These documents appear to be a mixture of a humorous, clever collection notice from 1949 and a detailed family update from 1951. Below, I have transcribed and "rewritten" them into a clean, readable format while preserving their original character and period charm.
Letter 1: The "Expressive Words" Request
Date: November 7, 1949
Location: Buckeye, West Virginia
Dear George,
Here is a list of the seven most expressive words in the English language:
The most revered is "mother."
The most beautiful is "love."
The most tragic is "death."
The warmest word is "friendship."
The coldest is "no."
The most bitter is "alone."
And the 7th—and saddest—word is "forgotten."
That is where I come in, for apparently you have sadly forgotten all about me, just as you have apparently forgotten to pay for the logs! All the logs have now been delivered to your mill. Won’t you please let me have payment for these at your earliest convenience?
Sincerely,
Dallas
Letter 2: The Family Chronicle
Date: September 3, 1951
Location: Fort Pierce, Florida
Dear Cousin Calvin,
When your letter arrived several weeks ago with news of you and the family, I thought I would answer at once. I was so happy to hear from you after all these years. I guess, at heart, most of us are procrastinators. I was sorry indeed to hear about Cousin Susie’s passing, though it is a beautiful way to go.
I don’t know when I have enjoyed anything as much as your letter bringing me "up to date" on your children and grandchildren. My youngest daughter, Barbara, lives here with her husband, Joseph Lawrence Slay (the Athletic Director for the County High School), and their two children. Dorothy has been married ten years to Roland Lee Jones; they live in Daytona Beach where Roland is an electrical engineer. They have two lovely girls of their own.
I wanted to share some news regarding our siblings as well:
Sue Gillions lives at Lodge, Virginia. Her husband, David, is a high school principal.
Jessie married William Moss. They live in Weaverville, North Carolina. William has unfortunately been an invalid for about ten years.
Sallie lives in Washington, D.C. She is alone now, as her husband died several years ago and she lost one son in the War.
Margaret, our youngest sister, lives near me in St. Lucie.
Primrose passed away in July 1944.
Turner died of acute appendicitis shortly after Daddy passed.
We haven’t heard from our brother, Moffett, since the War.
As for myself, after some financial reverses in the thirties, I went to work to educate my girls. I have been a secretary to a company executive for nine years now. At the moment, we are actually watching two hurricanes brewing to the southeast of us—one in the Caribbean and one in the Atlantic! If a hurricane comes along, I’ve warned my office I’m coming back to work, as I want nothing but sunshine for my upcoming vacation.
Please remember me to Cousin Norman, Cousin Grace, and Anna. Now that you know where I live, do come see us and write occasionally. Much love to you and Cousin Mabel.
As ever,
Annabel
Notable Details for your Records:
The 1949 Letter: This is a remarkably clever piece of "debt collection" writing. Dallas used a philosophical list of words to gently (but firmly) shame George into paying for a delivery of logs.
The 1951 Letter: This serves as a vital genealogical "map." It confirms the deaths of Primrose (1944) and Turner, the military service of Roland Lee Jones (Pacific) and Larry (Germany), and the tragic loss of Jane’s husband, Basil Shark, in the War.
Would you like me to create a simplified family tree based on the names and relationships mentioned in Annabel’s letter?
Based on Annabel’s letter from 1951, here is the reconstructed family tree. It centers on Annabel’s siblings (the children of "Daddy") and their subsequent families.
The Primary Family (Children of "Daddy")
The letter lists eight siblings in total.
Annabel (The Writer)
Residing in Fort Pierce, FL; Secretary.
Daughter: Barbara (m. Joseph Lawrence Slay, Athletic Director)
Granddaughter: Barbara Jo
Grandson: (Unnamed, age 3 in 1951)
Daughter: Dorothy (m. Roland Lee Jones, WWII Veteran)
Two Granddaughters: (Unnamed, ages approx. 10 and 3)
Sue (m. David Gillions, High School Principal)
Residing in Lodge, VA.
Two Daughters: (Unnamed, both married and living in D.C.)
Jessie (m. William Moss)
Residing in Weaverville, NC.
Three Sons: (All married with families; living in Atlanta and Dayton, OH)
Sallie (Widowed)
Residing in Washington, D.C.
Four Children: One daughter and three sons (One son killed in the War; others married)
Margaret (The Youngest Sister)
Residing in St. Lucie/Fort Pierce, FL.
