West Virginia - Mountains & Environs!

[suenc]

Greenbrier Resort (continued):

Well, lets go inside the resort - as expected, there is a tremendous difference in room rates, depending on size, location, etc. - but the rooms we've rented is like the one shown below - quite tasteful w/ often a mixture of colors (in fact some complain of going into a daze at the decorating schemes -. Dave

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The Greenbrier was proud that it was decorated by the premier interior designer of the day, Dorothy Draper, who was active from 1925 to 1960. The bright, flowery rooms were her style, quite prestigious at the time.

Also, the latest new owner of the Greenbrier has added a casino and several new restaurants. I'm curious whether the genteel Southern ambiance will change and whether "going Las Vegas" will help or hurt the resort's reputation.

 

[suenc]

Wonderful photos Dave and what a beautiful bridge!



Hi Sue, you really are quite funny!!

Hee hee. I'm really so clumsy that I can barely step off a curb.

 

[leelai]

Just wonderful Dave.....love all these pics and of course your commentary!

 

[leelai]

Hee hee. I'm really so clumsy that I can barely step off a curb.

Lol.....I have days like that myself! But it's good to be able to laugh at myself sometimes!

 

[giradman]

The Greenbrier was proud that it was decorated by the premier interior designer of the day, Dorothy Draper, who was active from 1925 to 1960. The bright, flowery rooms were her style, quite prestigious at the time.

Also, the latest new owner of the Greenbrier has added a casino and several new restaurants. I'm curious whether the genteel Southern ambiance will change and whether "going Las Vegas" will help or hurt the resort's reputation.

NOW, my wife is tempting me to return to the Greenbrier despite the INFLATED costs! YIKES!

New ownership might make a difference - the casino is not an attraction for us @ all - we've gambled in Las Vegas, Reno, & Atlantic City w/o much enjoyment (HEY - maybe lucky, i.e. rather spend my money on a good meal!).

Well, the area & resort are an attraction - the food may have improved - and if I can avoid wearing a tie, then might be still a possibility? Dave

 

[giradman]

Just wonderful Dave.....love all these pics and of course your commentary!

Hi Leelai - thanks for the gracious comments - a lot to enjoy in West Virginia - I have just one more spot to describe (and illustrate) that I've visited, this time w/o Susan - I know that we have some 'natives' from the state here, so hopefully they will provide some input of not only the places that I've been to, but also other areas to visit in West Virginia - Dave

 

[giradman]

Harpers Ferry & John Brown's Raid

A couple of other places we've visited are the Showshoe Mountain Ski Lodge (in the summer) and Harpers Ferry (w/ a friend when we were at a medical meeting in Baltimore - did a day trip that included Harpers Ferry and the Antietam (MD) & Gettysburg (PA) battlefields.

So, it's 1859 and the abolitionist, John Brown attempts a raid on the Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which is now part of West Virginia (in 1863 when the new state entered the Union) and is on the border w/ Maryland - below a brief summary from HERE - check out the link for a much more 'in depth' story.

Below the first pic of a map of the National Historic Park (blue arrow the approximate cite where the 2nd pic was taken); second one a beautiful scene of the city taken from the Maryland side w/ the Potomac River (right; which travels to Washington, D.C) and its junction w/ the Shenandoah River (left) - the town is nestle between the two w/ mountainous surroundings. The third image of some buildings in the current town; and finally, a reconstruction of the history fire station were John Brown and his remaining men were capture (two of Brown's sons were killed in the raid). Dave

John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry; in many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe-s.[1]) was an attempt by the white abolitionistJohn Brown to start an armed slave revolt in 1859 by seizing a United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown's raid, accompanied by 20 men in his party, was defeated by a detachment of U.S. Marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee. John Brown had originally asked Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, both of whom he had met in his formative years as an abolitionist in Springfield, Massachusetts, to join him in his raid, but Tubman was prevented by illness, and Douglass declined, as he believed Brown's plan would fail.

.

 

[giradman]

Harpers Ferry & John Brown's Raid (continued):

The raid took place in October 1859 (previous link provides more details) - Robert E. Lee, a Lt. Colonel in the US Army arrived w/ a troop of US Marines (along w/ local militia) to confront the John Brown, which led to his defeat and a conviction of treason - Brown was hung in December 1859 in Charles Town (now Charleston - the capitol of West VA described in several previous posts in this thread). One year later, December 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union after the election of Lincoln in November - in April 1861, Ft. Sumter, a federal property in Charleston Harbor was bombarded and the American Civil War began.

In the spring of 1861, Lee was offered command of the Union Army (see quote below from HERE), which he anquished over but refused when his native state of Virginia joined the Confederacy - what if Lee had accepted that position - who knows but an interesting read HERE. The Civil War ended in April, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Virginia (just 2 hrs north of us) w/ Lee surrendering to U.S. Grant - over 600,000 men were dead!

