which was later transferred to a more secure location in Richmond. Arms production never returned to Harpers Ferry.

Shortly after the end of the Civil War, Harper's Ferry, along with all of both Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, was separated from Virginia and incorporated into West Virginia. The inhabitants of the counties as well as the Virginia legislature protested, but the federal government went ahead anyway, forming the West Virginia "panhandle" of today. Without the help of Harper's Ferry the North might have never won the war."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpers_Ferry,_West_Virginia

Harper's Ferry National Monument was established in 1944 was was eventually changed to Harper's Ferry National Historic Park by an act of Congress in 1963. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Today, the original house built by Robert Harper is the oldest remaining structure in the lower part of the park. There are several museums located in the park, preserving the history of Harper's Ferry for future generations to enjoy.

Harper's Ferry Slideshow

2007-05-30T21:45:00.001-07:00

West Virginia License Plates Slideshow

2007-05-30T19:51:00.001-07:00

Some Facts About West Virginia

2007-05-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

State Abbreviation: WV

State Capital: Charleston

Admitted to Union: June 20, 1863

Largest City: Charleston

Highest Point: Spruce Knob - 4,863 feet above sea level

Lowest Point: Potomac River - 240 ft above sea level

State Nickname: The Mountain State

State Slogans: "Wild and wonderful," "Open for business," "Almost heaven"

State Soil: Monongahela Silt Loam

Major Industries: Coal mining, tourism, livestock, glass products, chemical manufacturing

Area: 24, 231 square miles, making it the 41st largest state

Major Rivers: Ohio River, Guyandotte River, Greenbrier River

National Forests: Monongahela National Forest, George Washington National Forest, Jefferson National Forest

West Virginia State Quarter

2007-05-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

The West Virginia state quarter was the last state quarter to be issued in 2005. West Virginia is the 35th state admitted to the United States, so the state quarter is the 35th to be issued by the US Mint.

The back of the quarter depicts the New River Gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge. According to the US Mint's website:

"On March 31, 2004, West Virginia Governor Bob Wise announced his selection of the New River Gorge as the design he would submit to Treasury for final approval. The Department of Treasury approved the design on May 4, 2004. More than 1,800 design concepts were submitted from around the State, and students from the Governor’s School for the Arts narrowed the field to five finalists. Other designs considered included "Appalachian Warmth," "Bridge Day / New River Gorge," "River Rafters," and "Mother’s Day / Anna Jarvis."

(http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/50sq_program/states/index.cfm?flash=yes&state=WV)

West Virginia State Flag and Seal

2007-05-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

West Virginia's official flag was adopted in 1929. The state seal, pictured on the state flag, has remained unchanged since it was first adopted in 1863. It was designed by Joseph H. Diss Debar.

"Etched in the stone is the date of West Virginia's entrance into the Union, June 20, 1863. Two rifles lie crossed in front of the boulder, and are draped with the Liberty Cap, signifying the state's willingness to defend itself in the name of Liberty. On one side of the boulder is a representation of Agriculture, as a farmer stands with his ax and plow before a cornstalk. On the other side, Industry is symbolized by a miner shouldering his pickax, and behind him an anvil and sledge hammer. These images are surrounded by the words "State of West Virginia", and the state's motto "Montani Semper Liberi", or "Mountaineers Always Free". "

(info taken from http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/seals/wv_seal.htm)

State Seal of West Virginia

The European Honey Bee - West Virginia's State Insect

2007-05-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

The European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) was adopted as West Virginia's state insect in 2002. Mellifera is Latin, and means honey-carrying, and apis means bee: honey carrying bee.

The Honey Bee is also the state insect of; Arkansas, North Carolina, New Jersey (state bug), Georgia, Maine, Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Vermont, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Mississippi, Utah, Missouri, Tennessee (official agricultural insect) and Oklahoma.

The Monarch Butterfly - West Virginia's State Butterfly

2007-05-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) was adopted as West Virginia's state butterfly in 1995.

Male and female Monarchs look very similar. Females have thicker black wings veins, while males have a dark spot in the middle of their hind wings from which pheramones are released.

Monarchs are poisonous to the animals that eat them. This is due to the fact that they eat the poisonous milkweed plant when they are caterpillars. Animals who eat the Monarchs will get sick but generally do not die. They do, however, learn to recognize the Monarch and will avoid eating it in the future. The non-poisonous Viceroy butterfly is a Monarch mimic, and because of its similar coloring, animals will also avoid eating them as well.

The Monarch is the insect of Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, and Texas, and the state butterfly of Minnesota and West Virginia. It is also the national insect of Canada

The Brook Trout - West Virginia's State Fish

2007-05-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was adopted as West Virginia's state fish in 1973.

It is also known as the Speckled Trout. Although it is called Brook Trout, it is actually a char, not a trout. It is native to a wide part of eastern North America.

Along with being the state fish of West Virginia, it is also the state fish of Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Montani Semper Liberi - West Virginia's State Motto

2007-05-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Montani Semper Liberi (Latin for "Mountaineers are Always Free") is the official motto of the state of West Virginia in the United States.

It was adopted as the official motto of the state in Article II, Section 2-7, of the state constitution signed in 1872. This article specifically states:

"[t]he present seal of the state, with its motto, "Montani Semper Liberi," shall be the great seal of the state of West Virginia, and shall be kept by the secretary of state, to be used by him officially, as directed by law".

The phrase was suggested as the motto by Joseph H. DisDebar, the artist who created the state's Great Seal.

(information taken from Wikipedia.org)

Lithostrotionella - West Virginia's State Gem

2007-05-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Lithostrotionella or Silicified Mississippian Fossil Coral, was adopted as West Virginia's state gem in 1990.

