Tag: Jackson’s Mill

May 25, 1937: William Kendrick, Pioneer of West Virginia’s 4-H Program, Dies at 55

On May 25, 1937, William Kendrick, a pioneer of West Virginia’s 4-H program, died at age 55. “Teepi,” as he was nicknamed, was born in Alabama and moved to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University. In the decade before World War I, WVU had established corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls as a way to teach modern agriculture. Kendrick became the state agent in charge of these groups and adopted the 4-H name. He soon broadened the scope of the clubs beyond agriculture to emphasize various aspects of youth development.

Kendrick was enthused by a local 4-H camp he visited in Randolph County in 1915. He envisioned a statewide 4-H camp and selected the site of “Stonewall” Jackson’s boyhood home in Lewis County. Jackson’s Mill would become the first state 4-H camp in the United States. Kendrick also cofounded the 4-H All-Stars to recognize outstanding leaders in the movement. This concept eventually spread to other states.

“Teepi” Kendrick inspired a generation of young West Virginians to be the best at whatever they did. A shrine at Jackson’s Mill is dedicated in his honor.

May 25, 1937: William Kendrick, Pioneer of West Virginia’s 4-H Program, Dies at 55

On May 25, 1937, William Kendrick, a pioneer of West Virginia’s 4-H program, died at age 55. “Teepi,” as he was nicknamed, was born in Alabama and moved to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University. In the decade before World War I, WVU had established corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls as a way to teach modern agriculture. Kendrick became the state agent in charge of these groups and adopted the 4-H name. He soon broadened the scope of the clubs beyond agriculture to emphasize various aspects of youth development.

Kendrick was enthused by a local 4-H camp he visited in Randolph County in 1915. He envisioned a statewide 4-H camp and selected the site of “Stonewall” Jackson’s boyhood home in Lewis County. Jackson’s Mill would become the first state 4-H camp in the United States. Kendrick also cofounded the 4-H All-Stars to recognize outstanding leaders in the movement. This concept eventually spread to other states.

“Teepi” Kendrick inspired a generation of young West Virginians to be the best at whatever they did. A shrine at Jackson’s Mill is dedicated in his honor.

January 20, 1824: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson Born

Thomas Jackson was born in Clarksburg around midnight on the evening of January 20, 1824. He was raised by an uncle at Jackson’s Mill in Lewis County and then attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

He fought gallantly during the Mexican War but resigned from the army after the war.

He spent the next 10 years teaching philosophy and artillery at the Virginia Military Institute.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Virginia seceded from the Union, and Jackson was appointed a Confederate brigadier general. At Harpers Ferry, he oversaw the transfer of equipment from the former U.S. armory to the South. Weeks later, he earned the nickname “Stonewall” for his valor during the Battle of First Manassas. The next year, his lightning-quick troop movements in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign made military history. As Robert E. Lee’s top general, he also played key roles in Confederate victories at Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, and Fredericksburg.

His brilliant military career ended abruptly at the Battle of Chancellorsville, when he was accidentally shot by his own troops. “Stonewall” Jackson died on May 10, 1863, at the age of 39.

Izetta Jewell Kenny Born: November 24, 1883

Izetta Jewell Kenny was born in New Jersey on November 24, 1883. In 1914, she moved to West Virginia with her husband, William Gay Brown, a congressman from Kingwood.

In 1920—the year women got the right to vote nationally—Brown attended the National Democratic Convention. She seconded the presidential nomination of West Virginia’s John W. Davis, a first for a woman in U.S. history.

In 1922, she became the first woman south of the Mason-Dixon Line to run for the U.S. Senate.  She lost the Democratic nomination to Matthew Neely by only 6,000 votes. Two years later, she lost the Senate nomination to William Chilton in another close race.

In 1925, she married Hugh Miller and moved away from the Mountain State. Izetta Jewell Brown Miller died in California in 1978 at the age of 94.

Nominations Accepted for West Virginia Ag Hall of Fame

The deadline is approaching for nominations to the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 16, and honorees will be enshrined July 16 at Jackson’s Mill.

The Department of Agriculture says the honor is awarded to individuals, businesses, organizations, institutions and foundations that have a long history of making outstanding contributions to the agriculture or forestry industries, or family life.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the state Department of Agriculture’s website at www.wvagriculture.org.

Dominion Resources Workers Help Spruce up Jackson's Mill

Jackson’s Mill has been spruced up for the upcoming 4-H camping season with help from Dominion Resources.

More than 100 Dominion workers spent Wednesday at the state 4-H camp in Lewis County revitalizing the grounds. They landscaped flower beds, painted and repaired a gazebo, rebuilt a stone patio and power washed and painted the amphitheater. They also installed a water filtration system in the fish pond.

West Virginia University Extension Service director Steve Bonanno tells The Exponent Telegram that it would take months for the facility’s maintenance staff to do what the Dominion employees did in one day.

Dominion senior policy adviser Robert Orndorff says the company frequently holds meeting and other functions at Jackson’s Mill. He says Dominion has a history of helping the facility.

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