Blog

Wedding

 

Tis the Season. . . . .

To get engaged? Perhaps over the holidays you noticed that among the ads for toys, electronics and clothing, there were also plenty of ads for diamond engagement rings.

Think the little blue box from Tiffany’s®, He went to Jared’s® or a personal favorite, Every Kiss begins with Kay®

It must be the magic of the holiday season, the sparkling lights, celebrating, gift-giving, and being around friends and family that invites the asking of that special question.  So it comes as no surprise that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the most popular times of the year for that extraordinary moment. It’s also makes it convenient to announce your engagement while family and friends are around during the holidays!

Once the initial surprise, tears and hugs of congratulations subside, it is time to start planning.  That is where the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Marion County can help.  We have put together a wedding brochure featuring a wide-range of Marion County businesses, guest activities and recreation ideas and venues to help streamline your decision making process.  Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center or call today to get your FREE wedding brochure.

New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day are also very popular days to pop the question. No matter what day your beloved chooses it will be remembered for years to come! The Convention & Visitors Bureau of Marion County is here to help lessen the stress of planning, so your engagement and wedding day can be memorable.

You will easily see why Marion County’s historical past is the perfect place to start your storied future.

 

Sugar Plums

 

While Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads. . . . .

Isn't it interesting the way holiday traditions always center around the kitchen and food? No matter what the culture or holiday, our memories linger on aromas in the kitchen and the delicious tastes of the foods we love.

As you prepare for the Christmas season and reflect on your own traditions, we would like to share with you some of our favorite foods and why they are so meaningful.

Marianne: My husband’s mother always made this cookie for Christmas and it was my husband’s favorite cookie. When we married 38 years ago, I began making the cookies for Chuck and I always know when he has been eating them as I can follow the “powdered sugar trail” through the house!

Russian Tea Cakes

• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, plus more for rolling cookies
• 2 cups flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 325⁰

Cream butter in large mixing bowl.  Add the vanilla then gradually add the ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, beating until light and fluffy.  Sift the flour, measure, and then sift again with the salt.  Add gradually to the butter mixture.  Add the nuts and mix well.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake for 20 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned.  Remove the cookies from the baking sheets and roll in powdered sugar while still hot.  Cool on wire racks and roll cookies again in powdered sugar.

Once they are completely cooled, cookies may be stored in airtight containers for up to 1 week.

Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Sharon: My mom used to make these treats every year. We would always get some but the bulk of what she made was for neighbors who had no one there for Christmas. Every Christmas Eve we would sneak around the neighborhood and place a package of Christmas goodies on the front porch for that person to find. We never left our name, but somehow I think the neighbors suspected it was us. They were easy to make and never lasted long in our home.

The Christmas before my mom died, she shared her recipe. We made these cookies until the wee hours of the morning and then took them to the local VA hospital as a treat for all the veterans on Christmas morning. Needless to say the cookies didn’t last long there either! My family still makes and gives away these cookies to special neighbors who live alone and just need to know someone is thinking of them.  You can never tell what surprises you may find on your porch Christmas morning . . . . . . .

Date Filled Cookie Bars

Original recipe makes 1 -9x13 inch pan

• 1 pound dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions: In a medium saucepan bring the dates, sugar, water, lemon zest and orange zest to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 325⁰

Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Stir in the walnuts and melted butter.

Mixture will be somewhat crumbly.

Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Spread the date filling evenly over the crust.

Crumble the rest of the crust mixture over the filling, and pat down slightly.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven.

Cut into bars while warm.

Dust with confectioners' sugar when cooled.

Leisha: For as long as I can remember, my aunt has made this coffee cake for our Christmas morning breakfast – with one exception.  Three years ago, she and my uncle arrived at my parent’s home with arms full of presents – but no coffee cake.  Twelve hungry people stood there in horror as she realized that she forgot the cake.  She just didn't forget it at home – she completely forgot to bake it.  Needless to say, the beloved coffee cake was there for the next year’s Christmas morning breakfast!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks) softened
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 2 eggs room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda

Stir together dry ingredients and set aside

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream and vanilla

Add dry ingredients to butter mixture

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Mix together

Generously grease and flour a bunt pan.  Shake out excess flour.

