All that's left to mark the Husk's
tiny house is part of a fruit cellar
By Bob Weaver 2024
Everly and Belle Adams Husk, in my childhood in the 1940s-50s, lived in a tiny four room jenny lind house in a deep woods hollow, close to my homeplace in the Village of Hur.
Everly was a tenant farmer for the Hardman Family, at that time never owning a car, Belle worked as a housekeeper and cook for the same family.
My folks with me tagging along would walk into the hollow to visit them them, their house heated by a wood store and lit by kerosene lights. They were good neighbors.
With the coming of spring, Everly would talk off his shoes and go barefoot until the fall frost, often walking up the hollow to go to the store in the Village of Hur. Slightly superstitious, particularly after dark, we would hear him singing hymns to keep the bad spirits away.
We would talk to Belle on the crank'em up phone, requiring my mother to wire up a single strand phone line that went down to their house, the main line going to the "switch office" in the Village of Hur.
Sometime in the 1950s they left and moved to Ohio, purchasing a farm and having a good life. Everly had plenty of training.
We have written dozens of stories about the early settlers on Husk Ridge, landing on some of the worst farm land in the county. Many of the Husks came from Doddridge County.
Some having to terrace farm and build rock walls, no money for barbed wire. Life was tough, but they survived. Mary Husk Bryner said in the 1920s food growing failed and they ate snowbird soup to survive the winter.
Everly Husk's parents, Absolom and Eliza
J. West Husk,"had lots of Indian blood"
Belle Adams Husk's parents, Ulysses Grant and Harriet
Slider Adams. who resided on Rowels Run, blood
linage back to John Adams and European royalty
Left to right: Oly Husk, Absolom Husk,
and John "Barefoot Man" Everly Husk
Everly (1887-1973) was the son of Absalom and Eliza Jane West Husk and and married Belle Adams (1894-1970) in 1911. She was the daughter of Ulysses Grant and Harriet Slider Adams.
Born in the tiny house, Ruby Husk Craddock (lived to be 100), Wylah Grace Husk Nitz, Wano Husk McCoy, Leno "Buck" Husk and James Randle Husk.
HUSK HISTORY 2024
REV. ARNOLD GLEN HUSK, GRANDSON OF EVERLY AND BELLE ADAMS HUSK WRITES ABOUT HIS LIFE TIMES, A RETIRED METHODIST MINISTER NOW LIVING IN PA
Arnold Husk, wife Norma (now dead) on their 40th anniversary in 2006
It started for me north of Grantsville, upon the Bell hill when I was born on January 20, 1940, near Norman Spike and Midge Bell's house, Oly Bell and Mrs., my cousins Janet and Kathren Bell. As kids we had and enjoyable time growing up and my sister Karen Jean came a tittle bit later. My mom's background was Nida lone Bell and mom met my dad Leno Solomon "Buck" Husk. They were married before WW2, and before
Cabot Station blew up.
I was an infant at the time and we were living on South Side, not far from the Calhoun High School. We lived there until I was about 5 years old. I wanted to get mom something for Mother's Day and the neighbor's flowers were tempting and I plucked the flowers and when mom found out, here I went to apologize. I sure learned a lesson. During WWII, dad went overseas as a Staff person and after getting back, he was employed for the Hope Gas Co and was employed with the company for 38 years.
THE FAMILY L to R: Buck Husk, wife Nina
and daughter Karen, and F. Arnold Husk
L to R: Belle Adams Husk, Wano Husk
McCoy, Everly Husk; F. Arnold Husk
Dad also had a background in farming and between Grantsville and Mt. Zion, dad rented tracks of land and I found out what farming was all about. Living on Pine Creek, living near Aunt Matty and Uncle Dewey, we had a good life. Karen and I didn't have many friends because children were not near us . It was in the fifties, and known as the cowboy/cowgirl years and I was dressed up and our play were plastic guns and pretending. We enjoyed those years, and loved life, until, when we would get into trouble, mom would take a switch, then we got into obeying. Karen and I loved animals, and I remember my little dog we named Star and she was much company. One day I was swinging on a grapevine when it broke. Star came with compassion and kissed me. Karen had her pony and dressed up like a cowgirl. I loved to build little huts in the woods to play in doing the day. Dad got me a Masters bike and Nelson Bland, neighbor, and I loved to ride. One day we were walking on a hillside and saw some kind of a bag hanging from a tree and we started throwing rocks at it and here came the hornets full speed. Then, we traveled full speed and we made it to Aunt Mattvs wired-in porch. We had a fine family near us, the Esteps and thankful for them.
During some of those years dad had to work away. On Sundays, mom would take Karen and me by the hands and we would walk to the Mt. Zion Methodist Church. We enjoyed the preacher. Pastor Glendon McKee
was a blessing to us. Later, when dad was working for the Hope Gas Company, Karen and I looked forward to going to the movies in Grantsville. While dad and mom talked with Uncle Clay and Aunt Esther and others, Karen and I thought it was a treat to go to the movies, getting a box of popcorn and a drink. To us, it was a big thing watching the cowboys and cowgirls.
