West Virginia State Farm Museum
Source: http://www.wvfarmmuseum.org
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:28
West Virginia State Farm Museum
We are open
April 1
st
through November 1
st
, Tuesday through Saturday and during special events.
Buildings of historical value have been moved and rebuilt on the grounds. You will find log cabins and an early farmhouse, an operational 19th century blacksmith shop, turn-of-the-century doctor's and newspaper offices, the first Lutheran Church west of the Allegheny Mountains, and more.
A work in progress, the Museum attractions change from year-to-year. The collection of artifacts continues and building restoration is ongoing.
No visit would be complete without a stop to our country store, which features food products, crafts, and collectibles.
Blacksmith Shop
Carpenter Shop
One-Room School House
Wildlife Museum
Museum Collection
Log Cabins
Summers House
Nature Trail
Log Church
The Register Office
Morgan Museum
Country Doctor's Office
Calendar of Events
Plan a Visit
Museum Map
Staff & Board of Directors
Make a Difference
Volunteer
Contact Us
Tractor Pull
Blacksmith Shop
While the fire in the forge is not always kept burning, we are fortunate on occasions to have skilled blacksmiths demonstrate their trade. The blacksmith shop contains hundreds of tools including the collection of tongs seen behind the re-enactor. One such person recently made the museum a beautiful tripod kettle stand.
Carpenter Shop
The Carpenter shop was donated by John E. Greene of Milton, Lafe Chapin of Huntington and Judge Russell Dunbar of Morgantown. It was moved intact from Milton by the Mason County Commission.
The shop displays a large collection of antique carpentry tools. Some of these unique tools include a spring pole wood lathe, a shaving horse, a large wooden punch, two timber morticing drills, 200 year old wooden vices, an all wood morticing machine, and a variety of hand tools ( saws, levels, planes, hand augers, axes, etc.).
One-Room School House
The "Mission Ridge One-Room School"
It was originally located about two miles northeast of the Farm Museum grounds on a ridge known as Mission Ridge, hence the name. It was built about 1870. Soon after West Virginia became a state, which was on June 20th, 1863, the state legislature passed a bill making it mandatory for the various counties of the state to finance the construction and operation of schools. Before becoming a state, while this area was still part of Virginia, the Virginia legislature had passed a bill giving various counties permission to levy for the operation and construction of free schools. However, very few counties or districts in West Virginia took advantage of this particular legislation. So, after West Virginia became a state, the legislature passed a bill making it mandatory for counties to operate free schools. Soon, school buildings began to be built throughout the state.
The one-room school was an important institution in the rural communities of West Virginia for a number of years. One-room schools were quite common in all counties of West Virginia until a few years after World War II. At that time, many of the counties began a consolidation program. Roads were improved so that school buses could travel in all kinds of weather. Thus, many of the one-room schools were closed, and the students were brought to a central school.
The one-room school had one teacher who was responsible for grades one through eight. These one-room schools usually had from 20 to 40 children. A school day was 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a morning and an afternoon recess of 15 minutes each and an hour period for lunch. In those days, there were no TV's or radios to watch or listen to, so older boys and girls often came to school even though they had graduated from the eighth grade.
Christopher H. Bauer Memorial Wildlife Museum
The museum is dedicated to Christopher H. Bauer, a native of Mason County, Point Pleasant High graduate, local businessman (barber shop), and avid outdoorsman. This building and Chris's collections are his legacy for all to enjoy.
The museum contains a large collection of mounted and prominently displayed hunting trophies in the main hall.
Another display room contains an extensive collection of firearms, knives and other hunting accessories.
Museum Collection
The Green Building
This is a view of the Greene building which houses the main artifact collection. Thousands of artifacts are on display showing a way of farm life in this area by our ancestors for over a hundred years.
This large metal building, 60' X 120' X 14' high, was the first building to be erected in the Farm Museum Complex. It was sponsored by the Mason County Commission, and was dedicated May 14, 1976. A large collection of antique farm machinery and farm related implements are displayed in this building.
Log Cabins
The second building added to the farm museum was a beautiful log cabin donated by Mr. & Mrs. William A. Barker of Southside, WV. The cabin is a fine example of the pioneer homes built during the early 1800's.
The Allen Log Cabin is a two-story log house built around 1830 by Mr. John Allen and his son William. It was originally located near Procter, WV. It was last occupied in the late 1970's.
The cabin was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Lane C. Evans. After being properly marked and disassembled on its original site in Procter, WV, it was transported to the West Virginia State Farm Museum and reassembled in the late 1980's, using the markers previously made. Considerable effort was expended to have the structure retain, as much as possible, its original materials and appearance. The structure was completed in 1994.
One of the few changes made to the original design was the addition of handicapped accessible ramps.
The museum had previously obtained, through donations, two huge handlooms and a large spinning wheel dating from the first half of the I9th century. These rare and historically important pieces are presently housed in the log house.
The Allen Cabin houses some of the museums collection of early textile tools. The large spinning wheel is known as a Walking Wheel or Great Wheel. It was used to spin cotton or wool fibers. The yarn skeiner next to the wheel was used to measure the spun thread or yarn. A restored barn frame loom, complete with 300 hand tied string heddles has the beginnings of a wool rag rug. The skarn above the fireplace would have been used to hold the warp yarn for warping the loom. Also one each of the Museums old quilting frame and treadle sewing machine.
The wooden furniture on the front porch was handmade by Roy Balser. Mr. & Mrs. Balser donated it to the Farm Museum in memory of their son James William Balser.
George Summers House
Historically, the Summers family was prominent in West Virginia politics. George Summers had an illustrious public career. He was elected to the Virginia Legislature in 1830 and to Congress in 1841. Family tradition states that Lincoln asked him to be his running mate when he ran for his second term as President. Because of his wife's illness, George Summers declined.
The Summers Log house, part of a farmstead along the Kanawha River near Winfield, West Virginia, is a multi-part structure with architectural evidence indicating a construction date during the first quarter of the 19th century. The physical evidence is consistent with oral history, which gives the building's date as 1812.
The house was moved to the Farm Museum from its original site on a farm known as Walnut Grove near Winfield in Putnam County. The farm was first secured by the family of Judge George William Summers, a prominent Kanawha County resident who was widely known in Virginia, West Virginia and national political arenas. Not only was he the first prosecuting attorney of Putnam County, he was also a member of the General Assembly of Virginia and also served two terms in the House of Representatives in the United States Congress. He was a strong pro-Union man. Of interest here is the fact that President Lincoln asked Judge Summers to be his running mate when Lincoln ran for president for a second term. According to family tradition, Summers rejected the offer due to his wife's (Amacetta Laidley Summers) illness.
According to Walden Roush, who with his wife Louise, was the guiding genius in the establishment of the Farm Museum, the Summers house was moved to the Museum on November 23, 1980. Appalachian Power Company, in the process of building the John Amos Power plant, had purchased the farm property of Walnut Grove.
Fred Summers was reputed to be the last family member to occupy the house. It had become the property of his niece, Miss Lucy Quarrier. Through the generosity and interest of Miss Quarrier, the Summers log house was offered to the Museum. Well known in the Art world, Lucy is said to have been one of the founders of the Arts and Crafts Fair at Cedar Lakes near Ripley.
The Log House is a multi-part structure that utilizes two important types of construction in the form of log and plank modules, both of which require expert workmanship. In the original construction, logs were used in the section on the right side of the main entrance while planks were used in the left section. Roush explained that these planks had deteriorated. So it was necessary to use logs also in the left section during the restoration. Planks, however, were used in the back section off the kitchen and dining room.
A large entrance hallway between the two sections included a stairway to the second floor of the one-and-a-half story house. However, the stairway faces the rear of the house so that it would not take up so much room. Two windows are on each front section with three gable-roofed dormer windows extending from the slope of the roof.
Roush stated that it was problematic during the restoration to find weather boarding to match the original. He credited Leon Thompson of the Carolina Lumber Company for finding this material for the Museum. Fireplaces were built in all the rooms, including the upstairs bedrooms. The original mantels were moved with the structure.
Numerous interesting articles of furniture may be seen throughout the house. In the left front room stands an ancient baby crib, mounted on rockers and having a high framework for a canopy used to cover the crib. It was donated to the Museum by John Musgrave.
Also in this room are two other articles of interest. One is what appears to be a High Board but in reality contains a folding bed. Standing in this room is an easel supporting a Shadow Box. This glassed-in box contains a flat surface on which a colorful arrangement of handmade flowers are placed.
