Classroom

In 1870, three sight-impaired West Virginia citizens Howard Hill Johnson, his brother James, and Susan Ridenour petitioned legislature for the creation of a state school for the blind. After facing much skepticism surrounding the fact that the disabled could, indeed, be successfully educated, the three young people won the support and funding from the state government1.According to The Living New Deal, "in the late 1930s, a new elementary school building was constructed with the assistance of funds from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The building cost about $300,000 (about $4.7 million in today’s dollars), with the state of West Virginia and the PWA contributing about half each.The building was considered state-of-the-art for its time. A 1936-39 West Virginia Board of Control report to the governor indicated that the 'Classrooms and auditorium are specially wired for amplification of sound to prosecute auricular training, the latest step in educational methods for the deaf. It is believed this is one of the finest primary buildings in the country.'3"Today, the school serves about 4,800 students, many of whom are boarded at on-campus dormitories. The school campus is comprised of 16 buildings, but only about half are presently being used for educational purposes due to structure deterioration. Many of the buildings have an array of historical significances; for instance, the School of the Blind's cafeteria was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The school has been experiencing funding challenges over the past few years and administration is working toward solutions2.

More Info

Listen to a WV PBR segment on funding for the school here.

Founded in 1870, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind has provided over 4,800 students with quality education. The schools enrolls students from Pre-K thru 12th grade. Graduates develop the necessary skills to become independent members of society.

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Director

In 1933, the year Franklin D. Roosevelt became the president, the United States was in the midst of a great depression. After the stock market crash of 1929, stock prices fell drastically and people lost their savings. Banks and businesses started closing and the national unemployment was around 25% but some areas, such as Toledo, Ohio, and Lowell, Massachusetts experienced 80% to 90% unemployment. 

The entire country was struggling as the economy was becoming unstable. Banks were failing, homes were foreclosed, people were hungry and bread lines were outgrowing supplies. It was no longer possible to buy necessities regularly. The new mantra was, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”  Families typically had only one source of income so once that person was without a job, the whole family was without support, often leaving five or more people without support for every unemployed person.

Roosevelt was a well-educated lawyer from New York. He served two terms as a New York State Senator and was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913. This background in government and administration would be important when he later became President. In the Summer of 1921, Roosevelt contracted polio. He recovered but never regained use of his legs. Some reports have stated that Roosevelt’s character was strengthened as he fought to recover from this debilitating illness. Patience and an understanding of suffering probably influenced his candidacy as much as the support and encouragement of his wife Eleanor, with an amazing legacy of her own, was quite involved in the rebuilding of America during her lifetime.

As layoffs increased, consumer spending decreased triggering a downward spiral that was running unchecked.  It fell to the leaders of our country to take effective action to restore stability. President Roosevelt stepped in to take action by instituting a mix of different types of programs and projects (approximately 42) collectively known as The New Deal (sometimes referred to as the Alphabet Agencies because of the use of acronyms). This approach was met with quite a lot of opposition because the government had never before launched such massive social programs. In a climate of fear, the costs of untried ideas and the risk of failure could have derailed the process at any time.

Through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (later changed to the WorksProjects Administration (WPA) unemployed young men with no other options were housed, fed, clothed, and given work to do. Many learned new skills that would improve their lives such as reading, writing, administration and carpentry. Public Works and Infrastructure were greatly improved through these and many other programs such as the Public Works of Art Projects. According to The Living New Deal, there were approximately 258 projects completed in West Virginia and this tour is a sampling of some of the work done in our region.

Sources: 
https://livingnewdeal.org/what-was-the-new-deal/programs/ 
Fighting For The Forest by P. O’Connell Pearson, Simon and Schuster 2019 ISBN 978-1-5344-2933-8
The Tree Army by Stan Cohen, Mountain Press 2018 ISBN 978-0-933126-11-4


A post office was established in this area as early as 1794. Known  as the Greenbrier Post Office, it served the entire county. When Lewisburg was officially recognized in 1838, the post office’s scale was diminished, though it continued to serve as the primary hub in the area. The physical location for the public site changed constantly throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This changed in 1936, when Lewisburg was allotted $8,500 to purchase a new lot and fund Works Progress Administration (WPA) of a permanent building. The land was acquired from widow Hallie M. Sibold in 1937 and construction commenced immediately.The new post office structure was intended to be as utilitarian as possible. The building is a single-story, roughly square in shape, and constructed of brick. The front facade features five bays, two on each side of a central entryway. Interestingly, the windows lack the typical bottom and top lintels often found on WPA buildings. Instead, stylized slanted bricks take the place of a top lintel. The entryway is classically inspired, which can be seen in the white engaged fluted columns and decorative dentilled lintel. Glass sidelights and a transom serve to open up the otherwise uninviting entrance to visitors. Iron street lamps and bannisters on the front stairs help provide a touch of three dimensionality and projection to the rather flat entrance. The roof and cornice of the building are sheet metal and are not original.  On the cornice of the building are the words “UNITED STATES POST OFFICE.” On the brickwork below the cornice, letters spell out “LEWISBURG WEST VIRGINIA.” Finally, the top transom pane is emblazoned with the building’s address. A large distribution center was added as an addition to the rear of the building some time in the middle of the twentieth century. It stylistically resembles the original structure.The interior of the Lewisburg Post Office features a mural by Robert Franklin Gates. In the summer of 1939, Gates was contacted and invited to submit a design for the interior space. No selection committee or contest is mentioned in the invitation, which came directly from Edward Rowan, Assistant Chief of the Federal Works Agency Section of Fine Arts. Clearly, Rowan and his associates had strong faith in Gates’ abilities — this is relatively unsurprising given that Gates had already completed the celebrated mural titled “Montgomery County Farm Women’s Market” in Bethesda, Maryland earlier in 1939. Gates was offered seven hundred dollars for the project, paid in installments of two hundred dollars for approval of his design, two hundred fifty dollars for approval of a complete draft, and two hundred fifty dollars for the completion, installation, and approval of the finished work. Gates was given one year to finish the project.Gates’ records of his mural, titled “Old Time Camp Meeting,” display the level of research and preparation the artist devoted to his commission. The mural depicts a common scene from Lewisburg’s history, an outdoor religious meeting or sermon. As the number of religious sects and denominations exploded in the early nineteenth century, it was untenable to maintain permanent religious leaders in every town. Instead, travelling preachers known as circuit riders moved through a regular itinerary of stops to hold religious gatherings. A circuit rider coming to town was a major event. In addition to hearing the sermon, local residents typically used occasion as a reason to hold festivals and family reunions. Many times, the sermons were held at a site with no permanent infrastructure beyond a wooden pulpit or small stand. Despite this, the area was often transformed into a veritable fairground through tents and other temporary structures. The event was as much about culture and community as it was about religion.“Old Time Camp Meeting” was completed by Gates in 1940. The work was executed in egg tempera on canvas, a traditional painting style rarely used by WPA artists. Gates meticulously recorded his painting process, pigment usage, and tempera emulsion recipe — one part whole egg, one part linseed oil, and one part regular oil — to ensure that the work could be cared for in perpetuity. The piece depicts a circuit rider giving a sermon from a wooden structure. Gathered figures attend the sermon, though some give their attention to children, or to conversation with other attendees. Vestments and attire indicate that the scene is historical. Taken as a whole, Gates successfully captures the interconnected cultural, familial, and religious aspects of Lewisburg’s historic event.

This historic post office was built in 1938 using Works Progress Administration (WPA) funding and labor. The one-story roughly square brick building is typical of WPA constructed public buildings. The post office also contains a mural entitled "Old Time Camp Meeting." The work depicts a local event of cultural, familial, and religious significance. The mural was painted in 1940 by Robert Franklin Gates as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Program. The piece is particularly unique as an egg tempera on canvas work, an uncommon medium for WPA art. Other murals by Gates can be found in post offices in two Maryland cities, Bethesda and Oakland.

