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Three Elkins History Talks will be given at Kump Education Center for the fall lecture series beginning next Wednesday, September 9 at 7pm in the Optimum Learning Lab beside the Kump house garage.
On Sept. 9 Dr. Jim Van Gundy will speak on "Elkins Geology" and help us understand why this swampy location was suitable for the center of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railroad 130 years ago. Dr. Van Gundy taught geology and other science courses at Davis and Elkins College for many years. Since he retired, he has traveled and served as a guide on ocean cruises in other parts of the world. He is the author of the popular book “The Nature and Scenery of the West Virginia Highlands.”
Dr. Van Gundy's talk may help explain why we have two rivers near Elkins that run north toward Morgantown in a parallel pattern without touching each other. Geology may also help to explain how our 1940s flood-control system works. Most importantly, understanding the lay-of-the-land makes us more aware of things we cannot and should not change, as well as what we need to do now for the wellbeing of future generations. Now many species cannot survive in the changing ecology of their natural habitats, and these homeless species will soon be extinct. We human beings need to use our natural and artificial intelligences to help save our beautiful habitat for all earthly creatures.
On Oct. 21 historian Rob Whetsell will describe the "Early History of Elkins" when Henry G. Davis created his railroad town at the great circular bend in the Tygart Valley River. Although railroads are not as important today as they were a hundred years ago, Elkins is still a railroad town in many ways. The depot (not the courthouse) was the center of Elkins, and it still is the town center today. The new event center and amphitheater are both on the old railyard, and they are our most innovative venues for entertainment and commerce. Mr. Whetsell is the author of “Elkins, West Virginia: The Metropolis Revisited,” full of wonderful photos of Elkins in the early days. Elkins city planners were well paid and well trained, but some disastrous events occurred, and plans had to be changed for the young city.
On Nov. 11 I will tell the stories of H. Guy Kump's time as Mayor of Elkins when the city got its new state-of-the-art water system in the 1920s. There was a fall drought that nearly stopped the first Forest Festival. The fact that Kump served as mayor gave him experiences that taught him why taxes are necessary, and how taxes must keep pace with the need of the people. Kump once said, "Taxes are the way the people pay their bills." We do not hear such honest talk from politicians these days, but they all know that laws, regulations and taxes are necessary for government to keep the people free and healthy enough to pursue their own happiness.
This author will also summarize recent history of water issues in Elkins and tell how and why Elkins got the reliable water system we have now. West Virginia has many communities that have not been served so well. Working on the 101-year-old Kump House and living in the 127-year-old Marstiller-Roberts house has forced me to give a great deal of thought to urban water issues. When I learned that Paris and New York water systems have leaked more water than they pumped to the citizenry at times, I realized the Elkins water system is not so bad.