Happy West Virginia Day
Celebrating West Virginia Day: Honoring Our Natural Heritage and Resilient People
June 20, 2024
WV Wilderness – Spruce Forest – Red Creek Plains. Photo by ©Kent Mason
As we celebrate West Virginia Day, we at the WV Rivers Coalition are filled with immense pride and gratitude for the natural beauty and vibrant communities that define our beloved state.
This day marks a significant milestone in our state’s history, commemorating the date West Virginia was inaugurated as a state on June 20, 1863. Unique among states, West Virginia formed as a direct result of the Civil War.
The Path to Statehood
The journey to statehood, however, was not straightforward. The senatorial debates on West Virginia’s admission into the United States hinged on a critical issue: the limitation or abolition of the enslavement of African Americans. The Willey Amendment, served as a compromise, proposing the gradual emancipation of enslaved individuals under the age of 25. While this amendment eventually led to the statehood of West Virginia, it also meant that many West Virginians remained enslaved until the Emancipation Proclamation and the adoption of the 13th Amendment on February 3, 1865.
Celebrating Our Natural Heritage
This year, we are excited to share a special gift with our supporters: a postcard featuring work by Nevada Tribble, a fiber and sculpture artist from Elkins, WV, and our very own Communications Manager, Maggie Stange.
Nevada’s work, deeply influenced by her experiences growing up in West Virginia, often explores themes of memory, place, and change. The postcard features a piece of art made from handmade paper with a cyanotype print of pines developed in the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. The rich, earthy pigments used in the artwork were made from river rocks.
The original piece will be available for silent auction later this year, with proceeds supporting our ongoing efforts to protect and preserve West Virginia’s rivers.
Why We Love West Virginia
To further celebrate West Virginia Day, our team at WV Rivers’ shared their personal stories, writings, videos, and photos about why the Mountain State means so much to them. Here are a few excerpts from our team:
Watch this video from Clean Water Campaign Coordinator, Maria Russo:
Find Out What Public Lands Coordinator, Mike Jones, Loves Most About Almost Heaven:
People ask me, “You’re the public lands guy, what’s your favorite WV public land?” I joke around and say, “The next one I go to.” But seriously, how can you pick your favorite child?
We call WV ‘Wild and Wonderful,” and we are not wrong – from old growth forest in Cathedral Falls State Park, to the High Falls in the Mon Forest, to historic markers like Fairfax Stone (hey, I’m a history geek too!), to the Wild and Scenic Bluestone River, to the all the other parks, forests, and wildlife management areas. John Denver was not lying; it is ALMOST heaven. This is what I love about West Virginia – over every rise and turn in the road, there is a new, even more beautiful place. I am so thankful that West Virginians have pride in their sense of place, love their public lands, and work so hard to protect them! Y’all let me have the best job in the world: Seeing my next favorite spot in the Mountain State.
Cathedral Falls State Park
High Falls Trail in the Mon. Natl. Forest
Fairfax Stone State Park
Chickens in Fancy Hats.
Read About What West Virginia — And Being A West Virginian — Means to Community Engagement Manager, Heather Sprouse:
I married into a small farm family which quickly showed me that farming is in a period of transition. While technology like synthetic fertilizer has improved productivity, it’s also harming the ecology that farming depends on. Modern, ecologically minded farming requires adaptability.
My husband’s family operates Double K Farms- owned and managed by 3 (and soon to be 4) generations of West Virginian women. These women are adapting to the shifting agricultural landscape- selling online, at farmer-owned co-ops like the Wild Ramp, and through local delivery. They’re responsive to feedback from customers (recently, they began raising rabbits to meet consumer requests), and while the work is at times unforgiving (imagine having 40 dozen extra eggs after a customer suddenly stops buying), the humor in their households overflows.
These women are part of a culture that learned to reuse everything and are happy to teach others how to do the same. I now know that old t-shirts and pantyhose make some of the best tomato ties because they’re flexible and don’t cut into the stalks of the plant. And they taught me when it’s time to plant peppers, that ducks are great garden helpers, and that canning to preserve summer vegetables isn’t that hard, though it is hot work so maybe do it outside. These are women who hunt, forage, chase goats, nurse premature calves, incubate eggs, and process 50 quarts of cherries in a weekend. They’re also women who paint their barns purple, knit hats for the chickens, string beans together and laugh.
WV Mortgage Lifter Tomato
Winter Calf
Cukes
We live in Putnam County where the growing season is a full 2 weeks longer than it was 20 years ago. The new uncertainty of Herculean spring storms has me, like many, continuing to think about the uncertainty of the next 20 years. Climate change and health impacts from generations of pollution tell me that resilience is a priority. And when I think about resilience, I think about the culture of West Virginia and know these are the kind, tenacious people I want to be near.
Happy West Virginia Day, especially to the all tenacious West Virginian women.
“Leaves” by Chad Cordell
Learn why Environmental Intern Ceili Allder loves about the Mountain State:
There are so many things I love about West Virginia! I love how the sunlight filters through the trees or glistens brightly off rivers and streams. Blueberry farms, hiking trails, and campsites line the valleys. They offer peace and retreat. There’s always a friend to count on in times of need. Good people aren’t hard to find any other time either. I love the relationships I’ve formed across the state and all the memories I’ve made here.
Join the Conversation: Share Why You Love West Virginia
Thank you for being a part of our community and for your continued support in protecting and cherishing West Virginia’s rivers and natural landscapes. Together, we can ensure that our state’s rich history and natural beauty are preserved for generations to come.
We invite you to join us in celebrating West Virginia Day by sharing your own stories and reasons for loving our Mountain State. Take a moment to fill out our survey and let us know what makes West Virginia special to you. Here’s the link: https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/WVDay2024
From all of us at WV Rivers, Happy West Virginia Day!