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GENUINELY HOME: WEST VIRGINIA IN THE NEW YEAR

Special Issue 2010

Earl Ray TomblinGovernor, State of West Virginia

Kelley M. GoesSecretary, Dept. of Commerce

Frank JezioroDirector, Division of Natural Resources

Emily J. FlemingAssistant to the Director / Legislative Liaison

Wonderful West Virginia Administrative StaffHarry F. Price, PublisherMichael Bryant, Business ManagerRobert L. Wines, Creative ServicesDonna Flowers, Circulation

CommissionersJeffrey S. Bowers, Sugar GroveByron K. Chambers, RomneyPeter L. Cuffaro, WheelingTimothy O. Dotson, White Sulphur SpringsDavid M. Milne, Bruceton MillsDavid F. Truban, MorgantownKenneth R. Wilson, Chapmanville

Section ChiefsHarry F. Price, AdministrationCurtis I. Taylor, Wildlife ResourcesDavid E. Murphy, Law EnforcementKenneth Caplinger, Parks and RecreationJoe T. Scarberry, Supervisor, Office of Land and Streams

Printed ByChapman Printing CompanyCharleston, Huntington, and Parkersburg, West Virginia

Editor: Kim Harbour

Design: Johanna Ellis – Lead Designer Rob Russo

Project Management: Kim McHenry

Photography: Steve Shaluta, Jr. and Ron Snow (unless noted)

Writers: Andrea Bond, Leslie Fitzwater, Hoy Murphy, Hallie Sampson and Catherine Zacchi

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: This special issue was produced by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. For more information:

West Virginia Department of Commerce Marketing and Communications 90 MacCorkle Ave., SW South Charleston, WV 25303 (304) 558-2003 • [email protected]

Director: Kim Harbour

Administration: Rita Kee and Mona Dugas

Marketing: Kim McHenry, Lee Chatman Mel Hobbs, Julie McKowen and Rob Russo

Design: Johanna Ellis, Jessica Keaton, Andrew Stout, and Barry Wooldridge

Photography: Steve Shaluta, Jr. and Ron Snow

Media: Andrea Bond, Leslie Fitzwater, Hoy Murphy, Courtney Sisk, and Catherine Zacchi

Intern: Hallie Sampson

Wonderful West Virginia (USPS–415-660; ISSN 0030-7157) is published monthly by the State of West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, 324 Fourth Ave., South Charleston, WV 25303-1228. Periodical postage paid at Charleston, WV. Postmaster: Send changes to Wonderful West Virginia, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305-0669.

Subscription Rates: Domestic: 1-year $18.00, 2-year $36.00; Newsstand Single Copy: $3.00, Call 304.558.9152, or 1.800.CALL.WVA. Address all editorial correspondence to the editor. Viewpoints of our authors do not necessarily reflect those of the Division. Copyright 2008 by State of West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Although reasonable care is taken, the editor and the Division of Natural Resources assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. It is the policy of the Division of Natural Resources to provide its facilities, accommodations, services, and programs to all persons without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, or handicap. Proper licenses/registration and compliance with official rules and regulations are the only source of restrictions for facility use or program participation. The Division of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer. Discrimination complaints should be directed to: Director, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV 25305-0669. Wonderful West Virginia is a copyrighted publication and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the editor.

To subscribe call 1.800.CALL WVA or visit www.wonderfulwv.com

Genuinely H ome: West Virginia in the New Year…

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4 WestVirginia:ThePlacetoBeby Kim Harbour

West Virginia’s low cost and relaxed, balanced lifestyle are chief among the reasons more people are moving to the state. Twelve former residents discuss the new opportunities they found – or created – by coming home.

12 Geocaching–TheChaseandtheChallengeby Hoy Murphy

It’s modern-day treasure hunting with an electronic hand-held gadget you probably already have. Geocaching is a fun way to challenge your puzzle-solving skills and it gives you an excuse to explore hidden corners of our state.

18 CelebrateTraditionswithInternationalSpiritby Catherine Zacchi

Members of West Virginia’s growing community of international companies recall traditions that differ from those familiar to the Mountain State, yet share a kindred spirit.

26 AppalachianHomegrownChristmasby Leslie Fitzwater

Recall traditions from Christmases past and explore ways to start new ones. Beloved traditions make Christmas in the Mountain State the most wonderful time of the year.

34 ChildBalladsofWestVirginiaby Andrea Bond

Ancient music from the British Isles found a new home in the Appalachian Mountains. Today, the West Virginia University Libraries' collection supports the school’s reputation as a premier study source of folk song.

40 Kid’sArtContestShowcaseby Hallie Sampson

From pepperoni rolls and cardinals to rafting and coal mining – youth from every corner of the state describe what the Mountain State means to them. View the winners of the 2010 Genuine West Virginia Student Contest.

Contents Page, clockwise from top left: Chief Logan Lodge, Hotel and Conference Center, Logan by Alex Wilson, Felman Production, Inc., Letart by Ron

Snow, Bluegrass instruments from Fret 'n Fiddle, St. Albans by Ron Snow, Shamil, second place art contest winner, Barboursville Elementary by Ron Snow Background: Christmas at Chief Logan Lodge, Hotel and Conference Center, Logan by Alex Wilson Front cover, inset photos, clockwise, left to right: Couple, child and deer by Steve Shaluta Back cover: Mill in winter at Babcock State Park by Steve Shaluta

West Virginia in the New Year

Looking for a perfect gift?

Order double-matted, 8”x10” prints of West Virginia’s best sights and scenics. $30 each, including shipping.

www.wvscenics.com

This special issue of Wonderful West Virginia spotlights individuals from all walks of life whose stories share an appreciation for the new opportunities they’ve found by moving here from other states – or other countries. They discovered:

• Our cost of living is 6.5 percent below the national average.

• We have one of lowest costs of doing business in the United States.

• Our home ownership rates are the highest in country.

• Our electricity rates are a third lower than the U.S. average.

• We have among the lowest crime rates in the country.

• You can buy more home and land for your dollar – with housing costs that are 64 percent below the national average.

As we look ahead to 2011, we pause to be thankful for the gifts living in the Mountain State provides each of us: great scenic beauty, a relaxed lifestyle in tight-knit communities and world-class recreation that’s practically in our own backyards.

I wish you and your family a joyous holiday season and a good new year.

Sincerely,

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin

2 W O N D E R F U L W E S T V I R G I N I A G E N U I N E L Y H O M E 3MarshallUniversityRobertC.ByrdBiotechnologyScienceCenter,Huntington

SwansonPlatingCompany,Inc., Morgantown TheHomeLaughlinChinaCo., Newell

WestVirginia’sgreatestassetisitspeopleandtheirprideinajobwelldone.Withthelowestmanufacturingturnoverrateinthenation,ourskilledandflexibleworkforcehasearnedareputationfordedication,loyaltyandquality.

Great beauty can be found in our work and work places. For instance, Elkem Metals produces nearly a third of all silicon used in North America from a plant tucked into the scenic upper Kanawha Valley. The fiery job of smelting high-tech metal coexists in a charming community with the historic Glen Ferris Inn and its soothing views of Kanawha Falls. Here, quality of place undoubtedly contributes to the quality of life and work.

Precision craftsmanship is evident in both chrome plating and colorful Fiestaware dinner plates, too. High-tech lasers are the tools of biotech research and manufacturing. In every case, the West Virginia worker’s skill adds the extra ingredient to make these things world class.

Visit www.genuinewv.com for a list of outstanding products and services that call West Virginia home.

Kelley GoesWest Virginia Secretary of Commerce

Background:Fairmont Tool, Inc., Fairmont

All photos by Ron Snow except Marshall and Kanawha Falls by Steve Shaluta

Kanawha Falls, Fayette County

G E N U I N E L Y H O M E 5

Ashley King Trinity Works, Mount Hope

Ashley King grew up in Charleston. She left the state to study civil engineering, and pursued her Master’s in construction engineering and management at New York University. Upon graduating, she had the chance to join a big New York construction firm or return to West Virginia to help build The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, the future home of The Boy Scouts of America’s Jamboree in Fayette County. She came home.

MyJob: I couldn’t have picked a more exciting job to work on. This is an iconic project.

