Contact:  Margaret Hambrick  /  Nora Venezky  304-646-2439          304-645-3398

NEWS RELEASE March 3, 2020

Founded    in    1963,    the    Greenbrier    Historical    Society    is    dedicated    to    community    enrichment    through education   and   preservation   of   the   history   and   culture   of   the   Greenbrier   Valley.   The   Greenbrier   Historical Society   is   a   regional   organization   that   serves   the   West   Virginia   counties   of   Greenbrier,   Monroe,   Summers, and Pocahontas.

National Park Day At Arbuckle’s Fort As   a   part   of   National   Park   Day   on April   4,   2020,   there   will   be   a   program   and   clean-up   at   the Arbuckle’s   Fort property   at   Blaker’s   Mill   near   Alderson.      Sponsored   by   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society   with   assistance from   the   West   Virginia   Land   Trust   and   The Archaeological   Conservancy,   everyone   is   invited   to   join   in   from 1-3:00   p.m.      This   event   is   part   of   the   American   Battlefield   Trust’s   annual   hands-on   preservation   event.     Thousands    of    volunteers    across    the    country    will    participate    as    Park    Day    celebrates    its    24th    year. (www.battlefields.org) Dr.   Kim   McBride,   prominent   archaeologist   who   has   specialized   in   pre-Revolutionary   forts   including   many in the Greenbrier Valley, will join history buffs, community leaders, and preservationists for this event.  Although   much   of   this   site   is   still   in   private   hands,   there   is   a   joint   effort   by   the   West   Virginia   Land Trust   and The   Archaeological   Conservancy   to   purchase   the   property   and   create   a   park.      This   effort   is   supported   by the    Greenbrier    County    Commission,    the    Summers    County    Historic    Landmarks    Commission,    the Greenbrier Historical Society and many others.  The   West   Virginia   Land Trust   is   a   statewide   nonprofit   dedicated   to   protecting   West   Virginia’s   natural   lands, recreational   access,   historic   sites,   scenic   areas,   water   quality,   family   farms   and   more.      Learn   more   about the organization at www.wvlandtrust.org . Dr.   McBride   said,   “I   am   tremendously   excited   to   share   one   of   the   most   pristine   archaeological   sites   of   a pre-Revolutionary   fort.      Arbuckle’s   Fort   will   be   a   tremendous   asset   to   future   generations   when   it   is preserved as a park.”  Those   who   would   like   to   hear   more   about   the   history   of Arbuckle’s   Fort   and   the   current   park   creation   effort are   invited   to   meet   at   the   site   on   Blaker’s   Mill   Road   about   100   yards   from   the   intersection   with   Route   12 near Alderson   at   1:00   p.m.   on   Saturday, April   4.     After   brief   remarks   from   the   sponsoring   organizations,   Dr. McBride   will   lead   a   tour   of   the   fort   site.      Following   the   tour,   attendees   will   be   invited   to   help   clean   up   the site   by   picking   up   trash.      Trash   bags   and   some   gloves   will   be   provided.      Please   bring   your   own   gloves   if you   can   and   a   chair   if   you   need   to   sit   during   the   presentations.      Official   national   Park   Day   t-shirts   will   be given to the attendees as long as supplies last.  If   there   is   severe   weather,   the   program   portion   of   the   event   will   be   held   in   the   “Library”   of   the   Alderson Community   Center   for   the   Arts   and   Humanities,   400   Chestnut   Avenue,   East,   Alderson.      Please   check social   media   for   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society   at   the   web   site   at   www.greenbrierhistorical.org ,   on Facebook   at   greenbrierhistorical   or   call   304-645-3398   to   verify   if   you   think   the   severe   weather   plan   may   be in effect.  PHOTO CAPTIONS: Aerial   photo   of   Arbuckle’s   Fort   during   an   archaeological   dig   by   Drs.   Kim   and   Steven   McBride   with   the outline of the stockade exposed. Line drawing by Dr. Steven McBride of how Arbuckle’s Fort may have looked. (click photos for larger view)