Another item that will attract attention is in the kitchen adjoining this room. It is an ancient Home Comfort kitchen range. It was donated by John Scott of Athens, WV. There is another unusual item near the doorway, but we will leave it to the tour guide to explain that one.
The Log House was to have been moved to Charleston, WV, where a full city block had been set aside for it. It was felt that the house would possibly be credited by the National Register of Historic places. This did not develop, and the Farm Museum is the richer for it.
Nature Trail
This trail accesses a parcel of land which was a TNT plant during World War II. This is the home of the legendary Mothman (if you believe in that sort of thing)
Main Feature of the Trail:
While most facilities used for manufacturing TNT at this site have been demolished, several interesting concrete structures remain. The structures are now partially obscured by vegetation and serve as a living example of how nature can reclaim itself in only a half-century.
Trail Condition:
Open
Avenue of Trees:
About 25 half-century old native trees are identified along the trail
What is TNT?
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is a yellow, odorless solid that does not occur naturally in the environment. It is commonly known as TNT and is an explosive used in military shells, bombs, and grenades, in industrial uses, and in underwater blasting. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene production in the United States occurs solely at military arsenals.
Impact on Point Pleasant:
During the years of operation of WVOW, Point Pleasant was a boom-town. Chemists, scientists, engineers, electricians, plumbers, masons, heavy construction crews, and laborers representing nearly every building trade were required for the rapid buildup. Workers from all over the country converged on this area and construction continued around the clock. Residents claim the streets of downtown Point Pleasant were packed with people like the streets of New York City. Ordinance School was hurriedly constructed for the surge of children of construction workers and staff personnel and was the first ever elementary school built by the federal government. New housing additions were built in Point Pleasant for plant workers. Housing was constructed near the plant for military staff who oversaw and guarded the facility. Local men working at the plant were exempted from military service.
History of the WVOW:
The official name of the site was West Virginia Ordnance Works or WVOW. It was referred to by locals as the TNT Plant because it produced explosives during World War II. The facility was constructed on approximately 5,800 acres, with more than 2,000 acres used as a safety zone. The site selected for the plant had rail and water access via the nearby Ohio River. The facility consisted of 10 TNT manufacturing lines, two acid producing areas (North and South), acid loading areas on the Ohio River, a sellite (sodium sulfite) plant, toluene storage, two coal-fired power plants, pumping stations, 100 storage magazines, wastewater holding ponds, burning grounds, an administrative area, and employee housing.
Closing the TNT Plant:
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Less than a month later on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered. As soon as workers learned the war was over, production of TNT ceased and plant shutdown was initiated. Local residents recall that TNT plant workers left the area in droves and the exodus of the Point Pleasant area occurred more rapidly than the buildup.
Due to changes to the landscape and deposits of harmful chemicals, the land was rendered unsuitable for farming. As a result of extensive cleanup and environmental testing efforts, selected parcels of the area have returned to private use, a game refuge and the Farm Museum.
Points of Interest:
South Acids Area:
View interesting structures from the nature trail. These sturdy acid cradles were not demolished because of their sheer size and strength. Here you see evidence of how nature reclaims itself in our hot and humid climate in just a half century.
Sellite Manufacturing Area:
(Inside fenced area) During WVOW operations, sellite (sodium sulfite) was manufactured through the combination of soda ash and sulfur. A box factory and storage building were also located on the site.
Following the suspension of the TNT manufacturing at WVOW, the site was used by the Mason Furniture Company for the manufacture of furniture from 1948 to the mid-1970s. The property was then leased by the West Virginia Mulch Company for the manufacture of mulch. Buildings now are used as museum storage and the land is used for demonstration farming
Geology:
The trail is on one of the main historic meanders of the Ohio River The soil is a mixture of various layers of granularities of sand and clay.
This is an historic educational exhibit.
Log Church
This is a replica of the old Zion Lutheran Church which was originally located about two miles south of New Haven, WV in the community of Broad Run. It was the first Lutheran Church west of the Allegheny mountains, and it was one of the older churches in the area. A group of Lutherans from the Shenandoah valley moved into the community around 1800. They were German Lutherans whose forefathers had come directly from Germany. These families included the Roushes, the Weavers and others. The Zion Lutheran Congregation was organized in 1806 and for a while they met in private homes. In 1815 Daniel Roush donated a tract of land and the congregation built the old log church. Other congregations were also organized at the old church. In 1832 immigrants of the Presbyterian Faith came to Point Pleasant and used the old log church and in 1834 a congregation of United Brethren moved into the community and used the church. The old log church was used from about 1815 to 1895.
Due to the deteriorated state of the original logs the church had to be rebuilt from architect's drawings and old pictures.
Indian raids were always a threat during the early 1800s and the original church was built with a balcony and no windows and only one door for protection. In order to accommodate tour groups an extra door and windows were added to the rebuilt church at the farm museum.
The old log church is still used for services during festivals and special events.
Newspaper Office
The Register Office
The Point Pleasant Register, then a weekly paper, was housed in a small framed building, when editor George W. Trippett began printing the paper on March 6, 1882. He published the paper for more than 40 years. The masthead, listing Trippett as the editor and proprietor, indicated that the Daily Register was started in 1895.
When plans developed for constructing a replica of this newspaper building in the middle 1970's, Oral Eads completed a set of plans for the museum that duplicated the 20-foot by 32-foot structure. All material for the Register Office, which is 20' X 32', were purchased by The Point Pleasant Register. The Good Sam Travel Club, headed by Nelson Ring, who served as supervisor, contributed greatly to this project.
Some of the type and fonts came from L.W. Getty's business. The Register donated a Linotype Machine that is on display in the building as well as some composing tables that held drawers of different size type. The Linotype Machine was one of three that were located on the third floor of the Register building, situated at the time on Fifth Street in Point Pleasant.
In the newspaper office you can see various types of printing presses.
During festivals some of the presses will be in operation stamping out bulletins one at a time.
Here a re-enactor operates one of the printing presses during Living History Days.
Morgan Museum
Mr. Sidney Morgan of Winfield, WV started the museum in 1905. The first bird he mounted was a loon, and it is still housed in the museum. It is in the north end of the building, mounted on a green slab. Everything in the Morgan Museum is very old. The work in the museum covers an extensive period of time. The first bird was mounted in 1905, and the others were added as time went on.
The information we got from some of Mr. Morgan's relatives was that Mr. Sidney Morgan was to go with Teddy Roosevelt (as his taxidermist) on a safari to Africa. For some reason or other (which has been lost to posterity), he did not get to go, and, of course, he was very disappointed. While talking to his brother, Mr. Morgan decided that they should go on their own safari, so they built a small sternwheel paddleboat called the Shirley. During Mr. Morgan's lifetime he made five trips all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, collecting birds and animals along the rivers. He also made trips up and down several other rivers, including the Arkansas and the Missouri. He financed his trips by taking along sportsmen from the Charleston area who paid him for the trip.
Mr. Morgan was an artist when it came to mounting animals and birds. He made every effort to pose his animals and birds naturally. A good example of his creativity in taxidermy is the red fox located on the top shelf display at the museum. This fox had apparently killed a grouse; so Mr. Morgan not only mounted the grouse, but he also put feathers in the mouth of the fox to make it appear more realistic. Just over from this display is another fox that had killed a duck. This fox is mounted as if running away with the duck slung over its back. As the story goes, Mr. Morgan killed the fox as it was running away from a pond. He then copied its natural pose.
You will see many other examples of his creativity as you look around the museum. For example, there is a raccoon that is mounted on an old hollow tree. Mr. Morgan's step-grandson was with him the night that the raccoon was killed. The tree was cut down, and the slab was added to the exhibit.
The big elk in the back was the last elk killed in West Virginia. Mr. Morgan killed it at Minnehaha Springs, Pocahontas County and mounted it in 1912.
The biggest bird in the museum is the Golden Eagle and the smallest is the little hummingbird. There is also a two-headed calf, which was born in 1926 on one of the farms near Mr. Morgan's museum. It lived for a number of weeks. But, as the story goes, it got out of the barn one cold winter night and froze to death. The farmer found it the next morning just outside the barn. He then gave it to Mr. Morgan to be mounted.
There is also a display of some unusual steel traps. The large trap is hand-made. The other is a Newcome trap, which is said to be one of the largest bear traps ever made. The box traps that are on display were used to trap live game, such as rabbits, opossums, etc. Years ago, most boys had a box trap or two. They would use them to catch rabbits for food.
Mr. John E. Greene and his associates of Milton, WV donated the Morgan Museum to the Farm Museum. The Mason County Commission paid the sum of nine thousand dollars to move the four buildings to the Farm Museum complex. Volunteers helped with the moving and were responsible for putting the porches back onto the buildings and for leveling them on their foundations.