At Trinity Works, we act as the development manager, overseeing the design process and construction for The Bechtel Summit. We work with land planners, architects and engineers to develop the grading plan and the roadways. We bring them to our Mount Hope offices and brainstorm in design charettes. What does this property need to look like? What do we need to do to accommodate 50,000 scouts and their families who will come?

As the assistant project manager, I develop schedules and monitor budgets and cash flows. I get to wear many hats, which lets me grow in my career. I know the project inside and out, not just one aspect.

NewOpportunities: I’m excited to watch how The Bechtel Summit impacts the economy in this part of the state. At the 2010 Jamboree, the budget for ice was a quarter of a million dollars. If you think about the ice and what a small piece of the whole event that is – just imagine the impact on the small businesses in the community. It’s really exciting. Putting on the Jamboree is the equivalent of mobilizing a city the size of Charleston for 10 days. I’m really excited

to see how all of that plays out logistically, when we start hosting the event in 2013.

Previously, the property was strip mined. We are working with the lay of the land as it is to reclaim it as usable space. It is very important to the Boy Scouts that Trinity Works insists upon contractors building in a sustainable way. The Scouts have a 100-year master plan for this – it will go forward to future generations who will be able to come and enjoy the New River Gorge.

West Virginia: The Place to Be

By Kim Harbour

Whether moving from the tundra or the desert, new residents agree West Virginia’s lush, rolling hills are the place to be!

Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau released population numbers showing

the Mountain State is growing, particularly in the Morgantown, Charleston,

Martinsburg and Hampshire County areas. The Census tells us that the state’s

new residents are coming from nearby Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky

and South Carolina – as well as significant population gains from Alaska and

New Mexico, too!

Why? For many, West Virginia is the answer to finding a balance between

work and play. Residents appreciate the state’s friendly, relaxed atmosphere, scenic

beauty and world-class recreation that’s within easy reach of the region’s big cities.

The following profiles include those who have returned, bringing new businesses

and opportunities with them.

Read expanded stories online: www.GenuineWV.com/ThePlaceToBe.

Left: Ashley King visits the construction site of the Boy Scouts of America’s 2013 Jamboree, Fayette County

Background: New River Gorge Bridge, near Fayetteville

Photos by Steve Shaluta

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“I came back to West Virginia because I can live a rich life among my family while pursuing an exciting career that enables me to create new, innovative

theater and enhance the future of the arts in West Virginia and across America.”

Peggy McKowen, associate producing directorContemporary American Theater Festival, Shepherdstown

Christian Martinkat Stockmeier Urethanes, Inc., Clarksburg

Before moving from Germany in 2005 to become president and CEO of Stockmeier Urethanes, Inc., in the United States, Christian Martinkat had never been to West Virginia. But his bonds to the region soon grew stronger when he married Melissa, a West Virginia University graduate. The couple now splits their time between north-central West Virginia and Europe.

MyJob: We formulate the glue used for running tracks or playground running surfaces. It is a highly-specialized, niche market. It’s also a highly international business – because there are only a handful of companies making this product for this purpose.

From Clarksburg, we do business in the entire America’s region – in Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. We’re one trucking day from most of the markets we serve in North America. West Virginia gives us an affordable location to reach out to this hemisphere.

NewOpportunities: Many other U.S. states don’t put forth an effort to help smaller companies enter their markets the way West Virginia does.

We are a privately-owned mid-sized company. We are not a gigantic company that has in-house counsel. On the other hand we are a chemical manufacturer and we’re subject to a lot of rules. West Virginia was very good to help us by dedicating a team from the state government to guide us though the process. The West Virginia Development Office and its International Division helped our company navigate all of the regulations and policies to make an investment of this type.

West Virginia is a good place for business. You can operate your company in a business-friendly environment and at a reasonable cost. The work ethic is strong. The people are loyal, friendly and helpful. High retention rates bring financial benefits to us, too.

MyWestVirginiaConnection: We travel a lot. So we enjoy being at our Fairmont home and its location near the woods. We get a lot of wildlife in the backyard. When you live in Europe, it is a densely-populated, urban environment. You don’t have wide open spaces or homes with one or two-acre properties.

MyFavoritePlaces: In my free time, I play golf and I enjoy driving my car on scenic country road trips to Grafton and Bridgeport. Along the way, I like discovering new restaurants or B&Bs.

WestVirginia’sBestKeptSecret: Many of the best things are hidden secrets. I’m big into food and there are so many small mom and pop places that serve delicious food here. My employees give me tips about new places to check out, too.

Beverly Sexton American Mountain Theater, Elkins

Beverly Sexton grew up in Elkins and started performing at age nine with her family singing group, "The Heckels.” They traveled all over West Virginia and were regular cast members of the Wheeling Jamboree. At age 17, Sexton left the state to pursue a career in the music business. She won a recording contract with RCA Records in Nashville, where she had a top forty single: "Bluer Than Blue." She performed at the Grand Ole Opry and toured with stars like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn.

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MyJob: My husband, Kenny, and I own The American Mountain Theater (AMT), Elkins, which is the only "Branson, Missouri Style" live music, comedy and variety show in West Virginia. We opened in July 2007 and we are in our fourth season performing in our beautiful state-of-the-art theater located in the historic rail yard.

We seat up to 600 people and we produce and perform in four different shows with about 210 total performances per year. My husband and I co-produce all of the shows. I sing in all shows, play bass guitar, greet our customers at the door when they arrive and bid them goodbye when they leave. I also write some of the music and comedy skits we perform.

NewOpportunities: My sister, Susie Heckel, envisioned a music theater in Elkins that would entertain folks from all over the United States and around the world! My husband caught Susie’s AMT vision and went all out purchasing the land and getting a brand-new facility built and opened for business in July 2007. We employ about 15 full-time people.

Our growth has been phenomenal, with annual attendance approaching 33,000 customers or more. AMT and Elkins became the number one motorcoach destination in West Virginia in 2008 and that continues. We hosted 300 bus groups in 2009 compared to 131 groups in 2007.

MyWestVirginiaConnection: We have planted our roots both in business and personally. My husband plans to

continue to promote and build the American Mountain Theater until the attendance reaches 50,000 to 60,000 per year and possibly invest in other tourism related businesses in Elkins and West Virginia.

WestVirginia’sBestKeptSecret: West Virginia offers a unique location in that it is a road "well" traveled while maintaining the feel of a road "less" traveled. We all know it is here, yet it is somehow undiscovered!

If you’re looking to come home to West Virginia, consider doing something bold and unique in the tourism business. We would love the help bringing more and more folks to the state.

Top: The American Mountain Theater, Elkins

Right: Owners Kenny and Beverly Sexton

Photos by Ron Snow

“West Virginia is known more for country and bluegrass, but Tamarack helped me get more exposure for the jazz and blues musicians here in the Mountain State. The people and the talent that we have is West Virginia’s best kept secret.”

Doris “Lady D” Fields, performer, Beckley


“What I enjoy most about my work is solving difficult problems through the use of technology. What I like most about TTi being based in Wheeling is the

community and the people. Wheeling provides a great value to a business owner.”

Theodora Titonis, president and CEO TTi Technologies, Inc., Wheeling

“We had our first child this year. West Virginia provides opportunity for a more laid-back or relaxed style of life. It will be good to raise kids here so they can experience a simpler life.”

Jeromy Tichner, systems engineerThe MITRE Corporation, Clarksburg

Todd Gillespie The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs Photos by Steve Shaluta

My fiancée, Ashley, moved with me from Florida to Lewisburg. She likes having four seasons. She likes that it is safe, with good schools and we can afford a nice home. Maybe you have to see other parts of the world to appreciate what we have here. The further I get along in my career – everything I could ever want professionally, personally or socially is right here. The real opportunity is where you’re at.

WestVirginia’sBestKeptSecret: West Virginians should take pride in what we have and who we are. We’re just as smart. We’re talented. We work harder and we’re more genuine. You have to make your own breaks but you can be a part of the change in West Virginia.

“Being a servant is something to be proud of – every day we can make someone happy and give them the service that is world class and five-star.”

Robert Mickey, director of housekeeping and transportationThe Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs

Sally Phares Blossom Village, Beverly

Sally Phares grew up on Files Creek, about a mile from the Blossom Village flower shop she runs in Beverly. She’s home, again, after a 34-year information technology career that took her to Georgia, Virginia and Nevada, working for hospitals, NASA contractors and higher education. She longed for a creative outlet and found it working with flowers.

