Volume 11 , Issue 27

Looking Back ... To '99 New England Vacation

This week's newsletter we are looking back to our colorful, autumn trip through the New England states, in Fall of 1999.

This NW Okie planted her feet once again on Oklahoma soil, October 13th (1999) after some 5150 miles round-trip driving from Oklahoma up through Michigan across Canada into New England via New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Long Island, NYC, New Jersey countryside to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and our Nations Capital in DC to visit our son.

After spending a couple of days in DC and eating crabs at "Buddies Crab & Ribs" in Annapolis, Maryland, we headed out October 9, 1999 through Fairfax, Virginia around 4:00PM. We were just going to find a Motel stop along the way around 9PM that night, but because of Columbus weekend all the rooms were full from Charleston to Staunton, Virginia.

After about an hour of calling around, we finally found a little place in Moorefield, West Virginia that had one room available. We detoured off of I81 at Strasburg, VA onto hwy. 55 and followed the winding, raining mist and foggy road through the mountains of Virginia to West Virginia. Arriving in Moorefield, WV (hwy. 55 & 220 jct.) around 11:30PM. There we settled in for the night.

The next morning we woke up early and headed down hwy. 220 towards the mountains between Virginia and West Virginia. It was an overcast and misty day, but the sites and colors of Autumn were still beautiful as they greeted us along the highways like a natural covered bridge. The cloudy mist hung like smoke over, between the Allegheny Mountains. Truly another part of god's country with the white country churches and their steeple bells marking each of the small country villages of the Allegheny valley.

The Autumn beauty of Virginia's countryside with white, pristine villages and country churches dotting the horizons and grasslands makes for a peaceful, time warp that could rejuvenate the souls of any those passing through and stopping. The Autumn colors of West Virginia and Virginia in that area were at their brilliant peak with the rainfall that they had the week before.

On David's Birthday (October 10, 1999) we treated ourselves to an overnight stay at the fabulous establishment known as "The Homestead" in Hot Springs, Virginia. A great place to be graciously waited on and pampered.

The day before and after "The Homestead" we drove through the area of Bath County, Pocahontas County, and Highland County where my ancestors settled.

One place in particular was the "Old David Gwin place" along Hwy 220 about .6 miles from the Bolar, Virginia turn.

It is now in Highland County near the Bath County border, but at one time it was in Bath County. We stopped by the Bath County Courthouse in Warm Springs, VA and got a copy of the handwritten deed that was issued to David Gwin when he first purchased his homestead. It is my understanding that three sisters whom are descendants of David Gwin bought the five (5) Acre place with house intact around 1998. The Old Gwin House was still standing, but it seems that no one is living in it at the time we were there in the Fall of 1999.

Another ancestral homestead of my 9th generation Warwick cousins was where we spent the night on October 11 at the "Hidden Valley Bed & Breakfast (Warwickton)".

The Warwickton in 1999 was owned by the George Washington National Forest since about 1965 and was put on the Historical Sights List sometime before it was used as the locale in the movie, "Sommersby", with Richard Gere and Jody Foster in 1992. Judge James Wood Warwick built and own it in 1848. He was a cousin to my Warwick ancestors from Dunmore, West Virginia in Pocahontas County.

During the 1920s at some time it was used as a school. After that it sat vacant for quite awhile and was used for storing hay. Pam & Ron Stidham made a deal with the National Forest and leased the place to restore it and turn it in to a Bed & Breakfast.

I found this recipe for daily living in a Mountain Grove, Virginia cookbook that I purchased at a country store on Hwy 39 near Mountain Grove, VA.

"One pinch of patience; one pinch of excitement; one pinch of accomplishment; one pinch of charm; one pinch of elegance and loyalty; one pinch of originality and personality; and one pinch of everlasting goodness. Mix all together in your heart and bake until it sticks there and it will come out peace and love." -- Lucy Cummings, "Recipe for Daily Living", from the "Tastes From The Country" cookbook by the Mountain Grove United Methodist Women.

This NW Okie has experienced lots of excitement -- learned lots of patience in my life up to now with lots of teachers of life along the way. I have wined and dined in DC at the "Hotel Washington" and "The Homestead" in Hot Springs, Virginia. I have seen some beautiful breath-taking colors of Autumn throughout the New England and Virginia areas with their unique wooden framed homes with their green shutters that dot the countrysides of upper state NY, NH, Vermont and The Virginia's.

We drove down the winding roads and colorful, tree-covered highways of my ancestor's old stomping grounds of Virginia and West Virginia.

I have accumulated an understanding, appreciation for other beautiful country sites beyond my Oklahoma roots. All the charm, elegance and excitement of the New England countryside has blessed my life with fantastic fabulous memories and moments that I shall put in my treasure chest of memories for my descendants. As my grandmother Constance had done.

VACATION PHOTOS:

* Hotel Washington, Downtown, DC
* Virginia Autumn 1999, Valley south of Falling Springs, VA
* Scenic Outlook at Fort Beckonridge
* DC Washington Monument
* DC Lincoln Memorial
* Virginia History Marker
* West Virginia Scenery, Oct 11th 1999
* Highland County Marker
* Camp Allegheny Marker
* Bath County, VA History Marker
* Bath County Seat, Warm Springs, VA
* Ellis Island
* Statute of Liberty
* Lake Placid Lodge, Adirondacks, NY

Why do we put boundaries on and around ourselves? There is so much to learn from others and their cultures out there if only we would keep an open mind and heart to share the different cultures and friendships. Showing respect, learning about each other. It can be so enlightening.

The New England countryside in upper state New York around the Adirondacks and Finger Lakes really shined with the fall foliage while we were there. We traveled through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode island, Connecticut, Long Island, Manhatten, Brooklyn, Staunten Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Maryland so far. Staying in Country Inns/Bed & Breakfasts along the way.

The New England countryside is one of the most relaxing and memorable experiences for this Okie. I really loved seeing the countryside and the changing of Fall Foliage colors. I also enjoyed meeting some online friends (Joel & Lanie) I will never forget their hospitality they shared with us.

The countryside was dotted with the New England styled white framed houses w/shutters and old white steeple churches with bells in the steeples. I also snapped a couple of photos of covered wooden bridges that stretched across the little streams. I love those old covered wooden bridges for their nastalgic architecture.
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