On this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage, we revisit an episode from 2019 featuring Gregory Alan Isakov, Elysian Fields, Mandolin Orange, The Brother Brothers and Hush Kids. Recorded in Morgantown, West Virginia at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center with host Larry Groce.
Harpers Ferry Mayor Gregory Vaughn says an early morning fire has devastated the historic town’s commercial area.
Vaughn says the fire destroyed seven to eight businesses housed in one building. An adjacent restaurant sustained substantial damage. No one was injured.
The buildings were constructed in the 1800s. The commercial area is adjacent to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.
Vaughn says he was notified of the fire around 4:30 a.m. Thursday. The cause hasn’t been determined, but emergency officials say it began around 3 in the morning.
Vaughn says he is grief stricken for the community and for the shop and property owners affected by the fire.
“It’s a personal, of course loss, huge loss, but the loss for our town is devastating. This is such a beautiful town, and people come here literally from all over the world,” said Cindi Dunn, whose shop, the Vintage Lady, was caught in the blaze.
Many shop owners are trying to salvage what they can, reaching through burned window frames. Local emergency officials say there were no injuries.
Harpers Ferry was the site of a failed raid on a federal arsenal in 1858 by abolitionist John Brown. During the Civil War, Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times between 1861 and 1865.
On this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage, we revisit an episode from 2019 featuring Gregory Alan Isakov, Elysian Fields, Mandolin Orange, The Brother Brothers and Hush Kids. Recorded in Morgantown, West Virginia at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center with host Larry Groce.
A local history preservation group is working to rehabilitate the battered First Zion Baptist Church, a historic Black church in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
On this West Virginia Morning, we hear from Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party, on the efforts to rebuild the party and restore Democrats to state offices ahead of this primary election. Also, we hear about preservation efforts for a historic Black church in Harpers Ferry.
Homelessness is not just an issue for big cities. Across America, communities large and small are struggling to provide shelter to people without housing. In Charleston, West Virginia, government and community approaches to help the unhoused have created renewed debate on an issue that is already divisive. Earlier this year, this episode of Us & Them received a second place award from the Virginias AP Broadcasters for Best Podcast.