Spoon a layer of batter around pan then add a little nut mixture.  Continue with layers ending with the nut mixture.

Bake at 350⁰ for 40 minutes.  Let cake rest in pan for 15 minutes then invert to cake stand.  Cool completely before slicing.

Perhaps the most recognized holiday traditions come from the Feast of the Seven Fishes Christmas Eve dinner.  The following recipe was shared at this year’s Feast of the Fishes Festival cooking school demonstration.

Cucidati:  Italian Fig Cookies

Filling:

• 1 pound pitted dates
• 1 pound dried figs
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• Juice and rind on one small orange
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup water

Dough:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, cut into ½ - inch cubes
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 egg white beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash
• Colored sprinkles for decorating

Directions:  For the filling, using a food processer, grind dates and figs together.  Grind walnuts then a whole orange with its peel and juice.  Put the ingredients in a heavy bottomed saucepan, add sugar and water, stir over low heat so that the sugar completely dissolves and mixture is smooth and spreadable, about 15 minutes, cool.

To make the sough, in a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and whisk to combine.  Add the butter and blend with your fingertips until most of the mixture resembles coarse meal.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg, milk and vanilla together.  Add to the dry mixture and stir to make rough dough.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.  Cut the dough into 4 pieces, cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375⁰ Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets or use parchment paper lined baking sheets.

On a lightly floured surface, one at a time, roll out each piece of dough into a 12-inch square.  Cut the dough into 4 x 3 –inch rectangles.  Spook 2 tablespoons of filling down the center o0f each rectangle.  Fold the long sides of each rectangle inward to the center to enclose the filling; pinch the edges to seal.  Turn the cookies seam-side down and press gently to flatten the seams.  With a floured knife, cut the logs crosswise into 1 ½ -inch-wide slices and arrange ½ inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.  Brush with egg wash and decorate with colored sprinkles.  Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

What Christmas cooking traditions would you like to share?

 

New App

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Where can I find that in Marion County?”

Now, thanks to our new app, you have Marion County (literally) at your fingertips. Everything you need to explore our area is here for you. Dining, shopping, activities: it’s all at the touch of a button to help you plan your day or your trip to our area.

Use the app to find a restaurant, then tap the address for live directions to its location. Plan your shopping outing using the app listings. Keep up to date on our latest social media activity. All from your iPhone or iPad.

One of the features we like best is the calendar. Now it’s even easier to see what’s happening in Marion County. You can plan your trip, or even just plan your day, using app information.

To get the app, visit the Apple App Store, search for ‘Marion County CVB’, and install. Or, just follow this link. Best of all, the app is free.

We can’t wait to hear how you’re using the app to explore Marion County. Enjoy!

 

Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival

 

A FAIRMONT HOLIDAY TRADITION CONTINUES

The seventh annual Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival will be celebrated on Saturday, December 8, 2012 on Monroe Street in historic downtown Fairmont.  The Italian-heritage festival is free and open to the public from 11:00 am until 7:30pm. You’ll find authentic foods showcasing local chefs and restaurants.  The festival will also feature many local vendors selling gift baskets, Christmas ornaments, handmade jewelry and candles, live pine trees, fresh pine, holly wreaths and garland plus other unique food and gift items. New this year are tours of the Agape Church (Gatherings) with ensemble performances.

Italian holiday favorites will be featured, and there will be contests for homemade cookies and wine.  The cooking school will demonstrate how to prepare the “Seven Fishes Feast” with all NEW recipes this year.  Live music and entertainment will continue all day, center stage in the old Fairmont firehouse.  There will be plenty of tables and chairs located in the firehouse and in various locations under shelter to keep warm.

