Friends of Blackwater Canyon
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Friends of Blackwater Canyon December 2004 501 Elizabeth St.reet Room 3, Charleston, WV 25311 • 304-345-7663 • www.saveblackwater.org • [email protected] Blackwater Play Draws Overflow Crowd Museum in Economic Plan On November 9, an audience of more from having the same school year as for Blackwater Area than 500 people packed Charleston’s State white children. By Edward Peeks Capitol Cultural Center Theater to see an Actor Joseph Bundy Excerpts from a November 18, 2004 article historic re-enactment of the Blackwater played Clifford, and Canyon — based case, Carrie Williams vs. actress Ilene Evans A proposed museum figures into the Board of Education.* played the Carrie economic development in northern West The hero in the “courtroom drama” re- Williams part in Virginia, as part of the magnet to attract enactment program was the Charleston more tourist Columnist Edward West Virginia’s first production. Ilene dollars and Peeks, who attended African American Evans lives near increase business the Williams/Clifford lawyer, J. R. the town of in the Blackwater performance, wrote for Clifford. Clifford Thomas in Tucker Canyon area, one the Charleston Gazette was born in County. Her work of the state’s most about Friends of 1848 near can be seen at scenic and Blackwater’s Coketon Greenland voicesfromtheearth.org, beautiful areas. Museum Project, Gap, West In 2003, Friends of The region which celebrates the Virginia. He Blackwater brought reflects the industrial past and fought in the the Williams/Clifford character and Ilene Evans as rich cultural heritage Civil War as a case — and the great heritage of the Carrie Williams of the Blackwater teenager, ethnic history of the Mountain State Region. then became Coketon area — to the attention of West and its impact on an educator, Virginia Supreme Court Justice Larry the nation, from publisher, Starcher and his law clerk, Tom Rodd. the saving of the Union to industrial crusading lawyer, They took the ball and ran with it! development to civil rights and social history. “Help preserve this fascinating Aaron Clark and civil rights activist. Along with great drama, the Charleston as young The heroine of the story show had great music by the Carpenter history and support economic J. R. Clifford was Carrie Williams, a Ants and the Martin Luther King, Jr. development. Support planning and tenacious teacher at the Memorial Choir. Many leading members development of the Coketon Industrial one-room “colored school” in Coketon — of West Virginia’s black community History Museum and Interpretative Center,” at the head of the Blackwater Canyon. In honored the event with their presence. says . Friends of Blackwater... Coketon is 1898, Williams and Clifford fought and Friends of Blackwater provided conspicuous in civil rights history with J.R. won the right to stop a school board bent refreshments. See more pictures of the Clifford and other black lawyers like T.G. on keeping African American children show on our website! Nutter, Willard Brown and Hugo Payne Sr. Today’s efforts for tourism and economic In This Issue: development include a program to save Clifford Play/Museum ....................................................................................................... 1 Blackwater Canyon from the ravages of Director’s Update ............................................................................................................... 2 DC House Party ................................................................................................................... 2 logging and the encroachment of private FOB Board Highlight - Jason Halbert ....................................................................... 3 real estate developers. A public move is Limerock, My Hometown ............................................................................................... 3 underway to increase wilderness areas for Cheat Canyon Threatened ............................................................................................ 4 hiking, camping and other outdoor Wind Turbine Moratorium Requested .................................................................. 4,5 leisures. The dream is to make alive a body Keep Dolly Sods Wild Project Update: Citizens Sue for Information .......... 5 of West Virginia heritage in the Coketon September Conference and Award Recipients ................................................ 6,7 Industrial History Museum and In Memory of Friends and Family ............................................................................ 8,9 Interpretative Center. Honoring Mrs. Schoyer and Tom Rodd ................................................................. 