Reflections

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="04b085a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Historic Sharp Farm's Preservation Blog</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Historic Sharp Farms Preservation Bl"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35_m.html" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Reflections"><U><B><IMG SRC="03b0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id19.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chronos"><U><B><IMG SRC="03e0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="down" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>     </B><A HREF="id33.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upper Elk Native Trout Danger"><U><B><IMG SRC="02f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id37.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eminent Domain Proposal"><U><B><IMG SRC="0300e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04cd2e83.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id87.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Challenges of 2005 2008 Eminent Domain "><U>Return To Challenges Log</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04d07073.jpg"> <div> <I>Reflections</I></div> <div> As I write these thoughts on the evening of December 10, 2005, I reflect on almost one year of efforts to raise awareness about a decision by the powerful to place a sewer treatment plant on our historic property.</div> <div>  </div> <div> On December 15, 2004, I moved to Slatyfork, West Virginia at the request of my Great Uncle, Dave Sharp, for the purpose of watching over the farm for my generation.</div> <bR> <div> In the previous ten years, from scratch, a business was built. Hard work, sweat, real tears and long hours of perseverance culminated in a feature of my home and work on a national television program. I never imagined the sacrifice necessary to realize this small, but important to me, success. I could, certainly, not imagine working harder or overcoming greater obstacles.  At the very point where the rewards for past efforts were beginning to be realized, I was asked to be the eighth generation to watch over a local heritage dating back to the 1700’s.</div> <div>  </div> <div> I came to Slatyfork.</div> <bR> <div> William Sharp’s father and mother were killed by Indians in Virginia. He was an orphan bonded out for work as a tanner while he was given shelter.  William served in the Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He was asked by the colony of Virginia to forge new roads into a wilderness now known as Pocahontas County, West Virginia. William built the very first house in Huntersville. William begat William II who begat William III. They expanded the Sharp horizons on toward Edray and then to Slatyfork. William III settled in a most beautiful area where Old Field Fork and Big Spring Fork converge to form the Elk River. He built a log house right beside Laurel Run, in the midst of what is now THE destination for fly-fishing on the east coast; The ‘world class’ Upper Elk River ‘Catch & Release’.</div> <bR> <div> One of William III’s sons, Harmon, lived on in that house on Laurel Run….while William and his other sons moved on up the Big Spring Fork a short distance away. Yet another log home was built amidst a glorious spring complex wedged between Big Spring Fork and the adjacent steep cliffs of Middle Mountain on a narrow piece of land, hosting three separate water channels created by these dynamic water systems. One such channel closest to the mountain provided water flow for the Sharp Grist Mill, sadly, now gone.</div> <bR> <div> Piles of Indian ‘chirt chips’ were used to fill in the mud puddles at the front door of the new log house. William III lived amidst those three spring channels but he was not the first. Indian arrowheads, spear points, cup stones, and burial pendants have been found dating back to 7700 BC. Burial grounds exist here and across the river in another Sharp field.</div> <bR> <div> Hugh Sharp, another of William’s sons built a third log home a short distance east over the rise at the base of Middle Mountain. It still stands in pristine condition. Hugh had 5 brothers and one sister. Mary Eleanor died of Diphtheria in 1861. She was buried in an unmarked grave across the river. Hugh lost 2 brothers in the Civil War, one North and one South. William Luther (his brother, William IV) was killed in a Civil War skirmish and was buried next to Mary Eleanor. His other brother, Silas, was my great great grandfather. Silas spent 23 months and 21 days as a prisoner of war at Salisbury, North Carolina. He was one of the very few who survived that notorious prisoner of war camp. </div> <bR> <div> Silas Sharp walked back from the Salisbury prisoner of war camp. When he returned a house was built over the hill, south of Hugh’s log cabin. It was situated along side a dirt road used by farmers to take their goods from Marlinton to Elkins.