Thanks for posting this, Jim. I just kicked in $50. Was born and raised in WV, and have spent a lot of time traveling 219 and environs, camping, gathering ginseng and other medicinal herbs, and during a good part of my 20s getting together/rendezvousing with other lovers of old-time music and dance.

For several years in the early and mid 1970's, B. J. Sharpe Gudmundsson had a small and lovely biannual old-time music festival at Huntersville, right outside of Marlinton, toward the southern end of 219 in WV, on family land that was pure joy and more akin to a 'family reunion' than anything. Toward the northern end, Elkins is home to the famed Augusta festivals and workshops. The Hammons family were/are in that area. Music and lore and rich mountain culture galore all through the highlands of WV.

I have a collection of fossils I gathered over the years from little mountain creeks of tribolites and other sea creatures from the time the Alleghenies were at the bottom of the sea. If one has the stamina to climb up to the tops of ridges it isn't entirely rare to stumble upon an old homestead, nothing but the stone chimneys and foundations still standing, but daffodils blooming in spring and old apple trees with small tart apples to be gathered in fall to make wonderful apple butter.