J.R. Clifford Project

09/15/2024

saveblackwater.org/early-mining-voices/

This is our upcoming free community history event -- reserve your seats now. Will be fun!

08/15/2024

https://savingplaces.org/preserving-black-churches-guidelines?utm_medium=email&utm_source=general&utm_campaign=aachaf Deadline Monday August 19 for letter of intent.

Preserving Black Churches is a project of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Annual grants from Preserving Black Churches are intended to preserve historic Black houses of worship—either with active congregations and nonactive congre...

06/20/2024

Celebrate!!

A Day of Reflection, Celebration and Love     Juneteenth: A Day of Reflection, Celebration and Love     Today, we commemorate the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Tex

06/18/2024

Here is a video of Tom Rodd's recent talk at the West Virginia Association of Museums. We admire their work very, very much.

TOM RODD[J.R. CLIFFORD PROJECT & FRIENDS OF BLACKWATER]For twenty-five years the Tucker County-based group Friends of Blackwater has been researching, creati...

05/27/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oRdCXs33kA&t=1s

ICYMI . . .

This eight minute video tells the story of a West Virginia moonshiner who fought city hall - and won! Presented by Friends of Blackwater.For more information...

05/15/2024

https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/repositories/2/resources/6953

I am delighted to see that this Project is now documented at the WVU Regional History Library collection -- thanks to the work of Librarian Emeritus Linda Blake!

Collection documents the Friends of Blackwater’s project to highlight the life and career of J.R. Clifford, a Black West Virginia lawyer and newspaper owner. It includes play scripts, programs, flyers, book marks, social studies lesson plans, press releases and press coverage, and photographs. Pro...

03/12/2024

Here is a new video from Friends of Blackwater about our most recent history program. It was prepared by Cheyenne Elswick. Check it out! Your comments and reactions are most welcome!

This eight minute video tells the story of a West Virginia moonshiner who fought city hall - and won! Presented by Friends of Blackwater.For more information...

02/04/2024

Mary Fields, or "Stagecoach Mary," was the first African American woman to work as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service. Fields was born into slavery in Tennessee in 1832. She moved to Toledo, Ohio and worked for the Ursuline Convent. In 1884, the convent moved to Montana to found the St. Peter's Catholic Mission School. Fields joined the convent in Montana three years later. She provided protection for the nuns, drove supply wagons, chopped wood, did carpentry work, and anything else that was needed. In 1895, Fields was hired to deliver mail, and held this position into her seventies. She was known for always ensuring mail was delivered on time despite the weather, ruggedness of mountain trails, or remoteness of homes. (Photo Credit: Ursuline Convent Offices)

02/03/2024

https://www.saveblackwater.org/film-festival?link_id=4&can_id=7b7b16ab26e522d84719e3b40b0a58fa&source=email-join-us-for-the-2024-backcountry-film-fest&email_referrer=email_2192286&email_subject=join-us-for-the-2024-backcountry-film-fest-21024

09/17/2023

Lindy Point in Blackwater Falls State Park, WV.

09/17/2023

Twenty years ago a timber company, bought about 3,000 gorgeous acres in the mostly public Blackwater Canyon, including iconic Lindy Point. Diverse, strong protection campaigns sprang up and continue to make progress. Lindy Point and other habitat are now public and preserved. Nice picture, Frank Gebhard.

Lindy Point in Blackwater Falls State Park, WV.