Fossil Coral is not really a gemstone. It is a fossil. This coral lived about 340 million years ago, during the Mississippian Period. During that time, the state was covered by a shallow sea.

Coral may resemble plants, but they are actually animals. What you see in the picture above is the fossilized calcium carbonate skeleton of a coral colony. A coral colony is made up of many individual animals called polyps.

In West Virginia, Lithostrotionella is found almost exclusively in the Hillsdale Limestone of Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties in the southeastern part of the state.

Rhododendron - West Virginia's State Flower

2007-05-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, "rose", and dendron, "tree") was adopted as West Virginia's state flower in 1903.

American Black Bear - West Virginia's State Animal

2007-05-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) was adopted as West Virginia's state animal in 1973.

The American Black Bear is the most common bear species native to North America. It has a wide range, ranging from north into Canada down to Mexico, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific. Today, it is estimated that some 800,000 American Black Bears live in North America, but it is said that some 2 million Black Bears may have roamed North America before European colonization of the continent.

Despite its name, the American Black Bear's coat may be a cinnamon brown color, chocolate brown, white as well as black. Females can be between 90 and 400 pounds, while males can weigh up to 500 pounds, though some have been recorded up to 800 pounds. Despite their rather bulky look, they are surprisingly fast runners, capable of sprinting up to 35 mph.

Cubs are typically born in January and February. They are born blind and helpless. weighing 10 - 14 ounces at birth. They will stay with their mother until they are a year and a half, then they will set out on their own.

American Black Bears are omnivores, meaning they will eat almost anything: from grasses to nuts, from fruits to insects, from fish to small rodents or fawns. They will also raid bee's nests to get honey and garbage dumps to get whatever they can to eat.

The Black Bear is typically a shy animal and will rarely attack unless threatened, cornered or wounded. They have an excellent sense of smell, so if you are out camping, don't leave food in the car or else you might not like what you see when you come back to your car. Bears have been known to tear out doors and trunk lids and break through windows to get a scrap of food that they smell in the car.

Northern Cardinal - West Virginia's State Bird

2007-05-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was adopted as West Virginia's state bird in 1949.

The Cardinal is named after the Roman Catholic Cardinals who wear red robes. Also, the bird's crest, to some, resembles the bishop's hat, called a mitre. They have been called "Redbirds" and "Virginia Nightinggales."

The male Cardinal is bright red, while the female is a fawn color with a reddish tint to their wings, tails and crests, and have red beaks.

The Cardinal's range goes from the east coast of the United states, from Maine to Nebraska, in the north to Canada and in the south from south Arizona, New Mexico and down to Baja-California to Mexico. They primarily reside in forests, swamps, suburbs, gardens and thickets. Their diet primarily consists of seeds, grains and fruits.

The Cardinal is the state bird of more states than any other species of bird, being the state bird of North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia, and in North America, the Cardinal is also often a symbol of Christmas, being featured on many Christmas cards.

State Tree - Sugar Maple

2007-05-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

The Sugar Maple tree (Acer saccharum) was adopted as West Viriginia's state tree in 1949.

This tree can reach heights of 80 feet, and its leaves turn red and gold in the fall, creating a sea of color, something the east coast is famous for.

Sugar Maple trees are important in the production of maple syrup. In fact, it and the Black Maple are the 2 most used sap sources in the production of maple syrup.

The wood of the Sugar Maple is also the hardest of the maple woods. It is often used in making furniture, bowling alley lanes and pins, basketball court floors and baseball bats.

Some famous West Virginians

2007-05-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

George Brett (baseball player), Glendale
Pearl S. Buck (author), Hillsboro
Phyllis Curtin (soprano), Clarksburg
Joanne Dru (actress), Logan
Thomas Stonewall Jackson (Confederate general), Clarksburg
John S. Knight (publisher), Bluefield
Don Knotts (actor), Morgantown
Peter Marshall (TV host), Huntington
Kathy Mattea (country music), South Charleston
Alfred Moore (jurist), Molinosville
Mary Lou Retton (gold-medal gymnast), Fairmont
Walter Reuther (labor leader), Wheeling
Eleanor Steber (soprano), Wheeling
Lewis L. Strauss (naval officer and scientist), Charleston
Cyrus Vance (government official), Clarksburg
Chuck Yeager (test pilot and Air Force general), Myra
Steve Yeager (baseball player), Huntington

West Virginia Hills Lyrics - State Song

2007-05-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

West

Virginia Hills
Words by Mrs. Ellen King,
Music by H. E. Engle

Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how grand,
With their summits bathed in glory, Like our Prince Immanuel's Land!
Is it any wonder then, That my heart with rapture thrills,
As I stand once more with loved ones On those West Virginia hills?

CHORUS:

Oh, the hills, beautiful hills, How I love those West Virginia hills!
If o'er sea o'er land I roam, Still I'll think of happy home,
And my friends among the West Virginia hills.

Oh, the West Virginia hills! Where my childhood hours were passed,
Where I often wandered lonely, And the future tried to cast;
Many are our visions bright, Which the future ne'er fulfills;
But how sunny were my daydreams On those West Virginia hills!

CHORUS

Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchang'd they seem to stand,
With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty's Land!
Many changes I can see, Which my heart with sadness fills;
But no changes can be noticed In those West Virginia hills.

CHORUS

Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu.
In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you;
In the evening time of life, If my Father only wills,
I shall still behold the vision Of those West Virginia hills.

CHORUS

Vintage Postcards Slideshow

2007-05-22T21:44:00.001-07:00