Lewisburg Post Office & “Old Time Camp Meeting”

Greenbrier County was created by the Virginia General Assembly in October of 1777, along with Rockbridge and Rockingham Counties, but the law was not ratified until March 1st, 1778. Greenbrier was split off from Botetourt County. The first court held in Greenbrier County is unknown, however the earliest county clerk record dates back to November of 1780. The first county clerk’s office was built on the property that is now known as the Stuart Manor, because Col. John Stuart was the county clerk at the time. John Stuart was a leader in the movement to create Greenbrier County and is often referred to as the “Father of Greenbrier County.” In 1782, a one-story log structure was deemed the first official courthouse and was facing Washington Street, at the corner leading to the Old Stone Church. It is unknown whether the log structure was already present, or whether the county built or rented the structure. Patrick Henry defended a man acquitted of manslaughter in the first courthouse of Greenbrier County. The log structure was utilized as a courthouse for only a short period of time, and was turned into a private residence by William Smithee. After 70 years of being a private residence, the structure was razed in the 1920’s.Lewisburg is the third oldest town in the state of West Virginia, and was created by the Virginia Assembly in October of 1782. The area that is now known as Lewisburg was named for the person Andrew Lewis who surveyed it. The town was originally known as Savannah. Captain Thomas Edgar was the county surveyor, and laid out the town of Lewisburg in a square form with four half-acre lots in each block. The county set aside lots 7 and 8 for public buildings, such as the courthouse, prison, and a market house for cattle. The Lewis Spring inhabited lot 8, which is why this area was deemed for public structures. Scholars debate the number of and location of courthouses prior to the current Greenbrier County courthouse, but it seems all of the structures prior to 1800 were small log cabins. In 1800, Colonel John Stuart gifted Greenbrier County with a three-story brick courthouse. Lewisburg prospered and grew in the early 1800’s, and the Supreme Court of Virginia began holding sessions in the Greenbrier County courthouse. In 1837, a ten-thousand-dollar levy was passed, and the process to build a county courthouse on lots 7 and 8 began. The last and current Greenbrier County Courthouse was constructed of local materials by John Dunn in the same year. The reason the structure was built so close to the road, and doesn’t have lawn space, is because of its location near the Lewis Spring. The WPA constructed new wings on either side of this existing courthouse in 1939.

The Greenbrier County Courthouse was built in 1837 by a local brick mason named John. W Dunn. and has been improved throughout the years. The original courthouse stands at the center of two new wings, which were built in 1937 and 1963. The Greenbrier County Courthouse was one of the first courthouses built west of the Appalachian mountains, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Greenbrier County Courthouse 

Following the Union defeat at Chancellorsville, Union Brigadier General William Woods Averell was transferred to West Virginia and put in charge of the Fourth Separate Brigade in May 1863. While the assignment was most likely intended as a punishment by General Joseph Hooker for the failure at Chancellorsville, as Hooker used Averell as one of the scapegoats, Averell transformed the West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio troops he commanded into a well-drilled outfit. Following the <a href="https://www.theclio.com/web/entry?id=21636" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Battle of White Sulphur Springs</a> on August 26-27, 1863 against Colonel George S. Patton, a grandfather of the World War II general, and his confederate troops, Averell withdrew his troops of 1,300 the following morning and evaded several Confederate ambushes back to Beverly. Averell and his men had failed to capture Lewisburg. Averell learned from this battle and two months later, he and his increased troops, 3,800 cavalry and infantry supported by two artillery batteries, traveled south to cut the railroad from Beverly on November 1st. In addition to his own increased troops, Averell was set to meet up with General Alfred Duffie in Lewisburg on November 7th as his 2,500 Federal troops as they traveled from Charleston.Contact was made between Averell’s troops and Confederate forces on November 4th halfway to Lewisburg at Huntersville. These Confederate troops were the 19th Virginia Cavalry commanded by Colonel William “Bill” Lowther “Mudwall” Jackson, a cousin the late Lieutenant General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Jackson alerted Confederate commander Brigadier John Echols in Lewisburg. Echols quickly prepared to come to Jackson’s aid. Averell began pushing Jackson’s skirmishers back at a leisurely pace so not to outpace Duffie to Lewisburg. Jackson broke contact with Averell on November 5th and retreated to the formidable height of the flat top of Droop Mountain. Averell would need to secure the mountain before moving south. With limited troops, Jackson could not hold out for long. Fortunately for him, that night Echols finally decided to join him and his 1,110 troops set out at 2 a.m. on November 6th. Echols had held back out of concerns that he and his men would be caught in a pincer movement by Averell and Duffie.Averell’s plan was put into motion at dawn on November 6th. Averell’s victory would be a nearly flawless textbook victory, a rarity of Civil War battles. Upon receiving reports from scouts that Jackson and Echols were positioned at the top of Droop Mountain, Averell knew that a frontal attack would bring heavily casualties. Averell split the 28th Ohio and 10th W.Va. onto the southwest Lobelia Roach toward the Confederate left flank. Averell’s’ artillery were to cause a distraction on the main approach and thus convince Echols that the main attack would come from there, the Hillsboro Road. Echols ignored warnings from troops stationed on the flank of the dangers of leaving Lobelia Road. Averell’s lieutenants, who held synchronized watches over the difficult terrain, pulled off a perfectly coordinated attack. Around 2 p.m. Colonel Agustus Moor and his 28th Ohio Infantry crashed into the Confederate’s extreme left. Then the 3rd, 2nd, and 8th W.Va regiments, who had crept up the steep slopes and through the brush, began their attack when Moor’s men began firing. Their combined attack quickly left the Confederate left flank buckling. Echols was forced to pull troops from his center and right to even it up. Averell’s distraction on Hillsboro Road had been a success.           With the movement of Echols’ troops to deal with the left flank, Colonel J.M. Schoonmaker and his Pennsylvanian troops rushed Echols’ now weakened center. Echols was outnumbered during the fierce fighting in the dense brush and Averell’s maneuver deprived the Confederates of Droop Mountain’s natural advantages. After two hours of frenetic struggle, the Confederate line broke and the troops fled. With a rearguard protecting the fleeing Confederates from the pursing Union troops, Echols managed to keep his command from disintegrating over the trek back to Lewisburg. Both sides suffered high casualties with Union losing 119 soldiers to the Confederate’s 275 soldiers. Echols and his men fled Lewisburg the following day. Interestingly, the pincer movement that Echols had feared from the Union troops never materialized as Duffie stopped seven miles from Lewisburg on November 6th. Averell arrived at Lewisburg on November 7th, as planned. The following day, he was incorrectly informed that Confederate troops were beginning to mass against him. Averell moved his troops to White Sulphur Springs and began to march northward to Beverly. Due to scare supplies, prisoners and captured livestock, and perhaps a career consideration, prevented Averell from continuing onto Salem to destroy the Virginia &amp; Tennessee Railroad. While this second attempt was a failure, Averell would lead a successful third attempt the following month.Noted Civil War historian Terry Lowry has disputed the long-held claim that Averell’s victory at Droop swept the last Confederate resistance from the state, pointing out larger conditions in the theater of war that may have prevented the Confederate government from investing more time and effort into reclaiming West Virginia. Nevertheless, Rebel troops did not return to the area in force for the duration of the war. Lowry also disputed the claim that the battle of Droop Mountain was the most significant Civil War battle in West Virginia, claiming that the 1862 capture and siege of Harpers Ferry was. However, Lowry did agree that the Battle of Droop Mountain was one of the more important Civil War battles in West Virginia.On July 4, 1928, the site of the Battle of Droop Mountain was dedicated as West Virginia’s first state park. Many of the battle’s living survivors were present at the dedication, along with about 10,000 spectators. Over 1,000 automobiles were also present. While the 125-acre park was popular, very little construction was done until 1935 when a Civilian Conservation Corps group was camping at the park and constructed several monuments that are still in use today. Recent scholarship and preservation efforts have allowed for a museum to operate in the park and for new markers to be erected. Today the park is also home to several recreational facilities such as playgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, and even a lookout tower that provides a wondrous view of the surrounding area. The park is also part of The Civil War Discovery Tail. Reenactments of the battle are held every other year.