One Daughter: (Married, living in West Palm Beach with two children)
Primrose (d. July 1944; m. John Hopkins, d. before 1944)
Two Children: (Both married, living in California)
Note: Also had a step-daughter, Mary (m. Orville Nelsen), who had three sons.
Turner (d. circa 1920s/30s)
Died of acute appendicitis shortly after their father passed.
Moffett (Brother)
Status unknown; missing since World War II.
Extended Relatives Mentioned
Cousin Calvin: The recipient of the letter.
Cousin Mabel: Calvin’s wife.
Cousin Susie: Recently deceased.
Cousin Norman & Cousin Grace: Family members living near Calvin.
Cousin Bettie Ralston: Former neighbor from Mt. Clinton.
Key Locations for Genealogical Research
If you are tracking this family through census records, the letter highlights several geographic hubs:
Buckeye, West Virginia: Likely the family’s point of origin or where the "old logs" were delivered.
Mt. Clinton, Virginia: Mentioned as a former home for many family members.
Fort Pierce/St. Lucie, Florida: Where Annabel and Margaret settled.
Lodge, Virginia: Where Sue resided at the "old home place."
Would you like me to help you draft a research plan to find these specific individuals in the 1940 or 1950 U.S. Census records?
Genealogy of the Gatewood Family
Date: October 18, 1956
From: The Pocahontas Times (Calvin W. Price, Editor)
To: Cousin Julia
Dear Cousin Julia,
I am being more prompt than usual in rendering the historical data you asked for regarding the Gatewood family.
Jane Warwick, the second daughter of Major Jacob Warwick, became the second wife of William Gatewood of Essex County (a close relative of President Tyler). They lived at Mt. Grove in Bath County. Their sons were Warwick and Samuel V.
Warwick Gatewood married Margaret Beall of Botetourt County. I know of no sons belonging to William Gatewood’s first family. His daughter Eliza became the wife of Judge James Warwick of Warm Springs, while Catherine became the wife of Cassius Bias of Red Sweet Springs.
Colonel Samuel V. Gatewood married Eugenia Massie of Alleghany Falls, Virginia. He built the brick mansion at Mt. Grove. Their sons included Colonel A.C.L. Gatewood of Linwood and William Bias Gatewood of Loudoun County. Their daughter Mary Jane was the wife of Mr. Kenny of Memphis, Tennessee, and their daughter Frances was the wife of Mr. Patton of Lexington.
Sincerely,
Calvin W. Price
Letter 3: Submission of the Beverage Family History
Date: April 27, 1951
From: Mrs. Dara Knight (Webster Springs, WV)
To: The Editor, The Pocahontas Times
Dear Sir,
I am enclosing what information I have regarding the history of the Beverage family. I am the daughter of Eliza Jane Beverage and Nathaniel Arthur.
While I can provide the fourth generation from them, I have no further records regarding the other sons and daughters of Peter Beverage. If this information is acceptable to you, please let me know if you would like the other generations I have available.
Should you choose to print this, would you please send two copies of the paper to me? I will settle the payment for them at that time.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Dara Knight
Would you like me to create a genealogical chart specifically for the Gatewood and Warwick descendants mentioned in these letters?
Based on the genealogical data provided in the 1956 correspondence from the Pocahontas Times, here is the lineage of the Gatewood and Warwick families.
The Warwick-Gatewood Union
Major Jacob Warwick
Daughter: Jane Warwick (Second daughter; second wife of William Gatewood)
Son-in-Law: William Gatewood (Of Essex County; related to President Tyler)
Descendants of Jane Warwick & William Gatewood
The couple resided at Mt. Grove in Bath County and had two sons.
1. Warwick Gatewood
Spouse: Margaret Beall (of Botetourt County)
2. Colonel Samuel V. Gatewood
Spouse: Eugenia Massie (of Alleghany Falls, VA)
Note: He built the brick mansion at Mt. Grove.
Children of Samuel V. and Eugenia:
Colonel A.C.L. Gatewood: Of Linwood.
William Bias Gatewood: Of Loudoun County.
Mary Jane Gatewood: Wife of Mr. Kenny (of Memphis, TN).
Frances Gatewood: Wife of Mr. Patton (of Lexington).