The Museum was started in 1905 just above Winfield on land that is now occupied by the John Amos Power Plant. Mr. Morgan's father owned approximately 1500 acres of choice bottom land where the John Amos Plant is now located. When Morgan's father died, the land was left to Sidney and to his mother, Mrs. Morgan. Sidney Morgan had no interest in farming. His main interests were hunting and taxidermy. Whenever Mrs. Morgan or Sid needed money, they would sell off some of their 1500-acre farm. When the John Amos Power Plant moved in (in 1963) and took over quite a few acres in that area, Mr. Morgan only had four acres left of the original 1500.
The power plant took over the land on which the museum was situated, and the museum was sold at auction. Mr. John E. Greene of Milton, WV bought the Morgan Museum and moved it to Milton near the Blinko Glass Plant. He added three other buildings to the complex, a Country Store, a Country Kitchen and a Blacksmith Shop. After operating these for two or three years as a tourist attraction, Mr. Greene decided to give the four buildings to the Farm Museum.
The propeller on display is from the Airship Shenandoah. The Shenandoah crashed near Ava, Ohio, in 1925, taking the lives of 14 members of its crew.
Country Doctor's Office
Dr. Milton J. Lilly, Sr. was a native of Mercer County in West Virginia and a 1904 graduate of Maryland Medical College in Baltimore. His first practice was as a company doctor for the Pocahontas Coal Company in McDowell County, WV.
Not long after marrying a young school teacher from Roanoke, VA, Dr. Lilly, his wife and infant daughter moved to Upland in Mason County to take over the practice of Dr. James Rowsey.
Dr. Lilly established his practice and home in Mason County raising seven children and living there until his death in 1967.
Calendar of Events
April 1
– Open for the Season
March 27
– Bluegrass Night – Featuring Southern Legacy
April 11
– 50th Anneversary Kick off – 11:00AM Kitchen and Store Open 2:00PM Bluegrass featuring The Lincoln Mash and Heather Alley Band
May 3
– Old Time Church Service – 10 AM
June 6
– Antique Tractor Pull – 11 AM
July 2-4
– Mountain State Arts and Crafts Fair – Come visit our mobile display.
July 4
- Antique Tractor Pull – 11AM
July 25
– Tractor Parade and Show – Kitchen and Store Open 9:30-3:00, Registration 10:00, Pedal Pull 10:30, Parade Begins 12:00
August 10-15
– Mason County Fair – Buildings open 1-5, Kitchen and Store open. Watch Facebook for times.
September 5
- Antique Tractor Pull – 11AM
September 19
– Mothman Festival Hayride – Hayride begins at 7PM – Tickets sold Downtown, Kitchen and Store open 5 – 10
October 3
– Country Fall Festival – Antique Engine Show, Antique Tractor Bracket Pull – 11AM, CEOS Quilt Show, Demonstrations, Apple Butter, Apple Cider. Kitchen and Store open.
October 4
-Oldtime Church Service. 10AM – Kitchen and Store open 11AM-2PM
November 2
– Closed for the Season
November 7
– Antique Tractor Pull – 11AM Benefit Pull
December 3 – 23
– Holiday Light Show Drive Thru – Light Show Drive Thru – 6 – 9 PM Nightly, Store Open 3-5 Daily, Meet Santa – Th, F, Sat, and Sun
***Another Bluegrass event is still in the planning stage. Watch Facebook and the Website for dates.
Schedule Your Visit
A Wedding at the Old Log Church
The West Virginia State Farm Museum is:
Open April 1 through November 1
Open Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.,
Sundays 1-5 p.m.-Grounds only, Buildings Closed
Closed Mondays and all major holidays
Farm Kitchen is open during special events or by appointment
The WV State Farm Museum is available for the following events:
Group Tours: The Museum welcomes school tours, private tour busses, groups of senior citizens, Scout troops, etc.
Volunteers generally conduct school tours. Group tours can be self-guided if desired.
Family Reunions: The Museum is an ideal place for family reunions. It offers plenty of space and activities for younger members while the older ones sit in the shade at one of the two picnic shelters.
Parties: Our climate-controlled dining room which will contain up to 200 persons. The dining room is available year round by reservation only. Meals can be catered, or you can bring pot luck. Please call for current rates.
Weddings: Weddings and receptions can be accommodated on the grounds. The museum is a perfect setting for an old-fashioned wedding. The log church provides an intimate setting for a small group.
Individuals: Normally, individuals take a self-guided tour and view the exhibits at their own pace.
NOTE: It is advisable to schedule your trip as early as possible so that the museum can make arrangements for tour guides, if desired. There is ample parking space for tour buses. Teachers may conduct part or all of the tour if they desire. Allow at least two hours for a tour.
To check for availability of facilities, e-mail or call
(304) 675-5737
. To avoid any conflicts, all reservations must be made by calling the office.
To make a reservation at the museum please call
(304) 675-5737
.
The following information will be helpful in making your reservation:
Name of organization.
Contact Person: name, telephone and e-mail address.
Date and preferred arrival and departure times.
Number of people in party.
Approximate age group of persons in party ( children, adult, senior)
Area desired: Dining Room (New Kitchen), Picnic Shelter
Meals: catered, pot-luck, prepared by our dining room, menu?
Special handicap needs.
Do you want a guided or self guided tour?
Museum Map
Driving Directions
From Point Pleasant: Go North on State Route 62. Four miles above town is a green highway sign saying that the Farm Museum is the next right. Turn right at the large intersection onto Fairground Road (Also known as Wadsworth Ave.). The Farm Museum is one mile on your right.
From Mason, West Virginia: Go South on US 33 until you reach the Ohio River Bridge. Continue South on State Route 62 for about seven miles. Turn left at the large intersection onto Fairground Road. Continue to the Museum as above.
From Ohio: You have two choices. You can cross the Ohio River either at Gallipolis or Pomeroy/Middleport, Ohio. Cross the Ohio River at Gallipolis on US 35 heading toward Charleston. As soon as you cross the bridge into West Virginia exit to the right onto Route 2 Northbound. You will see another bridge straight ahead-cross it as that is the Kanawha River bridge into Point Pleasant. Once in Point Pleasant, proceed as indicated above.
You can also enter from Ohio by crossing the Ohio River at Pomeroy/Middleport. You need to be on US 33 Southbound. This route will cross the Ohio River just South of Mason, West Virginia. On the East end of the bridge, turn right (South) onto West Virginia State Route 62 and continue South about seven miles and proceed as above.
From Charleston: Take Interstate 77 North to Ripley, WV. Exit on US 33 and follow 33 until near the Ohio River when it intersects with Route 2. Turn left on Route 2 and continue on this route until you reach Point Pleasant. From Point Pleasant, follow the directions above.
You can get a map of Point Pleasant, WV 25550 at mapquest.com
After getting the map, you can scroll north along Route 62 and the Ohio River until you reach the airport. The farm museum is situated immediately to the North of the airport.. The museum is on the straight road (Traffic Circle Longdale) that runs from NW to SE. The field of parallel roads in the area are a remnant of the World War II TNT production and storage area.
If you get really lost you can call
(304) 675-5737
and we can help you with directions.
Staff & Board of Directors
Staff
Tim Kidwell, Executive Director
Jackie Lyons, Office Manager
Caleb Danford, Maintenance and Grounds
Board of Directors
Larry Jones, President
John Ohlinger, Vice President
Michelle Hart, Secretary
Dennis Brumfield, Treasurer
John Goroncy, Executive Committee
Ralph Kelvington, Executive Committee
Lorri Stalnaker, Executive Committee
Josh Russell, Board of Directors
Joe Kincaid, Board of Directors
Don Linger, Board of Directors
Nancy Smith, Board of Directors
Danny Foglesong, Board of Directors
Make a Difference
Most of the items in the Museum collection were donated by our generous friends.
The Museum is a not-for-profit organization. There may be certain tax advantages for you to donate to the Museum and you should first consult a tax professional.
There are many ways to donate to the Museum. You can donate money. You can donate artifacts. And you can donate your time. All of these are important to us and we would not have a Museum without them all.
You may make a donation to a specific project. If you see a need for a certain display, facility, service, etc., and you would like to usher it into being, please discuss your idea with the staff. For example, our military exhibit is the result of the work of a single individual who constructed the viewing area, obtained and arranged the artifacts, and maintains the display.
Funds
The State Farm Museum, like most museums, always lack sufficient funding. While we do receive financial support from state and county sources for maintenance costs, we rely on private donations and grants from institutions for improvements to our grounds and facilities.