Below, a couple of pics of the Federal attack on the Fire Station from publications of the times; a picture of John Brown (BOY, he did look mean!) and one of Robert E. Lee (date uncertain but in a Union uniform and likely in his mid- to later 40s).

Now if you want to see an old movie of this raid, then try to watch Santa Fe Trail (1940), where Raymond Massey does an uncanny portrayal of the abolitionist (see last pic). Dave

The commanding general of the Union Army, Winfield Scott, told Lincoln he wanted Lee for a top command. Lee accepted a promotion to colonel on March 28, 1861.[73] He had earlier been asked by one of his lieutenants if he intended to fight for the Confederacy or the Union, to which Lee replied, "I shall never bear arms against the Union, but it may be necessary for me to carry a musket in the defense of my native state, Virginia, in which case I shall not prove recreant to my duty."[74] Meanwhile, Lee ignored an offer of command from the CSA. After Lincoln's call for troops to put down the rebellion, it was obvious that Virginia would quickly secede. Lee on April 18 was offered by presidential advisor Francis P. Blair a role as major general to command thedefense of Washington. He replied:

Mr. Blair, I look upon secession as anarchy. If I owned the four millions of slaves in the South I would sacrifice them all to the Union; but how can I draw my sword upon Virginia, my native state?[75]
Lee resigned from the U.S. Army on April 20 and took up command of the Virginia state forces on April 23.

.

 

[scifan57]

Thanks for another excellent edition of your travelogue, giradman. I'm surprised at how small the building where John Brown and his surviving followers were captured is. The depiction of the incident in The Santa Fe Trail shows a much larger building, resembling a railroad roundhouse.

 

[giradman]

Thanks for another excellent edition of your travelogue, giradman. I'm surprised at how small the building where John Brown and his surviving followers were captured is. The depiction of the incident in The Santa Fe Trail shows a much larger building, resembling a railroad roundhouse.

Hi Scifan.. - I have that film on a 'burned' DVD from the TCM channel, but have not watch it in a while; I've been in that reconstructed fire station in Harpers Ferry, and the building is indeed not a large one, but Brown had less than 2 dozen men (some black) inside. Dave

 

[suenc]

Harpers Ferry & John Brown's Raid (continued):

The raid took place in October 1859 (previous link provides more details) - Robert E. Lee, a Lt. Colonel in the US Army arrived w/ a troop of US Marines (along w/ local militia) to confront the John Brown, which led to his defeat and a conviction of treason - Brown was hung in December 1859 in Charles Town (now Charleston - the capitol of West VA described in several previous posts in this thread). One year later, December 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union after the election of Lincoln in November - in April 1861, Ft. Sumter, a federal property in Charleston Harbor was bombarded and the American Civil War began.

In the spring of 1861, Lee was offered command of the Union Army (see quote below from HERE), which he anquished over but refused when his native state of Virginia joined the Confederacy - what if Lee had accepted that position - who knows but an interesting read HERE. The Civil War ended in April, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Virginia (just 2 hrs north of us) w/ Lee surrendering to U.S. Grant - over 600,000 men were dead!

Below, a couple of pics of the Federal attack on the Fire Station from publications of the times; a picture of John Brown (BOY, he did look mean!) and one of Robert E. Lee (date uncertain but in a Union uniform and likely in his mid- to later 40s).

Now if you want to see an old movie of this raid, then try to watch Santa Fe Trail (1940), where Raymond Massey does an uncanny portrayal of the abolitionist (see last pic). Dave


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[suenc]

Ever think of turning this travelogue into a book? You could add some lodging and eating suggestions.

 

[giradman]

Ever think of turning this travelogue into a book? You could add some lodging and eating suggestions.

Hey - a new project for me in retirement!

 

[The OB]

Hey - a new project for me in retirement!

Late on replying as usual, but just to say....fantastic reading Dave, that is to say very interesting, informative material. I think most people by now know that refrain "John Brown's body is a layin' in the grave etc" so its a real plus to get some background history on Mr. Brown and his exploits.
I would wholeheartedly agree with the idea of turning this material into a book. A lot of excellent research there....
Andrew

 

[giradman]

Well, I was not going to add more to this 'fascinating' thread -

BUT, a major men's PGA tournament, i.e. the Greenbrier Classic, is taking place this weekend - I was watching Saturday's match (I'm a golf fan but no longer a player) - the comments & views show off this fabulous resort and may entice you to want to visit West Virginia!

SO, for those who may be able to get this coverage on their local TV networks - take a brief look - the place is spectacular (despite some of my negative comments in a post) - Dave
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