Our Beginnings

History of Lewis County

Thomas Jonathan Jackson known throughout the world as Stonewall Jackson grew to manhood in this county and was raised with the heritage and beliefs of its residents. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by his fraternal family at Jackson's Mill now part of West Virginia University Extension Service 4-H grounds. You can still tour the historic area of the Mill and stroll the ground this young boy walked. Stop and gaze across the river he played and swam in and wonder if when he uttered his famous dying words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees", he was thinking of this extraordinary place. Many special events are held at the Mill throughout the year. Every Labor Day Weekend the Mill comes alive with thousands of people when they visit the Jubilee where history and heritage crafts come together for a grand celebration..

The former Weston State Hospital in downtown Weston (now known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum) is the largest hand-cut stone building in North America. The Asylum was started before the Civil War and the building saw two future Presidents camped on her spacious grounds. Take a historic tour of one or all four floors of the building or from the State hospital take a wonderful walking tour of historic downtown Weston. The tour covers over a hundred years of architecture and while on your tour downtown, stop in one of our fine restaurants for lunch or dinner or shop in one of our fine antique stores.

Lewis County was also once the hand blown glass capital of the world. Many of our fine glass factories have sadly closed but the glass industry still flourishes here in small shops. Stop into Appalachian Glass and watch this dying art demonstrated daily as well as purchase a beautiful hand-blown friendship ball there. You can also see many other Appalachian heritage crafts while there. Take a beautiful piece of Lewis County glass home with you.

If you are of Irish heritage and visiting us in the spring, stop in Ireland, WV for the Irish Spring Festival. Ireland is a wonderful small town festival celebrating their Irish heritage. They even have Irish Road Bowling only sanctioned in three cities in the United States. Quite a sight!

If you have an interest in early African-American history, visit the Weston Colored School built in the early 1880's. It is a wonderful one-room school that had an excelled reputation for educating students, many of whom went on to obtain college degrees - which was very impressive during that time period.