Brigadier General William W. Averell and his Federal troops encountered Confederate troops led by Brigadier General John Echols at Droop Mountain on November 6, 1863. The federal army had encountered Echols while on their second attempt to the Virginia-Tennessee Railroad located at Salem, Virginian. Echols and his troops positioned themselves in on the high ground of Droop Mountain, a tactical advantage to the smaller army. However, despite using artillery to block the road, the Confederate troops were overwhelmed by Averell’s men. The Battle of Droop Mountain served as the final significant Civil War battle for the newly formed West Virginia. The site of the battle was declared West Virginia’s first state park on July 4, 1928.

Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park

President Franklin Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) on April 5th, 1933. Due to the Great Depression, there was a significant amount of young men unemployed and Roosevelt included the CCC in his New Deal program. The CCC employed primarily young men to work on environmental conservation projects. Workers in the program were paid $30 a month; tropically they sent $20 or $25 back home to their families. Work at the CCC camps was difficult, but it provided a means of living for men and their families. Workers were also provided with educational opportunities; it is estimated that 57,000 men learned how to read and write during their time in the program. Roughly 4,546 acres were initially purchased for the construction of Watoga; in August of 1934 an additional 5,107 acres were added. CCC Camp 1525 was established and began working on Watoga that same year. Company 1525 constructed buildings; created multiple trails by clearing pathways and making sure they were accessible; built a swimming pool; and built a dam to form an 11-acre lake. By the time the camp in Watoga closed the CCC had successfully built twenty-two cabins, a stable, horse and hiking trails, fourteen miles of roads, and a swimming pool. Watoga State Park was opened on July 1, 1937. In addition to camping, fishing, and hiking, Watoga is a place that is filled with historic artifacts that have a meaningful story behind them. Today some buildings made by the CCC remain standing and there is a museum full of artifacts and pictures associated with the history of the location.

Watoga State Park is the largest of its kind, measuring just over 10,000 ares. It was home to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1525. The camp was staffed by many young men that were seeking employment during the Great Depression. More than 55,000 men were involved with the CCC in West Virginia alone. The CCC was responsible for constructing the facilities for Watoga State Park, beginning in 1934. Watoga is just one of many state and national parks across the United States that was created through the CCC program during the Great Depression. 

CCC Camp at Watoga State Park

Watoga State Park, located in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, is the largest state park in West Virginia. At just over 10,000 acres, Watoga is roughly fifteen miles south of Marlinton, West Virginia. The state park is home to many attractions, such as 34 cabins, a swimming pool, an 11-acre lake, used for both swimming, boating, and fishing, many hiking trails, and an access-point to the famous Greenbrier River Trail. The state park is also home to two campgrounds - Beaver Creek Campground and Riverside Campground - which are open year-round, as well as open for reservations between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In 1925, the state of West Virginia acquired the land that would become Watoga State Park. At this time, however, the state planned to designate the land to be a state forest. The purpose of the state forest was to create a safe-space for the wildlife and timber that inhabited that area. The state forest ran this way until 1934, when right in the midst of the Great Depression, Watoga began its transformation from state forest to state park. Watoga was first opened as a state park in July of 1937.Even after opening, the state still continued to improve upon the park. At the same time, the United States was fighting in World War II, and the efforts to upgrade the park came to a halt as all help was needed in the war effort. The park remained open, but no improvements were made until the end of the war in 1945. After the ending of World War II, the improvements of the park were picked up once again. During the war, the United States was extremely dependent upon metal for things such as weaponry and armor. Unfortunately, since the war had just ended, there was a shortage of metal, so the Civilian Conversation Corps (CCC), who had worked on the cabins prior to the war, collected scrap metal for door hinges and latches.1 By 1953, the first campground had opened up. Three years later, in 1956, the cabins opened to the public. As time passed, Watoga witnessed a rise in visitors. In the 1960s and 1970s, Watoga State Park experienced a rush of additional recreational usage, and in that time period, a second campground was established. Even today, Watoga remains one of West Virginia's most popular retreats for those who love the outdoors.

The entrance to Watoga State Park is situated just south of Marlinton, West Virginia. Spanning across over 10,000 acres, Watoga is the largest state park in West Virginia. Prior to becoming a state park, Watoga was obtained as an official state forest in 1925. The forest was transferred to a state park in 1934, and after overcoming various obstacles, such as World War II, numerous upgrades were made to the park, many of which are still around today. Complete with an 11-acre fishing lake, two campgrounds, 34 cabins, hiking trails, and a swimming pool, Watoga State Park is a popular spot for those who love the outdoors.

Watoga State Park

The lobby of the building includes a series of glazed terra cotta figures created by Lenore Thomas. Thomas was an American sculptor who was most famous for her WPA commissions. The 1943 work created for Webster Springs is titled “Springtime” and depicts a family consisting of a mother, father, and son. A woven basket rests upon a bundle of flowers between the mother and son. The work is different than many of Thomas’ more well-known works that are openly political pieces; perhaps owing to the artist's hope that an image of an idealized American family would be appreciated by residents of this small community when they visited their public building.

The Webster Springs Post Office was constructed from 1940 to 1941 and cost $85,000, far more than a typical Works Progress Administration (WPA) post office. The price was perhaps due to Webster Springs’ role as a central mail distribution center. In any case, the one-story brick building features Colonial Revival details and accents and is similar to other WPA post offices in West Virginia.

Webster Springs Post Office 

The Tygart Valley Homestead is an area located in Randolph County, West Virginia in the small town of Dailey, about ten miles south of the county seat of Elkins. This area assisted those who had been impacted the most by the effects of the Great Depression in the state by providing the proper housing, appliances, and living services to those who had lost everything in this dark time in history. These houses were built across 2,500 acres of farmland on Route 219 between the Rich and Cheat mountains and consisted of three small communities of houses, which were Dailey, East Dailey, and Valley Bend.	In the 1930’s, the Great Depression hit West Virginia hard. The effects of the Depression left hundreds of thousands across the state unemployed, homeless, and famished. In 1933, the Federal Subsistence Homestead Division was established by the Roosevelt Administration under strong encouragement from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. This group helped to develop self-sustaining communities for people who had been hit the hardest from the effects of the time period. Three of those that were developed in West Virginia were the Tygart Valley Homestead in Randolph County, Eleanor in Putnam County, and Arthurdale in Preston County.&nbsp;&nbsp;	One of the most recent accounts of how the area was laid out comes from Beth Kittle, who was ten years old when she and her family moved into one of the houses on this homestead. &nbsp;Prior to this, she and her family had moved from Pittsburgh to live with her grandmother in the town of Montrose in Tucker County. She discusses in the article below how her father had lost his job on the railroad and how they had lost all of the furniture in their house because of it.	Kittle recalls how she had first lived with her grandmother in a brief stint before moving to the homestead site. She said that she had received a letter from her brother, who was already there with the rest of her family, and he said that the homes provided machines that made ice cubes. Prior to moving to the site, she had never heard of this machine called ‘refrigerator’, but was excited to see what it was and how it worked once she was able to move into the house.In 2001, the Tygart Valley Homestead Association was formed to help preserve these sites in each of the three communities. It is an association that is available to anyone and everyone who is interested in preserving these sites and others like it for a monthly membership fee.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Located along US 219 in Randolph County, West Virginia, is a historical marker to designate the area where the Tygart Valley Homestead was built in Great Depression-era West Virginia. During this time, families moved to housing along this area of land whenever they became too deep in poverty to live in their own homes. Most of them came here after they had lost everything. This area lies within the Rich and Cheat mountains (about 10 miles south of Elkins) and was made up of three small surrounding communities  - Dailey, East Dailey, and Valley Bend. Over the years, there have been many moves to preserve this community.  In 2001, the Tygart Valley Homestead Association was formed to help this goal of preserving such a historical landmark.  