MyJob: Blossom Village is the first full service florist Beverly has ever had. I like being a part of the town’s business community and the historical preservation activities.

I wanted to put my business experience, technical know-how and love of my home county to work. I also hoped to provide some jobs (at least part time) for some folks.

NewOpportunities: The two things I enjoy most is the floral design work and talking with our customers.

MyWestVirginiaConnection: For the more than thirty years I was out of state, I had no family around me. Most of my extended family is in West Virginia, my brother, nieces and nephews live in Charleston and I have many cousins in the Elkins area.

Coming home, the qualities that I have enjoyed include a bit slower pace (but not much) and more considerate people. Folks here are not so wrapped up in their own lives that they don’t notice or take time to help friends and neighbors. Even the traffic is much friendlier! West Virginians just have a different consideration for others than I experienced nearly every other place I’ve lived.

The sense of community is very strong here compared to other places. So, one priority I set for myself was to give back to the community that had given me so much as a young person growing up here. My West Virginia education has served me very well no matter where I found myself or the challenges I faced.

Todd Gillespie grew up in Worthington, near Fairmont, and graduated from Fairmont State University. He has worked in the resort business since college in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. This past year, he came home to become the Director of Sales of The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs.

MyJob: Romance and rhododendrons, the sense of service, the sense of history – The Greenbrier is a proud West Virginia resort and we are very proud to introduce the world to West Virginia in the best light. We have guests from all corners of the globe. We hope that if they have a good experience they’ll bring their business back to the state.

NewOpportunities: There are few times in a hotelier’s career when you are able to be a part of a renaissance – to be a part of the opening of the casino or an inaugural PGA TOUR event. Now, we are working to get our fifth star (out of the Forbes Travel Guide’s five-star rating) back. This work is a highlight of anyone’s career – and it’s all been in one year, this year. The changes are remarkable. Under Jim Justice, the resort has changed its pricing strategy so we could open ourselves to new markets. We have set revenue and occupancy records every month in these tough economic times.

MyWestVirginiaConnection: My dad introduced me to golf and told me stories about Sam Snead and The Greenbrier. So, from a young age this was a special place for me.

MyFavoritePlaces: One of my favorite places to go is something I did as a child, and that is walking along Files Creek. It’s very soothing and beautiful. I miss fishing and hope that I may have some time to do that next year!

WestVirginia’sBestKeptSecret: The talent. Talent in so many areas. The state not only has rich natural resources, it has incredible people resources that have not been tapped, especially in our region of the state.

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Nikki Bowman WV Living Magazine, Morgantown Photos by Steve Shaluta

NewOpportunities: In July, I teamed up with Parween Mascari, an attorney with Jackson Kelly PLLC, to open the WV Living Marketplace in the village at Snowshoe Mountain. We opened a second location in the Seneca Center in Morgantown this fall. Our goal is to showcase the state’s finest artists and craftsmen, providing them with an economic and creative outlet, while encouraging people to support local businesses.

We created our own line of products – the WV Living Artisan Collection – where we have designed items and worked with local craftsmen to produce it. We hope that instead of buying glassware made in China, people will drink from tumblers hand blown by Ron Hinkle of Buckhannon. Instead of purchasing food grown in Chile, folks will buy salsa made from local ingredients. We hope that instead of registering for dishes from Crate and Barrel, brides will set their tables with unique pottery from West Virginia University’s Ceramics Studio. Being local isn’t just a lifestyle – it’s a responsibility.

MyWestVirginiaConnection: For several years, my husband and I talked about moving back to West Virginia. I realized that if I wanted to move home, then I had to make it happen myself.

West Virginia needs its native sons and daughters to come home. Our small towns need the energy, new perspective, and passion of entrepreneurs. There are endless possibilities. If you can dream it, you can make it happen here.

WestVirginia’sBestKeptSecret: The entire state of West Virginia is one of the nation’s best kept secrets – period. If I had to list places that I think most folks have never visited,

but should, I’d say Bramwell, Green Bank Observatory, Helvetia, our breathtaking state parks, Bethany, Arthurdale, Cairo and Harrisville, the monthly buckwheat feeds in Kingwood…. The list could go on!

Read expanded stories

online: www.GenuineWV.com/

ThePlaceToBe.

Kim Harbour grew up in Kenova. She worked in New York and LA for nearly 20 years before coming home to raise her family, among her family. Contact: [email protected]

“In this age where technology makes it possible to work from anywhere, the value of the state’s quality of place speaks for itself and is the state’s biggest attraction for new and existing businesses.”

ParweenSultanyMascari, CFO and part ownerWVLivingMarketplace, Snowshoe and Morgantown

Nikki Bowman grew up in Clay and Kanawha Counties, and graduated from West Virginia University in 1992. She moved to Chicago, and received her master’s from DePaul University. She worked as the editor of several magazines in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Mississippi, before moving home to launch WV Living Magazine and WV Weddings Magazine in 2008.

MyJob: WV Living celebrates contemporary life in West Virginia. We showcase uplifting stories, travel destinations, small towns, beautiful photography, Appalachian artists, down-home entertaining, unique shops and restaurants and much more.

WV Living Marketplace, Snowshoe MountainPocahontas County


GeocachingThe Chaseand the Challenge

Childhood fantasies of following a pirate map and digging up hidden treasure have become reality for thousands of modern-day treasure hunters who have discovered the challenge of geocaching.

The word refers to GEO for geography, and to CACHING, the process of hiding a

“cache,” a term normally used in hiking/camping as a hiding place for concealing and

preserving provisions. Explorers of all ages are using this “hide and seek” game to test

their skills at finding hidden containers full of surprising items left by others, and at

the same time, use it as a reason to visit unfamiliar parts of the state.

Geocaching is a relatively new pursuit that came into popularity with the general

availability of Global Positioning Systems (GPS). They can be stand-alone handheld

devices or can be found on many smart phones and portable automobile navigation

systems. Geocachers follow satellite-generated GPS signals to find hidden “caches,”

which usually are containers holding trinkets, but can also be physical landmarks.

By Hoy Murphy

Top: Chasing after a geocache can leadyou to a city setting or a wilderness location or anywhere in between.

Bottom left: It can be challenging to find the hidden treasure. Geocachers are becoming expert at hiding the containers, so don’t restrict your search to just the obvious areas.

Bottom right: Part of the fun is discovering what other cache visitors have placed in the container. You are allowed to take some of the “swag” as long as you replace it with something else.

The fun comes from getting cache

coordinates from the official

www.geocaching.com website or other

sources, then using your skills to track

down the exact point you’re looking for.

It is estimated that there are more than

one million caches in more than 100

countries, and that number grows daily.

“It’s more fun searching in groups

and working together to find the

caches,” said Kimberly McHenry, who

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spent many weekends geocaching with a group of church

youth in the Kanawha Valley during the summer. “Sometimes

we’re running in all different directions trying to find the same

spot, but it teaches teamwork and cooperation, and we all get

a sense of accomplishment when we find the caches.”

Shelby Boyd, a Nitro High School freshman, enjoyed

chasing the caches with McHenry’s group. “What I like about

geocaching is that it makes you work your mind and think

outside the box. It has different levels of challenge and works

your brain. The most unusual thing I found in a geocache was

a fake worm, bait for fishing.”

Of course, there are rules that most players follow. Caches

usually have a log book for you to register your visit. “Swag,”

or small treasurers, may be found in larger caches, and you can

remove items if you replace them with something else.

West Virginia State Parks and many communities have

set up their own geocaching trails to encourage enthusiasts

to explore areas they might not normally visit. Now, that

has expanded to include nearly every part of the state as

the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts

(WVDOE&A), in conjunction with the West Virginia Division

of Tourism and the West Virginia Division of Culture and

History, has created its “ExploreWV GeoChallenge.”

Statewide Geocaching Challenges “The ExploreWV GeoChallenge is a new group for

geocachers in West Virginia and surrounding areas,” explained

Robin Taylor, Imagination Library Program Director for the

WVDOE&A. “We are organizing many geocaching trails and

challenges that will provide an excellent and adventurous way

to see the beautiful Mountain State.”