Other Descendants of William Gatewood
These individuals were noted as part of William Gatewood's family, though not explicitly as Jane Warwick's children.
Eliza Gatewood: Wife of Judge James Warwick of Warm Springs.
Catherine Gatewood: Wife of Cassius Bias of Red Sweet Springs.
Additional Lineages Mentioned
Beverage Family: Eliza Jane Beverage married Nathaniel Arthur; they were the parents of Dara Knight. Eliza Jane was the daughter of Peter Beverage.
Would you like me to look for any of these specific names—such as Colonel A.C.L. Gatewood or Major Jacob Warwick—in other historical records?
Historical records confirm that Colonel A.C.L. Gatewood and Major Jacob Warwick were central figures in the development and military history of Pocahontas County.
Colonel Andrew Cameron Lewis (A.C.L.) Gatewood (1843–1919)
Colonel Gatewood was a prominent Confederate officer, farmer, and community leader.
Early Life & Education: Born at Mountain Grove, Bath County, Virginia, to Samuel Vance Gatewood and Eugenia Sophia Massie. He entered the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1860, where he served as a cadet and drillmaster at the start of the Civil War.
Military Service: He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th Virginia Cavalry (Company F, "Bath Squadron") throughout the Civil War. Later in life, he served as the adjutant general and chief of staff for the West Virginia Division of the United Confederate Veterans.
Post-War Life: In 1877, he moved to Big Spring (Linwood) in Pocahontas County, where he became a successful farmer and stock raiser.
Family: He married Mary Skillern Warwick in 1869 and raised seven children: William Beale, Eugene Samuel, Massie Cameron, Andrew Warwick, Mary Preston, Eliza Pleasants, and one who died in infancy.
Major Jacob Warwick (1747–1826)
Major Warwick was a pioneer settler and a decorated figure from the American Revolutionary War.
Frontier Service: He served as a Captain in the Augusta County Militia and was a noted Indian spy and scout on the Virginia frontier. He participated in an expedition against the Indians on the Muskingum River in 1764.
Revolutionary War: He was a primary figure at Fort Clover Lick, which was garrisoned by the militia during the Revolutionary War. More than 125 militia members trained at "Fort Warwick" (his home base) before the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774.
Estate: He established a large estate near Verdant Valley and Clover Lick, noted for its immense timber and successful agriculture.
Legacy: He married Mary Vance; their daughter, Jane Warwick, married William Gatewood, establishing the long-standing connection between these two prominent families mentioned in your records.
Would you like me to find more details on the specific location of "Fort Clover Lick" or the "Gatewood House" in Linwood?
Historical records and modern landmarks place Fort Clover Lick approximately 10 miles northeast of Marlinton in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
Precise Location and Geographic Context
The Warwick Estate: The fort was originally situated on a flat terrace overlooking the Greenbrier River, located on the extensive landholdings of Major Jacob Warwick.
Relative to Edray: According to a historical marker on U.S. Route 219 in Edray, the fort stood to the east of the Edray settlement.
Modern Accessibility: The general site is near the present-day unincorporated community of , which sits along the Greenbrier River Trail at Milepost 71.2.
Coordinates: The community of Clover Lick is roughly located at 38°19′51″N 79°58′15″W at an elevation of approximately 2,300 feet.
Historical Significance
Revolutionary War Garrison: The fort was garrisoned during the Revolutionary War by the Augusta County militia to protect frontier settlers from attacks.
Frontier Refuge: It served as a vital defensive position for families like the Lewis and Warwick clans during the late 18th century.
Archaeological Note: While "Fort Clover Lick" is specifically linked to Jacob Warwick's land near Edray, a similar frontier structure known as Fort Warwick (built by William Warwick) has been archaeologically verified in nearby Green Bank on the North Fork of Deer Creek.
Modern Landmarks Near the Site
: A restored 1920s railroad depot that now serves as a visitor center for the Greenbrier River Trail.
Greenbrier River: The river continues to be a central feature of the landscape, much as it was when the fort was first constructed to command a view of the valley.
Would you like to explore the military history of the Augusta County militia at this fort, or are you interested in finding specific genealogical records for the Warwick family at this location?
The "Gatewood House" in Linwood is the historic home of Colonel Andrew Cameron Lewis (A.C.L.) Gatewood, a prominent figure in the post-Civil War history of Pocahontas County.