Tygart Valley Homestead Marker

The United States Forest Service Building, also known as Monongahela National Forest Supervisor’s Headquarters, was constructed between 1936 and 1938. The building was an early initiative of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Louis A. Simon designed the Neo-Classical Revival style structure to house various aspects of the Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service. Civilian Conservation Corps and New Deal administration were also contained in the building. The building is a three-story rectangular structure built primarily with red brick. The central entrance portico has five main bays with three additional bays on each side. Wrought iron balconies, a stone cornice, and carved lettering reading “United States Department of Agriculture” provide some softening ornamentation to the otherwise spartan facade. In addition to the building itself, the grounds were landscaped by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Two New Deal murals can be found in the building. The first, “Forest Service,” features a view of a fire watch tower on a ridgeline. A single figure climbs the ladder into the structure while a sign at the base sends a clear message: “HELP PREVENT FIRES.” Just barely visible on the right of the composition are a buck and a large bird. Despite the caution against fire, the landscape is peaceful and undisturbed. Several hallmarks of New Deal art — clean lines, bright colors, and a moralizing message — establish the piece firmly in the style of public art at the time. Despite these features, the figure in the image is reduced to an anonymous silhouette, which simultaneously reinforces the responsibility of individuals and honors the work of the Forestry Service. Across from “Forest Service” is “Mining Village.” The latter mural provides a sharp contrast to the anonymous and tranquil nature of the former. “Mining Village” is primarily realistic in style with some concessions made for practical perspective reasons. Rows of identical employee houses occupy the background and are separated from the foreground by rails, a mine portal, coal tipple, and the buildings involved in economic pursuits. In the foreground is a school identified with a yellow sign and sporting brightly colored window decorations. A set of railroad tracks run parallel to the building. On the right side of the image is a dead tree. Five figures are positioned near the tracks. Four Black miners move towards the viewer while a young white boy with a bike faces away. The closest figure stares intensely out of the mural with a grim expression. The eye contact is piercing and accusatory, but also somehow as if he sees through the viewer. Despite the apparent bright light washing the scene, the eyes of the next closest miner are Black pits. The realistic style of painting makes the disparity between the two miners all the more jarring. In fact, the piece was originally intended for a Works Progress Administration post office in Huntington, West Virginia. The post office refused the piece after local residents deemed it too depressing and it was installed at the Forest Supervisor’s Headquarters instead.Stevan Dohanos was one of the most prolific New Deal artists. A native of Ohio, Dohanos attended the Cleveland SChool of Art before finishing his matriculation at the George Pearce Ennis School in Eastport, Maine. As a New Deal artist, Dohanos decorated post offices and other public buildings in Florida, the Virgin Islands, and the northeast. Dohanos eventually found himself in New York City, where he made a name creating Saturday Evening Post covers and New Yorker cartoons. He also designed numerous stamps for the United States Postal Service and the Postal Service’s Hall of Stamps in Washington D.C. was dedicated in Dohanos’ honor.

The United States Forest Service Building in Elkins, West Virginia was built between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project. The Neo-Classical Revival building is typical of public buildings from this time period and remains in use today. Significant in its own right, the structure is also unique in containing not one, but two New Deal murals. Both “Forest Service” and “Mining Village” were executed in tempera by Stevan Dohanos in 1939. The two works express quite different messages and their position across from each other in the lobby provokes reflective dialog on the contrast.

United States Forest Service Building & New Deal Murals

The West Virginia Children's Home opened on May 9, 1911, bringing with it the transfer of the Humane Society headquarters from Wheeling, WV. The children were consolidated from smaller homes located throughout Elkins, Wheeling, and the rest of West Virginia. The home was meant to serve healthy children who were orphaned, abandoned, neglected, or cruelly treated. At the time of its creation, the home only admitted white children and a separate home was created and maintained until racial integration began in the 1950s. Children sent here were originally kept here until a more permanent home could be located and most children stayed from 3-6 months and ranged in age from 2-14 years old. The home never served children with mental or physical disabilities and only a small portion of the children were orphaned. The children assisted with the adjacent farm and the girls were taught to cook, clean, sew, and complete laundry work as well as help with the younger children. In 1956, the West Virginia Colored Children's Home in Huntington, WV was closed and the Elkins Children's Home became integrated. The home remained in operation until 1977 when it was given a new mission to treat, provide long-term care and evaluation of disturbed teenagers. The facility now operates as a long-term care for children ages 12-18 from throughout West Virginia. These children have not been able to transition into foster care or a group home setting due to behavioral issues. The facility has its own state accredited school on campus and provides a number of activities ranging from arts and crafts, swimming, and sports to first aid/CPR training and nutrition training/food handlers card.

The West Virginia Children's Home has served the State of West Virginia with housing and placement of orphaned, neglected, and dependent children from 1911 through the present. In its early years, the home was meant to serve as a short-term housing solution for children who ranged in age from two to fourteen years old who typically stayed here for less than six months. Today, the home has a different mission as youth who have demonstrated behavioral issues from all 55 counties in West Virginia are housed here on a more long-term basis. The West Virginia Children's Home includes an accredited school and serves children from the ages of twelve to eighteen with the goal of preparing youth for the transition to independent living or for life in a group or foster home.