</div> <div> Silas had a son named Luther David Sharp. LD, as everyone knew him, is my great grandfather. In 1884, at the age of 12, he began selling scarves and ink out of his mother’s bedroom to travelers passing by. He was very successful in this endeavor….soon the first Sharp’s Country Store was built. It is still in operation. </div> <bR> <div> My grandfather, Ivan Sharp, was LD’s oldest son. He ran one side of the Sharp’s Country Store..selling parts for those new things called automobiles. Religion played a big part in the lives of the Sharps. (Land and labor was given to build the Methodist Church, still standing) Ivan often traveled more than twenty-five miles over the mountains to Arborvale to attend church services. Why? Her name was Genevieve. They were married and their first child, Ramona (my mother) was born in the farmhouse. </div> <bR> <div> My great uncle, Dave Sharp, is my grandfather’s little brother. He is the only one left from his generation. At 89, it was important for him to see the legacy of the Sharps continue. </div> <bR> <div> It was cold and snowy on December 15 when we arrived. The first day as operator of the country store, I checked in three bear! I learned from trial and error, as I was raised in the city. The locals have been good to me, and forgive my inadequacies…most likely out of respect for the Sharps before me. </div> <bR> <div> Dave returned to his home in Ohio the next week and I was on my own. Christmas morning seemed like 20 below. Mornings are an earlier affair in the country, especially in the winter. This is mainly due to the fact that the wood stove has to be banked…or suffer the consequences. Yes, that Christmas morning was very cold. I never had particular doubts about giving everything up, but I suppose I did wonder what my decision would bring me.</div> <bR> <div> The sky was clear, blue and crisp. I took a walk on the farm, through the snow, exploring. The meadow by the Big Spring of Elk River was glistening with reflections on the ice like a scene out of Dr. Zhivago. Water was racing down the previously dry riverbed. Icicles dangled from the branches overhanging. I followed the river to another meadow and found an island of snow in-between two forks. The cold was forgotten as I listened to the sound of water rushing through the soon to be frozen river. My eyes began to well up with emotion and in that private moment I knew I was blessed. There was no question the right decision was made. My challenge would be to honor those before me. </div> <bR> <div> Little did I know, on that Christmas day, that I would be fighting for the Sharp heritage, the very existence of our farm and my livelihood, as well. A short time elapsed before I read in the paper, in microscopic print, at the end of a legal notice that I had just 30 days to make a case to save our farm. You see, the Pocahontas County Commission decided to endorse a regional sewer system to promote development. </div> <bR> <div> This ‘regional’ system soon became a paid for by the State of West Virginia sewer system for Intrawest/Snowshoe Ski Resort. Four blocks were proposed. Block A (first to be built) was to include almost 2000 customers at Snowshoe, a few souls in Linwood and a very few souls along Scenic Route 219 in Slatyfork. The clincher? The treatment plant would be constructed by that scenic highway on our farm, 12 miles away from the ski resort. Snowshoe, which previously petitioned the Public Service Commission for a 180,000 gallon per day waste load allocation, was now demanding, along with the county commission, a 1.5 million gallon a day allocation (amazingly) available beside our meadow. Why amazing? Because the Big Spring Fork of Elk is mostly dry. <A HREF="http://www.8riverssafedevelopment.com/main/areaMap.php" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.8riverssafedevelopment.com/ma"><U>The land here is made of karst, limestone with fissures, sinkholes, underground water currents and the like. Our field is riddled with these fissures, sinkholes and underground conduits have been found during core drillings. Indeed, it is possible that the Big Spring of Elk flows underground directly beneath our field</U></A>. </div> <bR> <div> What about block B, C and D? Well, they will never be built. Why? Just with the projected use for the next 10 years from those ‘block A’ customers, the waste load allocation available on our farm of 1.5 million gallons a day will be exceeded. The result? There will be no region in ‘regional’. No block B, no block C and no block D. Less than 100 new customers will be served who would not have otherwise benefited from the first proposed treatment plant at Snowshoe. As a private enterprise, Snowshoe would have been responsible for funding the earlier proposed treatment plant. As it stands, a $17 million system will be built to add under 100 people….and they get to put it far, far away on our farm. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.8riverssafedevelopment.com/main/floods.php?defaultMediaFrame_slide=1#defaultMediaFrame" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.8riverssafedevelopment.com/ma"><U>The field is surrounded by the 100-year flood plain. Over half of this 9-acre field is in this flood plain</U></A>. The buildings will be scrunched up beside Scenic Highway 55/219. <A HREF="http://www.8riverssafedevelopment.com/main/floods.php?defaultMediaFrame_slide=1#defaultMediaFrame" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.8riverssafedevelopment.com/ma"><U>We had severe flooding last week</U></A>. On November 29, 2005, a rapid rain flooded the area. Our Middle Mountain stream, cascading down from the adjacent mountain poured onto field with ferocity. (directly through the proposed position of the headworks building) According to the county, the stream does not exist. If it existed, the Army Corp of Engineers would claim jurisdiction and, with that, sometimes environmental studies are required. None will be performed.