Then wrap up the day with the Christmas Parade and a Catholic Mass.

The Marion County Transit Authority will offer FREE shuttle service between the Prickett's Fort Christmas Market and downtown Fairmont, giving you the chance to enjoy both of these holiday events.

Shuttle Schedule

Leave downtown Fairmont for Prickett’s Fort Christmas Market
11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm

Leave Prickett’s Fort Christmas Market for downtown Fairmont
12:00 pm, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience an Italian Christmas tradition set in historic downtown Fairmont.

Entertainment Schedule
11:00 am - 5:30pm Bocce Ball Courts will be set up in the parking lot next to the Union Mission.  Watch the pros and learn or join in a pick-up game
11:00am - 12:00 pm National Anthem, Opening Remarks and Dedication in the firehouse
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Florence Chico Cann Children’s Choir
11:30am -1:00 pm Festival Cucina Cooking School/Demo The cooking demonstration is $20 per person and is takes place in CJ Maggie’s Restaurant, Jefferson Street, which will open just for this event.
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Ott Meale and Sam Manno
1:00 pm - 1:30pm Brittany Marie
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Five Guys Named Moe
3:45 pm Cookie Contest and Wine Making Contest winners announced
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Mirella the Musician
4:00 pm - 5:45 pm The Cavaliers
5:30 pm Christmas Parade
6:30 pm Catholic Mass in the Agape Church at 216 Monroe Street

 

Fairmont celebrates The Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival every December thanks to the efforts of Bob Tinnell, who along with his wife, Shannon, wrote the graphic-novel, Feast of the Seven Fishes: The Collected Comic Strip and Italian Holiday Cookbook.

So are you still curious about what the Feast is all about? This excerpt from Appalachian History, by Dave Tabler, will tell you more:

This southern Italian feast is traditionally celebrated on Christmas Eve. It stems from the observance of the Cena della Vigilia, the wait for the miraculous birth of Christ in which early Christians fasted on Christmas Eve until after receiving communion at Midnight Mass. At one time, Rome was the farthest point north where ‘La Vigilia’ was celebrated, but today Italians throughout the world celebrate it.

“When I was kid, eating fish on Christmas Eve was just something you did,” says (Bob)Tinnell. “We never called it by name. I never even bothered to question why we did it, especially as I had not been raised Catholic. All I knew was that December 24th meant a delicious meal of exotic foods, cooked up by my ancient great-grandmother, Isabella Oliverio, on her wood-fired stove in the basement of her modest home in Rivesville, WV.”

At least 11 percent of the population of Harrison, Marion, and Monongalia counties has Italian ancestry. The larger communities are in the vicinity of Clarksburg, Fairmont, and Morgantown respectively. Many Italians originally immigrated to West Virginia in the early twentieth century to work in the coal mines throughout the state.

Specialty glass factories in this region were largely an Italian immigrant industry with factories in Fairmont, Mannington, and Clarksburg. Italian stonemasons were also common in the early communities. So ‘La Vigilia’ clearly has an established place among West Virginia Christmas traditions.

Why seven types of fish for this Christmas feast? Some believe that seven fishes are served because it took God seven days to create the world, while others mention the Seven Hills of Rome. There is also the possibility that the seven fishes symbolize the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, along with the seven sins, or the seven days it took Mary and Joseph to reach Bethlehem, or the seven of the twelve Apostles who were fishermen. Some say it is because it took God seven days to create the universe.

Some regions of Italy require three courses (the Trinity or three Wise Men), nine courses (the Trinity times three), twelve courses (the Apostles), thirteen courses (the Apostles, plus Jesus), or even 25 courses (for the days in the Christmas season).

The origins vary, depending on who you ask, but quite clearly, you did not eat meat on Christmas Eve since it was the birth of Jesus, and just as you would not eat meat on Good Friday, you would not eat meat on Christmas Eve. As midnight brings Christmas day, that is when you would start cooking the sausage for Christmas Dinner, and often the eating would go on until the late/early morning hours.