While, we lived on Pine Creek, I had seen a little white church, and one Wednesday evening, I walked about 2 miles and had one of the greatest blessings in my young life I ever had! We sang a lot and shared in the gospel message! Yet all those years and now, Karen meant everything to me. She was such a good and loving person. Mom, as well as dad, were such caring persons and loved others dearly.
During those years Grandad and Grandmother Husk worked for Al Hardman who owned a large farm, and they worked for him for many years. They never did own a farm all their years but were always caretakers. Aunt Wano and Uncle Holly son Dean and Karen and I had a great time running and planning things we could do on their farm. They moved from near Hur WVA to a big farm near Marietta, Ohio. Then, Grandad and Grandmother moved on a large farm owned by a doctor who lived in Cleveland, Ohio. We would visit them on the weekends.
We would often visit dad's sister, Aunt Ruby and Uncle Howard Craddock who lived in a log house which was very comfortable. They loved farming also and put out some nice gardens. Various wild animals would
come at night and eat near their porch. I remember we walked up to their place one evening and Aunt Ruby had several turkeys, and the turkeys gathered around their place and would not let us through. Dad called out to Aunt Ruby to tell them scatter and release their guard.
I remember we would visit George Slider and family, near Hur and over the years had several visits. As I go back I remember Aunt Eddie who was the cook and housekeeper and a wonderful person! She worked for several years with Al Hardman. While, our mom. Karen and myself were visiting her, she had made quilts for mom. Mom was so grateful!
From Pine Creek, we moved to Grantsville again in a house located above the Hope Gas Company. Those years were attending Calhoun High School. Karen did well being a majorette and in the band and had many
friends. I participated in football and baseball. I remember my Biology teacher Fred Barnes, who encouraged me to sign up for drama and go for selling magazines. Very meaningful years. Pastor Glendon McKee was a wonderful help in English class. Those were great days. I also enjoyed driving a Chevy 50's truck delivering groceries for Garland Stump. I got more polish on me than shoes when I shined shoes at the barber shop in Grantsville!
During that time, Aunt Esther and Uncle Clay lived up Bull River and dad had a boat, I loved to paddle up the Little Kanawha River to their house and talk with Aunt Esther, sitting under the old Oak tree eating a sandwich. They had two daughters, Nala and Doris, my cousins. Karen, mom and dad and I loved them so much. Mom had a wonderful friend in Grantsville who didn't have much to go on, and mom would buy her
clothes and some food. Mom loved to do it! Also, dad looked after his men working for the Hope Gas Company. One evening they had finished a 20' inch line and they were coming home, but the winch line broke
and they were headed into darkness, then dad said to jump. They all came out safely!
I was a student at WV Wesleyan in Buckhannon, WVA and could get jobs working for the Hope Gas during the summer. In those days, we would cut grass over the pipelines. My boss, Havard Elder, said to me, "make sure your blade is sharp enough because you could step on a copperhead." I made it sharp! I met my future wife Norma and we served the Lord Jesus for over sixty years, in WV and PA., and married for 57 years. I sure miss Norma so much and
she was a wonderful person with many friends, passing in 2024.
Karen went to Parkersburg to study business and met John Sanger and they had busy lives being in construction all over the US. They had Regan and Kelly Sanger, and we all had good times together. This was
on another farm dad bought when he retired, 42 tracks, and you guessed it, on Pine Creek. We sure had
wonderful years there!
As I look back mom and dad instilled in us along with our Heavenly Father with Jesus' love, respect and love for others. The influence they made on our lives was a blessing as we were young then and with years now. After many busy years, Karen had to have a double lung transplant and she survived for about seven years. We
were very close and Karen was such a wonderful help to all of us. Kelly has always been a wonderful and encouraging light to us all. Regan had some difficult health issues for most of her life, but we loved her dearly
too.
When we moved back to Grantsville from dad's farm on Pine Creek, we attended Knott's Memorial ' Methodist Church and Karen and I were involved with youth activities and I sang in the choir. Our pastor, Rev. Bill Richards and his wife JoAnn were away and I was asked to bring the Sunday's message and I was very nervous sharing with a big crowd, but I got through it. One evening, Pastor Bill , as we were walking through Grantsville, he asked me if I ever considered going into the ministry. I thought about business, but as I prayed
about it. I felt Jesus' love upon my heart. Then a lot of schooling took place. WVA Wesleyan College, WesleyTheological Seminary in Washington, DC , McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill. But, the most wonderful thing when I met Norma Shultz and our lives were greatly blessed serving our Lord Jesus for over 40 years in WV and over 20 years in PA.
But also, with God's blessing, having our children, Lorri Ann and Kevin Mark who were always a blessing to us, along with our daughter-in-law Amy, our grandchildren, Aidan, Leah, Gavin, all our many friends. All these many years our family has tried to be good neighbors and friends with love for so many.
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