The first official challenge of ExploreWV GeoChallenge

was the “West Virginia Geocoin Challenge” that began in

September 2010. Participants were required to visit some

of the state’s best tourism spots, interactive museums and

historical sites before ending at the West Virginia State

Museum in Charleston. The first 250 geocachers who

completed the challenge received a limited edition

West Virginia Geocoin, a real and rare treasure at the end of

the hunt. More challenges are coming.

“This all got started when Education Secretary Kay

Goodwin and Commerce Secretary Kelley Goes came up

with idea of using geocaching as a way to teach people about

the rich history of our state and to increase tourism,” Taylor

explained. “When they discovered that my husband Todd and

I were experienced geocachers, we put our heads together and

decided to do a statewide effort. The Geocoin Challenge was

very successful, and over the next year or so we’re going to

expand the types of challenges and encourage people to see

some small country roads they’ve never gotten to see before.”

Fire up the GPS – Many Trails Lie AheadFor 2011, The ExploreWV GeoChallenge will be taking

players across the state in search of different kinds of treasures.

“We’re going to launch a Main Street Challenge, and it’s

going to take in all of the interesting little Main Streets across

West Virginia,” Taylor said. “It will not be a challenge as much

as a ‘first to find’ contest where

people race each other to get to the

prize. Each cache will pertain to

each individual Main Street, and

swag will include things like a $10

gift coupon to a local restaurant or

a craft shop, or something like that to build up the economy in

that location. We have a ton of ideas for different challenges.”

Other ExploreWV GeoChallenges under consideration

for 2011 include trails that will lead gamers to various sports

arenas, schools, state parks, and in the fall, to “haunted”

locations, all with a reward at the end.

ExploreWV GeoChallenge organizers hope to encourage

people of all ages to get outdoors and explore.

“My son Steven is five years old and since he was two he

has always thought he was a pirate. Todd and I thought, what

better way to get Steven involved in hiking and other outdoor

activities, and now he refers to it as treasure hunting. He’ll say

‘I want to treasure hunt’ and that’s our cue to pack up the car

and go,” Taylor said. “We’re friends with a retired couple who

make 12 to 14 mile hikes. They’re serious about geocaching.

It’s an interest that spans from infants to retired people.”

The Heritage Farm Museum and Village near Huntington is one of the sites included in ExploreWV GeoChallenge’s “West Virginia Geocoin Challenge.”

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Geocaching is an all-ages outdoor activity that families can enjoy together.

Beartown is one of many West Virginia state parks that have geocaches. Visit www.GenuineWV.com/GeocacheParks for a list of hiding places.

Photo by Steve Shaluta

16 W O N D E R F U L W E S T V I R G I N I A

Try it before you buy itRealizing that not everyone is willing to purchase the

GPS equipment without trying it out first, the Department

of Education and the Arts will be making geocaching kits

available to the main public libraries in all 55 counties in the

coming months.

“I’ve spoken with many of the libraries and asked if anyone

had come in asking for information about geocaching, and

I’d say four out of five said ‘yes.’ The need is there, so we are

supplying them with a geocaching pack that they can check

out. Our goal is to get residents into the game and to bring

people into the state, and we hope this will increase economic

development by showing people what we really do have to

offer,” Taylor said.

It’s easy to get started. Once you have your GPS unit, go

online and visit www.geocaching.com. All coordinates for

the various challenges can be found by clicking on advanced

search, select “by keyword” and type in ExploreWV. General

information about geocaching in West Virginia, other caching

challenges, and registration information for ExploreWV can

be found at www.geocachewv.com. Go to www.Facebook.com/

ExploreWV and click “like.”

A lifelong resident of West Virginia, Hoy Murphy writes for the West Virginia Department of Commerce, helping to promote the state’s many outdoor recreational opportunities. He and his family started geocaching while he was researching this article and have logged more than 30 caches to date, with more to come. Contact him at [email protected].

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Photos above: Jessica Bailey of Poca and her children, Jaiden, age 7, and Trevor, age 4, registered for free and got coordinates from www.geocaching.com and followed their GPS unit to the approximate location.

Geocaches have logs to record your name when you find them. Later, you can record your find at your account at www.geocaching.com.

Geocaches can range from small “microcaches” with a small rolled up sheet of paper to sign to “regular” containers holding many items. Sometimes, the items have traveled across the country, and finders are encouraged to keep them moving along to another cache. Photos by Ron Snow


Celebrate

Traditions with International SpiritBy Catherine Zacchi

The holidays have a way of taking us home again. Some who work for West Virginia’s growing community of

international companies remember traditions that differ from

those familiar to the Mountain State, yet share a kindred spirit.

Traditions past and present are recounted by engineering entrepreneur John

Varellis, formerly of Greece; operations manager Vitaliy Anosov, of Ukraine; and

CEO Kurt Ruefenacht, formerly of Switzerland.

Read more about their memories and traditions in their extended profiles atwww.genuinewv.com/Celebrate.

John Varellis: Engineering a new life in Morgantown

A native of Athens, Varellis now lives in Morgantown. He heads X3DCAE,

a firm that provides computer aided engineering (CAE) services. X3DCAE

specializes in finite element analysis (FEA), engineering computer simulations

to predict the way industrial products would deform, handle stress or even fail

in real life. For a fraction of the cost of building a prototype, CAE software can

virtually construct, test and improve a product before it is manufactured.

“I am the son of an engineer and became an engineer myself,” said Varellis.

Varellis received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the National

Technical University of Athens, the country’s most prestigious educational

institution in technology. He traveled to the United States to attend

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John Varellis earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering and his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from West Virginia University. He now owns X3DCAE, Morgantown.

Top photo: West Virginia University, Morgantown

Photo by Ron Snow

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West Virginia University, where he received his

master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and his

Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. He worked in Detroit

in automotive engineering and Pittsburgh in software

engineering before returning to Morgantown. In 2006,

he opened his computer aided engineering firm X3DCAE.

In 2008, he received his U.S. citizenship.

In some ways, West Virginia reminds Varellis of the

Greek countryside.

“I come from a mountainous nation,” he said. “A lot

of people don’t know that the mainland of Greece is

extremely mountainous.”

Before Christmas trees were introduced around the

1950s, Greek islanders decorated miniature boats.

“Modern day Greek Christmas celebrations are

no different than those in the rest of the Christmas-

celebrating world. Everywhere you go, you see

decorations, Christmas trees and Santa Claus,” he said.

The holiday draws families together for gift-giving

and feasting. Pork or stuffed turkey grace the family

table. Unlike American bread-based stuffing, the Greek

version blends onions, garlic, olive oil, rice, pine nuts,

spices and thinly-sliced chicken liver and heart.

“Still, I would not say the two nations are identical,”

Varellis said. “People in Greece have long holidays, with

many in private and government sectors guaranteed a month’s

paid vacation in summer, plus holidays. I’ve adopted the

American workaholic attitude.”

When not working in front of his computer, Varellis

enjoys West Virginia traditions, including the Wine and Jazz

Festival in Morgantown, skiing, playing soccer and riding on

Rails to Trails bike paths. He also has adopted the traditional

American can-do attitude.

“I like very much the American tradition of setting a goal

and working until you reach that goal,” he said. “If you’re

missing a piece of the puzzle, you create the piece you need to

reach your goal.”

During the Soviet era, Christmas

was not an officially recognized

holiday, but people held small

unofficial celebrations with family.

“My mother was born on Jan. 7, which is the Ukrainian

Christmas,” he said. “It was two holidays in one for us.”

One of the biggest official holidays was New Year,

celebrated on Dec. 31.

“Sometimes the celebration extended to Christmas on

Jan. 7,” Anosov said. “There would be a big party with family,

friends and lots of food. The New Year tree was decorated

with lights. At midnight, everyone stepped outside the door

and saw fireworks going up all over the city; all over the

country! The night became as bright as day. You’d have to see

it to understand how amazing it was.”

Anosov still recalls his first Christmas in West Virginia.

“Everything was covered in snow,” he said. “I saw the

colorful lights on the houses and the New Year trees. The

lights shone on the snow. It was silent. I don’t know how to

explain the feeling. It was beautiful.”