</div> <div> Forget the Sharp heritage. Forget the eight generations of community participation. The property happens to be in the midst of a most beautiful God given bounty of nature. The otherwise dry riverbed of the Big Spring Fork is fed by a glorious, amazing cold-water spring complex. The three above ground spring channels provide the only sustenance for the Upper Elk River during low flows. At this location, the Big Spring Fork is where the native brook trout and the imperiled, endemic Cambarus Elkensis (crayfish) spawn. During periods of low flow the springs provide the single source of surface water to the Upper Elk, a world-class fishery destination. The project engineers intend to trench through these springs, even though they have been warned that by doing so they could behead them, alter the flow and/or cause sedimentation so severe the brook trout and crayfish habitat would be eliminated.</div> <bR> <div> The treatment plant was designed without any deference to the spawning grounds. Heated effluent, with metals, phosphorus and sediment will, according to experts, kill off important species in one season. </div> <bR> <div> No environmental studies have been done. None will be done. Our field will be bulldozed even though Mary Eleanor Sharp(d. 1861) and William Luther Sharp(d. 1864-Civil War Battle) are buried there in unmarked graves. The field was once an Indian settlement, as we have found artifacts dating to 7700 BC. Those artifacts include burial pendants. Native Americans are known to be buried on this property. </div> <bR> <div> The engineers claim the karst topography is no match for their skills. They say things happen slowly in kasrt. Well, on November 30, 2005, a giant sinkhole opened up on our property. An underground water channel was exposed. The sinkhole is 5 feet across and about 20 feet deep. If this were to happen under the headworks building it would be an environmental disaster! As it stands, one spill, one overflow and the groundwater for miles would be ruined for decades. </div> <bR> <div> As the year comes to a close we are tired. The pressures of seeking information, communicating such to the community, providing for legal representation, and the long, long hours have taken their toll. However, we have been overwhelmed by the support of thousands of petition signers (by the way, not to stop the sewer, not to hate Snowshoe, just to move the plant away from the Scenic Highway, off the Sharp Farm to a safe location.) and hundreds of additional specially signed petitions from out of state taxpayers-property owners at Snowshoe! From our neighbors, to state senators, to environmental groups like The Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited..we thank you. </div> <bR> <div> The authorities know of a karst-free parcel of land less than 1/2 mile from our farm. It is state owned and we even offered to exchange land to any state for federal entity that might find themselves short a few acres because of the plant. Unbelievably, the Pocahontas County Commission and Intrawest still want to build the plant here on our farm in Slatyfork. They say it will cost too much to put the plant in a safe location.</div> <bR> <div> Our farm will be taken by Eminent Domain. During the past few months, in our fight to save our heritage and the environment, we have heard these disparaging comments from commissioners and appointees: “Aren’t the Sharps being ridiculous”? “What were you going to do with that old hill, anyway”? “You are complaining that the field floods. Its in the floodplain, that’s why we chose it, it is worthless to you”.</div> <bR> <div> The most disappointing thing of all is the fact that our farm was chosen without one elected or appointed official bothering to visit the site. The engineer in charge of selecting the field came to the property once in April of 2004, saw water flowing in the Big Spring Fork and assumed it did so year around. The engineers did not even know they were going to have to plow through the most important cold-water spring complex in Pocahontas County. They have not even asked for a permit from the Army Corp of Engineers. It is shameful. </div> <bR> <div> A hearing by the Pubic Service Commission of West Virginia was held in Marlinton a few months ago. The decision of the judge is due December 17. We hope and pray he will do the right thing. If the decision is against us, and I do mean US, all of us in the state, we will take a deep breath and fight some more. A few days ago I was feeling sorry for myself and wondered if I could go through another year of this. The work has been harder than I ever imagined, the obstacles greater. </div> <bR> <div> A relative reminded me that my great great grandfather Silas Sharp spent 23 years and 21 days in the worst prisoner of war camp this country has ever know. During the Civil War, Salisbury, North Carolina, was a notorious place. Silas was one of about 50 men known to survive it. </div> <bR> <div> Perhaps this year hasn’t been so bad, after all.</div> <bR> <div> Tom Shipley</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>