David Sibray
BURNING SPRINGS, W.Va. — Practically inaccessible for years, one of the state’s legendary rock formations is attracting the attention of hikers and other intrepid sightseers. Though the journey to the “Devil’s Tea Table” may require visitors to climb a steep slope and drive a vehicle that can ford small streams, the payoff is rewarding, and … Read more
BEAVER, W.Va. — To encourage West Virginians to walk at least one mile daily, state officials are designating one-mile hiking trails in 32 parks as “Mountaineer Mile” challenge trails. Governor Patrick Morrisey gathered with other state officials to announce the initiative at Little Beaver State Park, which boasts a mile-long walking trail encircling Little Beaver Lake. … Read more
CRANY, W.Va. — How did the grave of a soldier from the Shenandoah Valley wind up in one of the most remote and rugged mountain regions in southern West Virginia? According to the legend, as it’s come to be told, a band of marauding Shawnee burned Ralph Stewart’s father at the stake, and so no … Read more
SANDYVILLE, W.Va. — Seasons can come and go in the temperate regions of the world with many false starts, but in the Appalachian Mountains, folks know spring has arrived when the tiny white flowers of the Sarvis Tree blossom. When the tree’s blossoms appeared in early spring, settlers in Appalachia knew it was time for … Read more
GLEN FERRIS, W.Va. — The arrival of spring in what would become West Virginia in the late 1700s was not met with the enthusiasm with which we might greet it today, for fair weather also increased the potential for attack by native tribes. While the Iroquois and Cherokee had ceded their claim to the region … Read more
SAINT ALBANS, W.Va. — Four prehistoric trails once converged where the Coal River joins the Kanawha River, and this lesser-known fact helps set the stage for the 11th annual wildflower walk at Saint Albans City Park. Long ago, Native American warriors and, later, Virginian pioneers passed through the valley at a natural crossroads. Moundbuilders raised … Read more
HINTON, W.Va. — Blossoming across the eastern U.S. in spring, redbud trees were notably important during the settlement of the Appalachian Mountains, where they indicated the presence of some of the best soil for farming. Today, the pink-blooming trees, which also thrive in urban settings, provide an opportunity for city dwellers to experience a natural … Read more
LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia woodlands burst into color in spring. During that brief period, wildflowers put on a colorful show, attracting bees and butterflies before the trees leaf out and the sunlight dims. Native plant specialist Barry Glick has identified the five early-blooming wildflowers common along woodland trails. While their presence is fleeting, … Read more
SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Historians in central West Virginia are preparing to commemorate the mysterious site of the crash of a remarkable military aircraft — a wood-winged bi-plane sent to bomb striking miners during the infamous Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. The plane about which relatively little was publicly known was coincidentally the first U.S. … Read more
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Could the body of an unfortunate ship’s clerk lie buried in a murky vault beneath the Ohio River? If the full tale of the horrific Wreck of the Kanawha in the early 1900s is true, there’s a chance it could. However, tracking down the details of that terrible night is problematic. The … Read more
