Part 2-Pocahontas Commission’s February 7th Meeting: King George the Third Visits

Besides the pipeline info reported in part one of this story, the Pocahontas County Commissioners received an unexpected visit from England’s King George the Third who had ruled America before the Revolutionary War. Or more accurately stated, the Commission was visited by a very historically significant image of the last King that ruled the Colonies.

Jason Bauserman of the Pocahontas County Historical Landmarks Commission delivered that Commission’s annual update to the County Commission. He talked about some accomplishments over the past year including the restoration of the Hugh McLaughlin cabin, and the purchase of 14 acres of Travelers Repose in Bartow by the civil War Trust.  Bauserman also mentioned that the Historical Landmarks Commission has committed to providing three grants. One was for $5000 for the Durbin Signage Project, which will allow tourists to explore historical areas of Durbin while waiting to board their trains. Another grant was for $7000.00 to help restore the historic Huntersville Jail, while the third grant of $5000.00 was to help the historic archeological work being done at the site of Warwick’s Fort in Green Bank. Bauserman invited Bob Sheets, a landowner at the Warwick’s site, to talk about the Fort Warwick Archeological Project. Fort Warwick, for those who may not be familiar with it, was a Militia Fort built near Deer Creek in Green Bank, WV around 1774 and served as a protection from hostile Native Americans.

Bob sheets expanded on this and pointed out that the first military expedition to be led by Americans rather than by British officers staged out of Fort Warwick to march to the battle at Point Pleasant. It was historically significant because it demonstrated to the British – as well as to the American Colonists themselves –that the Americans were capable military leaders, which became obvious to the world shortly thereafter during the Revolutionary War.  Sheets brought a small oval glass with an image of King George III engraved into it to show to the Commissioners. He describes it, why it is historically significant and the small historical mystery it represents.

“Etched in this particular intaglio is a bust of King George the Third” Sheets told the Commissioners. “What this speaks to is a narrative that it is hard for us that live our lives to imagine, but two-hundred and forty years ago, there was some gentleman, wearing a watch –a pocket watch. And he had a watch fob attached to the end of that chain. At some point, this ended up in my pasture. Now did he decide to take it off because they changed Georges? Did somebody suggest he take it off, because it is in pristine condition? The facets that held it on that stone are not damaged. It would have been attached to a piece of metal . Metal survives in the soil on the site. We find a great deal of it. We find bullets, we find gun parts, we find cufflinks, we find all sorts of metal. Somebody took this off. Now we don’t know the reason. But we do know there was a significant conflict that followed this particular period. This has been to the Philadelphia American revolutionary War Museum, its been to New York, its been to Boston and they all say ‘yea, that’s King George the Third.’”

In other actions at the Commission meeting,

Each of the Commissioners made a brief report on the Commission Boards they have been assigned to.

The Commissioners voted to write a letter to the WV State Fire Commission in support of the BFD Volunteer Fire Department relocating its sub-station to the former Sheets Garage building in Green Bank.

They appointed Ruth Taylor to a new five year term on the board of the historic Landmarks Commission.

The Commission’s Counsel, Bob Martin reported that the Chief Judge has issued an order that the Sheriff’s Department is responsible for providing food to juries during trials. He is still looking into the Buckskin Boy scout Camp issue and the dog ordinance issue. Martin is writing a letter to the One Room University asking for more information on their budget.

The Commissioners heard from representatives of three non-profit organizations asking for contributions or funding from the Commission, and agreed to contribute the amounts indicated.

1. Watoga State Park Foundation: Mary Dawson explained that the foundation would like to obtain a $5000.00 contribution to heat the Park’s swimming pool and add a water slide. The Commissioners approved $4,000.00.
2. High Rocks Educational Corporation: Sarah Riley asked for $5000.00 for their AmeriCorps program. The Commissioners approved $3000.00.
3. Yew Mountain Center: Bob Must requested $5000.00 for this new non-profit organization to conduct educational and recreational program to students and citizens at their 500 acre property in Lobelia. The Commissioners approved $3000.00.