Vitaliy Anosov: Forging a future in Mason County

Vitaliy Anosov was born in Khabarovsk, the largest

Russian city east of Lake Baikal. At age nine, he moved with

his parents and brother to the Ukrainian city of Nikopol, an

industrial and transportation center.

Today, Anosov is operations manager for Felman

Production Inc. in Letart, Mason County. Felman produces

ferrosilicomanganese, used chiefly by United States companies

as a steel deoxidizer and alloy additive. A subdivision of

Ukrainian-based Group Privat, Felman reopened the former

Highlander Alloys plant in Letart and now provides around

220 West Virginia jobs.

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“When I first came to the plant in 2006, it was closed. Now it is completely operational. It’s like a small child. You put a piece of your soul into helping it grow up.”

Vitaliy Anosov, operations manager,Felman Production Inc., Letart

The animated Snowflake Tunnel is part of America’s largest holiday light celebrations, the Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay Resort, Wheeling. It features a million lights along a six-mile drive and 300 acres.


Since childhood, Anosov had been inspired by the example

set by his big brother.

“Alexander is six years older than I am. He always took

care of me, like a second father,” Anosov recalled. “To me, he

is the best guy in the world.”

When Alexander studied metallurgy at the National

Academy of Ukraine, Anosov decided to do the same.

“All my life, I looked up to him,” he said. “I thought if my

brother went to this university, it was probably one of the best,

and I want to be the best, too.”

After earning his master’s degree in metallurgy, he returned

to Nikopol to work at a ferroalloys plant with 7,000 employees.

He decided to enhance his skills by studying economics.

“For two years, I kept working at the plant during the day

and taking courses at night,” Anosov said. “It was tough, but I

knew I needed education to improve my future.”

After he received his Economics of the Enterprise degree,

his company offered him a chance to reopen a shuttered plant

Kurt Ruefenacht: From Alps to Mountain State

Kurt Ruefenacht grew up near Lake Lucerne, surrounded

by the majestic Alps of Switzerland. Today he works in the

Mountain State as CEO of EuropTec USA in Clarksburg.

EuropTec is a market leader in etched glass for the touch panel

and display industry.

The youngest of three siblings, Ruefenacht was often outdoors,

playing soccer in the summer and ice hockey in winter.

“Holidays such as Christmas, New Year and Easter are

a special time with the family,” he said. “As in the

United States, they involve big get-togethers, great food and

lots of fun and laughing.”

Ruefenacht earned his master’s degree in electronic

engineering and began working in Switzerland for an

American-based electronics company. In 1985, he and his

family – wife Heidi and sons Andy, Dan and Tom – moved

to the United States when Ruefenacht was offered a position

setting up a plant in Wisconsin for a German architectural

glass company. As general manager, Ruefenacht prepared the

site, planned the facility and oversaw production of the low

emissivity (low-E) glass. Low E glass is energy efficient glass that

lets in visible light and blocks heat-generating ultraviolet light.

“We felt at home from the first moment we arrived,”

said Ruefenacht. “A couple years later, our fourth

in America. He and wife Tatiana arrived in West Virginia

in 2006.

Anosov saw the vacated West Virginia plant and

recognized potential.

“When I first came to the plant in 2006, it was closed,

with piles of trash everywhere,” he said. “Now the plant is

completely operational. It’s like a small child. You put a piece

of your soul into helping it grow up. The people who work here

now were with us then to start up the plant, so they share the

same feeling. We worked hard to make this plant run.”

The plant has three furnaces where raw materials are

charged through a mix system, smelted and made into

ferroalloys. Felman’s ferroalloys are used as a deoxidizer to

produce a more pure steel.

When not hard at work, Anosov, his wife and friends enjoy

camping and skiing in West Virginia’s mountains or fishing

and water skiing in its rivers and riding motorcycles along the

state’s winding country roads.

son Roger was born in America. We raised the boys to speak

both English and Swiss German so they had no problems

communicating with their relatives in Switzerland. We

tried very hard to raise our boys with the traditions from

Switzerland. The boys often traveled with us, which let them

experience different cultures and broaden their minds.”

In the mid-1990s, the entire family became U.S. citizens.

After 12 years in Wisconsin, Ruefenacht became

international sales/marketing manager for a technical

glass company in Minnesota. Then in 2004, he opened

the American office for Switzerland’s EuropTec, a leading

manufacturer of technical flat glass, technical polymers

products and coatings.

While looking for a way to expand its glass fabrication

capabilities, EuropTec discovered Eagle Glass Specialties,

a successful etched glass manufacturer in Clarksburg.

Ruefenacht approached Eagle Glass and in 2006, EuropTec

announced its acquisition. Now CEO of EuropTec USA,

Ruefenacht moved his family to Morgantown.

Today, Heidi is EuropTec’s office manager and handles

accounting and human resources. Eldest son Andy works

for EuropTec in international sales in Virginia. Dan joined

the U.S. Army and is stationed in Germany. Tom plays

professional ice hockey in the top league in Switzerland.

Youngest son Roger is attending the Army Airborne

School in Georgia.

“Our first impression of West Virginia reminded

us of Switzerland, with its hills and winding roads”

Ruefenacht said. “West Virginians are very

loyal, hard working people who, like

us, are proud of their heritage. Their

friendliness makes some ‘strangers’

feel very welcome.”

Catherine Zacchi lives in Mineral Wells and works for Commerce Communications. She enjoys biking on the North Bend Rail Trail in Cairo.

Contact: [email protected]

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Although from different countries, Varellis, Anosov and Ruefenacht share a common interest: carving a path down West Virginia’s ski slopes.

“We have become familiar with the Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg. We were surprised at how many people here have some connection to Italy or other parts of Europe. People here are proud of their heritage.”

KurtRuefenacht, CEOEuropTecUSA, Clarksburg

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24 W O N D E R F U L W E S T V I R G I N I A

From Emerald Isle to Mountain StateWhat does Alcon do?The world leader in eye care, Alcon has been discovering, developing, producing and marketing high-quality pharmaceutical, surgical and consumer eye care products for more than 65 years. We have operations in 75 countries and sell eye care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye in more than 180 countries. The Huntington facility is part of Alcon’s surgical division, where we manufacture the AcrySof® intraocular lens, a small artificial lens that replaces the eye’s natural lens during cataract surgery. Alcon’s AcrySof® intraocular lenses are the most frequently implanted lenses in the world, with more than 50 million Alcon AcrySof® lenses implanted worldwide. Different versions of this life-changing product have been made here in Huntington for more than 30 years.

What were your first impressions of West Virginia?I’ve always felt at home in West Virginia. If the roads were smaller and it rained a little more, it would be a lot like rural Ireland! Huntington holds many attractions, such as the climate, the friendliness of the people and the lack of traffic congestion. As a place to conduct business, it’s ideal; a strong pool of talented and committed people as well as a business-friendly environment and support of government agencies.

What traditions did you encounter in West Virginia that made an impression on you?Even though we are all English-speaking, there are many words and expressions that are different between Ireland and West Virginia. My daughter learned early on that a rubbish bin is a trash can, the post is the mail, the boot is the trunk and the bonnet is the hood! It took me quite a while to get used to spelling words the American way, to driving on the right hand side of the road and to understand the rivalry between the Marshall Thundering Herd and West Virginia University.

How have these traditions influenced you? Ireland is a small country with many traditions and a history of surviving through good times and bad. I see a lot of similarities here in West Virginia. People have a strong sense of pride in their community, family life is important and people at Alcon appreciate having a job to go to every day. These traditions have always influenced me to strive to do the best job I can every day.

Anything to add?Go Herd!

More Irish childhood and American language in the full story at :www. www.GenuineWV.com/Murphy

Both her native Ireland and adopted West Virginia are home to Jackie Murphy, plant manager for Alcon Research Ltd. in Huntington. She talks about the traditions of each.

Where are you from originally? I grew up in Ireland in the 1970s in a small community in the country, much like the countryside of West Virginia. My father kept a lot of greyhounds. Much of my afterschool activities involved walking these dogs. The greyhound track on the way to Charleston made me smile when I first saw it!

It was unusual for both parents in families to work but my mother worked as a nurse at night. Her work ethic and determination influenced me as a child. It can be very difficult to juggle a career and family life. Because my mother managed to do it with five children, she inspired me to do it with two.