The people from Naples are famous for their elaborate spreads of cold shellfish cocktails and hot fish dishes, as well as the roasted peppers and antipasti. In most of the southern coastal regions in Italy and Sicily, seafood was abundant and so offered the perfect opportunity to work fish into the menu for this festive day.

Two fish most traditionally found on Christmas Eve menus across Italy are baccalà (salted cod) and anguilla (eel). Other popular fishes that are eaten on this special holiday are prepared versions of calamari, kale patties, oysters, scallops, whiting, clams, and shrimp. At the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the meal usually begins with antipasto, the Italian equivalent of hors d’oeuvres. This can include a variety of cold foods such as cheeses and raw or marinated vegetables.

The meal ends with any number of delectable desserts. One that is almost always present is panettone, the famous sweet cake-like Christmas bread that is eaten during the Christmas holidays.

And if you're looking for more holiday cheer, also plan to visit the Marion County Museum's Open House and the Tea With a Twist Event at the Woman's Club.

We can’t wait for this annual Marion County festival; it’s one of our favorite events of the year. Will we see you there?

 

The Fairmont Woman’s Club

 

 

The Fairmont Woman’s Club – An Area Treasure

If you've ever visited the Fairmont Woman’s Club, you might have some questions about this unique building. We've got the scoop, and can tell you about your chance to visit. Read on.

History of the House

In 1901, Thomas W. Fleming and his wife, Annie built this 2 ½ story, “U”-shaped, stucco masonry building in the Colonial Revival/Beaux-Arts style. Located at 300 First Street, the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Thomas W. Fleming was a descendant of a pioneer family that settled in Fairmont. Fleming served as the Mayor of Fairmont for two terms and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1905.

Fleming’s wife, Annie Sweeny Fleming, helped to organize the Fairmont Woman’s Club. She began inviting local women to her home to discuss civic progress and social issues. Mrs. Fleming was the club’s first president. The house has been used as headquarters for the Woman’s Club since 1938.

The well-preserved house is a stucco masonry structure with a high-pitched truncated hip roof. Semicircular steps meet a rounded glass-enclosed solarium centered at the front of the house. The solarium is flanked by gray-stucco masonry walls with windows that are arranged in groups of three. Tripartite design elements, in addition to the three front bays, include three dormers with curvilinear broken pediments, and two two-story bays with half conical roofs at the side elevations. These elements visually join the curving entrance solarium and visually frame the symmetrical mass of the entire home.

Annie Fleming was the architect of the house, which contains 14 closets and a secret passageway.  Furniture was shipped from France to New York then on to Fairmont by train at Walkers Landing on Washington Street.

The Facelift

Much of the original furniture, plasterwork, and stained glass and light fixtures remain intact. A stained glass window at the stair landing, a leaded glass front door panel, and the original slate roof have been replaced with substitutes. No major alterations have occurred, with the exception of the removal of one wall.

However following the death of the Flemings, the house was sold and the upper floors were turned into apartments with the Woman’s Club members meeting on the ground floor.  Unfortunately, many of the tenants did not maintain these spaces and major cleaning and repairs were needed to bring back the home’s grandeur.

The restoration began approximately five years ago and has been a room by room process. On the outside, the roof was replaced and outside stucco continues to be repaired.  An original light on the left side porch replaced a front porch light.  The brush and trees have been removed from the Virginia Avenue side of the house to showcase the river. Indoors, plaster and screen doors have been repaired.  Pockets doors have been refurbished and bathrooms restored.  Although not replaced, the hardwood floors have been refinished. The Black Forest grandfather clock has a Westminster Chime and will be working soon.

“You name it, it was broken,” said Nancy Bickerstaff, GFWC president. “We did not change anything. The historic integrity of the home has been maintained, and we had so many people that came in and really helped do so many of the things we had to do.”