10 Part One of Art Exhibit on Display ............................................................................ 10 Election Year ‘04 Media Campaign Responses .................................................. 11 *T*T*The rrhe e-ene-ene-enactment wwactment as sponsorsponsoras ed bbed y thethey Sam McCormick’s Orchids on Display .................................................................... 11 WWWest VVest iririrginia SuprSuprginia eme CourCoureme t andandt Holiday Gift Ideas .............................................................................................................. 12 the WWthe est VVest iririrginia Humanities Council. Director’s Update Dear Friends, We come to the end of another year. Gortex) we ran large newspaper ads A special note Soon the Blackwater Canyon will be across West Virginia asking people to As the Bob Wise administration comes blanketed in snow. The salamanders urge statewide political candidates to to a close, we want to thank the will be hibernating under logs, the bats support Blackwater protection. Over Governor — and particularly his in caves — and the flying squirrels will 1,000 people staffer, Susan Small be digging down through the snow, sent messages — for all the work sniffing out wild truffles buried under to the they put in, trying to the forest floor. candidates negotiate the The magical winter wonderland of through our purchase of the the High Allegheny red spruce forest (your) website private land in will glitter with ice crystals, as alone! And Blackwater Canyon. chickadees bounce from branch to the candidates branch. What a miracle! responded — Thank you for being 15 positively with Friends of in the Blackwater on this 2004 primaries. To voyage of discovery A Year of Discovery cap this effort, so far. We look { for Friends of Blackwater } both major forward to continuing Gubernatorial Judy Rodd and Susan Small with you in the We discovered that our favorite candidates this Fall stated their coming year. Have a wonderful Holiday nature writer, J. Lawrence Smith is support for protecting Season and Happy New Year. willing to write another book about Blackwater Canyon. Blackwater Country — to help save the Canyon. We discovered the dramatic power of the life and work of J.R. Clifford and Carrie Auction Adds Excitement to DC Party Williams, who fought their case WV Artists Make it a Success from a tiny “colored school” in Fifty people attended our the Blackwater Canyon to the a botanical drawing, and Ann’s daughter November 18 Washington, Helen Payne, now working in West Virginia Supreme Court to DC house party at Rafe and Lenore Washington, donated an oil portrait. The forge equality in education in West Pomerance’s home in Adams celebrated Virginia, 60 years before Brown vs. Morgan. Tasty wines and Middle photographer, Board of Education. Eastern food put everyone in a good Jim Clark, of We discovered the excitement that the mood. As balmy weather let people War, West idea of a National Park can generate at mingle in the garden, we were serenaded Virginia, our “Visioning Blackwater” Meeting in by the Appalachian fiddle and hammered donated two of dulcimer — played September. We discovered the his books to by Sam and Joe help with the The Kiss by Sassi Harel generosity of West Virginia artists, who Herrmann, of donated world-class artworks to Blackwater Critton Owl campaign. support our effort. And we discovered Hollow, WV. One Numerous how deeply we are moved by the highlight of the Tucker County generous donations made in honor and evening was an businesses memory of people who have come auction of West donated before us — in their love of the land, Virginia books, dinners, and their dedication to protecting and crafts, trips and overnights, ski Sculpture celebrating West Virginia’s special artwork, including passes, and bike by Mark Blumenstein photographs by places. trips. Also Paul Corbit Brown thanks to Sally Davidson for her donation We discovered our (your) power to and “Tico” Frank move politicians, with our Election of dinners at Clyde’s of Georgetown. All Herrera, and of the auction items sold like hotcakes, Year Media Campaign. With help from Artist Helen Payne sculptures by Mark making the fundraiser a solid success!! the Conservation Alliance (and Blumenstein and Sassi Harel. Thanks to all of the folks who came and particularly Campmor, Dansco, and Morgantowner Ann Cork Payne donated joined the fun! 2 Judy Rodd, President Paul Hill, Vice President Board Highlight Jeannie Dalporto, Secretary Jason Halbert Linda Cooper, Treasurer Jason Halbert has worked on the Canyon National Sandy Fisher Blackwater Campaign since 1998. Park presentation Jason’s pioneer great-great- in Washington, Board of Directors Sheila McEntee grandparents were from Beverly, West DC. Virginia, and he has a deep love of “Through Jason, Annie Dillard West Virginia’s