Submitted photo Friends of the Beverly Heritage Center walk in the Heritage Day opening parade from 2025

BEVERLY — June 4, 2026 – The earliest colonial settlers in the Tygart Valley found, “It was the beautifullest country for wild fruit I ever saw,” according to David Crouch who lived here as a child in the 1770s. Who were these early settlers, and what were their lives like on the frontier?

The “Settlers Reunion” during Beverly Heritage Day, on July 18, will try to explore some of these questions. Descendants of early families, and those interested in this history, are invited to gather to honor and recognize the pioneer settlers and their rugged lives, and to learn and share information about their ancestors.

“We’re excited to provide an area for families to gather and share information, to reconnect, to have a family photo if they wish,” said Janet Gould, one of the event organizers. “We can also record and preserve their information at the Beverly Heritage Center before or following the event. We encourage families to share their family history, stories, letters, photos and artifacts that have been passed down and preserved.”

Family historians, representatives, or individuals are encouraged to contact us before July to help prepare for the event. This event will focus mainly on families in the county before 1800, such as Westfall, Wilson, Ward, Hart, Chenoweth, Stalnaker, Currence, See, Buckey, Crawford, Crouch, Wamsley and more

The historic Beverly IOOF Building on Main Street will host the Settler’s Reunion, with staff and volunteers from the Beverly Heritage Center, and representatives from the Allegheny Regional Family History Center, and the Daughters of the American Revolution available from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. to field questions and have discussions. The main gathering will be from 3 to 5 p.m. During this time a family historian from the Westfall family will present a short program.

Additional activities during Beverly Heritage Day will also focus on early settlement and the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. With the theme of “Building Beverly; Building the Nation” the event will begin at 10 a.m. on July 18 with the WVU Mountaineer Fife and Drum Corps and readings from the Declaration. Early history programs during the day will include Native American culture, log homes, and early settlement land grants, in addition to living history demonstrations, tours, and exhibits. As always the day will include family fun, heritage artisans and music, and good food.

Call the Beverly Heritage Center at 304-637-7424 or email info@beverlyheritagecenter.org to share family information or to arrange for an appointment for scanning documents. See www.beverlyheritagecenter.org for more information about Beverly Heritage Day.