2017-27 Finally leaving Lewisburg West Virginia to Virginia and Tennessee

2017-27

many farms in this area of Virginia are being
let go and mini-mansions are taking their place

Lewisburg West Virginia (3^rd week continued)
Abingdon Virginia
Sevierville  Tennessee

Campground: Washington County park. $22 per night, four nights, utility chg $7.60, Tax $4.40: total $100. Full hookups, 30 amp. 20 OTA tv stations. Good Verizon signal. Note: $145 a month for out of state residence plus electric, an awesome deal if space is available.

Campground: Douglas Dam, TN. $18 with senior discount. TVA campsite. Near Pigeon Forge/ Dollywood. Nice sites, all site are now reservable, though I was able to get a few days by calling the day before arriving. 30 amp electric/ water. Many sites are not level. Of course I've stayed here a few times previously with Douglas in the name how could I not.

It wasn't planned, things happen, and it becomes a waiting game. We've all had it happen to us before. Expecting things to be accomplished on time, then we wait until they actually are able to be done. This all relates to the installation of the errant awning which did finally arrive. In the back of my mind, I expected it to arrive damaged. It did arrived damaged and of course never got installed.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying this almost hidden gem of a community, surrounded by the old, weathered forested Appalachian mountains. I'm able to complete some chores I would have done once I got back to Florida. I got up on the roof and washed the white PVC roofing back to it's gleaming white state, which had gotten quite dirty over the summer months. I even washed and detailed the 2007 Chevy truck and it's looking mighty nice as well. With 170,000 traveling miles on it, it's still running like a charm. A couple of my good friends have recently purchased new trucks, and I must admit, it is a tempting thought.

North House Museum

In town I went to the North House Museum run by the Greenbrier Historical Society. Upon entering, I asked for the “professional tour” and was pleasantly surprised to get just that. Learning about the history of a place can make quite a difference in how one perceives a particular region of the Country. Lewisburg West Virginia has a unique place in history, in that it is close to the Virginia boarder, which it was once a part of. Having been split off into a separate state, it became a freed slave state while Virginia remained a slave holding state. The people in Lewisburg still related to the Virginia side and during the Civil war continued to support the Confederate Army with supplies. The U.S. Government, knowing what a ticklish situation they were in, decided to let the towns people continue to supply the Confederate Army, but taxed all of the goods going to the rebel army. That being said, Lewisburg was supporting both sides of the civil war without having to have their townsfolk imprisoned for aiding the Confederate Army. Or having their town burned to the ground.

dioramas made by a local merchants wife
and displayed in the shops windows

a wild party... each person was modeled after someone in town

original carpet bags.... I was called a carpet bagger
when I first moved to Florida.  There's a story behind everything

a diorama of the store 

the top quilt, all beautiful, is almost 200 years old, recently
discovered locally

original detail in the county clerks historical home/tour

the carriage room is now all glassed in

A statue commemorated the soldiers who fought to keep slaves stands across from the North House Museum. No statue celebrates the Union soldier fighting to free the slaves.

A fascinating story about a ghost who provided evidence in the murder case of a wife was also told. It's the only case in the country and perhaps the world where a ghosts evidence was admitted in court and helped to convict the dastardly deed performed by the husband.

The Greenbrier Ghost

Elva Zona Heaster-Shue, a local woman was found dead back in January of 1897. The coroner listed the cause of death as “The everlasting faint”... later changed to child birth. Elva knew differently and her ghost visited her mother four nights in a row telling her mother that she had been strangled to death by her husband in a fit of rage.

Elva's mother was able to convince the courts to exhume her daughter and they discovered that she had been savagely strangled to death even finding her neck was broken. Edward was convicted on the testimony of Elva's ghost and the finding thereafter. You can check out this link for the full story.

Another interesting thing I've found in this area are the numerous log cabins scattered around town and throughout the region. Many dating back to the 1800's and are currently being lived in. How charming to see an area where the old is not torn down, but fixed up and continues to be used to this day.

many cabins throughout town were built in the late 1700's
and early 1800's

With my having to stay a few extra days, I'm able to be here for the big Flea Markets held here at the Fairgrounds twice a year. Lots of vendors and perfect fall weather to enjoy the couple of days of browsing all those bargains. A short walk through the tunnel under the main road to the other side of the fairgrounds and I'm right in the midst of all those bargains.

a retired art teacher, has to keep creating art

it's that time of year

Do my sisters, Ann and Dorothy
remember the story about the buttons?

Distance Traveled: 181 miles

photo from internet, I did not take this photo
Glade Creek Gorge Bridge

What an exciting mornings journey, back on the road with camper in tow. I've taken hwy 64 heading west though the Appalachian Mountains though it may just be the western edge but either way, they are spectacular to look at and crossing the very high Glade Creek gorge bridge was totally awesome. I had barely a chance to look over and then down to the bottom of the gorge which appeared to be thousands of feet below. Actually 700 feet high and 784 feet long. After turning south onto hwy 77 turnpike (a toll road) more spectacular scenery as I climbed to a height of 3,500 feet before descending a couple long stretches of 7% grades, two long mountain tunnels as I crossed into Virginia and the actual Appalachian mountains. The trees are starting to turn fall colors but I don't think this area gets the spectacular bright colors one gets up in Northern Michigan or the New England States. They appear to be more muted tending to bland shades of dull oranges, browns and tans with the occasional bright yellow or orange and a rare red leafed tree.

I've arrived at the Washington County Park which sits on TVA land bordering Virginia and Tennessee. The lake/dam waters are very low, but as this is just a stop over, it's of no concern. The county park appears to be set up for seasonal campsites, with lots of rv's that appear to remain here all summer long.

Lake is low after being lowered this spring due to work being down down river on the Boone dam/lake. Will take 5 or 6 years to complete upgrades.

Pick up meds at Walgreens.

Pick up mail, delivered to campground

Carb Lunch day: Pizza Inn (senior day, salad and pizza bar, what a deal)

The town of Abingdon Virginia has an historical Theater called the Barter Theater. It was opened in 1933 during the Great Depression. The concept was that local farmers could purchase theater tickets by paying with excess food from their farms including chickens and other livestock. In 1946 it was designated the State Theater of Virginia. Those early years were very successful, filling a need for entertainment and in the process feeding many starving artists including Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, and Ernest Borgnine and many others.

The Barter Theatre

The theatre is very active today, with a second smaller intimate theatre across the street. I'd love to go to one of their productions while here, unfortunately the nine mile drive into town is along a very narrow country road with numerous curves and drop offs. Not to mention the complete lack of shoulders... my truck and camper took up the entire width of the narrow lane leaving no room for error.

Distance Traveled: 110 miles

Highway 81 was an easy drive, though for some folks it might seem a bit slow. Truck speed was at 55 mph for a good portion of the highway and I stayed behind the trucks not being in any particular hurry.

Later I went up to my usual 65 mph as the speed limit was bumped up to 70 mph. Scenery was unimpressive, lots of scruffy looking cedar trees mixed with bare limbed trees.

I'm planning on only staying at each location for about 4 days, to speed up my traveling time to Florida. This stop, since I've been in the area before includes a few more on-the-road maintenance items.

• Ordered new Mitchelin tires with 70,000 mile warranty. Should be installed by tomorrow.

• Back to Walgreen's to get my Flu shot.

More photos:

Lewisburg History West Virginia and Misc shots

Abingdon Virginia