Best West Virginia town for writers or artists?

[Garrison Phillips]

I have read of the interest of writers and have noted the suggestions of such communities as Morgantown, Thomas, Davis and others in the sourhtern part of the state. I have lived in New York City for many years but am originally from Elkins and visit there monthly in the care of my Mother (102 years old and still insists on living alone!). Elkins has a thriving and growing tourism as well as the very excellent small college of Davis and Elkins. It is considered by many to be the growing artist center of the state. True, Morgantown has West Virginia University, but is losing its 'small town' attraction, at least to my way of viewing things. It is, perhaps, the prettiest small town in WV and is unpolluted by industry. True, there is much timbering and woodworking but no coal mines, chemicals, etc. It is home to the largest festival in the state - The Forest Festival, held in the first full week of October, has a small amateur theatre in the Old Brick Playhouse, has the Augusta Festival for eight weeks each summer at Davis and Elkins College and who wouldn't love a town that hosts 'Pickin' In The Park' on many nights in the centrally located City Park just down the hill from D&E. Anyone interested in creative arts - from writing to sculpture, iron work, panting, dance, theater, etc. - would do well to give Elkins a visit. Who am I to recommend this lovely town? A retired actor and continuing writer and lover of the wilderness. Oh, yes. The state Forestry Building is there as is the state office of the Nature Conservancy and it is the headquarters of the Monongahela National Forest.

[David Kennedy]

Thanks...special to us is the train ride to the top of the mountain...BOARD!

Elkins has a lot of good things...and a little banjo picking one of them.
Wishing 'Hobo Bob' a great year!

[CTMountaineer]

Does he perform regularly in Elkins? I love clawhammer banjo music.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by Orwelleaut

What a wonderful thread!! I'm a writer as well. I never really gave the idea of a writers' community in WVA much thought. I've always figured that there are such communities up in New England in places like Vermont or Western Mass, but knew they were just too expensive for an Ohioan who works for a living to even consider moving to.

Being pretty familiar with the Wheeling area and a fan of this area, I'd be interested in writing about The Northern Panhandle. Since I live near Youngstown, Ohio, I'd enjoy conversing with some local writers from The Northern Panhandle.

Do you know of any communities of writers in this part of the state, CTMountaineer? I think the stories of life in this area would represent the way of life of that section of the country you so aptly described as "Midwest Appalachian". The old customs of the Eastern European and German folks who settled in this area should be captured in writing before the last of the "Frankie Yankovic generation" dies off. I grew up around German American grandparents who loved Lawrence Welk, Slovenian style polka music, etc. They have been gone since the 1990's, but the fond memories are crystal clear. I would love to capture some of the feel of the Slovenian, Polish, Slovak, Czech and German communities of Wheeling with the great food and great music before too much more time passes, and talk to some of the older folks while they are still with us. Things like buttonbox accordion music are gems which should never be forgotten. If younger generations are to know about their rich heritage, it is up to Generation X'ers like myself to write about the old folks we grew up around for them. After all, old folks, for Generation Y, are people who listen to Elvis and other oldies rock. Oldies rock is great as well, but is certainly not going to be forgotten anytime soon. I think the Northern Panhandle has many unique stories to tell, and I would like to capture some of these stories in writing.

I just noticed this post, sorry for taking so long to respond.

I remember well listening to Frankie Yancovic and the Yanks on radio every Sunday morning on a local radio station, and spent as much time as a youth at Friday night polka parties as I did at rock and roll dances. Wheeling is predominantly a German town (still is) with large Polish and Slovak contingents. The Irish and Scots tend to live in the outlying areas.

Oglebay Park, probably the world's best municipal park, has an October Fest every year for a week that has a German theme with polka dances and the like. It is well worth seeing.

Although I am not aware personally of an organized group of writers, I suspect there are many of them in the Bethany area, home of a small but active liberal arts college that caters to artistic and writing endeavors.

[David Kennedy]

wvwriters.org

I've belonged...nice convention at Ripley.

Give it a look.