WEST VIRGINIA HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL TRIVIA

While many West Virginians can tell you that their state is drained by the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, very few know that a small and romote section of Monroe County is drained by the James River. Cove Creek,which joins with Sweet Springs Creek to form Dunlap Creek, and Potts Creek both have their waters flowing though the James. Both Dunlap Creek and Potts Creek join the Jackson River at Covington, Virginia. Jackson River Joins with the Cowpasture River to form the James River.

West Virginai Streams that flow to the James River

Although I have collected the names of more than eight-thousand and nine hundred streams that flow in and around West Virginia, We cannot claim the Potomac River and the North Branch of the Potomac as West Virginia Rivers. The State of Maryland owns these rivers all the way to the West Virginia shore.

This old shay logging engine is pulling its train across Leatherbark Creek before the train begins to wind its way up the creekbed. It is claimed that Leatherbark Creek has the greatest drop over the shortest distance of any major stream east of the Mississippi.

Although the beauty of the "Sods" is almost sureal, it is the result of the ruthless logging practices of the logger barons who planed to make the area into a gigantic grazing area. Their goal was to cut every stick of wood. After the logging opeation, a giant fire raged through the area that smoldered for years. All of the organic matter was burned leaving the bare rock exposed. Because of the shortsightedness of a powerful few, a great wealth was lost.

Bear Rocks on the edge of the Sods. Photo by Okey L. King

photo by Okey L. King

At the end of a rocky road through a reclaimed coalmine area, you will come to tiny Fairfax Stone State Park. In the middle of this photo, you will see a large flat stone. This is the Fairfax Stone and it marks the corner of West Virginia and Maryland. Below the stone is the main spring of the mighty Potomac River. Originally, the stone was boundary marker of Lord Fairfax's land which was to extend to the "Spring of the Potomac. This little out of the way state park is not far north of Blackwater Falls. In the background, you will see my little vehicle.

photo by Okey L. King.

This is the old iron furnce at Valley Furnace, West Virginia north of Belington. Furnaces like this one once produced a fair amount of iron. Some of the cannonballs used in the Great Lakes Campaign duing the War of !812 came from (West) Virginia furnaces. When the iron ranges in Minnisota were opened which produced a much higher grade of ore, the furnaces in what is now West Virginia lost their importance.

This is something that I find interesting because it lists towns along the C&O Railroad that no longer exist.

Spirit Leveling Benchmarks on the C&O Railroad:FROM TUCKAHOE TO CHARLESTON

Old Towns in the New River Gorge.

West Virginia Wetlands

Rehoboth Church

photo by Okey L. King

Rehoboth Methodist Church is the oldest church west of the Alleghenies. Buried in the yard are some of the first settlers of the area. At Keenan, Rehoboth is a short distance east of Union on Route 3 in Monroe County. My wife fifth great grandparents, Wisemans, are buried here. Her 5th great grandmother is said to be the first to be buried in the old cemetery.

Germany Valley:Beauty with a past

Photo by Okey L. King
.....Germany Valley is a beautiful valley but, during frontier times, it was also a bloody one.

Reflections in Spruce Knob Lake

West Virginia's Highest Lake

photo by Okey L. King

photo by Okey L. King

This is Shavers Fork of Cheat River as seen from the bridge at Cheat Bridge. Running along the top of Cheat Mountain, this stream is said to be the highest major river in the United States. This area was once the scene of a major logging industry. The historic (no longer in existance) town of Spruce stood just upstream from this spot.

Place Name Tidbits

Romance in Jackson County, West Virginia is named for Romance Parsons who was an early resident.

Not So Well Known Towns in West Virginia.

Tributaries of the Greenbrier River

West Virginia Streams