Your Chance to Visit - Home for the Holidays

On Saturday, December 8 from 1 – 4 pm, every floor of the Woman’s Club will be decorated in its Christmas finery.  One of the trees in the mansion will be decorated entirely in red roses, the symbol of the National Woman’s Club.  Guests can warm up with a cup of tea, relax and enjoy Italian pastries.

All three levels of the floor will be open for the tour, and ladies of the Woman’s Club will answer questions on all floors. The event will be held in conjunction with the Feast of the Seven Fishes as well as the Pricketts Fort Christmas Market and the Marion County Historical Society Museum open house.

Admission is $5.  Reservations can be made by calling 304-366-3231 or 304-363-9414 and leave a message or email nbicky@ comcast.net. Reservations are needed to assure there are enough goodies on hand. Donations are also being accepted for the Thomas and Annie Fleming Memorial Fund.

Will we see you there?

 

 

2012 Holiday Historic House Tour

 

Experience Christmas Past at the 2012 Holiday Historic House Tour

Once again the Marion County Historic Society is sponsoring the 2012 Holiday Historic House Tour on Saturday, November 24 from 10 am to 3 pm. This self-guided tour includes nine historic properties and has been an area favorite for many years.

Want to know more about the tour? Here’s a look at the history of the homes you can see, provided by the owners.

Located at 210 Adams Street, Fairmont, the former sheriff’s home now serves as the Marion County Museum.

Construction on the Sheriffs’ home and connecting county jail was started on October 22, 1909 and completed on March 12, 1912. Calvin D. Conaway and family became the first residents on January 1, 1913. The design of the structure is unique in that the Sheriff could go to the jail and court house without ever going outside. All three structures had a common utilities connection.  The residency became the Marion County Museum in 1986. The Sheriff’s office and several jail cells have been restored for viewing.

The Methodist Protestant Church (The People's Temple) is located at 216 Monroe Street.

The cornerstone was laid in 1896 and a stained glass window, originally from the "Church on the Hill" (1834), was installed.  The church has over 40 stained glass windows from the 1800s.  West Virginia Governor Francis H. Pierpont and his wife, Julia, worshiped here.

111 Virginia Avenue (at 2nd Street) is the address for the George S. Brackett Home.

This circa 1902 Shingle Victorian Home is thought to have been built by A.B. Fleming and his wife Carrie as an investment property. Owners of the home include an engineer (who worked for the City of Fairmont and had several U.S. patents), a local church, and the George S. Brackett family, who purchased the home in 1927 and resided there for the next 62 years.   The home's most significant features are in the library with its hand hewn old growth oak beams that span the entire room and a hand cut stone fireplace that covers the entire width of one end of the room.

Located at 205 Fairmont Avenue, the Hutchinson Coal Company Warehouse still stands.

This 1920’s construction is a contributing building to the Downtown Historic District. The company offices for Hutchinson Coal Company were located here.  The building has since been renovated into apartments.

The Hunsaker-Ice Farm is located at 1683 Fairmont Avenue.

When the 'Hunsaker Farm" was built in the 1860s, it faced the Beverly Turnpike. In the 1930s, the house was turned around to face new Route 250. During the WPA era, it was resurfaced with same stonework used in the construction of East-West Stadium and the 12th Street Pool.  Guest James Watson once brought the entire Ziegfeld Follies cast from New York to visit for a weekend.

This Sears and Roebuck Kit House is located at 1623 Edgeway Drive.

This Sears and Roebuck Argyle Cottage was built from a kit in 1920 and shipped by rail in crates to Skinner’s Tavern, and then hauled by horse and wagon to its present location.  It features the original gable front porch and exposed roof rafter tails capped in copper.

The Arthur G. Martin House is found at 201 Watson Avenue.

