May 23, 2013 Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Shinnston, West Virginia: Shinnston, West Virginia was the first City in our Wild & Wonderful State to be named a Playful City by KaBoom. In 2013, Shinnston achieved this designation for the third year. It is not an easy designation to get – many hoops must be jumped through to get this.
One of the many things Shinnston does, is Big Elm Play Day the last two days of school before Memorial Day. Today, grades K-2 were bused to Ferguson Memorial Park where The City of Shinnston had the pool ready, bounce houses set up, and Harrison County Parks & Recreation, and Lincoln High School Key Club members ready for the buses to arrive. (Friday, May 24 will be a repeat with grades 3-5.)
The buses took the children up to the large pavilion to unload and return to Big Elm Elementary for the 2nd grade. The teachers lead the kids down the road to the pool and grassy areas.
Walking to Play Day
One of the games – Pass the Ball
Games were played in several areas in the Park. The games were organized and monitored by Lincoln High School Key Club members and employees of Harrison County Parks and Recreation.
And the Bounce Houses were quite popular! Mazes, slides, and how high can he jump? Will he reach the palm frond?
How High Can I Jump?
Tags: Big Elm Elementary, City of Shinnston, Ferguson Memorial Park, Harrison County Parks and Recreation, KaBoom, Lincoln High School, Lincoln High School Key Club, Playful City, Shinnston
May 19, 2013 Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Shinnston, WV: The new bridge work is progressing – mostly in a good way. Last week a water line was broken and the West Side of town was without water until it could be fixed (quickly thanks to Shinnston’s great Public Works Dept.). The piers on the east side of the West Fork River are well on their way. The west side piers are started
Bridge piers – East Side
AND the West Fork River Rail-Trail is OPEN!! They have done a nice job of keeping the rail-trail open with the construction materials cordoned off. The whole construction area is less than a city block and trail users are into the rural setting of the trail.
West Fork River Rail-Trail OPEN!
Come ride the West Fork Rail-Trail and while you are here, visit the shops and restaurants of Shinnston. The Gillum House Bed & Breakfast is within blocks of rail-trail, shopping, and restaurants of Shinnston, West Virginia.
Tags: Bridge, City of Shinnston, Gillum House, Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Shinnston, US Rte.19, West Fork River Rail-Trail, West Virginia
West Virginia Ramps
April 29, 2013 by Gillum House Bed & Breakfast: It is RAMP season in West Virginia and ramp dinners. Ramp dinners and festivals have been held all over the State. Come to Shinnston Friday, May 3, 2013 For the Ramp Buffet at Jimmy’s Diner. Jimmy’s is located on Hood Avenue (US Rte. 19 North on the west side of Shinnston) just 1 mile from the Gillum House Bed & Breakfast. Come on in to Shinnston, an easy ride from I-79, for the best ramp buffet in West Virginia.
Tags: Gillum House, Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Jimmy's, Jimmy's Diner, Ramp Buffet, ramps, Shinnston
April 19, 2013 by Kathleen Panek: Shinnston is getting a NEW “new” bridge across the West Fork River!! What was referred to as the “old” bridge was still standing when we arrived in 1995. It had been built in the 1880s and was finally removed several years after we arrived. I have no idea how long the “new” bridge had been there, but we were told of a local man getting in trouble for flying his plane under the bridge after coming home from WWII . There has been talk of replacing the “new” bridge since 1997!
It is our plan to show the progression of the bridge being built. These photos are after about two months of work and were taken from the “new” bridge.
From the old “new” bridge, looking at West Fork Rail-Trail
We are told thre will be a flagman on the rail-trail when construction takes place over the trail.
Tags: building a bridge, City of Shinnston, Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Shinnston, West Fork River, West Fork River Rail-Trail
First time visitors to the Gillum House Bed & Breakfast
OK, now that I have my whining out of my system, I saw something this morning from the kitchen window that I have never seen before in all our 18 years in Shinnston. I happened to glance out and there, just standing perfectly still were two yearling deer. They were yearlings because they no longer had the spotted rumps of fauns and were larger than fauns.
Tags: deer, Gillum House, Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Shinnston, West Fork River Rail-Trail, West Virginia
A West Virginia delicacy! Ramps
In West Virginia you know when Spring is finally here when they start talking about Ramps. No, we are not talking about an angled entrance – we are talking about something ONLY available in the Spring and a delicacy(?) that is either loved or hated. I personally think GOD took the worst of a green onion and the worst of garlic and married them to get a ramp. But I make a great ramp potato soup! They are eaten raw or cooked with just about any main or side dish that would have onions.
Ramps (I am told) only grown in the wild and are found at roadside sales and in some produce stores in West Virginia. I have only know about them in West Virginia (not in any other State I have lived in).
Today I received an e-mail announcing the Feast of the Ramson in Richwood, West Virginia on April 20, 2013. Spring is here!!!!!! At last!!!
Feast of the Ramson
See more details, access video clips of the Feast from previous years, learn more about the entertainers, get Ramp recipes, and more online @
Richwooders - Ramps Site
Richwood Chamber of Commerce Site
Contact: Richwood WV Area Chamber of Commerce, Phone: 304-846-6790 for the most accurate information and date.
Ramps are the first green things to show their heads in spring in the Appalachian rich woodlands. They taste somewhat like an onion with a strong odor. They add a little life to Richwood and Nicholas County after a long winter. Richwood, West Virginia is the Ramp Capital of the World! Check out their Feast of the Ramson .
This good old fashioned Richwood Ramp Festival in West Virginia is held in middle of April and all food will be prepared by locals Richwooders, especially the ramps, the “little stinkers” will be served with ham, bacon, fried potatoes, brown beans, cornbread, and drinks, (Sassafras Tea, coffee, and cold drink). Hope you can make it to the Rampfest!
Come taste Spring in West Virginia – find a Ramp Dinner!
Tags: Festivals, ramp dinners, ramps, Richwood, West Virginia
February 15, 2013: The Buy Local Shinnston Committee needs your help. Below is a brief survey to help them increase awareness and change opinions about shopping in our locally owned businesses.
Those who participate are entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa Cash Card.
www.surveymonkey.com/s/Shinnston
If you have time to complete the survey it would be much appreciated!
Thank you!
Tags: Buy Local, City of Shinnston, Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, Shinnston, Shop Shinnston, Survey
