A Publication Of Alderson High School “Alderson’s Longest Running News Media”

A Post From Alderson’s Store March 5, 2020 Source: Face Book- Author: Stephanie Hill 

It   is   the   time   of   year   when   there   is   an   itch that   needs   scratched   like   that   place   on your    back    that    is    hard    to    reach.    The desire     to     take     an     October     weekend escape   into   the   mountains.   Fortunately, living   in   the   Tri-State,   we   do   not   have   to travel   far   as   all   three   of   our   states   offer an   array   of   multitude   hillsides.   However, if   you   want   to   drive   a   little   farther   off   the beaten    path,    look    no    farther    than    the scenic     Midland     Trail     through     West Virginia.

Here's   a   nice   article   from   someone   who   visited   our   hometown   -   and   our   store!   It's   from   2018,   but   we   just saw   it   posted   the   other   day.   You   can   come   see   us,   too!   Our   March   hours   are   Thursdays   through   Sundays from 10 to 6. Author's   note: This   is   the   first   of   two   installations   regarding   the   Greenbrier   Valley   area. This   piece   will   focus mostly on Alderson, West Virginia. (Click photo for larger view)

This   past August,   John   and   I   traversed   part   of   the   Midland Trail   on   our   way   to   a   weekend   stay   in Alderson and   Lewisburg,   West   Virginia.   Given   Interstate   64   construction   traffic,   it   seems   more   people   than   ever are   traveling   along   this   beautiful   and   historic   trail,   first   established   hundreds   of   years   earlier   by   Native Americans.   Much   later,   after   the   invention   of   automobiles   and   the   unquenchable   desire   of   Americans   to travel   about   the   country,   U.S.   60   became   the   first   transcontinental   highway   that   connected   travelers   from Virginia to California. However,   there   is   no   need   to   cross   the   country   for   a   great   fall   weekend   escape.   Instead,   focus   on   the nearby   miles   of   bi-way   linking   Huntington   to   White   Sulphur   Springs   and   all   of   the   sites   in   between.   From covered   bridges   to   historic   cemeteries;   from   craft   beers,   ciders,   and   spirits   to   exquisite   and/or   quaint restaurants,   diners,   and   bakers;   from   antiques/vintages   to   fine   arts   and   local   crafts;   from   charming   hikes and   bike   rides   to   fishing,   kayaking,   and   golf   -   not   to   mention   all   of   local   shops   -   there   is   plenty   to   do   along this   drive!   In   fact,   on   the   weekend   of   our   retreat,   John   and   I   felt   as   if   we   barely   scratched   the   surface   of all there is to see and do just in the Alderson/Lewisburg areas. To   begin,   John   used   a   popular   home   rental   site   to   find   a   small,   newly   restored   cottage   in   which   to   stay   in Alderson   within   walking   distance   of   the   Greenbrier   River   as   well   as   the   historic   downtown   area.   While   the owner   of   the   cottage   was   still   working   a   few   of   the   kinks   out   of   the   remodel,   the   cottage   was   clean, comfortable, and filled with all new furniture, appliances and kitchenware. It was perfect for our purposes! We   arrived   Friday   afternoon   and   used   that   time   to   get   acquainted   with   our   surroundings.   Alderson   was quiet,    quaint,    and    quintessentially    surrounded    by    the    layered    magnificence    of    the    WV    Mountains. Additionally, John and I could not help but notice several lion statues throughout the town. We   would   learn   that   in   1890,   there   was   a   town   resident   who   adopted   a   circus   lion   cub.   Although   tamed by   the   owner,   the   cat   often   escaped   its   owner's   yard   only   to   roam   through   town.   While   I   am   sure   this   was roaringly   (pun-intended)   funny,   the   town   ultimately   passed   an   ordinance   that   required   all   lions   to   be leashed.   According   to   our   unverified   source,   that   city   ordinance   is   still   on   Alderson's   books.   Thankfully, during our stay, at least, John and I did not encounter any oversized circus felines. The   town's   roots,   however,   stretch   back   even   further.   