Colored sections represent counties.


Now I will tell you why I'm so excited. It's because I'm almost home. Well, the town where I was born. But before we get there, we have a few stops to make.




ARTHURDALE


The nation's first New Deal homestead community, founded in 1934 by President and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt. Now an 1102-acre historic district, Arthurdale Heritage operates the New Deal Homestead Museum with a forge and a service station.

This is a very old picture, but the original ESSO sign is being restored. (I remember that name.)

Also a Center Hall and the Wagner Homestead, E-15, a full-restored working homestead with a 1930s home including farm animals.

Tours are conducted by costumed guides.



CLARKSBURG


We just had to stop here because this is the birthplace of Thomas J."Stonewall" Jackson.

Born in 1824, Jackson was a deeply religious man whose life was marked by continuous loss and tragedy. He was a brilliant military strategist, and earned his nickname when he led a brigade at the first battle of Bull Run.

He was wounded and lost his left arm at Chancellorsville....Robert E. Lee lamented, "He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm."

A bronze statue stands on the courthouse square in honor of this great man.

Much of downtown Clarksburg resembles the Clarksburg at the turn of the last century.


Lookin' at this picture kinda gives you that good "downhome" feeling, huh?

Clarksburg's historic Waldomore was built in 1839 by Waldo Potter Goff and is the home of the Harrison County Genealogical Society. The Waldomore is one of the most famous homes in Harrison County that is still standing today. The Waldomore is part of the Harrison-Clarksburg Public Library.

Well, I think it's time to go....on our way to



GRAFTON


How many of you know what holiday Anna Jarvis worked to establish? If you said MOTHER'S DAY, go to the head of the class.

This is Ann Reeves Jarvis.

And this is the house in which she was born.

Anna Jarvis was a schoolteacher and one of 12 children of Ann Reeves Jarvis.

Mrs. Jarvis died in May of 1906. On the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday in May, 1907, Anna organized a small, private service to honor her mother, a lady who had served others well. She also announced her intentions to make it a national holiday. On May 10, 1908, a congregation of 407 attended the first official Mother's Day service in the same church where Ann Reeves Jarvis had taught Sunday School. In 1910, Gov. William Glasscock issued the first Mother's Day proclamation. Then in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson approved a congressional resolution proclaiming the second Sunday in May (the anniversary of Ann Jarvis' death) as Mother's Day. A short time later it was adopted as an international holiday.

Historic Andrews Church became the International Mother's Day Shrine on May 15, 1962.

The church itself was built in 1872.





FAIRMONT




Besides being the home of Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton,

just a few miles from Fairmont is Prickett's Fort.

This is a 1976 reproduction of the original fort that was built in the 1700's.

Jacob Prickett,Sr,. his wife and 10 children were among the first settlers in western Virginia. The soil was rich, there were huge hardwood trees and wildlife was abundant. The Native Americans were initially tolerant of the European settlers, but they were becoming increasingly angered by the destruction of forests and wildlife. In 1774, the indians declared war.

A fort was built for the protection of the settlers.

This is a reconstruction of the fort. When visiting the fort, you will learn the history of those days. (I'm so glad I didn't live then.)

It's time to go and I can't wait to get in the Chevy and head for.......