Relic /  by Dave Hileman

This massive tower was used to fill the coal tender for steam locomotives. It stands along the C&O in Ronceverte, WV. The RR station is in the distance along with an abandoned bridge over the tracks. If you look very closely you might see a “hobo” as they were called when this tower was operational standing along the tracks.

A Glorious Fourth /  by Dave Hileman

No fireworks photo this year, no sparklers, no picnic. We get the basics of celebration. We see in this simple photo symbols of faith, work, sacrifice - without which there would be no America. We see ideals embodied by those who strived to live in freedom and self-reliance. We see in the community Church, generosity and grace and open arms - hallmarks of America. We see in the tiny flags fluttering over some of the graves service to the last devotion. America is worth preserving, worth the hard work and sacrifice and worth holding tight to a Constitution that emerged from the Declaration of Independence we celebrate today that allows all of us to strive for a “more perfect union,” if I may borrow words from Abraham Lincoln. God Bless.

160 Years Ago Today /  by Dave Hileman

This peaceful pastoral scene was full of thunder, smoke, screams, yells, flashing metal and booming guns as the Army of Northern Virginia under Lee gave one last desperate charge across these fields to dislodge the Army of the Potomac led by Meade and pull a victory out of the encounter at Gettysburg.

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

—Abraham Lincoln

The small marker on the other side of the stone wall is the furtherest the North Carolina troops advanced

The Pennsylvania Monument lies at the heart of the Union line

John Henry /  by Dave Hileman

I knew about John Henry from songs, most recently a Bruce Springsteen album called Live in Dublin has a spirited version of the ballad. But I did not know he was a real individual. Near the village of Talcott there is a small park by the railroad and the river where the tunnel is located that may have been the site of the contest between John Henry and the steam machine. I always thought it was about driving spikes into the ties but it was a means to dig places in the solid rock to blast for tunnels. This may or may not be the place and the circumstances of his death are in dispute but a lot is known and you can read a more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)

Welcome to Hinton, WV /  by Dave Hileman

Clearly this photo is of the train station that now serves AMTRAK. It does not look too different from old photos I saw of the station in the early 1900s. Hinton today is in the midst of a renewal. Streets are nicely kept, flowers on many corners, murals painted or repainted, a huge welcome center and new business are popping up. Why? In part because of the designation of the newest National Park, Hinton is the southern most portion of the New River Gorge NP. It is also the gateway to the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk where the New River begins its steep descent into the gorge. We also had a very good meal in town.

My turn of the century Hinton colorized “postcard.”

Going East /  by Dave Hileman

A few minutes after the train in yesterday’s photo we watched this one pulling a full complement of laden coal cars slowiy passed the station. Still raining but only a slight misty rain. The engineer even gave us a “toot” on the horn as he drew near. The station is Christmas red because it is a year-round Christmas shop, nothing related to the railroad any longer.

Going West /  by Dave Hileman

This CSX train is pulling a long load of empty coal cars that will be filled in the mines of West Virginia. It is likely that the train originated in Newport News at the coal terminal. It is traveling pretty fast as it passes the White Sulphur Springs station. Freight trains do not stop here but AMTRAK does three days per week.

The wind and the rain and the noise made for an interesting experience that close to a speeding train.

Amazed /  by Dave Hileman

This is a close up of a seed pot made in New Mexico years ago. What is stunning is the lines you see are hand painted with homemade dye from some source and applied with a yucca plant stem that is chewed to the right size and flexibility. Look at the remarkable spacing and the even width of the many lines.

Wood Duck 2 /  by Dave Hileman

One more shot on the wood duck that I posted a few weeks ago. It is turning a bit instead of straight on. This was in New Mexico.I loved the reflection and the deep rich colors.

Mountainair /  by Dave Hileman

A small town in the geographic center of New Mexico with a population of less than a 1000 is the gateway to several ancient Indian pueblos that are a part of the National Park Service. The town has a grocery, an old railroad station, a couple of restaurants and art galleries and a very nice restored hotel. This bar is on the main street, Broadway, which is US Route 60 that also goes through Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia. I just thought this little bar is the kind of place that a traveler might not choose to stop at unless they were in a movie where the main character gets in a brawl.