This American Arts & Crafts (Craftsman style) home is attributed to a commissioned Gustav Stickley design.  Pictures of the home are featured on pages 438, 439, and 440 of the book, “Stickley’s Craftsman Homes”, by Ray Stubblebine. Arthur G. Martin, mayor of Fairmont, had the home built as a family residence in 1911.

Situated at 1312 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Meredith House stands.

This Federal Italianate-style two-story wood frame home was built prior to 1860 by William Meredith, a manufacturer of lumber as well a Contractor. He was a Captain commissioned by Governor Pierpont as well as a Justice of the Peace and the first Mayor of Belleview, originally known as Barnesville.  His son, Judge Winfield Scott Meredith, next occupied the house.  He served as a director of the People’s National Bank of Fairmont, a State Senator and a Judge of the Circuit Court of Marion County.

The Shaw Home sits at 425 Morgantown Avenue

The Tudor style, 2-½ story home was built in 1916 by Judge Harry Shaw, a Marion County Circuit Court Judge and prominent political figure.  The interior features a birch-paneled living room beneath a ceiling patterned after the strap work of the Long Gallery at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, England.  Three stained glass windows contain a coat of arms. Note:  This may be the last time the house is on the tour, as it is currently for sale by the owner.

There are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re considering taking the tour:
This tour is designed for adults.
Please respect your hosts’ privacy and possessions.
Kindly ask for the owner’s permission to take photographs, as photographs for commercial purposes must be given written permission from the owners.
No soliciting of any kind.
Also remember that many of our tour locations are privately owned homes.  There may be family emergencies that occur that can affect the availability of the home for the tour.

Sound like fun? If you’re going, Tickets are $16.00 in advance and $18.00 the day of the tour and can be purchased at the Marion County Historical Society Museum located at 210 Adams Street, Fairmont. For more information, call 304.367.5398

Will we see you on the tour?

 

2012 Veteran’s Day Parade

 

Meet Gunnery Sergeant Shawn Shoulders, Grand Marshal of the 2012 Veteran’s Day Parade

The 2012 Marion County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Monday, November 12 in Fairmont.  And this year there will be a very special Grand Marshal. One of Fairmont’s own veterans will lead the parade.

Gunnery Sergeant Shawn Shoulders was born in Fairmont on April 16, 1976.  He graduated from East Fairmont High School in June 1994.  Upon graduation he attended Fairmont State College for about a year and then enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1995.  He attended Recruit Training in October at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

Military Career
Following completion of training, Private First Class Shoulders was assigned to F Battery 2^nd Battalion 11^th Marines, Camp Pendleton, CA where he served as a cannon crewman and made multiple deployments to Okinawa, Japan and Kuwait.

In December 1999, Sergeant Shoulders transferred to I Battery 3^rd Battalion 10^th Marines where he served as a Section Chief and Platoon Sergeant, deploying to Croatia and Bosnia.  In May of 2002 Staff Sergeant Shoulders was reassigned to Ft Sill, Oklahoma as an instructor for the Marine Corps Artillery Detachment and was later selected to be the enlisted representative for the new lightweight howitzer research and development team.  In June 2005, Staff Sergeant Shoulders was again reassigned to S Battery 5^th Battalion 10^th Marines where he held positions ranging from Platoon Sergeant to First Sergeant and Platoon Commander. During his time in S battery Staff Sergeant Shoulders deployed to Fallujah, Iraq; Pakistan, and helped evacuate the U.S. citizens from Beirut in 2006.

After three years with S Battery, now Gunnery Sergeant, Shoulders was assigned to G Battery 3^rd Battalion 14^th Marines as the I&I Battery Gunnery Sergeant.  During his tenure with G Battery, Gunnery Sergeant Shoulders also served as the Supply Officer, Armory Officer, community relations coordinator, and Military Funeral Honors Coordinator.  After three years serving with G Battery he was reassigned to Headquarters Battery 10^th Marines to serve as the Civil Affairs Detachment Chief for their upcoming deployment. While serving this billet Gunnery Sergeant Shoulders was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast on May 31, 2012 and subsequently transferred to Wounded Warrior Battalion East located in Bethesda, MD.