What holiday traditions do you recall?My favorite holidays in Ireland were always Christmas and Easter. The schools usually shut down for two weeks during these holidays and families got together to celebrate. Turkey and ham was the traditional Christmas day dinner, with sherry trifle and Christmas pudding for dessert. Lamb was the most popular Easter Sunday dish with lots of chocolate Easter eggs afterwards, an extra special treat after the long Lenten fast.

How did you join Alcon?My father placed a high emphasis on education and encouraged me to pursue engineering because it was what he would have liked to do himself, given the opportunity. I liked science subjects at school. I attended University of

Limerick and studied production engineering.

I worked as a manufacturing engineer in the electronics industry in Ireland before joining Summit Technology,

a Boston-based medical device manufacturer in 1991. Summit Technology became Summit Autonomous,

manufacturing medical laser systems and related products used to perform procedures that correct common refractive vision disorders. I have been employed by Alcon since it acquired Summit Autonomous in 2000.

I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity by Alcon to move to the Huntington facility for a few years. I had been visiting West Virginia since 2003, and always loved the area, the beautiful

scenery, the four distinct seasons and the warmth of the people. My family and I relocated to

West Virginia in June 2009.


The Appalachian Mountains and the people who live there share a rich history that is steeped in traditions for every season and every occasion. By far, some of the best loved and most

remembered Appalachian customs are associated with

Christmastime. From old-fashioned Main Street celebrations to

handcrafted wooden toys under the tree, here are just a few of

the beloved traditions that make Christmas in the Mountain

State the most wonderful time of the year.

AppalachianHomegrownChristmasOh, Christmas tree!

Instead of making a trip to a city lot to pick out a pre-cut tree this year, go on a

family friendly adventure to a Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm. These farms,

which are located throughout the state, offer beautiful trees at reasonable prices and

allow you and your family to choose the freshest and “most perfect” tree for your

holiday celebration.

Generally, Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farms are open from the day after

Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve to accommodate everyone from those who like to

set up their trees early to those who like to wait until the last minute. Each farm offers

something different; some provide full services like cutting, baling and hauling the

tree to your car, while others give you the full experience of “doing it yourself.” Hours

and services vary, though, so be sure to call ahead for details. To find a Choose and

Cut Christmas tree farm near you, visit www.wvcommerce.org/ChristmasTrees.

By Leslie Fitzwater

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Photos at left, top to bottom: Holly tree in snow

Poinsettia lights of Oglebay Resort and

Hiding under the Christmas Tree

This page:Jarvis Christmas Tree Farm, Milton

Photo by Kim Harbour


Main Street ChristmasOnce upon a time, long before big-box stores and shopping

malls ruled the retail market, Main Street was where

Christmas dreams came to life. Bright lights, carolers, a

department-store Santa Claus, the annual Christmas parade,

and display windows filled with the latest and greatest toys

were the things of which Christmas memories were made.

Taking a trip down memory lane isn’t the only way to enjoy

those homegrown Christmas traditions. Throughout

West Virginia you will find people and communities that

are keeping our Appalachian holiday heritage alive, even in

today’s high tech-driven world.

On the first Saturday of December, Mannington in Marion

County ushers in the holiday season with its annual Christmas

Open House. The event features a parade complete with

marching bands and floats, merchants who hold open houses

and offer light refreshments, and the “Jolly Old Elf” himself

in Citizen’s Square asking all the little boys and girls if they’ve

been naughty or nice. The lighting of the town’s Christmas

tree – always a locally grown pine, fir or spruce – also takes

place that day in the Square.

Residents and visitors view the event as a “green light” to

start their holiday shopping. “This is the official kickoff of

the holiday season; it gets everybody in a festive spirit and

the kids love it,” said Becky Williams, program manager for

Mannington Main Street. “Mannington is a bed and breakfast

community, meaning that although people live here, they

tend to work outside the town. The Open House gives people

a good reason to make time to stop and see what a great

selection of products and services they can purchase locally.”

In conjunction with Mannington’s Christmas Open

House, the West Augusta Historical Society holds its annual

Greenery Bazaar. Volunteers decorate the venue, a circa-1870

log cabin, with handmade items, ornamented trees and fresh

greenery. Shoppers have a chance to step back in time to

enjoy a warm fire, drink wassail and eat gingersnap cookies

while they decide what items to purchase. The handcrafted

evergreen wreaths, swags and arrangements are all made from

local pine and holly.

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Country Prim & Folksy, Mannington

“Built around 1845, our building was here during the Civil War… We still have a great deal of work to do, but we are glad we were able to doctor up the house and give her new purpose.

“Each part of America begins with people living and working in a place, which is part of a bigger place. If more people were willing to step out and act on a dream or opportunity, things would just get better and better.”

Rose Barker, OwnerCountry Prim & Folksy, Mannington


Nuts for the Holidays

To make a truly genuine holiday snack, start with chestnuts. Whether you collect them from a neighborhood tree or buy them from the market, be sure to keep the chestnuts in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator in a partially opened plastic or paper bag until you are ready to use them. Fresher nuts are better, though, so don’t store them for too long.

When you are ready to make this tasty treat, follow this recipe:• Soak chestnuts in a pot of water for 30-60 minutes.

This step is optional, but it makes the skin much easier to peel after they are roasted.

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

• Cut an “X” in the skin of each chestnut. Without this puncture, the chestnuts can explode from internal steam. Also, the cut makes peeling the chestnut a lot easier.

• Place a single layer of chestnuts on a baking pan and put the pan on the shelf closest to the heat source in the oven.

• Let the chestnuts cook for 20 minutes. Halfway through (10 minutes), flip or stir the chestnuts around for even roasting. Place them back in the oven for the remaining 10 minutes.

• Chestnuts are done when golden brown and the shells curl apart. Take the chestnuts out of the oven and place carefully on a towel.

Once the chestnuts are cool enough to handle, peel and eat. They should be eaten while still warm for the best flavor.

You also may add a pat of butter or sprinkle of salt to your chestnuts to give them added flavor.

Deck the halls with … mistletoe?Pine and holly aren’t the only natural

Christmas decorations to be found locally

in West Virginia. Mistletoe, also known as

the “kissing plant,” is a traditional trimming

with a reputation for bringing boys and girls

(of all ages) together beneath it for a special

holiday smooch. Despite this romantic

reputation, mistletoe is in reality a parasitic

plant that attaches itself to and grows within

the branches of trees and shrubs. So how do

you get something down that grows so far off

the ground? One sure-fired, West Virginia

solution: Shoot it.

Charlie Spencer has been harvesting

mistletoe with a shotgun since he was a

teenager. “Usually I use a 12-gauge shotgun but you can use any

kind just as long as it has a good scatter,” said the Boone County

native and long-time mistletoe harvester.

According to Spencer, whose “day job” is fire forester for

the West Virginia Division of Forestry, mistletoe primarily

grows in black gum trees like those on and around his family’s

Boone County property. “Black gum is one of the main hosts

of mistletoe. Most of the time, mistletoe is spread through bird

droppings; birds will eat the seeds at one tree and then carry

them to another one.”

Spencer said that although he usually finds only two or three

pods growing on a tree at one time, those pods can be as large

as 18 inches to two-to-three feet in diameter. “I have seen trees

that are covered with pods, but since the mistletoe is not taking

away a lot of nutrients it probably doesn’t hurt the tree too

badly. As long as the tree is able to continue leafing out each

year to gather its own nutrients, everything should be all right.”

During the Christmas season, Spencer becomes a

very popular fellow. “Everybody wants some mistletoe at

Christmastime. My dad, my brother and I usually harvest

some soon after Thanksgiving and we put it up as decoration

in our houses until after New Year’s. We also give it away to

friends. Plus,” Spencer added with a sly smile, “it’s always a

good way to steal a kiss or two.”

Decorating with mistletoe does require special caution:

The plant and its berries can be poisonous when ingested, and

Spencer also warns about harvesting mistletoe by shotgun.

“Know what’s behind your target before you shoot.”

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Charlie Spencer, "The Mistletoe Hunter"

A pod of mistletoe growing high above the ground. Photo by Steve Shaluta

Does anyone really roast chestnuts anymore? They may not be prepared over an open fire like the

Christmas carol suggests, but roasted chestnuts continue to be

a holiday staple for many Appalachian families. The American

chestnut tree once was a common component of forests across

the eastern United States, but by 1930 it was nearly eradicated

by a disease called chestnut blight.

