Group of old-timers who once attended Cedar Grove
Pauline Garretson and Boyd Duskey recall early days of church
Rev. Edgar Cooper of Creston enjoys Sunday afternoon
Lula Starcher Hughes comes out of Hughes Fork to attend homecoming
L to R-Jim Bell, Randall Whytsell
and Duck Stevens enjoy the fruits of their labor
Homecoming has been held for at least 70 years
By Bob Weaver
The Cedar Grove Church is located on the lower West Fork of the Little Kanawha above Creston. Yesterday, a few of the old-timers who once attended the church gathered for the annual homecoming.
"I came to the homecoming here when I was a boy seventy years ago," said Boyd Duskey, who claims he is no longer a "spring chicken."
The church, which sits right along the West Fork, has been in existence over 100 years, and folks from up and down the creek and across the creek in Roane County, came to worship, riding horses or on foot, said Joe Nutter.
Jim McCormick, now of Grantsville, said he used to "ford" the river on his horse, even when the water was up. "Some of those horses knew how to swim, even in the current," he said. McCormick grew up on lower Barnes Run in Roane County.
"The old church was a sacred place," said Duskey, who said the Baptist church was "stern and strict."
"When they would have a revival you couldn't find a place to stand," he said. "You could count the Model A Fords on one hand, and the rest got there the best way they could from Little Rowel, Beaver Dam and Honey Run."
In past years the church has held a special service at least once a year, using kerosene lamps for lighting and firing up the old wood stove.
Pauline Cunningham Garretson was there with her special version of a carrot cake, the mouth-watering morsels are always a favorite. We intended to take a photo, but all that was left was a few crumbs.
The Bell Fish and Fry Company was there, which includes not only fish, taters and pickles, but tents and reunion equipment.
Mostly the gathering enjoyed afternoon preaching, singing and the spread on the long table.
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