Location and Setting
The Community of Linwood: The house and farm are located at the base of Snowshoe Mountain in the unincorporated community of Linwood, West Virginia.
Big Spring Fork: The property sits in the valley of the Big Spring Fork of the Elk River, a region characterized by its high elevation and significant limestone springs.
The "Big Spring": The estate is named after a massive spring on the property that serves as one of the headwaters for the Elk River.
Historical Significance
A.C.L. Gatewood’s Seat: Following his service in the Civil War, A.C.L. Gatewood moved to this location in 1877, where he established a successful stock-raising and farming operation.
Robert E. Lee's Headquarters: The property (now known as Snowshoe Farms) served as the headquarters for General Robert E. Lee during his Cheat Mountain Campaign in 1861.
Linwood Cave: Located on the property, this cave was used by the Confederate Army to preserve meat and provide a reliable water supply during the war.
Distinction from the Mt. Grove Mansion
Samuel V. Gatewood's Mansion: It is important to distinguish this from the Gatewood House built in 1855 at Mountain Grove, Virginia. That brick mansion was the home of A.C.L. Gatewood’s father, Samuel V. Gatewood.
The Linwood Legacy: While the Mt. Grove home is a brick mansion, the Linwood property is primarily noted for its vast acreage, its 1890 homeplace, and its strategic military and agricultural importance.
Would you like to see a map showing the location of the Big Spring and Linwood in relation to Snowshoe Mountain?
Located on the historic Snowshoe Farms property in Linwood, West Virginia, Linwood Cave (also known as the Big Spring Cave) served as a critical strategic asset for the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Historical and Military Use
Robert E. Lee's Headquarters: The cave is situated on the same property that served as General Robert E. Lee’s headquarters during the Cheat Mountain Campaign in 1861.
Meat Preservation: The Confederate Army utilized the cave's naturally cold and stable environment to preserve meat supplies for troops stationed in the area.
Water Supply: The cave provided a reliable and protected water source for the military operations centered at the Linwood encampment.
Geological and Modern Context
The "Big Spring": The cave is the source of the "Big Spring," which discharges an immense volume of water and acts as a primary headwater for the Elk River.
Connection to A.C.L. Gatewood: After the war, the property and its unique geological features became part of the estate established by Colonel A.C.L. Gatewood in 1877.
Snowshoe Mountain: Today, the cave and the surrounding historic farm are located at the base of the Snowshoe Mountain resort area.
Would you like me to research the current accessibility of Linwood Cave for visitors or its status on the National Register of Historic Places?
The Big Spring at Linwood is a geological powerhouse that has shaped both the landscape and the nomenclature of this corner of Pocahontas County.
The Fountainhead of the Elk
Headwaters Status: The spring serves as the primary source for the Big Spring Fork, which merges with the Slaty Fork to form the Elk River.
Limestone Hydrology: It is a classic Appalachian karst spring, discharging an immense volume of water from the limestone layers beneath the base of Snowshoe Mountain.
The "Big Spring Fork": Because of this massive water contribution, the entire branch of the river for several miles carries the name of the spring itself.
The "Big Spring" Estate
Estate Naming: When Colonel A.C.L. Gatewood moved to the area in 1877, he specifically named his estate "Big Spring" after this landmark.
Linwood Post Office: For a time, the surrounding community was so defined by the estate and its water source that the local post office and village became synonymous with the name "Big Spring" before being more commonly known as Linwood.
Snowshoe Farms: Today, the core of that historic estate—including the spring and the entrance to Linwood Cave—is preserved as part of Snowshoe Farms.
Note: The sheer volume of this spring made it an ideal location for a large-scale agricultural operation, as it provided a consistent, never-failing water supply for the Gatewood family's legendary stock-raising business.
Would you like me to find the specific flow rate of the Big Spring or its recorded depth within the Linwood Cave system?
The Big Spring at Linwood serves as the primary source for the Big Spring Fork of the Elk River, and its hydrology has been measured through both historical geological surveys and modern exploration.
Flow Rate and Discharge
Scientific Measurement: A historical survey recorded the flow of the Linwood Water Cave at 0.50 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is approximately 224 gallons per minute.
Modern Estimates: Current landholdings at report that the complex of approximately 12 springs on the property produces tens of thousands of gallons of water per day.
Hydrologic Role: This volume of water is significant enough that the spring provides about half of the total discharge for the upper Big Spring Fork sub-basin.