West Virginia Children's Home

Prior to the construction of Arthurdale, the land upon which it was built had connections to a number of prominent figures from local, state, and national history, most notably its prior owners John Fairfax, William Brown, and Richard Arthurdale. After Arthurdale defaulted on the land during the Great Depression he sold it to the federal government, which began plans to locate the first of its eventually 99 communities for American citizens in economically depressed areas around the country. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt took a particular interest in Arthurdale because she had previously visited the region, and went on to take an active role in the town's operation. In 1947, however, the government chose to sell Arthurdale's lots to private owners, and its buildings began to fall into disrepair. At the community's 50th anniversary celebrations, local residents formed Arthurdale Heritage Incorporated to preserve the structures at the site and the stories of those who lived in them. Arthurdale Heritage currently operates a museum and gift shop there, known as the Arthurdale Heritage Center, and also hosts a New Deal Festival celebrating the town's history every year.Athurdale's first European owner, Colonel John Scott Fairfax began building his new home there in 1817 after living in Preston County for over two decades. During that time, Fairfax had become one of the area's most prominent citizens, serving as a justice of the peace, militia colonel, and member of the House of Delegates. Fairfax Manor, which was the stone house Fairfax's slaves built for him in modern-day Arthurdale, passed to the colonel's daughter after his death in 1843, who in turn lived there until her death in 1882.After that, local attorney and agricultural enthusiast William G. Brown purchased the land. Brown went on to run for Congress in 1896 on the Populist Party ticket, but ultimately would not successfully win an election for the position until switching to the Democratic Party for the 1910 midterms. He then served as the area's Congressional representative in the 62nd, 63rd, and 64th Congresses, holding the office until his death in 1916. Shortly after Brown's victory in 1910 he made the decision to sell his farmland in Preston County to regional hotelier Richard M. Arthur, who continued to add to his holdings in the area throughout his occupancy of the site. Arthur, who is perhaps best known for operating the popular Hotel Arthur at the corner of 27th and Carson Streets in Pittsburgh from 1890 to 1893, constructed a 23-room mansion on his land shortly after purchasing it and added a large stock farm soon thereafter. The former hotel proprietor continued to live at the site until going into default on the land during the Great Depression and selling the land to the federal government.Shortly thereafter, the government began construction of the first of 99 planned communities nationwide that were part of a New Deal era initiative to provide jobs and adequate housing to the areas most impacted by the Depression. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had visited coal camps outside of nearby Morgantown, and seen firsthand the economic downturn's impact on those living in the area. Seizing the opportunity offered by the recent passage of the Homestead Subsistence Act in 1930, Eleanor suggested building the first community near the area she had visited to help families like those she had seen. Construction on the planned community at Arthurdale began in late 1933. The First Lady continued to be deeply involved in all aspects of the project and life in the community, from helping to design the homes to paying for the teachers. She visited the site many times over the course of its existence, even passing out diplomas at the town's high school graduations for the first 10 years. In 1938, she also convinced President Franklin D. Roosevelt to give the commencement speech, making Arthurdale the site of the only speech delivered by a sitting U.S. president to a graduating high school class.Although Arthurdale seemed like a good plan on paper, it experienced a number of problems in execution, primarily as a result of its location and the political and financial changes of the era. The most impactful of these changes came as the Great Depression drew to a close and the Second World War brought factory jobs back to the region causing the need for such communities to decrease dramatically. As a result, the federal government eventually abandoned the project as it was no longer considered necessary. Because of the major improvements she witnessed in residents' lives Eleanor viewed Arthurdale largely as a success, as did the homesteaders who received employment and housing through the project.By 1984 the central buildings had fallen into disrepair and local people formed nonprofit Arthurdale Heritage Inc. (AHI) to save them and their homestead family stories. For years they fund-raised to buy one building, rehabilitate it (mainly by themselves), then start on another. Today AHI’s museum gives personal, story-filled tours through 5 buildings plus continues to save oral histories and expand its collection of artifacts. It also has a volunteer run Craft Shop. Every July they hold the New Deal Festival plus many other smaller events through the year. With 160 of the 165 houses standing today, Arthurdale takes you on a trip through time in "Eleanor's Little Village."

Welcome to the first New Deal planned community of Arthurdale, West Virginia! Started in 1933 under the direct personal guidance of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Arthurdale was the first of 99 such towns that the federal government constructed throughout the Great Depression for economically distressed areas nationwide. Arthurdale was constructed specifically to provide economic relief to destitute coal miners and their families from Scotts Run, WV, a place that became the poster-child of poverty in the Great Depression due to its prominence in the national press. In total, 165 families were situated in houses in Arthurdale with 2-5 acres of farmland each, barns, tools, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for all. This was a massive and expensive project, but ultimately left these families with more resources and opportunities than they had before. Arthurdale Heritage currently operates a five-building museum on the site. Come step back in time and get a sense of the New Deal, the Great Depression, subsistence farming, and family life in 1930s rural West Virginia.Please note that many places included on this tour are private residences. We ask that visitors be respectful of the homes as you drive by them.

Community Center

Approximately 250 million years ago, sandstone deposits were thrust upward forming the sandstone cliffs now known as Coopers Rock. The erosion resistant sandstone weathered the flow of the Cheat River while it cut through softer rocks, leading to the deep gorge in front of the cliffs. By the 1700s, the unparalleled views of the area these cliffs offered were known to local settlers – and to George Washington, who surveyed the Cheat River area. During the 1800s, people began referring to the formations as Coopers Rock. The name purportedly comes from the profession of a fugitive who hid near what is now the main overlook. The fugitive was a cooper – someone who makes barrels by trade. The fugitive continued to make barrels from their forest hideout and sold them to the burgeoning iron industry that was appearing in the area. Remnants of the iron industry appear throughout the park, most famously at the Henry Clay Iron Furnace.As far back as the 1800s, Coopers Rock served as a sort of local tourist attraction. Morgantown residents frequently chose to travel to Coopers Rock as an adventurous activity. This entailed a seven-mile ride on horseback from Morgantown to Ice’s Ferry – near where the I-68 bridge spans Cheat Lake now. After crossing the water, the horses would have been left at the edge of the lake while adventurers began their climb past the Henry Clay Iron Furnace and eventually up to the cliffs. Once at the base of the cliffs it would have been necessary to scale them by hand. Despite the grueling journey to Coopers Rock from Morgantown, it would be a mistake to think that the area was sparsely inhabited. In fact, the Cheat Mountains were heavily populated by iron workers and Ice’s Ferry was a major industrial hub. However, the iron industry rapidly declined after 1850 and the last iron in the area was smelted in 1868.In 1925, the West Virginia Game and Fish Commission began purchasing land throughout West Virginia to secure scenic places before they were despoiled by profitable ventures. Two years later, the West Virginia legislature acted on the commissions’ recommendation and secured extensive tracts of land throughout the state. The land Coopers Rock sits upon was owned by the Lake Lynn Lumber and Supply Company, but they initially refused to sell the land to the state. It was not until 1936 that the land was acquired and Coopers Rock State Forest was established. Following the park’s creation, many structures were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. These include the main overlook, picnic shelters, and superintendent’s residence.These days, Coopers Rock offers a variety of outdoor activities including fifty miles of trails, climbing and bouldering sites, cross-country ski trails, trout fishing, rafting, camping, and hunting. The park, like all WV state parks, is free for day use thanks to Kermit McKeever. As chief of the West Virginia Division of Parks and Recreation from 1948-1977, McKeever fought tirelessly to keep WV parks free for all. In addition to serving as a recreational site, Coopers Rock State Forest is the site of forestry research, timber management, and watershed and wildlife protection through West Virginia University (WVU). The forest also hosts three eco-sculptures made by WVU BFA sculpture graduate Ben Gazsi. Giant, Bear and Turtle, are made of wild grapevine, leaves, hay, chicken wire, and hypertufa, and were constructed between 2012 and 2014. They have been left to naturally degrade and be consumed by the forest.

Established in 1936 and boasting over 12,000 acres of land, Coopers Rock State Forest is the largest state forest in West Virginia. It spans parts of both Monongalia and Preston counties and offers panoramic views of the region. The park is rich in national, local, and geologic history. These days, Coopers Rock is a popular destination for iconic Appalachian vistas and a variety of recreational pursuits. It is one of West Virginia's most valuable state parks in terms of revenue generated and sees almost 300,000 visitors a year.  It is also host to research and conservation efforts through West Virginia University. 

Introduction to Coopers Rock State Forest

The Camp Rhododendron CCC organization was an evolution of an earlier camp in Preston County named Camp Fairfax. Camp Fairfax completed practically none of its prescribed road and telegraph line construction before being moved to the Cheat area, near Sunset Beach, in 1936. Approximately 135 men made this move to become Camp Rhododendron. Improvements to the Coopers Rock area commenced by May. Camp Rhododendron initially created a path from Route 73 (now Interstate 68) to the newly accessible overlook. The company also made picnic shelters and administrative buildings. Shortly after, construction on the superintendent’s house and garage began in 1938 and was completed in 1940. The site chosen for these buildings is on the opposite side of Route 73 from the overlook.The superintendent’s house was built in the Rustic Architecture style utilized by the CCC all over the United States. This style is also known as National Parks Service Rustic. The unifying elements of Rustic Architecture are low structure silhouettes, careful proportions, and local, natural materials. These features help situate Rustic Architecture buildings in harmony with the nature around them. The buildings are handcrafted and often somewhat crude, but extremely durable. The superintendent’s house is no exception to this. It is a simple two-story building constructed of poplar logs on a sandstone foundation. Four rooms equally split the downstairs into an office, kitchen, dining room, and living room. The upper floor is split between two bedrooms with a bathroom dividing them. The garage is similarly constructed from poplar logs and sandstone, but on a much smaller scale. The roof, gutters, and windows of the house have all been replaced, though the garage still exhibits the original multi-paned windows. Several other buildings exist near the superintendent’s house and garage, though these were built after 1942 and by non-Camp Rhododendron parties.Unfortunately, the superintendent’s house suffered major internal fire damage in 2017. The cause of the fire was an electric failure in the basement that spread through the home. The right half of the house is heavily damaged, though has been made structurally sound. The outside displays some fire damage but is completely intact. Estimates for restoration are close to half a million dollars and will likely not be completed in the foreseeable future. The superintendent's house was continuously occupied from its creation until the fire in 2017. The authenticity of construction and location make the Coopers Rock superintendent’s house and garage a crucial component of northern West Virginia's economic and eco-tourism development.

