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Volume 97 No. 17 Hinton, West Virginia Tuesday Aug. 10, 1999
40 Cents
Dam Fireworks Displ
Highlight of Water Festival
By Fred Long
Thousands upon thousands, a
number no man could count,
gathered in Bellepoint at the
Bluestone Dam Park, Saturday
;bight, to witness the most
extravagant and auspicious
fireworks display ever presented in
Summers County.
It was the climax, and what a
climax, for the 50th Anniversary
Celebration of the Bluestone Dam's
construction.
Although scheduled to begin at
9:30 pro, an unforeseen difficulty
delayed the program one hour. And
while several did leave, maybe as
many as I00, the estimated 5,000 in
the park held on, and when the show
was over you could hear voices echo
in the darkness: "It was worth
waiting for."
Still it is impossible to say how
many people witnessed the event
that carried a price tag of $15,000
because an unknown number of
people in Bellepoint watched from
their homes. Possibly 1,000 watched
from the New River Bridge, while an
estimatx1700 to 1,000 watched from
Rt. 20 above the Dam.
The Bluestone Dam's 50th
niversary Celebration was an all
day celebration held in conjunction
with the 35th Annual West Virginia
Water Festival.
It begin at 8:00 am when the
Visitors Center at the top of the Dam
opened. Inside the walls were lined
with photographs of the Dam under
construction and at one end of the
room an hour long video
documenting its construction played
on a small TV.
Refreshments were available and
throughout the day people stood in
line to purchase a special 50th
anniversary stamp.
In the park people lined up for a
• K road race while others, complete
with narration, toured the Bluestone
Lake in a mini-towboat. Others took
a ride on the New River in one of
the Bateau"Boats that was docked
at the frontier camp, set up along
the river the day before, and learned
how candles were made 200 years
ago.
Still others watched the Mini
Sternwheeler Races on the
Bluestone Lake and an untold
number opted for a guided tour of
the Dam.
Back at the park a crowd was
gathering for the anniversary
ceremony. Several found shelter
from the hot sun under a large tent
that had been erected for the fish fry
that aRernoon. The ceremony began
at 4:00 pro.
The primary purpose of the Dam,
said Resource Manager David
Eskridge, is to prevent flooding of
the Kanawha Valley. In its 5.0 years
of operation it as saved about $1.6
billion in flood control while its total
construction cost was about $30
million.
Recreation was not considered
originally, but its construction
created Bluestone State Park and
Bluestone Lake, the third largest in
the state. Today, visitors to the Dam,
This black and white photograph doesn't do justice to the array of colors that filled the sky
and the spectacular waterfall that fell from the top of the Bluestone Dam at the height of
the fireworks Saturday night at the 50th Anniversary of the Bluestone Dam.
the Lake and surrounding state and
national parks spend an estimated
$18 million annually in southern
West Virginia.
But the celebration, Eskridge
pointed out, was not just for the Dam
itself, with all its impressive
statistics for size and financial
benefit to the region, but for the
people that built it, an elite group
known as the "Dam Builders."
Jimmie Hutchison, 83, of Forest
Hill, was one of the men that helped
build the Dam, employed in the
Concrete Test Lab in 1942.
Following its construction he
transferred to the corps and worked
in the Dam, performing operational
duties and general maintenance, or
on the Bluestone Lake as a Ranger.
He retired in 1981 with 38 years of
service.
He served as parade marshal for
the Grand Parade that morning and
for his service and dedication to the
project, Col. Dana Robertson,
Commander of the Huntington
District U, S. Army Corps of
Engineers, presented him with a
plaque of appreciation.
Following the ceremony the
audience was treated to a special
performance of "Annie, Jr." by the
Hinton Area Elementary K.I.D.S.
(Kids In Dramatic Studies) and a
community picnic and fish fry.
After the fish fry everyone sat
back to listen to the "Concord
Commander" until the fireworks lit
up the sky in a burst of colors. By
11:30 most people were on their way
home. It made for a long day, but a
day that will be long remembered.
The 50th Anniversary of the Bluestone Dam began on the
run, as shown by the photo above. About 100 participated
in the 5K run and walk that morning. Below a miniature
sternwheeler, J. F. Englevt from Dunbar, WV, prepares for
the race on Bluestone Lake. Both photos by Everett
Crawford.
Jimmte
for 38 years of service to the Bluestone Dam project.
Recruitable Community Update
First Impression
Team Report
The second step in our
community's role in the Recruitable
Community project will be the
arrival of The First Impression
Team report Wednesday.
Caryl Kramer, WVU's RCP
coordinator will be arriving in our
area to give residents feedback on
issues of community importance.
This meeting is open to the public
and is scheduled for 11:30 am at the
SC Community Wellness Center
located at 221 Temple Street,
Hinton.
Since the announcement that
Summers County was one of five
counties selected to participate in
the Recruitable Community Project
sponsored by West Virginia
University, much has been going on
in our community.
Your local board members would
at this time like to invite the public
to participate in discussions which
may ultimately affect the future
growth and economic development
of Summers County in a Town
Meeting scheduled for Friday,
August 20 at 7:00 pm in the
Memorial Building.
On Saturday, August 21 at 6:00
pm a Potluck Supper is scheduled
at the Memorial Building. This nmal
will provide residents a first hand
opportunity to interact with design
team members on issues, goals, and
projects which were identified at the
Town Meeting.
Please bring a dish and get
involved in the feedback which the
Design Team will provide to us
regarding what local residents feel
are important to improve the quality
of life here in Summers County:
We hope to see you at these
important events, so mark your
calendars now! Town Meeting,
Friday, Aug. 20th. at 7:00 pm&
Potluck Supper, Saturday, Aug. 21,
at 6:00 pm, both are at the Memorial
Building. For more info., contact
Wilma Rodes at 466-1118, 466-1000
or 466-1200.
W. C. Parker, of Hinton, was selected county Democrat of
the Year during a recent meeting of the county Democrat
Executive Committee.
Parker Summers Co.
Democrat of the Year
The Summers County Executive
Committee announced today the
selection of W. C. Parker as
Outstanding Democrat of the Year.
Mr. Parker has been active in
county and state political circles for
many years. He has managed
primary and general campaigns of
candidates for national, state and
local office and been active in the
political process at legislative
sessions for Iocal and state issues.
It was noted by the committee
that Parker has always stood for the
principles that make the Democratic
Party the great party that it is.
A long time community leader,
Parker was instrumental in
founding the Summers County
Hospital. He has served on it's
Board of Directors and a term as
Chairman of the Board.
"He has been active in youth
activities having supported and
coached in several programs. A
lifetime advocate for New River, W.
C. worked with the National Park
Service on the DraR Management
Plan for New River Gorge National
River.
He serves on the Board of
Directors of the National Committee
for New River and was recently
elected to the Board of Directors of
New River Community Partners,
the multi-state agency
administering the American
Heritage River Initiative for New
River.
In recognition of his service to the
Democratic Party, he was honored
at an awards ceremony held during
the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner
Saturday at the Charleston Civic
Center.
School Levy
Election:
November 20
The County School Board,
Thursday, by split vote, approved
final plans for a special school exce.s
levy and scheduled the election for
Nov. 20.
Members Doug McBride and Sue
Angell voted against, saying the
"timing" for another election is
wrong. "
Last Nov. voters rejected the
attempt for a special school levy by
51.7% of the vote.
The levy call is about the same
as the one last year and will include
the county Health Dept.