Recorded Depth and Cave Dimensions
Maximum Recorded Depth: During underwater explorations conducted in 2016, divers reached a maximum depth of 191 feet within the Big Spring Cave system.
Cave Length: The system includes almost 2,000 feet of explored passage, with more than 1,000 feet of that being underwater.
Dry Passage Profile: The entrance passage (Linwood Cave) averages 10 feet in height and width and extends westward for approximately 800 feet before the stream sinks into the deeper subterranean channels.
Geological Context
Stratigraphic Placement: The springs are perched on the upper Taggard shale, which acts as an aquiclude, forcing the water to the surface where the shale is brought up by the Deer Park anticline.
Karst System: The cave is part of the larger Greenbrier Limestone karst terrain, which characterizes much of northern Pocahontas County.
Are you interested in learning more about the Lost Field Fork springs or the specific aquatic species, such as the Elk River Crayfish, that inhabit these headwaters?
The springs mentioned are part of the Old Field Fork, which serves as one of the two primary headwaters for the Elk River. While the Big Spring Fork flows south from Cheat Mountain, the Old Field Fork flows north from Red Lick Mountain. The two meet in the community of to form the main stem of the Elk River.
The Hydrological Confluence at Slaty Fork
The Old Field Fork is essential to the unique "losing stream" hydrology of the upper Elk River. Just above its junction with the , it is joined by the Slaty Fork stream itself. This combined volume creates a robust mountain river that, remarkably, disappears almost entirely into a subterranean network of caverns just a few miles downstream.
Native American Origins: The name "Old Field" is believed to originate from the large, cleared fields that early pioneers found upon their arrival, which were thought to have been cleared by Native Americans for agriculture or hunting centuries earlier.
Pleasant Valley: The fork meanders through what is historically known as Pleasant Valley, characterized by its high-altitude meadows and rich limestone-enriched soils.
Recreation and Wildlife Management
Today, the waters of the Old Field Fork are a cornerstone of the region's outdoor appeal, particularly for those staying at local basecamps like the .
protects much of the land surrounding these headwaters.
Premier Trout Fishing: The limestone bedrock provides an abundance of aquatic insects, making the Old Field Fork and the nearby "Dries" of the Elk River a world-class destination for wild and stocked trout.
Winter Sports: The Old Field Fork Nordic Trail, located near the , offers several miles of high-country cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through the spruce and hardwood forests of the watershed.
Would you like to know more about the Elk River Dries, or are you interested in a specific fishing or hiking route within the ?
The Elk River Dries (often simply called "The Dries") is one of the most geographically fascinating and ecologically significant sections of the Elk River. Located between and Whittaker Falls, it represents a classic "losing stream" phenomenon where a large river literally vanishes into the earth.
The Vanishing Act
The Dries is a roughly five-mile stretch where the riverbed appears mostly dry during normal or low water periods.
The Sink: Near the , the combined flow of the Old Field Fork and Big Spring Fork encounters porous Greenbrier Limestone.
Subterranean Journey: The water enters a massive network of underground caverns and channels, traveling entirely underground beneath the surface riverbed.
The Resurgence: The river "reappears" at Whittaker Falls, where the water surges back to the surface as it hits non-porous rock layers.
Natural Features and Geography
The "Dry" Riverbed: Even when the water is underground, the surface riverbed remains a rugged, boulder-strewn landscape that provides unique hiking opportunities and a look at the river’s historical path.
Limestone Bluffs: The area is flanked by towering limestone cliffs, which are home to rare plant species and provide the calcium-rich environment that supports the river’s famous insect life.
Flood Stage: During periods of heavy rain or spring snowmelt, the underground channels reach capacity, and the river "spills over," flowing once again across the surface of the Dries in a spectacular display of power.
Recreation: The "Grand Canyon" of the Elk
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Dries offers a more secluded and wild experience than the gentler reaches of the river.
Trout Sanctuary: The cold, subterranean water remains at a stable temperature year-round. When it resurfaces at Whittaker Falls, it creates a high-quality "tailwater" environment that supports healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout.
Technical Fly Fishing: The Dries is considered a premier spot for technical fly fishing, particularly for those willing to hike into the more remote sections.
Hiking the Bed: Exploring the dry riverbed provides a unique perspective on Appalachian geology, where you can see the intricate scouring of the limestone by centuries of water flow.