Money can be donated as an outright gift. If you would like to donate as part of a will, please consult your attorney to make proper arrangements.
If you see a need for a certain display, facility, service, etc., and you would like to usher it into being, please discuss your idea with the Museum staff. Our military display is the result of the vision of a single person (a retired military man) who constructed the display area, obtained and arranged the artifacts, and maintains the display.
Artifacts
If you have an artifact that you think would be appropriate in the Museum collection, it is advisable to contact someone on the museum staff to discuss the item. (This may save you the trouble of transporting the item.) If the Museum staff agrees that the item is in keeping with the mission of the Museum, either your can transport the item to the Museum, or their personnel can pick up the item. The Museum has equipment necessary to move most items.
When you donate an item to the Museum, you will be asked to sign an agreement that you relinquish ownership of the artifact to the Museum.
Due to display space limitations, your object may not be immediately displayed. It may be placed in a safe storage area and used in future displays as displays are rotated periodically to increase interest and encourage return visits.
Some artifacts may be maintained in the condition they were received. However, some items such as tractors and farm equipment may be restored and put to use on the Museum grounds. The appearance or utility of a donated item may thus be altered.
While the museum does not anticipate it when they accept an item, there is a possibility that the item you donated to Museum may disappear. Not everything is under lock and key. Sometimes an item will get moved to another location and the books are not updated and we simply can't find it. We try very hard to safeguard our artifacts.
Museum staff members are very much aware of the emotion attached to objects donated to the Museum and respect for your feelings is always a consideration. The Museum simply cannot be a warehouse for every artifact in the state and we are sometimes forced to make choices because of limitations of storage and display area, and the costs of maintaining artifacts in our humid climate.
You can rest assured that any item placed into the custody of the Museum will have a lasting benefit to the Museum and community.
Time
You can donate your time. President George W. Bush has recommended that every American volunteer 2000 hours of their time to any worthwhile project of their own choosing. The persons developing this web site are volunteers. The Farm Museum always needs volunteers. The greatest need for volunteers is to help conduct school tours. On some days there are several hundred school children visiting the Museum! Volunteers are needed in the kitchen, blacksmith and carpentry shop, store, and loom room. A group of dedicated volunteers meet every Thursday evening to restore maintain the antique tractors. Volunteers are needed to help maintain the grounds and buildings.
It does not matter what your skill levels may be, there is always something that most people can do, and your efforts, what ever they may be, will be appreciated by the community.
Volunteering
President George W. Bush has recommended that every American volunteer 2000 hours of their time to a worthwhile project of their own choosing.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteers have fun.
Volunteers meet lots of new people.
Volunteers provide a very worthwhile service to the community.
Volunteers make our festivals happen.
We could not do school tours without volunteers.
Volunteers cook the meals, bake the pies and make the ice cream.
Volunteers restore and maintain our artifacts.
The person developing this web site is a volunteer. The Farm Museum always needs volunteers. The greatest need for volunteers is to help conduct school tours. On some days there are several hundred school children visiting the Museum!
Volunteers are needed in the Country Kitchen to prepare our delicious home cooked meals at festival time. We feature fresh baked pies and home-made ice cream.
Volunteers who can work with their hands are needed in the blacksmith and carpentry shop. We have a very complete blacksmith shop with forge and a pile of coal waiting for you. Our carpentry shop, however, has no power tools.
A group of dedicated volunteers meets every Thursday evening to restore and maintain the antique tractors. This group is legendary. If you would like to learn about antique tractor restoration, this is the place to do it. We are in progress of building a new paint booth so we can apply better automotive finishes to restored equipment.
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the grounds. We have a lot of lawn area and many trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and a herb garden. Our gardens grow weeds just like any other garden.
Volunteers are needed to help maintain or many buildings. Some of our structures have stood for over 100 years and it is a job maintaining them so they will be here for the next century. There are log cabins, board-and-batten, and clapboard siding which need constant repair and upkeep. Help is sometimes required to dismantle an old barn or building, transport it to the Museum and reassemble it. Think of the friends you could make by doing that!
During our festivals, volunteers run the antique tractors and steam engines, operate the sawmill, sorghum mill, apple press, blacksmith and carpenter shop, prepare meals in the kitchen, and explain displays to our visiting friends.
It doesn't matter what your skill levels may be, there is always something around the Museum that most people can do, and your efforts, what ever they may be, will be appreciated by the community. There are projects for young and old, male or female; there are even things you can do with your horse or oxen. We even have a spiffy new riding lawn mower that we can have you trained to operate in very little time!
If you would like to talk to someone about volunteering, e-mail us , or call (304) 675-5737. We thank you.
Contact Us
Our Address
W.Va. State Farm Museum
1458 Fairground Road
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
E-Mail: You can send an e-mail to
wvsfm@wvfarmmuseum.org
Telephone: (304) 675-5737
West Virginia State Farm Museum Antique Tractor Pull Rules
2024
TRACTORS ELIGIBLE FOR PULL
Naturally aspirated Antique and Classic Tractors whose series were produced 1959 or earlier. Engines must be of the same make and number of cylinders as originally equipped. No headers or homemade manifolds (intake or exhaust). Single exhaust unless originally equipped 0therwise. Custom or modified wheels, hubs, front axles, or lower bolsters : allowed, but distance from front to rear axles must remain as original. No altered wheelbase. Propane is allowed as a primary fuel source only. No propane or nitrous injection.
DRIVER REQUIREMENTS FOR PULLING
All drivers must be 18 years or older, or have written consent of a parent or guardian. Each driver/parent must sign a release before pulling. Those under 18 must have wheelie bars able to support the tractor and must be checked. It is the parent/guardian/owner's responsibility to get the tractor checked or they will be disqualified with no refund of entry fee. Any driver needing assistance will be allowed to pull exhibition only. Driver needing assistance is understood to include on the tractor or track, once the pull is underway. Break away kill switch is required for drivers under 18.
ENTRANT REQUIREMENTS FOR PULLING
If there are 10 or fewer tractors in a class, 2nd hook will be allowed with a separate driver. Only 1 prize money will be rewarded per tractor. All hook fees are $15.00.
TIRES ALLOWED FOR PULLING
4500lb. through 7000lb classes. 15.5 x 38 max (400 x 38 metric). 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000. The leading edge of the tread bar cannot be altered in any way. Regular and top cut only.
SPEED ALLOWED FOR PULLING
4 MPH.
Any horn beyond 100 ft will result in disqualification.
"No warning horns". Distance cones are for the driver's visual reference only. Any distance decisions will be at the sled operator's discretion based on monitor readings.
DRIVERS MUST STOP WHEN THE HORN BLOWS AFTER 100 ft.
DRAWBAR REQUIREMENTS FOR PULLING
The maximum drawbar height is 20" and the minimum drawbar length is 18" from center of rear axle to point of pull (ring or twisted clevis). The drawbar must be stationary in all directions, NOT adjustable from the driver's seat. A pull ring or twisted clevis is required. Drivers must start the pull from a tight chain. Jerking of the sled at any time will be cause for disqualification. Weights or brackets must not interfere with hitching or unhitching. The center of the axle is measured at the hub in the factory position.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR PULLING
Wheelie bars are recommended, but not required, except for pullers under the age of 18. (see rule 2 above). Drivers must stay seats, hands on the wheel, hand brakes, clutches, or throttle during pull. Any weight lost or any part lost while hooked to the sled is grounds for disqualification.
A running tractor must be attended by the driver or responsible party at all times.
WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Front weight no more than 11' from the center of the rear axle. Wheel weights cannot extend more than 12" from the side of the rear tires. Weights must be secured. Rear-mounted weights cannot extend beyond the plane of the tires.
WEIGH-IN
After the weigh-in, the puller must proceed to the staging area. If the puller returns to the pit area with a tractor, it must be re-weighed or disqualified.
PULLING PROCEDURES
The first puller in each weight class will be considered the test puller and has the option to re-pull in the third position
UNLESS DISQUALIFIED BY ANY OTHER RULE
. All pullers have 2 attempts to move the sled within the 75' mark.
RULES NON-COMPLIANT
Any eligible tractor is not rules-compliant. will be allowed to pull exhibition only. Any exhibition pulls will be at the end of the class. Speed and hitch measurements still apply.
SUMMARY
Puller bears the responsibility of verification for any compliance issues that may come into question.
TRACTOR PULL OFFICIALS HAVE FINAL JUDGMENT OVER ALL ASPECTS OF PULL AND RULES
The West Virginia State Farm Museum will not be held responsible for lost or damaged items brought about by the participant or negligence of any entrant or driver at the pull.