The staff at Clements State Tree Nursery is not about to

let this important species die out completely, though. They

maintain an orchard at their facility near Point Pleasant that

produces blight-resistant seed. From this seed, the staff grows

between 5,000 and 10,000 seedlings annually, which are sold

to landowners in West Virginia and surrounding states. “Our

American chestnut seedlings show resistance to the blight,

but they are not immune,” said Nursery Superintendent Jason

Huffman. “Our hope is to one day breed seedlings that are

totally resistant to chestnut blight.”

The fact that the seedlings are only blight-resistant and not

immune doesn’t slow down sales. Every year the nursery sells

out of American chestnut seedlings, plus sells an additional

5,000 to 10,000 of the Chinese variety.

“The nuts from both species are edible, but typically it takes

10 to 15 years to produce a reliable, plentiful crop,” Huffman

noted. So, if you want to grow your own chestnuts for future

holiday celebrations you can start now by ordering seedlings from

the nursery. Visit www.WVCommerce.org/Seedlings for a catalog

and order form, or call the nursery directly at 304.675.1820.


“I’m a toymaker at heart.”Wooden toys won’t outsell electronic ones this Christmas,

but they still have a place of honor under the tree. Woodworker

Andy Sheetz has handcrafted toys for nearly two decades. “I’m a

toymaker at heart, that’s where my joy is. I love coming up with

toys. I can and do make furniture, but I don’t get the joy and the

thrill out of it like I do with seeing my toys come to life.”

Sheetz is one of at least 20 members of Valley Woodworkers

of West Virginia, Inc., who contribute their time, skills and

products to make Christmas morning special for hundreds

of Charleston-area children. In 2009, the wood-crafting club

donated nearly 900 items to the Salvation Army, including

doll cradles; alphabet blocks with wagons to hold them; toy

cars; traditional red wagons; rocking horses; and “puzzle”

rocking chairs that invite children to take them apart and

put them back together anyway they like. “The chair is made

in such a way that the kid can exchange the left side for the

right side, take the back and turn it around or turn the seat

upside down, and it will still go back together. It’s very cool,

there are no lefts or rights or ups or downs.”

With few exceptions, the toys are built from donated

materials. Local businesses and associations donate everything

from lumber to finishing materials. For the fourth consecutive

year, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc.

provided a $2,000 grant to help purchase items that aren’t

donated, like rubber wheels for wagons, wooden wheels for

cars and screws.

Sheetz also is a juried artist who sells his toys at Beckley’s

TAMARACK – The Best of West Virginia. “I make

two different types of toy cars, an airplane, a rattle, a teeter

totter powered by magnets, a spinning top, a ring-toss game, a

toy tool kit with little wooden tools, a set of blocks and a four-

car train.” In June of 2010, that four-car “choo choo” won the

West Virginia Landmark Award at the 2010 Rhododendron

Festival for the product that best represents West Virginia.

“My products range in price from $7 all

the way up to $125. Anybody who wants

to buy a wooden toy can find something

to fit their price range.” During the

Christmas season, Sheetz also

spends at least two Saturdays at

TAMARACK demonstrating his

craft and selling his wares.

“Andy is one of our favorite demonstrators here at

TAMARACK,” said Marketing Director Cindy Whitlock.

“He makes traditional wooden toys that last through your

children’s and grandchildren’s lifetimes. Andy does a great job

with a high-quality, highly valued craft.”

Whether you want to take the small step of introducing

an old-fashioned wooden toy under the tree this year or

harvesting mistletoe from a tall tree, investing in the long-

term project of growing your own chestnuts, or going all

out and immersing yourself in the Main Street Christmas

experience, you and your family can do it all here in

West Virginia. ‘Tis the season to celebrate homegrown

Christmas traditions. Enjoy!

Leslie Fitzwater is a public information specialist with the Department of Commerce. Christmas is one of her favorite times of the year. And, yes, she still believes in Santa. Contact: [email protected]

“I love coming up with toys. I can and do make furniture, but I don’t get the joy and the thrill out of it like I do with seeing my toys come to life.”Andy Sheetz, toymakerValley Woodworkers of West Virginia, Charleston

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Wooden toys continue to have a place of honor under the Christmas tree. Photo by Steve Shaluta

Valley Woodworkers of West Virginia make Christmas special with donated toys like this.


Child Ballads of West Virginia

PatrickWardGainer’srecordingspreserveancientScots-Irishfolklore

By Andrea B. Bond

Many people might envision historical artifacts as something tangible you can hold in your hand. Yet, some of the world’s rarest

artifacts exist in audio form – a virtual

feast for the ears.

Such are the Child Ballads, collected and performed

by Patrick Ward Gainer and stored in the digital library

at West Virginia University. These songs originally

were collected in the late 19th century by Francis James

Child and published in 10 volumes as “The English and

Scottish Popular Ballads,” which colloquially became

known as the Child Ballads.

“These were British ballads and, because a lot of

Scots-Irish and British people came to America, they

brought these folk songs with them,” explained Dr. John

Cuthbert, director and curator of the West Virginia and

Regional History Collection and Special Collections at

the West Virginia University Libraries.

The Child Ballads span a time frame of several hundred

years. Some have been traced back as early as the 13th

century, but the majority date to the 17th and 18th centuries.

They are grouped into eight categories: superstitions, love

ballads, tragic love ballads, other tragic ballads, ballads of

Robin Hood and his men, ballads of other outlaws, historical

ballads and miscellaneous ballads ranging from satire to

scripture. A few songs have even been recast in prose in the

form of fairy tales.

“Folk song scholars during the late 19th and early 20th

century discovered the idea that maybe there were more

people singing these old British songs in America than there

were in Great Britain. That triggered British scholars coming

over to the United States and studying British folk songs

as sung in the United States. That was the beginning of

American folklore study,” Cuthbert said.

“Most of these folklore people were in the field of English

language as opposed to music. They studied the ballad as

popular literature and poetry.”

It was a native West Virginian with a background in both

English and music who immortalized these old folk songs for

future generations. Patrick Ward Gainer (1904-1981) was born

in Parkersburg and grew up in a musical family in rural Gilmer

County. He often credited his grandfather, F.C. Gainer, with

instilling in him his lifelong love for traditional folk song.

Gainer had an advantage in living in West Virginia:

The ancient ballads he sought were more readily available in

rural Appalachia.

The Child Ballads were collected and published in the 19th century by Francis James Child. West Virginia University professor Patrick Ward Gainer and his mentors Louis Watson Chappell and John Harrington Cox helped preserve the study of ancient folk lore such as the Child Ballads

Photos by Steve Shaluta

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John Cuthbert of the West Virginia University Libraries shows one of the recordings Patrick Ward Gainer made about the Child Ballads.


“Folklore in West Virginia – being isolated by the

mountains, and being a place where traditional folk culture

belongs to everybody – it survived longer than in other places

that were more ‘modern,’” Cuthbert said.

For example, he said, people made quilts and apple butter

in Boston, but as time progressed, the expansion of urban life

and the ready availability of those items rendered the tradition

more or less obsolete. But in rural parts of the country such as

West Virginia, people couldn’t simply run out and buy what

they needed, so they made it.

The same goes for music and the availability of radio and

musical recordings: People who didn’t have music made their

own. As a result, traditional British folk song was perpetuated

longer in the Appalachian belt than in other places.

“Some of the first people to get serious about studying

American folk song coincidentally happened to be people that

were employed at West Virginia University,” he said. “WVU

was arguably the most important place in the country for

studying early folk music in America.”

Several professors at WVU during the early 20th century

were dedicated to the study and preservation of folksong.

One was John Harrington Cox, who was chairman of the

English Department for many years. He earned his doctorate

from Harvard, and his dissertation was called “Folk Songs of

the South.”

“That was really the first serious book about American

folk song by an American author. That included a number of

examples of Child Ballads, these ancient folk songs identified

by Francis J. Child as being migrated to America,” Cuthbert

said. Many later American folk song scholars used Cox’s book

as a model.

“At the same time, there was another gentleman on

the faculty here, Louis Watson Chappell, who was in some

respects as significant as Cox. Rather than collect these songs

with pencil and paper, he bought a machine that cut records.”