The Coopers Rock State Forest Superintendent’s House and Garage is a historic home originally designed to house the superintendent of the Coopers Rock park. It was built between 1938 and 1940 by Camp Rhododendron – a company of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  The CCC is also responsible for other structures in Coopers Rock State Forest such as the overlook, picnic pavilions, and administrative office buildings. The superintendent’s house and accompanying garage stand as shining examples of the CCCs Rustic Architecture style. Though the house suffered major interior fire damage in 2017, the base structure remains remarkably intact and unmodified.

Coopers Rock State Forest Superintendent's House and Garage

Before becoming a state park, Herrington Manor was a house&nbsp;that stood on the state park grounds. Built in the mid-1800s, the house was an example of Georgian-style architecture in the 19th century.&nbsp;The manor's namesake was Abijah Herrington, a Baltimore land investor who built and invested in the house that is now at Herrington Manor State Park. Additionally, rumor had it that he was a sergeant of the Sandy Creek Rangers during the American Revolution. However, there are no physical documents that show his name being in that regiment, nor were there any local deeds or surveys that feature his name, so the mystery behind Abijah Herrington remains to be solved.&nbsp;&nbsp; After Herrington's death, the Herrington Manor house changed ownership several times&nbsp;until 1913 when&nbsp;Abraham Lincoln Sines and Edmund George Prince, the wardens of the&nbsp;Maryland Board of Forestry, purchased&nbsp;the house and its property. Four years later, 700 acres of forested land was added and given to the Maryland Forest Reserve by&nbsp;U.S Ambassador to France Henry White and his brother, Julian Leroy White. During that time, Maryland Forester Fred W. Besley opened the Herrington Manor Reserve, ensuring the sustainability of the&nbsp;vast amount&nbsp;of white oak trees,&nbsp;which represent the natural beauty of the Western Maryland region, as well as to allow tourists to visit the land. In 1935, the state of Maryland purchased the house in order to accommodate members of the Civilian Conservation Corps, who operated numerous projects at what is now Herrington Manor State Park. The Civilian Conservation Corps was a New Deal program established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 that consisted of 20,000 young unemployed men who worked in several conservation areas around the country. Specifically in Maryland,&nbsp;the CCC worked at 15 different forested areas around the state of Maryland, with one of them being at Herrington Manor. The most prominent construction projects at Herrington Manor included a dam that would form Lake Herrington, a trail that connects Herrington Manor and Swallow Falls State Parks, ten of the current twenty cabins, and a restroom facility&nbsp;that currently sits beside Lake Herrington.&nbsp;Until 1942 when the country became economically stable, the Civilian Conservation Corps continued to operate numerous conservation projects around the state of Maryland.&nbsp; By the mid-20th century, the house began to fall apart, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources demolished it in 1964, leaving behind only remnants of the mansion that can still be seen today. Since its designation as a state park, renovations have been made to the visitor's center, the restrooms, and the campground in order to maintain the park and ensure that visitors and campers have a decent experience. Kayak and canoeing lessons are held at Herrington Manor State Park and rentals are held there as well so that kayakers can experience Mother Nature on the lake. The impact that the park's history has, such as efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the house's transition of ownership, influences the park that exists today.&nbsp;

Herrington Manor State Park, located in Oakland, MD, is a 365-acre state park that was established by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in 1964. Before becoming a state park, a 19th-century mansion stood at the grounds. Built in the 1800s by Abijah Herrington, it passed down ownership several times by wealthy residents of Western Maryland until 1913 when the Maryland Board of Forestry purchased the house and its property for the use of forests. In 1935, the state of Maryland owned the house and the land in order to accommodate members of the Civilian Conservation Corps, who worked on projects there until 1942. The house fell into disrepair, and it was demolished in 1964, leaving behind only remnants of the house. Today, visitors and campers can go hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, kayaking and camping (tent, RV, or cabin camping). In addition, there also winter activities available at the park such as sledding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. There are twenty furnished cabins at Herrington Manor State Park that people can rent for $15 per night and are open year-round, which is convenient for people who wish to experience the outdoors overnight in the winter.

Herrington Manor State Park

The Oakland, MD post office was built under the Federal Works Agency in 1940, one of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal government agencies. It is also home to a mural painted as part of the New Deal's art program. The mural, titled "Buckwheat Harvest," was painted by Robert Gates in 1942. It depicts a group of men and women harvesting buckwheat, a very common crop across Appalachia and in western Maryland. Gates was probably trying to remind viewers of a simpler and more abundant time to help them cope with the harsh realities of the Depression.

U.S. Post Office, Oakland, MD

The land-use agreement between Maryland and the Grand Lodge of Masons made it possible to establish a Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) camp on the land do that improvements could be made to both the Forest Recreational areas and Swallows Falls State Forest. The C.C.C. fondly referred to as Roosevelt’s “Tree Army” was a work relief program that was a part of the New Deal and was established in 1933. This program recruited unemployed, unmarried men between the ages of 18-25 who became a powerful labor force. These young men were assigned job related to conservation and the development of natural resources owned by federal, state and local governments. The 304th Company CCC staffed Camp S-59 at what is now the Swallows State Forest camping entrance.There were approximately 100 men assigned to this CCC camp and they worked to complete a number of projects that are still in use today. They built the stone and frame pavilion that is located across from the parking lot, the Camp office that sits where the original site of the 304th Company camp was located. This building was renovated on the inside; however, the outside is still the original chestnut structure. The C.C.C. boys planted trees, performed fire suppression work and built a stone restroom and a shed that is a former Dynamite storage shed.Today the park that is located on the west bank of the Youghiogheny River offers 65 campsites, a picnic area with a pavilion and playground, as well as a mile-long hiking trail through the old growth forest. There is a fee for out of state residents to enter the park that will also cover the entrance to Herington Manor State Park that can be accessed by a connecting 5.5-mile (8.9 km) trail available for hiking and mountain biking.

Swallow Fall State Park is located nine miles north of Oakland, Maryland. The Youghiogheny River flows along the park's borders, passing through shaded rocky gorges and creating rippling rapids. Muddy Creek Falls is Maryland’s highest waterfall at 63-feet. This state park is part of a land gift of 1,917 acres from brothers John and Robert Garrett in 1906. The donation included a stipulation that the state would use it to start a forestry service. The Falls of Muddy Creek contained 40 acres of old-growth Hemlock and White Pine trees that are estimated to be more than 360 years old. A lumberman and whisky barrel maker named Henry Krug owned this section of the park. Krug protected the trees and at his death left the property to the Grand Lodge of Masons of Pennsylvania and West Virginia so that it could be used as a retreat center. The State Board of Forestry and the Grand Lodge of Masons entered into an agreement in 1923. The State agreed to manage and protect the property as an Auxiliary State Forest.