We are open
April 1
st
through November 1
st
, Tuesday through Saturday and during special events.
Buildings of historical value have been moved and rebuilt on the grounds. You will find log cabins and an early farmhouse, an operational 19th century blacksmith shop, turn-of-the-century doctor's and newspaper offices, the first Lutheran Church west of the Allegheny Mountains, and more.
A work in progress, the Museum attractions change from year-to-year. The collection of artifacts continues and building restoration is ongoing.
No visit would be complete without a stop to our country store, which features food products, crafts, and collectibles.
Blacksmith Shop
Carpenter Shop
One-Room School House
Wildlife Museum
Museum Collection
Log Cabins
Summers House
Nature Trail
Log Church
The Register Office
Morgan Museum
Country Doctor's Office
Calendar of Events
Plan a Visit
Museum Map
Staff & Board of Directors
Make a Difference
Volunteer
Contact Us
Tractor Pull
Blacksmith Shop
While the fire in the forge is not always kept burning, we are fortunate on occasions to have skilled blacksmiths demonstrate their trade. The blacksmith shop contains hundreds of tools including the collection of tongs seen behind the re-enactor. One such person recently made the museum a beautiful tripod kettle stand.
Carpenter Shop
The Carpenter shop was donated by John E. Greene of Milton, Lafe Chapin of Huntington and Judge Russell Dunbar of Morgantown. It was moved intact from Milton by the Mason County Commission.
The shop displays a large collection of antique carpentry tools. Some of these unique tools include a spring pole wood lathe, a shaving horse, a large wooden punch, two timber morticing drills, 200 year old wooden vices, an all wood morticing machine, and a variety of hand tools ( saws, levels, planes, hand augers, axes, etc.).
One-Room School House
The "Mission Ridge One-Room School"
It was originally located about two miles northeast of the Farm Museum grounds on a ridge known as Mission Ridge, hence the name. It was built about 1870. Soon after West Virginia became a state, which was on June 20th, 1863, the state legislature passed a bill making it mandatory for the various counties of the state to finance the construction and operation of schools. Before becoming a state, while this area was still part of Virginia, the Virginia legislature had passed a bill giving various counties permission to levy for the operation and construction of free schools. However, very few counties or districts in West Virginia took advantage of this particular legislation. So, after West Virginia became a state, the legislature passed a bill making it mandatory for counties to operate free schools. Soon, school buildings began to be built throughout the state.
The one-room school was an important institution in the rural communities of West Virginia for a number of years. One-room schools were quite common in all counties of West Virginia until a few years after World War II. At that time, many of the counties began a consolidation program. Roads were improved so that school buses could travel in all kinds of weather. Thus, many of the one-room schools were closed, and the students were brought to a central school.
The one-room school had one teacher who was responsible for grades one through eight. These one-room schools usually had from 20 to 40 children. A school day was 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a morning and an afternoon recess of 15 minutes each and an hour period for lunch. In those days, there were no TV's or radios to watch or listen to, so older boys and girls often came to school even though they had graduated from the eighth grade.
Christopher H. Bauer Memorial Wildlife Museum
The museum is dedicated to Christopher H. Bauer, a native of Mason County, Point Pleasant High graduate, local businessman (barber shop), and avid outdoorsman. This building and Chris's collections are his legacy for all to enjoy.
The museum contains a large collection of mounted and prominently displayed hunting trophies in the main hall.
Another display room contains an extensive collection of firearms, knives and other hunting accessories.
Museum Collection
The Green Building
This is a view of the Greene building which houses the main artifact collection. Thousands of artifacts are on display showing a way of farm life in this area by our ancestors for over a hundred years.
This large metal building, 60' X 120' X 14' high, was the first building to be erected in the Farm Museum Complex. It was sponsored by the Mason County Commission, and was dedicated May 14, 1976. A large collection of antique farm machinery and farm related implements are displayed in this building.
Log Cabins
The second building added to the farm museum was a beautiful log cabin donated by Mr. & Mrs. William A. Barker of Southside, WV. The cabin is a fine example of the pioneer homes built during the early 1800's.
The Allen Log Cabin is a two-story log house built around 1830 by Mr. John Allen and his son William. It was originally located near Procter, WV. It was last occupied in the late 1970's.
The cabin was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Lane C. Evans. After being properly marked and disassembled on its original site in Procter, WV, it was transported to the West Virginia State Farm Museum and reassembled in the late 1980's, using the markers previously made. Considerable effort was expended to have the structure retain, as much as possible, its original materials and appearance. The structure was completed in 1994.
One of the few changes made to the original design was the addition of handicapped accessible ramps.
The museum had previously obtained, through donations, two huge handlooms and a large spinning wheel dating from the first half of the I9th century. These rare and historically important pieces are presently housed in the log house.
The Allen Cabin houses some of the museums collection of early textile tools. The large spinning wheel is known as a Walking Wheel or Great Wheel. It was used to spin cotton or wool fibers. The yarn skeiner next to the wheel was used to measure the spun thread or yarn. A restored barn frame loom, complete with 300 hand tied string heddles has the beginnings of a wool rag rug. The skarn above the fireplace would have been used to hold the warp yarn for warping the loom. Also one each of the Museums old quilting frame and treadle sewing machine.
The wooden furniture on the front porch was handmade by Roy Balser. Mr. & Mrs. Balser donated it to the Farm Museum in memory of their son James William Balser.
George Summers House
Historically, the Summers family was prominent in West Virginia politics. George Summers had an illustrious public career. He was elected to the Virginia Legislature in 1830 and to Congress in 1841. Family tradition states that Lincoln asked him to be his running mate when he ran for his second term as President. Because of his wife's illness, George Summers declined.
The Summers Log house, part of a farmstead along the Kanawha River near Winfield, West Virginia, is a multi-part structure with architectural evidence indicating a construction date during the first quarter of the 19th century. The physical evidence is consistent with oral history, which gives the building's date as 1812.
The house was moved to the Farm Museum from its original site on a farm known as Walnut Grove near Winfield in Putnam County. The farm was first secured by the family of Judge George William Summers, a prominent Kanawha County resident who was widely known in Virginia, West Virginia and national political arenas. Not only was he the first prosecuting attorney of Putnam County, he was also a member of the General Assembly of Virginia and also served two terms in the House of Representatives in the United States Congress. He was a strong pro-Union man. Of interest here is the fact that President Lincoln asked Judge Summers to be his running mate when Lincoln ran for president for a second term. According to family tradition, Summers rejected the offer due to his wife's (Amacetta Laidley Summers) illness.
According to Walden Roush, who with his wife Louise, was the guiding genius in the establishment of the Farm Museum, the Summers house was moved to the Museum on November 23, 1980. Appalachian Power Company, in the process of building the John Amos Power plant, had purchased the farm property of Walnut Grove.
Fred Summers was reputed to be the last family member to occupy the house. It had become the property of his niece, Miss Lucy Quarrier. Through the generosity and interest of Miss Quarrier, the Summers log house was offered to the Museum. Well known in the Art world, Lucy is said to have been one of the founders of the Arts and Crafts Fair at Cedar Lakes near Ripley.
The Log House is a multi-part structure that utilizes two important types of construction in the form of log and plank modules, both of which require expert workmanship. In the original construction, logs were used in the section on the right side of the main entrance while planks were used in the left section. Roush explained that these planks had deteriorated. So it was necessary to use logs also in the left section during the restoration. Planks, however, were used in the back section off the kitchen and dining room.
A large entrance hallway between the two sections included a stairway to the second floor of the one-and-a-half story house. However, the stairway faces the rear of the house so that it would not take up so much room. Two windows are on each front section with three gable-roofed dormer windows extending from the slope of the roof.
Roush stated that it was problematic during the restoration to find weather boarding to match the original. He credited Leon Thompson of the Carolina Lumber Company for finding this material for the Museum. Fireplaces were built in all the rooms, including the upstairs bedrooms. The original mantels were moved with the structure.
Numerous interesting articles of furniture may be seen throughout the house. In the left front room stands an ancient baby crib, mounted on rockers and having a high framework for a canopy used to cover the crib. It was donated to the Museum by John Musgrave.
Also in this room are two other articles of interest. One is what appears to be a High Board but in reality contains a folding bed. Standing in this room is an easel supporting a Shadow Box. This glassed-in box contains a flat surface on which a colorful arrangement of handmade flowers are placed.
Another item that will attract attention is in the kitchen adjoining this room. It is an ancient Home Comfort kitchen range. It was donated by John Scott of Athens, WV. There is another unusual item near the doorway, but we will leave it to the tour guide to explain that one.
