1928 - Alderson High School - 1968
ALDERSON MAIN STREET - NEWS RELEASE P.O. Box 117, Alderson, WV  24910 June 18, 2017 Contact Alderson Main Street Improving The Community One Project At A Time
Invisible Roots And Legends Exhibit To Visit Alderson
The   “Invisible   Roots   and   Legends: A   Photographic   View   of African American   History   in   Greenbrier   Valley, West   Virginia”   exhibit   will   open   on   June   28   at   the   Visitor   Center   in Alderson.   It   will   be   open   daily   from   June 28   to   July   9   from   1-5   p.m.   Greenbrier   Historical   Society   Board   Member   Janice   Cooley   has   curated   this unique   exhibit   of African American   history   in   the   Greenbrier   Valley   and   will   be   installing   portions   of   it   in   the Alderson Visitor Center. Cooley   said,   “I   have   a   passion   for   the   history   of   African   Americans   in   this   area.   My   own   roots   go   deep here   and   I   realized   that   so   many   of   my   contemporaries   as   well   as   the   younger   generations   had   no   idea   of the   struggles   and   achievements   of   our   ancestors.   If   this   information   is   not   preserved,   it   will   soon   be   lost.” Ms. Cooley has received state-wide recognition for this exhibit. Photography   really   came   into   its   own   during   the   Civil   War.   Before   then,   there   were   few   photographs   of anyone   or   thing   and   almost   none   of   African   Americans.   Even   after   the   Civil   War   and   for   many   years, photographs   remained   the   purview   of   the   wealthy   and   there   are   few   photographs   of   those   who   were considered   second   class   citizens.   Finding   photographs   which   exist   and   using   them   to   tell   the   heretofore “invisible”   history   of   African   Americans   in   the   Greenbrier   Valley   is   the   mission   of   the   “Invisible   Roots   and Legends: A Photographic View of African American History in Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia” exhibit. The   exhibit   will   consist   of   a   collection   of   photographs   and   descriptions,   from   post-   civil   war   to   today,   of African Americans   who   have   contributed   to   the   growth   and   development   of   this   area   in   business,   religion, education, sports, politics, and entertainment as well as general family life. Mayor   Travis   Copenhaver   said,   “I   am   excited   to   have   this   exhibit   in Alderson   at   our   Visitors   Center   during the   July   4th   Celebration.   Alderson   would   not   be   what   it   is   today   without   the   contributions   of   our   African American citizens, including our most famous one—Bricktop, the internationally known jazz entertainer.” Sponsored   by   Alderson   Main   Street,   the   exhibit   will   be   open   daily   from   1-5   p.m.   June   28   to   July   9   at   the Alderson Visitors Center. Contact:  Margaret Hambrick   304-646-2439     PHOTO   CAPTION: A   railroad   crew   in Alderson   identified   as   (l   to   r)   Everett   Terry,   Edd   Weekley,   Clarence   Shorty”   McGraw,   Mr.   Bowen   (foreman),   Paul   Sears,   Jack   Raines,   and   Junior   Page.   Back   row--Hubert Crawford.