Mountain Laurel /  by Dave Hileman

In West Virginia’s eastern mountains there is a bog called Cranberry Glades. Cranberry Glades are a cluster of five small, boreal-type bogs in southwestern Pocahontas County, West Virginia, that Dennis and I explored along with two other state parks and several small towns over the last three days. This area, high in the Allegheny Mountains at about 3,400 feet is also the start of the Cranberry River. It was raining when we were walking the boardwalk trail so we did not spend too much time but this Mountain Laurel caught my attention with the rain drops along the edge. Worth getting a bit wet.

Heritage? /  by Dave Hileman

Not really connected to the fact we wander alll over the country in a trailer but CIndy’s Aunt Timmie and her husband, Doc owned travel trailers by the 1930’s and lived in them for a long period of time in Florida. They eventually moved into a fixed location mobile home with a screened room attached. I cannot imagine pulling these heavy units with cars of the era or living in Florida with no AC in these. Must be why most of the old photos, like the afternoon checker games were of people living outside.

Checkers on the lawn. Not sure which was theirs but they owned several different ones over the years.

The “streamlined” one. I think the car was called a Businessman’s Coupe because of the extra large trunk for sample cases, for example. I do not know if Doc was still practicing medicine but if so this would have suited house calls.

Double doors on this unit.

Rest In Joy /  by Dave Hileman

I have written about Curt and Jackie McSherry before in February of 2019. I wrote then:

“Many people influence all of us in different ways. The primary reason we are towing a travel trailer with a plan to visit more than 400 parks across the United States is due in a large measure to the enthusiasm for both camping and National Parks and the encouragement we had with Curt and Jackie McSherry.”

When we were traveling last year, Jackie died. We were not able to attend the service. Then this Spring while we were in the Southwest, Curt passed away. Again we missed the service and we both felt awful about our absence. While it is true that they were instrumental in us traveling with an RV, yet that is not their primary gift to us.

Before I ever met them, Jackie called me at my church office one day as they were moving to Toano back to her childhood home after years of service to the county all around the world. It was to ascertain if Williamsburg Christian Church teaching was faithful to the scripture. She let me know at the outset that they would be attending a different church, but not one she was confident was centered on the Gospel. It was a long call but even over the phone I could sense a joyful, delightful person. Several weeks later they arrived at the church I served as they were not content to attend where Jesus was not uplifted. What a special day for us as we then grew to know and love them both. The served willingly, provided generously, opened their home and hearts to so many people and their joy was infectious and their wisdom welcome. They were wonderful examples of a good marriage, of a life of service, of faith and grace. When I told them that we were beginning a new church in Toano they were thrilled because it was their prayer and desire to be able to invite friends to a church they trusted in their hometown. And on opening day and beyond, there was Curt at 80 unloading chairs and tables each week to transform a gym to a worship area and Jackie’s welcome with hugs and smiles melted the skeptical and the lonely and the anxious hearts. Their gift to us and to hundreds more was the gift of themselves: to serve, to love, to share and to invest their time and energy that faith might grow, grace abound and Jesus be glorified.

We were with them again years later at the opening of the new facilities for the Toano church, Lifepointe. They were so excited. It is difficult to imagine what the impact on the Kingdom was through their service to their Lord. A few weeks later, Cindy and I had our last visit with them in their home. A place where so many people were blessed by Curt and Jackie. Of course we did not know it was the last visit. Thankfully, for believers, it is only the last time on this planet.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

Curt and Jackie visit the Oliver in Williamsburg.

Curt & Jackie taking one of my devious Christmas tests in 2001. Sadly Curt is using the wrong end of the pencil. He must have looked at Jackie’s paper:)

My last McSherry snap - Jackie at the opening of Lifepointe’s new facility. She was introducing me to someone she invited to church. Always!


Abandoned /  by Dave Hileman

These were once homes in the mining town of Terlingua, Texas. Cinnabar was discovered here in the 1880’s and several mining companies worked the general area until 1947 when the last mine closed. Cinnabar is processed into quicksilver, or mercury and today while there are still uses for the element concerns about its toxic nature limit its use. The town was once well over 2000 people and about 5000 in the immediate area. Today 75 people call Terlingua home. Many of those in small, decrepit trailers and shacks. A few have rebuilt an old structure into something more substantial and there are a smattering of art shops and restaurants along with one store and an inn in what was one mine owners mansion.

This home had a stone foundation with an adobe walled interior.