The Log House was to have been moved to Charleston, WV, where a full city block had been set aside for it. It was felt that the house would possibly be credited by the National Register of Historic places. This did not develop, and the Farm Museum is the richer for it.
Nature Trail
This trail accesses a parcel of land which was a TNT plant during World War II. This is the home of the legendary Mothman (if you believe in that sort of thing)
Main Feature of the Trail:
While most facilities used for manufacturing TNT at this site have been demolished, several interesting concrete structures remain. The structures are now partially obscured by vegetation and serve as a living example of how nature can reclaim itself in only a half-century.
Trail Condition:
Open
Avenue of Trees:
About 25 half-century old native trees are identified along the trail
What is TNT?
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is a yellow, odorless solid that does not occur naturally in the environment. It is commonly known as TNT and is an explosive used in military shells, bombs, and grenades, in industrial uses, and in underwater blasting. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene production in the United States occurs solely at military arsenals.
Impact on Point Pleasant:
During the years of operation of WVOW, Point Pleasant was a boom-town. Chemists, scientists, engineers, electricians, plumbers, masons, heavy construction crews, and laborers representing nearly every building trade were required for the rapid buildup. Workers from all over the country converged on this area and construction continued around the clock. Residents claim the streets of downtown Point Pleasant were packed with people like the streets of New York City. Ordinance School was hurriedly constructed for the surge of children of construction workers and staff personnel and was the first ever elementary school built by the federal government. New housing additions were built in Point Pleasant for plant workers. Housing was constructed near the plant for military staff who oversaw and guarded the facility. Local men working at the plant were exempted from military service.
History of the WVOW:
The official name of the site was West Virginia Ordnance Works or WVOW. It was referred to by locals as the TNT Plant because it produced explosives during World War II. The facility was constructed on approximately 5,800 acres, with more than 2,000 acres used as a safety zone. The site selected for the plant had rail and water access via the nearby Ohio River. The facility consisted of 10 TNT manufacturing lines, two acid producing areas (North and South), acid loading areas on the Ohio River, a sellite (sodium sulfite) plant, toluene storage, two coal-fired power plants, pumping stations, 100 storage magazines, wastewater holding ponds, burning grounds, an administrative area, and employee housing.
Closing the TNT Plant:
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Less than a month later on September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered. As soon as workers learned the war was over, production of TNT ceased and plant shutdown was initiated. Local residents recall that TNT plant workers left the area in droves and the exodus of the Point Pleasant area occurred more rapidly than the buildup.
Due to changes to the landscape and deposits of harmful chemicals, the land was rendered unsuitable for farming. As a result of extensive cleanup and environmental testing efforts, selected parcels of the area have returned to private use, a game refuge and the Farm Museum.
Points of Interest:
South Acids Area:
View interesting structures from the nature trail. These sturdy acid cradles were not demolished because of their sheer size and strength. Here you see evidence of how nature reclaims itself in our hot and humid climate in just a half century.
Sellite Manufacturing Area:
(Inside fenced area) During WVOW operations, sellite (sodium sulfite) was manufactured through the combination of soda ash and sulfur. A box factory and storage building were also located on the site.
Following the suspension of the TNT manufacturing at WVOW, the site was used by the Mason Furniture Company for the manufacture of furniture from 1948 to the mid-1970s. The property was then leased by the West Virginia Mulch Company for the manufacture of mulch. Buildings now are used as museum storage and the land is used for demonstration farming
Geology:
The trail is on one of the main historic meanders of the Ohio River The soil is a mixture of various layers of granularities of sand and clay.
This is an historic educational exhibit.
Log Church
This is a replica of the old Zion Lutheran Church which was originally located about two miles south of New Haven, WV in the community of Broad Run. It was the first Lutheran Church west of the Allegheny mountains, and it was one of the older churches in the area. A group of Lutherans from the Shenandoah valley moved into the community around 1800. They were German Lutherans whose forefathers had come directly from Germany. These families included the Roushes, the Weavers and others. The Zion Lutheran Congregation was organized in 1806 and for a while they met in private homes. In 1815 Daniel Roush donated a tract of land and the congregation built the old log church. Other congregations were also organized at the old church. In 1832 immigrants of the Presbyterian Faith came to Point Pleasant and used the old log church and in 1834 a congregation of United Brethren moved into the community and used the church. The old log church was used from about 1815 to 1895.
Due to the deteriorated state of the original logs the church had to be rebuilt from architect's drawings and old pictures.
Indian raids were always a threat during the early 1800s and the original church was built with a balcony and no windows and only one door for protection. In order to accommodate tour groups an extra door and windows were added to the rebuilt church at the farm museum.
The old log church is still used for services during festivals and special events.
Newspaper Office
The Register Office
The Point Pleasant Register, then a weekly paper, was housed in a small framed building, when editor George W. Trippett began printing the paper on March 6, 1882. He published the paper for more than 40 years. The masthead, listing Trippett as the editor and proprietor, indicated that the Daily Register was started in 1895.
When plans developed for constructing a replica of this newspaper building in the middle 1970's, Oral Eads completed a set of plans for the museum that duplicated the 20-foot by 32-foot structure. All material for the Register Office, which is 20' X 32', were purchased by The Point Pleasant Register. The Good Sam Travel Club, headed by Nelson Ring, who served as supervisor, contributed greatly to this project.
Some of the type and fonts came from L.W. Getty's business. The Register donated a Linotype Machine that is on display in the building as well as some composing tables that held drawers of different size type. The Linotype Machine was one of three that were located on the third floor of the Register building, situated at the time on Fifth Street in Point Pleasant.
In the newspaper office you can see various types of printing presses.
During festivals some of the presses will be in operation stamping out bulletins one at a time.
Here a re-enactor operates one of the printing presses during Living History Days.
Morgan Museum
Mr. Sidney Morgan of Winfield, WV started the museum in 1905. The first bird he mounted was a loon, and it is still housed in the museum. It is in the north end of the building, mounted on a green slab. Everything in the Morgan Museum is very old. The work in the museum covers an extensive period of time. The first bird was mounted in 1905, and the others were added as time went on.
The information we got from some of Mr. Morgan's relatives was that Mr. Sidney Morgan was to go with Teddy Roosevelt (as his taxidermist) on a safari to Africa. For some reason or other (which has been lost to posterity), he did not get to go, and, of course, he was very disappointed. While talking to his brother, Mr. Morgan decided that they should go on their own safari, so they built a small sternwheel paddleboat called the Shirley. During Mr. Morgan's lifetime he made five trips all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, collecting birds and animals along the rivers. He also made trips up and down several other rivers, including the Arkansas and the Missouri. He financed his trips by taking along sportsmen from the Charleston area who paid him for the trip.
Mr. Morgan was an artist when it came to mounting animals and birds. He made every effort to pose his animals and birds naturally. A good example of his creativity in taxidermy is the red fox located on the top shelf display at the museum. This fox had apparently killed a grouse; so Mr. Morgan not only mounted the grouse, but he also put feathers in the mouth of the fox to make it appear more realistic. Just over from this display is another fox that had killed a duck. This fox is mounted as if running away with the duck slung over its back. As the story goes, Mr. Morgan killed the fox as it was running away from a pond. He then copied its natural pose.
You will see many other examples of his creativity as you look around the museum. For example, there is a raccoon that is mounted on an old hollow tree. Mr. Morgan's step-grandson was with him the night that the raccoon was killed. The tree was cut down, and the slab was added to the exhibit.
The big elk in the back was the last elk killed in West Virginia. Mr. Morgan killed it at Minnehaha Springs, Pocahontas County and mounted it in 1912.
The biggest bird in the museum is the Golden Eagle and the smallest is the little hummingbird. There is also a two-headed calf, which was born in 1926 on one of the farms near Mr. Morgan's museum. It lived for a number of weeks. But, as the story goes, it got out of the barn one cold winter night and froze to death. The farmer found it the next morning just outside the barn. He then gave it to Mr. Morgan to be mounted.
There is also a display of some unusual steel traps. The large trap is hand-made. The other is a Newcome trap, which is said to be one of the largest bear traps ever made. The box traps that are on display were used to trap live game, such as rabbits, opossums, etc. Years ago, most boys had a box trap or two. They would use them to catch rabbits for food.
Mr. John E. Greene and his associates of Milton, WV donated the Morgan Museum to the Farm Museum. The Mason County Commission paid the sum of nine thousand dollars to move the four buildings to the Farm Museum complex. Volunteers helped with the moving and were responsible for putting the porches back onto the buildings and for leveling them on their foundations.