Several   sources   point   to   the   belief   that   this   area   of West   Virginia   was   initially   the   site   of   a   fort   in   the   1750s.   These   same   sources   state   that   the   Shawnee destroyed   the   fort   around   1763   under   the   leadership   of   Chief   Cornstalk.   However,   no   artifacts   have   ever been   found   at   this   site   to   verify   its   existence,   but   there   are   several   historic   documents   and   letters   that reference   it.   In   fact,   the   Federal   Prison   Camp   just   outside   the   corporation   of   Alderson,   made   famous   in recent   history   by   Martha   Stewart,   is   supposedly   built   upon   the   same   grounds   where   the   fort   supposedly once   stood.   Most   sources,   however,   credit   John   Anderson,   who   organized   the   first   Baptist   church   in   the Greenbrier Valley, for establishing the town in 1777. During   our   stay,   John   and   I   strolled   alongside   the   Greenbrier   River   and   crossed   over   the   historic, pedestrian   Alderson    Bridge    in    order    to    explore    the   Alderson    Historic    District    where    we    discovered Alderson's   Store.   This   131-year-old   store   was   charming   with   an   eclectic   mix   of   vintage,   antiques   and modern   wares.   Little   did   we   know   until   weeks   later,   that   the   woman   running   the   shop   was   none   other than   Sarah   Alderson,   direct   descent   of   John   Anderson,   whose   family   has   lived   in   Alderson   for   over   200 years!   In   addition   to   this   store,   there   were   several   other   cute   shops,   a   couple   of   diners,   an   artisans' gallery,   and   the   Old   Victorian   Inn   that   is   directly   across   from   the   Historic   1896   C&O Amtrak   Depot.   In   fact, Amtrak will, upon request, make stops at Alderson on its Cardinal Route. One   item   of   interest   that   John   and   I   were   unable   to   do   during   our   stay   in Alderson   was   visit   the Alderson Visitor   Center.   This   newly   created   tourist   attraction   offers   visitors   a   local   history   museum,   a   river   science center,   interactive   kiosk,   as   well   as Alderson   memorabilia   for   purchase   (Hmm.   I   wonder   if   they   have   any "Martha   Stewart   was   here" T-shirts?) Additionally,   the   center   boasts   a   community   market   Saturdays   8-12, May-October. John   also   used   this   opportunity   to   wade   and   fish   the   waters   of   this   section   of   the   Greenbrier.   He   had   fun catching   a   few   small   mouth   bass.   One   evening,   I   watched   from   the   riverbank   as   John   fished   his   way upstream   near   dusk.   While   I   brought   my   gear   to   fish   alongside   him,   I   knew   my   natural   inclination   to   be   a klutz   might   lead   me   to   falling,   especially   as   darkness   fell,   so   I   sat   this   session   out.   Still,   I   enjoyed watching John fish as the river waters gently meandered over rocks and around little islands. Then,   it   happened,   in   a   split   second,   John   tripped,   slipped,   and   then   slid   under   the   waters   of   the   river.   My heart   raced   as   I   quickly   glanced   around   for   help   and   the   best   route   down   the   river   bank   to   get   to   him   as quickly   as   possible.   Then,   only   seconds   later,   although   it   felt   like   a   lifetime,   John   popped   up   and   made his   way   to   a   nearby   island   of   rock.   Though   drenched   and   a   bit   bruised,   he   was,   thankfully,   fine.   Oh   the things he will do to gain my attention! Overall,   John   and   I   found   our   time   spent   in   Alderson   pleasant   and   oh-so-peaceful.   We   would   love   to return   during   the   peak   of   autumn   -   we   can   only   imagine   the   fiery   display   of   the   Creator's   pallet   in   this gentle,   river   town.   In   the   meantime,   add Alderson   to   your   list   of   close   fall   getaways.   Spend   a   day,   or   the weekend, and tell them Steph simply sent you! Stephanie   Hill   is   a   freelance   writer   and   a   teacher   at   St.   Joseph   Catholic   School   in   Huntington.   She   is   also a   lifelong   resident   of   Lawrence   County.   She   can   be   reached   at   hill992@zoominternet.net .   Or   you   can check out her website, stephsimply.com.