The "Grand Canyon" of the Elk River refers to the remote and rugged section of the riverbed officially known as the Elk River Dries. Located deep within the , this five-mile stretch is a geological marvel where the river carves a dramatic, high-walled canyon through ancient limestone before vanishing entirely into a subterranean network of caverns.
The "Vanishing" Canyon
The name "The Dries" comes from a unique phenomenon known as a "losing stream." As the Elk River flows over a bed of porous Greenbrier Limestone, the entire volume of the water sinks through cracks in the rock, traveling miles underground.
The Dry Bed: During most of the year, the surface canyon is a wild, boulder-strewn landscape of dry white stone flanked by towering cliffs.
Subterranean Journey: The water flows through a dark network of caves that is prone to sudden, dangerous rises during mountain storms.
The Overflow: In times of high flood, the underground channels reach capacity, and the river reappears on the surface, thundering through the "Dries" once again in a display of immense power.
Key Points of Interest
To explore this rugged area, visitors typically focus on the "entrance" and "exit" points of the canyon, as the interior is accessible only by foot or through technical riverbed hiking.
marks the point where the underground river finally resurges and returns to the surface.
The Resurgence: This is a picturesque series of wide cascades where the water surges back from the depths of the limestone aquifer.
Trout Haven: The cold, stable temperature of the resurging water creates one of the best habitats in the state for wild rainbow and brown trout.
Roadside Access: Unlike the deep interior of the canyon, these falls are easily visible from the road, making them a popular spot for photography and picnicking.
serves as the primary gateway into the upper wilderness reaches of the canyon.
The Headwaters: This is the confluence where the Big Spring and Old Field forks join to officially form the Elk River.
Wilderness Access: An abandoned railroad grade parallels the river from this point, offering the only path into the remote canyon bluffs and deep pools of the "Grand Canyon" section.
Technical Fishing: This stretch is a highly technical, catch-and-release fly fishing area, noted for its abundant aquatic insect life and large, wary trout.
The "tessellated pavement" in the Elk River is a rare geological wonder located in Webster Springs, Webster County—approximately 25 miles downstream from the headwaters at Slaty Fork.
For decades, these perfectly rectangular, grid-like stone patterns were the subject of local legend. Many residents believed they were the remains of an ancient, man-made road system or perhaps a submerged quarry used to build the Webster County Courthouse. However, in September 2024, low water levels caused by a severe drought allowed geologists from West Virginia University to finally confirm their natural origin.
The Science Behind the "Tiles"
According to Dr. Jaime Toro, a professor of structural geology at WVU, these formations are a classic example of systematic jointing. Here is how they formed:
Tectonic Stress: Roughly 250 million years ago, during the collision of tectonic plates that formed the Appalachian Mountains, immense pressure was applied to the sedimentary rock layers.
Orthogonal Joints: This stress created two sets of parallel cracks (called "joints") that intersected at near-right angles. When the top layer of sediment eroded away, it revealed this perfectly geometric grid.
Differential Erosion: Over millions of years, the river's water (carrying sand and silt) flowed into these cracks, wearing them down faster than the surrounding rock and leaving behind the "tiled" appearance.
Where to See It
The best vantage point is right in the heart of Webster Springs:
Location: Directly beneath the bridge at the main traffic light in town.
Visibility: Because the Elk River is a living, flowing body of water, the pavement is typically submerged. It is best seen during the late summer or periods of low water when the river’s "floor" is exposed.
A Rare Phenomenon
While tessellated pavements are famous in coastal regions (most notably at Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania, Australia), they are exceptionally rare in inland riverbeds. The Webster Springs site is now considered one of the finest exposed examples of this phenomenon in the eastern United States.
Would you like me to find a map of other geological "oddities" along the Elk River, such as the Whitaker Falls resurgence or the Bergoo salt sulfur springs?
The Elk River is home to a unique collection of geological features, ranging from a "vanishing" river system to rare, grid-like stone formations. The following map and details highlight these "oddities" along its path through the Allegheny Mountains.
The "Losing" River System
The upper Elk River is famous for its "losing stream" hydrology, where the entire riverbed can appear dry as the water travels through subterranean limestone channels.