The Museum was started in 1905 just above Winfield on land that is now occupied by the John Amos Power Plant. Mr. Morgan's father owned approximately 1500 acres of choice bottom land where the John Amos Plant is now located. When Morgan's father died, the land was left to Sidney and to his mother, Mrs. Morgan. Sidney Morgan had no interest in farming. His main interests were hunting and taxidermy. Whenever Mrs. Morgan or Sid needed money, they would sell off some of their 1500-acre farm. When the John Amos Power Plant moved in (in 1963) and took over quite a few acres in that area, Mr. Morgan only had four acres left of the original 1500.
The power plant took over the land on which the museum was situated, and the museum was sold at auction. Mr. John E. Greene of Milton, WV bought the Morgan Museum and moved it to Milton near the Blinko Glass Plant. He added three other buildings to the complex, a Country Store, a Country Kitchen and a Blacksmith Shop. After operating these for two or three years as a tourist attraction, Mr. Greene decided to give the four buildings to the Farm Museum.
The propeller on display is from the Airship Shenandoah. The Shenandoah crashed near Ava, Ohio, in 1925, taking the lives of 14 members of its crew.
Country Doctor's Office
Dr. Milton J. Lilly, Sr. was a native of Mercer County in West Virginia and a 1904 graduate of Maryland Medical College in Baltimore. His first practice was as a company doctor for the Pocahontas Coal Company in McDowell County, WV.
Not long after marrying a young school teacher from Roanoke, VA, Dr. Lilly, his wife and infant daughter moved to Upland in Mason County to take over the practice of Dr. James Rowsey.
Dr. Lilly established his practice and home in Mason County raising seven children and living there until his death in 1967.
Calendar of Events
April 1
– Open for the Season
March 27
– Bluegrass Night – Featuring Southern Legacy
April 11
– 50th Anneversary Kick off – 11:00AM Kitchen and Store Open 2:00PM Bluegrass featuring The Lincoln Mash and Heather Alley Band
May 3
– Old Time Church Service – 10 AM
June 6
– Antique Tractor Pull – 11 AM
July 2-4
– Mountain State Arts and Crafts Fair – Come visit our mobile display.
July 4
- Antique Tractor Pull – 11AM
July 25
– Tractor Parade and Show – Kitchen and Store Open 9:30-3:00, Registration 10:00, Pedal Pull 10:30, Parade Begins 12:00
August 10-15
– Mason County Fair – Buildings open 1-5, Kitchen and Store open. Watch Facebook for times.
September 5
- Antique Tractor Pull – 11AM
September 19
– Mothman Festival Hayride – Hayride begins at 7PM – Tickets sold Downtown, Kitchen and Store open 5 – 10
October 3
– Country Fall Festival – Antique Engine Show, Antique Tractor Bracket Pull – 11AM, CEOS Quilt Show, Demonstrations, Apple Butter, Apple Cider. Kitchen and Store open.
October 4
-Oldtime Church Service. 10AM – Kitchen and Store open 11AM-2PM
November 2
– Closed for the Season
November 7
– Antique Tractor Pull – 11AM Benefit Pull
December 3 – 23
– Holiday Light Show Drive Thru – Light Show Drive Thru – 6 – 9 PM Nightly, Store Open 3-5 Daily, Meet Santa – Th, F, Sat, and Sun
***Another Bluegrass event is still in the planning stage. Watch Facebook and the Website for dates.
Schedule Your Visit
A Wedding at the Old Log Church
The West Virginia State Farm Museum is:
Open April 1 through November 1
Open Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.,
Sundays 1-5 p.m.-Grounds only, Buildings Closed
Closed Mondays and all major holidays
Farm Kitchen is open during special events or by appointment
The WV State Farm Museum is available for the following events:
Group Tours: The Museum welcomes school tours, private tour busses, groups of senior citizens, Scout troops, etc.
Volunteers generally conduct school tours. Group tours can be self-guided if desired.
Family Reunions: The Museum is an ideal place for family reunions. It offers plenty of space and activities for younger members while the older ones sit in the shade at one of the two picnic shelters.
Parties: Our climate-controlled dining room which will contain up to 200 persons. The dining room is available year round by reservation only. Meals can be catered, or you can bring pot luck. Please call for current rates.
Weddings: Weddings and receptions can be accommodated on the grounds. The museum is a perfect setting for an old-fashioned wedding. The log church provides an intimate setting for a small group.
Individuals: Normally, individuals take a self-guided tour and view the exhibits at their own pace.
NOTE: It is advisable to schedule your trip as early as possible so that the museum can make arrangements for tour guides, if desired. There is ample parking space for tour buses. Teachers may conduct part or all of the tour if they desire. Allow at least two hours for a tour.
To check for availability of facilities, e-mail or call
(304) 675-5737
. To avoid any conflicts, all reservations must be made by calling the office.
To make a reservation at the museum please call
(304) 675-5737
.
The following information will be helpful in making your reservation:
Name of organization.
Contact Person: name, telephone and e-mail address.
Date and preferred arrival and departure times.
Number of people in party.
Approximate age group of persons in party ( children, adult, senior)
Area desired: Dining Room (New Kitchen), Picnic Shelter
Meals: catered, pot-luck, prepared by our dining room, menu?
Special handicap needs.
Do you want a guided or self guided tour?
Museum Map
Driving Directions
From Point Pleasant: Go North on State Route 62. Four miles above town is a green highway sign saying that the Farm Museum is the next right. Turn right at the large intersection onto Fairground Road (Also known as Wadsworth Ave.). The Farm Museum is one mile on your right.
From Mason, West Virginia: Go South on US 33 until you reach the Ohio River Bridge. Continue South on State Route 62 for about seven miles. Turn left at the large intersection onto Fairground Road. Continue to the Museum as above.
From Ohio: You have two choices. You can cross the Ohio River either at Gallipolis or Pomeroy/Middleport, Ohio. Cross the Ohio River at Gallipolis on US 35 heading toward Charleston. As soon as you cross the bridge into West Virginia exit to the right onto Route 2 Northbound. You will see another bridge straight ahead-cross it as that is the Kanawha River bridge into Point Pleasant. Once in Point Pleasant, proceed as indicated above.
You can also enter from Ohio by crossing the Ohio River at Pomeroy/Middleport. You need to be on US 33 Southbound. This route will cross the Ohio River just South of Mason, West Virginia. On the East end of the bridge, turn right (South) onto West Virginia State Route 62 and continue South about seven miles and proceed as above.
From Charleston: Take Interstate 77 North to Ripley, WV. Exit on US 33 and follow 33 until near the Ohio River when it intersects with Route 2. Turn left on Route 2 and continue on this route until you reach Point Pleasant. From Point Pleasant, follow the directions above.
You can get a map of Point Pleasant, WV 25550 at mapquest.com
After getting the map, you can scroll north along Route 62 and the Ohio River until you reach the airport. The farm museum is situated immediately to the North of the airport.. The museum is on the straight road (Traffic Circle Longdale) that runs from NW to SE. The field of parallel roads in the area are a remnant of the World War II TNT production and storage area.
If you get really lost you can call
(304) 675-5737
and we can help you with directions.
Staff & Board of Directors
Staff
Tim Kidwell, Executive Director
Jackie Lyons, Office Manager
Caleb Danford, Maintenance and Grounds
Board of Directors
Larry Jones, President
John Ohlinger, Vice President
Michelle Hart, Secretary
Dennis Brumfield, Treasurer
John Goroncy, Executive Committee
Ralph Kelvington, Executive Committee
Lorri Stalnaker, Executive Committee
Josh Russell, Board of Directors
Joe Kincaid, Board of Directors
Don Linger, Board of Directors
Nancy Smith, Board of Directors
Danny Foglesong, Board of Directors
Make a Difference
Most of the items in the Museum collection were donated by our generous friends.
The Museum is a not-for-profit organization. There may be certain tax advantages for you to donate to the Museum and you should first consult a tax professional.
There are many ways to donate to the Museum. You can donate money. You can donate artifacts. And you can donate your time. All of these are important to us and we would not have a Museum without them all.
You may make a donation to a specific project. If you see a need for a certain display, facility, service, etc., and you would like to usher it into being, please discuss your idea with the staff. For example, our military exhibit is the result of the work of a single individual who constructed the viewing area, obtained and arranged the artifacts, and maintains the display.
Funds
The State Farm Museum, like most museums, always lack sufficient funding. While we do receive financial support from state and county sources for maintenance costs, we rely on private donations and grants from institutions for improvements to our grounds and facilities.