Swallow Falls State Park 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (aka CCC) as one part of the New Deal plan to support the country through the Depression year. Congress established the CCC in 1933 as a way to counter rampant unemployment by putting young men to work. The work these men accomplished included conservation efforts across the country, planting trees, and establishing recreational parks.Camp S 52 formed in New Germany in June of 1933 with approximately 125 boys as one of the first CCC tent Camps. The crews spent the first year living in tents and began the work of replanting and restoring the depleted farmlands. The CCC crews drained the Swauger’s lake to clear out logs, stumps and debris that created swimming hazards. They removed the dam and built a bigger one that increased the size of the lake that was renamed New Germany Lake and stocked with fish establishing a beautiful site for fishing, boating and swimming.The “tree Army” as the CCC crews were often called, planted thousands of trees and worked to bring forest fires under control. The crews built many of the park’s structures that are still in use today. Beginning with six barracks, recreation hall (still in use), Officer’s Quarters (now a vacation cabin), and the headquarters building.Crews established recreation areas near the lake with a bathhouse, a boathouse, pavilions, and picnic areas that included tables and fireplaces. Roads, parking lots and water systems were added to support the use of these facilities. The CCC crews also established ski trails and slopes making New Germany one of Maryland’s first ski resort area.All that remains of the Mill are the original footers and interpretive signage is in place. There is a footbridge on top of the dam providing an excellent view of the lake. The camp closed in 1938 and moved to the Meadow Mountain Camp. However, crews continued to return to New Germany until the camps closed in 1942 in order to complete forestry and recreation projects.

New Germany State park is located in Garrett County Maryland and serves as a public recreation area spanning approximately 483 acres next to the Savage River State forest. The park offers visitors a diverse selection of activities all year round in a picturesque setting. There are beautiful trails for both novice and experienced hikers, lakes that are suitable for boating, swimming and fishing, family friendly campsites, and even pet-friendly cabins – but no cell service!The immigrants who settled in the area during the 19th century named the area New Germany because it reminded them of the lands they left behind. These immigrants worked together and formed a farming and logging community. Two members of the community who were brothers, John and Charles Swauger, dammed Poplar “Lick” (local term for a stream) to create a lake later called Swauger’s Dam. This lake became the site of a sawmill and a grist mill (for grinding grain). These were both powered by utilizing water from the lake. The lake also provided ice in winter that was stored in an icehouse for summer use. This community continued logging and farming until the Great Depression compounded by depleted soil took a toll and the farmers sold their land to the federal government.

New Germany State Park

Native Americans were the first to inhabit the area of Fort Ashby. Shawnee warriors were the Native Americans to claim the land. They settled here because of the close proximity to the waters of Patterson Creek. This creek supplied them with a water and food source. There are two trails the Native Americans used to reach Fort Ashby-one being Dan’s Run over Valley Ridge. Also another trail that was used was the North Branch Potomac River and George Washington later on used the mountain of Short Gap. Fort Ashby is home to many Native American graves, that are from small battles the Shawnee Indians had fought. When walking around in the old Native American parts of Fort Ashby, you can see and pick up old arrowheads and darts around the property.Ashby's Fort was one of the first two Forts ordered built by the commander of the Virginia Regiment, 23-year-old George Washington, on October 26, 1755. Washington served as an aide to British General Edward Braddock just three months earlier in July, 1755, when Braddock's army was badly defeated by a smaller force of French soldiers and their Indian allies. The British army was trying to take the French Fort Duquesne, a strategic Fort built on the forks of the Ohio River in present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Out of 1300 English soldiers involved in the battle, 456 were killed, including Braddock himself, and another 421 wounded. The French and Indians by contrast, suffered only 23 killed and 16 wounded.After Braddock's crushing defeat, Washington led the survivors back to Virginia. Virginia's House of Burgesses on August 6th authorized the formation of Ranger Companies to help defend the frontier, which was now under fierce attacks from Indians. Captain William Cocke and Captain John Ashby were given command of the 1st and 2nd Company Rangers respectively, and they set out to recruit men for their Companies. By mid-October, Ashby had 33 Rangers under his command. After receiving orders to build his Fort, Ashby and his men quickly completed construction by the beginning of December, knowing that winter was fast approaching and desiring protection from the Indians. Captain Ashby's Rangers had three primary responsibilities. The first was to protect any settlers in the immediate area along Patterson Creek, about five miles southwest of where it flowed into the North Branch of the Potomac. According to Washington's letters, most of the Patterson Creek residents had either fled or had been killed by the time Ashby's Fort was built. The second responsibility was to escort supply wagons and couriers along the road between Fort Cocke, 12 miles upstream on Patterson Creek, and Fort Cumberland, about the same distance north along Wills Creek, which is present-day Cumberland, Maryland. Washington also ordered Ashby to send out patrols in search of enemy French or Indians. The Rangers continued these duties until their enlistments were over in September 1756.Washington tried unsuccessfully to retain the Rangers, asking them to join the Virginia Regiment, but they all left when their enlistments were up. Ashby's Fort was manned after this by soldiers from the Virginia Regiment until April 16th, 1757, when Governor Dinwiddie repositioned the men along Patterson Creek to Forts along the South Branch of the Potomac in the Trough. The Fort was never occupied again. In 1758, England sent General John Forbes to do what Braddock failed to do - take Fort Duquesne. Forbes found success on November 25th, 1758 when he found that the French had abandoned and burned Fort Duquesne in advance of Forbes' superior numbers. When the Indians saw the French retreat, they perceived this as a major weakness, and attacks on British Colonials were dramatically reduced, eliminating the need to continue manning the Forts. While the war would not officially end until 1763, large-scale fighting ended five years earlier.One of Ashby's original Rangers was Daniel Morgan, who went on to become a brilliant General in the Revolutionary War, and later a Congressman from Virginia. In 1794, Morgan was promoted to Major General and was selected to lead troops to put down the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. Morgan camped with his troops at the site of Fort Ashby on the way.The site is now overseen by the Friends of Ashby's Fort, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. A museum is located in a 1780s log building which was probably a barracks for one of the two later Forts built in the same location as Ashby's Fort. The Fort was restored by W.P.A., 1939 and opened to the public that same year. In 1970, Fort Ashby was listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

During the French and Indian War, George Washington ordered a fort built at this location in 1755 to protect settlers against French troops and their Native American allies. The Fort remained in operation until April of 1757, when Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie ordered Washington to reposition the soldiers of Fort Ashby and those of her sister Fort Cocke to Forts along the South Branch of the Potomac in the Trough. Today a museum and Visitor Center stand on the site of the original Fort Ashby and contain much of the history of this short-lived but crucial Fort, including artifacts from multiple archaeological digs.

Ashby's Fort Museum / Fort Ashby

The land for the park was originally part of Thomas Lord Fairfax’s
massive landholdings. The park is named after the Lost River which originates
south of Mathias, near Brock’s Gap, and becomes “lost” at Sandy Ridge about
four miles southwest of Wardensville. There the river begins to flow
underground, giving it the name Lost River, occasionally being seen after high rains.
When the river emerges on the other side of Sandy Ridge, it becomes the Cacapon
River. 

One of the park’s famous landmarks is the Lee Cabin, built in
1804 by Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee as a hunting lodge and summer retreat from
the wealthy family’s eastern Virginia home. Henry Lee was a Revolutionary War
general and the father of Robert E. Lee. Henry Lee was also a member of the
Articles of Confederation Conference from 1785 to 1801 and is the author of the
well-known eulogy of George Washington that praises the first President as “first
in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of our countrymen” (1).&nbsp;The cabin is
located near Howard’s Lick, now known as Lee Sulphur Spring, which was thought
to cure many ailments during the nineteenth century. Henry Lee had a reputation
for bad business and he was sentenced to debtor’s prison in 1809 for about two
years. The cabin is now preserved as a small museum at the park, housing
antique tools and furniture from Lee’s time. The museum opens on weekends from
Memorial Day to Labor Day. The cabin was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places in the 1970’s.

