WV'S BIRTHDAY: LIFE AROUND THE MOUNTAIN - A Spruce Knob Pictorial

(06/20/2024)

A spine of spruce on the mighty mountain

Remnants of early farm life

Many would consider life on Spruce Knob Mountain (4861') too harsh and too inconvenient, but human-folk moved near the summit in the 1800's to farm and raise their families . Many of the original families are still there and still farming. The mountain has some of the highest pastoral land in the east, with hundreds of grazing cattle and sheep.

While ascending to the summit has been the big attraction, a popular destination is the 50-acre Spruce Knob Lake, dozens of hiking trails, beaver dams, wildlife preserves and little-known caves like Sinks of Gandy for day long exploring.

Misty rain surrounds Seneca Rocks

Mountain Home in Circleville, near the mighty Knob

In the valleys and villages around the mighty mountain, there is abundant habitation and beautiful homes, well-entrenched communities like Circleville, long-time fighters for the presence of their local school along the North Fork. They lost to the master plan - consolidation.

Not unlike Calhoun County, the connection to the mountains is viewed by some as absurd. The umbilical connection to original roots causes natives to dream of returning, with some actually doing it. There are those who managed to stay put. They may be the most envied, when it is all said and done.

A view of Germany Valley

Circleville Post Office

Highland pasture on the Knob

Farming on the peak for 200 years

Mountain Institute's eastern "Yurt"

Faraway architecture brought to mountains

For more on the "Taller Mountains" click below.

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