Shoulders is a highly decorated soldier. He’s received the following:

• Purple Heart
• Navy Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars
• Navy Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars
• Army Achievement Medal
• Combat Action Ribbon

 

His Family
Shawn is married to the former Suzan Rice, also from Fairmont. They reside in Richlands, NC with their two children, Madison and Conner.

Parade Details
Parade line-up is at Palatine Park at noon. The parade starts at 1:00 pm.

The parade will follow Merchant Street, cross the Robert H. Mollohan Bridge, travel Washington Street, Monroe Street and on to Adams Street ending at Veterans Plaza.

A short ceremony will take place on the plaza following the parade (approximately 1:45 pm).  The presentation will also include a wreath laying ceremony, Presentation of Colors, a 21-gun salute and Taps.

For more information about the parade or to find out how to participate, contact Chris Griffith at 304.657.3016.

Other Events in the County
Plans are also underway for a 5:00 pm ceremony at the Vietnam Veteran Memorial located at the entrance to East Marion Park.  The memorial consists of a six-ton monument with the 27 names of the men from Marion County who died in Vietnam, along with a Hey Helicopter which actually flew in Vietnam.  Jim Zinn is the guest speaker.

The North Marion Senior Center is hosting a free roast beef dinner in honor of all veterans at 4:00 pm.  Randy Elliott is the master of ceremonies.

Do you know of any other Veterans Day activities? Be sure to share them with us.

 

Barrackville Covered Bridge

 

Barrackville Covered Bridge

Barrackville is the home to the second oldest covered bridge in West Virginia and the first such bridge in Marion County. Barrackville was founded in 1767 by William "Indian Billy" Ice and named in honor of an early settler, John Barrack (it was incorporated January 25, 1968).  Construction of the bridge was completed in1853, the same year that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Barrackville and was part of the Fairmont & Wheeling Turnpike.

The only hostile army ever in Marion County crossed this bridge on the morning of April 29, 1863. General William E. "Grumble" Jones at first planned destruction of the bridge but decided to spare it with persuasion from the Ice family, nearby mill owners and Southern sympathizers.  However, two other B&O bridges in the area were destroyed by "Jones Raiders".

In 1850, Lemuel Chenoweth, a cabinet maker by trade (also a self-taught civil engineer, and often described as a mechanic, inventor, draftsman, and craftsman) arrived in Richmond, VA with a model of his bridge packed in his saddle bags.  He brought the model before the Board of Public Works which was then considering bids for the constructions of bridges. Chenoweth assembled his model "made of poplar and nary a nail in 'er".  He suspended the frail looking toy between two chairs, stood upon it, and challenged his competitors to put their models to the same test!

Needless to say, Lemuel Chenoweth along with his brother, Eli, is associated in the building of this and many other covered bridges in West Virginia, between 1851 and his death in 1884.

The construction of stone work was let to Squire James E. Conaway and the masons were the fore-fathers of many prominent Barrackville citizens.

Built at a cost of $1,852, the Barrackville Covered Bridge remained in use for over 130 years.  It was the only covered bridge in the state that supported traffic loads without the use of modern reinforcement, a tribute to the expert craftsmanship of the Chenoweth brothers.  It has been said that the 159 year old engineering marvel was built by the most talented bridge builder in America.

The Barrackville Bridge, using a 145 foot long modified Burr truss (which integrates an arch into the truss framework), was fully restored in 1999 and has been bypassed with a modern road and bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The covered bridges that remain across the state possess intrinsic beauty and charm, a testimony to the craftsmanship of their builders. Their practical straightforward design created long-lasting structures, which have survived the gales of war, floods, ice, and even grievous fires over the past century and a half.

Do you know which body of water the bridge spans?