Lost River State Park was built largely in part by the
Civilian Conservation Corps. The men of the CCC stayed at Camp Hardy, which was
located near the present-day park entrance. Beginning May 15, 1934, during the
Great Depression, CCC Company 1524 built cabins, an administration building, a swimming
pool, a shelter covering the Lee Sulphur Spring, along with bridges and other
small structures throughout the park. The CCC also restored the Lee Cabin to
preserve its structure, allowing it to remain in good shape today. The hard
work of the Civilian Conservation Corps allowed the Lost River State Park to
open to the public in 1937. 

The Park now hosts miles of hiking trails, a swimming pool,
game courts, horseback riding stables, and vacation cabins and cottages. One of
the most popular hiking trails is to the Cranny Crook overlook, elevation 3.200
feet, which provides stunning views of the surrounding ridges of the
Appalachian Mountains. &nbsp;The park is a
popular vacation destination and offers 26 cabins to rent, 15 of which are original
CCC structures with the other 11 being modern cabins. The Lost River State Park
now exists as a public reminder of the tireless work the Civilian Conservation
Corps provided the state of West Virginia.&nbsp;

The Lost River State Park is located in the mountains of Hardy County, West Virginia on tributaries of the Lost River. The park encompasses 3,712 acres and is a popular destination for hikers and vacationers. The land for the park was acquired by the state of West Virginia in 1933 and the park opened in 1937 thanks to the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park is also home to the historic Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee Cabin. 

Lost River State Park - Lee Cabin

The area now known as Dolly Sods was first surveyed in 1774 by Peter Jefferson and Thomas Lewis, who were trying to establish the boundaries of Lord Fairfax’s land grant. However the land was too rugged to be navigated and was not further settled until the late 1780’s. Johann Dahle was born in Germany in 1749 and came to America as a Hessian soldier, fighting for the British in the Revolutionary War. In 1781, he was captured at the Battle of Yorktown, but was released when the war ended. Dahle decided to stay in America and settled in what is now Pendleton County. Here he bought land, married, and had nine children. Dahle became a successful farmer, acquiring more land, which included the Sods. The plateau land would be used for grazing livestock, mainly sheep. The area would soon be known as Dahle’s Sods; later the English spelling would be used, Dolly Sods. Johann died in 1847 at the age of 98; his family would eventually move out of the area.

In the late 1800’s and into the mid 1900’s, the timber industry was in full swing with increasing demands for lumber products. Much of the country side was covered with virgin timber; some trees were said to be over 12 feet in diameter. Lumber mills and towns sprung up all around the area and populations grew, making this area a once densely populated region of West Virginia. Clear cutting timber practices left the sods bare and several times wildfires scorched the land destroying the natural peat beds and cranberry bogs. Some of the towns died out or saw their residents move out in search of work, leaving the Sods to revert back to its former wilderness state.

In 1943 and ‘44, Dolly Sods would find a new use considered important to national defense. During those two years, the West Virginia Maneuver Area would be established at Dolly Sods. The US Army used the area to train soldiers to fight in high mountain battlefields, similar to those they would be sent to in Europe during WWII. Climbing schools were conducted on the many rock formations, including Bear Rocks. The steep mountain terrain made good training grounds for the infantry. The most noted action at the sods was its use as an artillery and mortar range. Cabin Mountain and Blackbird Knob were the favorite targets in the area. As late as 1997, 14 unexploded shells were found along hiking trails; all were destroyed on site. Ironically, one of the Army Engineers working the site in ‘97 had been injured in 1951 when he encountered a live, unexploded shell while hiking. The blast sent him flying into the top of a tree, and he suffered shrapnel injuries to his legs. While hiking in the sods, if you come across anything that looks like a mortar round or shell do not touch it, and notify the Forestry Department.

Dolly Sods is one of the most beautiful spots in the state, with spectacular views from every high point. The sods offer great hunting and fishing opportunities, as well as hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Located in Tucker and Randolph Counties the Sods can be accessed from Route 32 at Laneville, or from Route 28, in Pendleton County.1

Dolly Sods Wilderness is a 17,776 acre area that lies in the Alleghany Highlands of Tucker and Randolph Counties.  The sods, being at an elevation of over 4,000 feet above sea level, have the same climate, and flora of the artic.  The plateau that hosts the sods is the largest east of the Mississippi River.  At Dolly Sods you find a campground, picnic area, trout streams, and miles of hiking trails.  Hikers beware, as the Sods are home for Black bears, as well as coyotes, bobcats, and other wild animals, also, be careful of unexploded mortar and artillery shells.  

Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

West Virginia’s first state forest, Seneca State Forest is situated in Pocahontas County, WV along the Greenbrier River. The forest was named after the Seneca Trail that passes through Pocahontas County. However, it is notable that the trail bypassed the forest itself. The 12,884 acres of forest offers a plethora of activities for visitors like fishing, hunting, and hiking. A.D. Neill sold 10,847 acres to the West Virginia Game and Fish Commission in January of 1924. By 1938 Seneca State Forest offered access to roads, picnic areas, trails, eight cabins, camp sites, and a lake open to the public. In addition to the recreational activities, the Civilian Conservation Corps was hard at work establishing the state’s first tree nursery at Seneca State Forest in 1928. The Raine Lumber Company possessed the timber rights of the land and continued logging until 1929. The idea behind the Civilian Conservation Corps was to put the nation’s unemployed workers to work on reforestation in areas that were notorious for logging expeditions. West Virginia flourished with 65 Civilian Conservation Corps camps that the state owes a lot of credit to for not only reforestation, but building fire towers, shelters, trails, telephone lines, etc. The Civilian Conservation Corps was also responsible for much of the recreational development done at Seneca State Forest.  Seneca State Forest has a fire tower that offers a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. Constructed in 1924, the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower has been remodeled to allow visitors to even book overnight stays. Seneca State Forest also offers eight pioneer cabins that were first built in 1938. In addition to the tower and cabins, the forest has the first ever public campground in West Virginia constructed in 1928.

Seneca State Forest is located in Pocahontas County, WV. The forest is not only known for beautiful scenery but is the oldest state forest in West Virginia. Accompanied with the magnificent views, are cabins for visitors to lounge in along with the states first public campground opened in 1928. Seneca State Forest offers a list of activities for visitors to check out like hiking, swimming, and fishing on the Greenbriar River. Seneca State Forest is a hidden treasure nestled in the hills of West Virginia just waiting to be explored. 

Seneca State Forest

Marlinton’s New Deal post office was completed in 1937. As is typical of Works Progress Administration public buildings, the Marlinton Post Office architecturally emphasizes function over form with its blocky construction, flat roof, and lack of ornamentation. Two works of New Deal art are found inside the building. Both were painted by Edwin Dorsey Doniphan, a Washington D.C. based artist who primarily executed government commissions. Additionally, both paintings were completed in 1939 and are oil on canvas. The first painting is titled “Past Visions of the Future.” It depicts Calvin Sharp, a lifelong resident of Marlinton. Sharp looks out at the developing town with his two oxen, Pat and Star. The painting on the opposite wall is titled “Mill Point.” It depicts a mill near a relatively major road. One figure works on the mill side of the mural while another figure rides a horse on the road and leads a second animal. The mill depicted is a real location and still stands just outside of Marlinton. These two works exemplify the New Deal style of art, which focused on idyllic depictions of local progress and labor.

New Deal Projects in the AFNHA Region

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information