Money can be donated as an outright gift. If you would like to donate as part of a will, please consult your attorney to make proper arrangements.
If you see a need for a certain display, facility, service, etc., and you would like to usher it into being, please discuss your idea with the Museum staff. Our military display is the result of the vision of a single person (a retired military man) who constructed the display area, obtained and arranged the artifacts, and maintains the display.
Artifacts
If you have an artifact that you think would be appropriate in the Museum collection, it is advisable to contact someone on the museum staff to discuss the item. (This may save you the trouble of transporting the item.) If the Museum staff agrees that the item is in keeping with the mission of the Museum, either your can transport the item to the Museum, or their personnel can pick up the item. The Museum has equipment necessary to move most items.
When you donate an item to the Museum, you will be asked to sign an agreement that you relinquish ownership of the artifact to the Museum.
Due to display space limitations, your object may not be immediately displayed. It may be placed in a safe storage area and used in future displays as displays are rotated periodically to increase interest and encourage return visits.
Some artifacts may be maintained in the condition they were received. However, some items such as tractors and farm equipment may be restored and put to use on the Museum grounds. The appearance or utility of a donated item may thus be altered.
While the museum does not anticipate it when they accept an item, there is a possibility that the item you donated to Museum may disappear. Not everything is under lock and key. Sometimes an item will get moved to another location and the books are not updated and we simply can't find it. We try very hard to safeguard our artifacts.
Museum staff members are very much aware of the emotion attached to objects donated to the Museum and respect for your feelings is always a consideration. The Museum simply cannot be a warehouse for every artifact in the state and we are sometimes forced to make choices because of limitations of storage and display area, and the costs of maintaining artifacts in our humid climate.
You can rest assured that any item placed into the custody of the Museum will have a lasting benefit to the Museum and community.
Time
You can donate your time. President George W. Bush has recommended that every American volunteer 2000 hours of their time to any worthwhile project of their own choosing. The persons developing this web site are volunteers. The Farm Museum always needs volunteers. The greatest need for volunteers is to help conduct school tours. On some days there are several hundred school children visiting the Museum! Volunteers are needed in the kitchen, blacksmith and carpentry shop, store, and loom room. A group of dedicated volunteers meet every Thursday evening to restore maintain the antique tractors. Volunteers are needed to help maintain the grounds and buildings.
It does not matter what your skill levels may be, there is always something that most people can do, and your efforts, what ever they may be, will be appreciated by the community.
Volunteering
President George W. Bush has recommended that every American volunteer 2000 hours of their time to a worthwhile project of their own choosing.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteers have fun.
Volunteers meet lots of new people.
Volunteers provide a very worthwhile service to the community.
Volunteers make our festivals happen.
We could not do school tours without volunteers.
Volunteers cook the meals, bake the pies and make the ice cream.
Volunteers restore and maintain our artifacts.
The person developing this web site is a volunteer. The Farm Museum always needs volunteers. The greatest need for volunteers is to help conduct school tours. On some days there are several hundred school children visiting the Museum!
Volunteers are needed in the Country Kitchen to prepare our delicious home cooked meals at festival time. We feature fresh baked pies and home-made ice cream.
Volunteers who can work with their hands are needed in the blacksmith and carpentry shop. We have a very complete blacksmith shop with forge and a pile of coal waiting for you. Our carpentry shop, however, has no power tools.
A group of dedicated volunteers meets every Thursday evening to restore and maintain the antique tractors. This group is legendary. If you would like to learn about antique tractor restoration, this is the place to do it. We are in progress of building a new paint booth so we can apply better automotive finishes to restored equipment.
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the grounds. We have a lot of lawn area and many trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and a herb garden. Our gardens grow weeds just like any other garden.
Volunteers are needed to help maintain or many buildings. Some of our structures have stood for over 100 years and it is a job maintaining them so they will be here for the next century. There are log cabins, board-and-batten, and clapboard siding which need constant repair and upkeep. Help is sometimes required to dismantle an old barn or building, transport it to the Museum and reassemble it. Think of the friends you could make by doing that!
During our festivals, volunteers run the antique tractors and steam engines, operate the sawmill, sorghum mill, apple press, blacksmith and carpenter shop, prepare meals in the kitchen, and explain displays to our visiting friends.
It doesn't matter what your skill levels may be, there is always something around the Museum that most people can do, and your efforts, what ever they may be, will be appreciated by the community. There are projects for young and old, male or female; there are even things you can do with your horse or oxen. We even have a spiffy new riding lawn mower that we can have you trained to operate in very little time!
If you would like to talk to someone about volunteering, e-mail us , or call (304) 675-5737. We thank you.
Contact Us
Our Address
W.Va. State Farm Museum
1458 Fairground Road
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
E-Mail: You can send an e-mail to
wvsfm@wvfarmmuseum.org
Telephone: (304) 675-5737
West Virginia State Farm Museum Antique Tractor Pull Rules
2024
TRACTORS ELIGIBLE FOR PULL
Naturally aspirated Antique and Classic Tractors whose series were produced 1959 or earlier. Engines must be of the same make and number of cylinders as originally equipped. No headers or homemade manifolds (intake or exhaust). Single exhaust unless originally equipped 0therwise. Custom or modified wheels, hubs, front axles, or lower bolsters : allowed, but distance from front to rear axles must remain as original. No altered wheelbase. Propane is allowed as a primary fuel source only. No propane or nitrous injection.
DRIVER REQUIREMENTS FOR PULLING
All drivers must be 18 years or older, or have written consent of a parent or guardian. Each driver/parent must sign a release before pulling. Those under 18 must have wheelie bars able to support the tractor and must be checked. It is the parent/guardian/owner's responsibility to get the tractor checked or they will be disqualified with no refund of entry fee. Any driver needing assistance will be allowed to pull exhibition only. Driver needing assistance is understood to include on the tractor or track, once the pull is underway. Break away kill switch is required for drivers under 18.
ENTRANT REQUIREMENTS FOR PULLING
If there are 10 or fewer tractors in a class, 2nd hook will be allowed with a separate driver. Only 1 prize money will be rewarded per tractor. All hook fees are $15.00.
TIRES ALLOWED FOR PULLING
4500lb. through 7000lb classes. 15.5 x 38 max (400 x 38 metric). 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000. The leading edge of the tread bar cannot be altered in any way. Regular and top cut only.
SPEED ALLOWED FOR PULLING
4 MPH.
Any horn beyond 100 ft will result in disqualification.
"No warning horns". Distance cones are for the driver's visual reference only. Any distance decisions will be at the sled operator's discretion based on monitor readings.
DRIVERS MUST STOP WHEN THE HORN BLOWS AFTER 100 ft.
DRAWBAR REQUIREMENTS FOR PULLING
The maximum drawbar height is 20" and the minimum drawbar length is 18" from center of rear axle to point of pull (ring or twisted clevis). The drawbar must be stationary in all directions, NOT adjustable from the driver's seat. A pull ring or twisted clevis is required. Drivers must start the pull from a tight chain. Jerking of the sled at any time will be cause for disqualification. Weights or brackets must not interfere with hitching or unhitching. The center of the axle is measured at the hub in the factory position.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR PULLING
Wheelie bars are recommended, but not required, except for pullers under the age of 18. (see rule 2 above). Drivers must stay seats, hands on the wheel, hand brakes, clutches, or throttle during pull. Any weight lost or any part lost while hooked to the sled is grounds for disqualification.
A running tractor must be attended by the driver or responsible party at all times.
WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
Front weight no more than 11' from the center of the rear axle. Wheel weights cannot extend more than 12" from the side of the rear tires. Weights must be secured. Rear-mounted weights cannot extend beyond the plane of the tires.
WEIGH-IN
After the weigh-in, the puller must proceed to the staging area. If the puller returns to the pit area with a tractor, it must be re-weighed or disqualified.
PULLING PROCEDURES
The first puller in each weight class will be considered the test puller and has the option to re-pull in the third position
UNLESS DISQUALIFIED BY ANY OTHER RULE
. All pullers have 2 attempts to move the sled within the 75' mark.
RULES NON-COMPLIANT
Any eligible tractor is not rules-compliant. will be allowed to pull exhibition only. Any exhibition pulls will be at the end of the class. Speed and hitch measurements still apply.
SUMMARY
Puller bears the responsibility of verification for any compliance issues that may come into question.
TRACTOR PULL OFFICIALS HAVE FINAL JUDGMENT OVER ALL ASPECTS OF PULL AND RULES
The West Virginia State Farm Museum will not be held responsible for lost or damaged items brought about by the participant or negligence of any entrant or driver at the pull.