The machine was large and cumbersome, but Chappell

dutifully hauled it all over the state to record people singing

Child Ballads and other songs.

“He created a tremendous collection, which includes more

than 2,000 performances of songs and fiddle tunes during the

1930s and 1940s.”

Dave Shombert of Elkins is an old-time fiddle and banjo

player who has performed songs amassed by Chappell.

“The ballads cover a lot of themes, but it’s

surprising how many ‘nonsense’ songs there are,”

Shombert said.

The best example would be “Froggy Went A-Courtin’,”

which, while not from the Child Ballad Collection, is an

ancient British ballad that satirizes the royal gentry.

Originally called “The Frog Came to the Myl Dur,” it

dates back to the 14th century.

“I found a version in which Froggy asks Miss Mouse if

she has any beer,” Shombert said, registering amusement.

The prevalence of nonsense songs likely came

about as an escape from daily troubles of life in the

Middle Ages, he surmised: “Life was hard back then.”

Fast forward several hundred years to the 1920s, when

Patrick Gainer was a student under Cox and Chappell.

Inspired by his professors, he too began collecting folk songs.

After earning a master’s degree from WVU, Gainer

accepted employment at St. Louis University as an English

professor and glee club director. He earned his doctorate

from St. Louis in 1933 and continued to teach there until

1942. Gainer’s reputation as a music director, singer and radio

personality led to his invitation to direct USO activities in the

Caribbean and South Atlantic during World War II.

He returned home to West Virginia after the war.

“Cox and Chappell were phasing out their careers at this

time, and Gainer became the most prominent person in

folklore study here at WVU,” Cuthbert said. “For the next 20

to 30 years, he had a folklore class that was quite possibly the

most popular course at WVU. There was always a waiting list

to get into it.”

In the 1950s, with the advent of the tape recorder, people

began collecting folk songs in earnest, and Gainer was one of

those people.

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Many of the recordings can be accessed online via WVU’s digital library.

Joha

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Ellis

Bluegrass and old-time music are similar in that they rely on many of the same acoustic instrumentation.

Photo by Steve Shaluta

“Froggy went a courtin' and he did ride, hmm, hmm.

Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride.

A sword and a pistol by his side, hmm, hmm, hmm.”

Dave Shombert, a fiddle and banjo player from Elkins, is familiar with a lot of the old ballads, including “Froggy Went A-Courtin’.” St

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“Inspired by Chappell and Cox, he was interested in

meeting people away from the mainstream – people with

musical ability that lived up the hill and holler.”

But don’t call the songs “hillbilly music.” Gainer found the

term offensive. He elaborated his position in the liner notes to

his record album “Folk Songs of the Allegheny Mountains”:

“In recent years there has been much confusion of ‘hillbilly’

songs with genuine folk songs. There is, of course, no relation

between the two. The various vocal and instrumental styles

of the modern ‘hillbilly’ singers and musicians are a fairly

recent development and were never known to the genuine

mountaineers until they were heard on radio. Indeed the word

‘hillbilly’ was until recent years considered a term of contempt

by real hill dwellers.”

Gainer released several LPs of himself singing ballads that

were prevalent and popular in West Virginia. Those albums, if

not out of print, are difficult to obtain, Cuthbert said.

In the meantime, those ancient songs can still be accessed

via WVU’s regional collection. The university has about 80

recordings made by Gainer, some of him singing, and some

performed by other people with Gainer providing commentary

on the origin of the song. Many of the ballads can be accessed

online at WVU’s digital library: www.libraries.wvu.edu/

wvconline (click on “view the digital collections”).

Aside from recordings, the ballads have survived another

way, Cuthbert said. Their influence can still be felt in music

several centuries later.

“Child Ballads have influenced West Virginia folk music in

many respects – the text, the themes and the style of singing.

It certainly has influenced traditional old-time string band

music, and to some extent country and bluegrass music.”

Andrea Bond is a writer for the West Virginia Department of Commerce. She enjoys hiking and kayaking in the New River Gorge and Monongahela National Forest. Contact: [email protected]

Bluegrass: a top search engine keyword that leads visitors to West VirginiaOn the musical family tree, bluegrass could be the great-great-grandchild of old-time folk song. While the newer form of music lends itself to more instrumental interpretation, it too relies on similar lyrical subject matter and is “plucked” on acoustic stringed instruments.

But perhaps it is the geographic link that results in “bluegrass” consistently rating among the top search engine keywords that drive visitors to the West Virginia Department of Commerce website,www.wvtraditions.com.

Old-time music arrived in the United States via immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland who settled in Appalachia in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Bluegrass as a style did not begin to emerge from that until the mid-1940s, drawing in additional influences of country, ragtime and jazz.

Over the next 60 years, bluegrass became synonymous with Appalachia – a cultural region in the eastern United States that includes 13 states ranging as far north as New York and south to Mississippi. West Virginia is unique in that it is the only state that lies entirely within the Appalachian belt.

“Appalachia – particularly central Appalachia – is known for its traditional music. It’s sort of the birthplace and hotbed of traditional music,” said Dr. John Cuthbert of West Virginia University.

Kentucky might be nicknamed the Bluegrass State, and Tennessee might be home to country music capital Nashville – but West Virginia lays claim to much of the music that evolved into bluegrass.

“Traditional things last longer in more rural places, and because West Virginia is more rural, probably, than Kentucky, one could say that would be an argument as to why traditional music has been more vibrant in West Virginia,” he speculated.

The state regularly produces national flat-picking champions and is host to prestigious annual events like the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston

and Pickin’ in the Panhandle in Hedgesville. West Virginia also is home to Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, which offers courses in traditional music, dance, craft and folklore.

Visitors to www.wvtraditions.com can find information on West Virginia’s music heritage as well as links to music festivals and venues throughout the state.

But bluegrass music is not all you’ll find in West Virginia. The Mountain State also boasts a wealth of talent in musical genres such as jazz, blues and classical.

“We have incredible folk culture, but we also have a very significant fine arts culture,” Cuthbert said.

He cited for example George Crumb, composer of modern and avant-garde music and 2007 inductee into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

“If you look him up on the Internet and compare him to any name in contemporary American music, he may get more hits than any other living composer, and he’s from Charleston.”

Then there is Eleanor Steber (1914-1990), who is noted as one of the first opera stars to have achieved the highest success in the United States.

“The greatest opera singer in American history was from Wheeling. If you look her up, you’ll get millions

of hits.”

Today’s traditional and bluegrass music was influenced by British and Irish folk song composed hundreds of years ago. The style of music was brought to the United States by immigrants who settled in the West Virginia, where it has been revived at venues like the Augusta Heritage Center and Vandalia Gathering.

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Photo by Ron Snow

Student Contest Winners

K-1

Artwork

K-1

PeytonPeterstown ElementaryPeterstown

2-3

Daniel Philippi ElementaryPhilippi

4-5

BlakeDaniels ElementaryBeaver

Videos

6-8

“Hot Coals”Tyler Consolidated MiddleSistersville

9-12

“What do you like about West Virginia?”Speiro Academy HighWheeling

Visit www.GenuineWV.com/Results to view more of the winning artwork and videos.

2-3

4-5

6-8

9-12

“My favorite part about West Virginia is all of it.”Peyton , first grade, first place winner

What better way to find out what the youth of West Virginia think about the Mountain State than to offer a contest with fun prizes?

The kid’s art contest was open to children from kindergarten to fifth grade who wanted to showcase what they love about West Virginia through their artwork. The cub reporter contest was for children in grades 6-8. Their stories introduced the audience to truly unique West Virginia products. A video contest involved teens in grades 9-12 and allowed the students to film genuine West Virginia activities, sights or people.

More than 450 students entered the contest and a panel of judges decided first and second place winners. Winners received Flip Video Recorders and art supply certificates for their schools.

“To me, West Virginia is a special state. I go fishing and my family hunts. Through my art I want to tell people what I think about West Virginia.”Blake, fourth grade, first place winner

“My favorite part of West Virginia is my home in Philippi because of the people and the nature that live there.”Daniel, third grade, first place winner

By Hallie Sampson

www.genuinewv.com

Prints of this photo available: wvscenics.com

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