The Sinks (Slatyfork): marks the beginning of the "Dries." Here, the combined flow of the Big Spring and Old Field forks encounters porous Greenbrier Limestone and sinks into a massive underground cave system.
The "dry" riverbed above ground is a rugged, boulder-filled landscape popular with technical hikers.
During heavy floods, the underground channels overflow, and the river reappears on the surface.
The Resurgence (Whittaker Falls):
, located roughly 12 miles downstream from the headwaters, is where the river finally resurges from its five-mile subterranean journey.
* This is a series of wide, picturesque cascades that fall over a limestone ledge.
* The cold, stable temperature of the resurging water makes this a premier sanctuary for wild rainbow and brown trout.
Geological Oddities in Webster County
Further downstream, the river interacts with unique mineral deposits and ancient tectonic patterns.
The Tessellated Pavement (Webster Springs):
Hidden in plain sight in the town of , this rare "tiled" stone pattern is visible in the riverbed directly beneath the bridge at the main traffic light (WV-20).
* Confirmed by geologists as a "tessellated pavement," it consists of near-perfect rectangular grids formed by systematic tectonic jointing 250 million years ago.
* It is best viewed during low water periods in late summer or during droughts.
The Salt Sulfur Well:
Also located in at the corner of Court Square, the Salt Sulfur Well is the last remaining public well of the many that made the town a world-famous spa resort in the late 19th century.
The 120-foot deep well still produces the distinct, "medicinal" sulfur water that visitors once sought for various health conditions.
Bergoo Salt Sulfur Springs:
The small community of was historically known for its own set of mineral springs, which contributed to the region's reputation for "healing waters" alongside the more famous wells in Webster Springs.
Would you like to know more about the best trails to access the dry riverbed near Slatyfork, or are you interested in a specific fishing guide for the area around Whittaker Falls?
Accessing the Elk River Dries—the rugged five-mile section where the river travels entirely underground—requires navigating some of the most remote and geologically active terrain in the . Because the area is a high-altitude karst wilderness, the trails are often unimproved and follow the historic industrial paths of the 19th-century logging and coal era.
Upper Access: The Slatyfork Rail Trail
The most popular and direct route to the "Sinks"—the specific point where the river vanishes into the limestone—starts from the community of Slatyfork. This route is favored because it follows a relatively flat, though rugged, grade that keeps hikers close to the water’s edge until it disappears.
serves as the primary gateway for those looking to explore the upper reaches of the Dries and the pristine trout waters of the Slaty Fork Elk.
The Trestle Entrance: Access begins at the end of Industrial Drive in Slatyfork, where a parking lot leads to a dilapidated railroad trestle crossing the Big Spring Fork.
The Fisherman’s Trail: Once across the trestle, an abandoned rail bed (often called the "fisherman's trail") follows the river downstream for several miles through a near-wilderness area.
Technical Hiking: While the grade is flat, the original gravel has largely eroded, leaving moss-covered ties and metal bars that make for a technical, single-track hiking experience.
Lower Access: Dry Branch Road
For those who want to see the river reemerge or explore the deep boulder fields of the lower canyon, the access point near the "resurgence" is the better option. This area is noted for its dramatic limestone bluffs and the sudden reappearance of the river.
is the landmark destination for the lower end of the Dries, marking the point where the subterranean river surges back to the surface in a series of wide cascades.
Dry Branch Road Access: Hikers can access the lower riverbed via Dry Branch Road (County Route 219/21), though this requires a strenuous walk up the rough, rocky streambed from the parking area.
The Resurgence Pools: The area immediately surrounding the falls features deep, cold pools that remain at a stable temperature year-round due to their underground origins.
Planning and Logistics Hub
Navigating the Dries can be challenging due to the lack of cell service and the technical nature of the trails. Visitors often utilize local basecamps to obtain physical maps and current trail reports before heading into the National Forest.
is the central resource for hikers and anglers in the Slatyfork area, offering detailed topographic maps and expert local knowledge of the watershed.
Trail Maps: The touring center provides a specialized "Elk River Trail Map" that covers the high-country Nordic trails and the riverbed access routes.
Expert Guidance: Reviewers often mention that the staff can provide up-to-the-minute information on whether the river is currently flowing on the surface or is in its "dry" state.
Would you like to know more about the waterfall photography spots near Whitaker Falls, or are you interested in a fishing equipment checklist for the technical waters of the Slatyfork Elk?
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