Stonewall Jackson--West Virginia 4-H Cache
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(regular)
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A nice excuse to go visit the site of the World's First 4-H Camp!
Jackson’s Mill was the boyhood home of General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, who came here to live with relatives after his parents died when he was young. He left here for West Point at the age of 18, and subsequently fought for the confederate side in the Civil War.
The first state 4-H camp in the world was held here in 1921, after a private company donated five acres to the state for that purpose. The state legislature designated the West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service to oversee the property and program. The cottages on the grounds were designed and constructed by county 4-H organizations between 1922 and 1952, so each is named after the sponsoring county or counties. Many are currently in a process of repair and renovation to bring them into compliance with modern life safety and accessibility codes. Over time, the Mill’s mission has evolved to serve a variety of different constituent groups, but state 4-H camps continue to be held here to this day. Many West Virginians have spent significant times here, and the emotional connection to the Mill is both widespread and very strong throughout the Mountain State.
We’ve been unable to unearth much history on Louis Bennett Field, which is a part of Jackson’s Mill. It is a single airstrip, with only a single picnic shelter on the field. We do know that it was used to train Navel aviators during World War II. It served as an active general aviation airport for 60 years until being closed during the wave of anti-airplane hysteria following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The runway is 3195 feet long, and basically oriented north to south. According to FAA data, there were six aircraft based on the field, which supported 2200 operations (takeoffs or landings) per year, 68% of which were made by transients or visiting aircraft, prior to its closing. As this is written, the field is open to use by the general aviation community by prior permission only, but there is some hope that it will reopen soon, and eventually serve the needs of general aviation and Lewis County once again. I have personally flown into Bennett field several times, and have fond memories of doing some of my initial flight training here.
The Mill makes a wonderful destination whether you arrive by air or by automobile. If you are there during the Labor Day weekend, check out Jubilee on the Mill grounds. During the summer camp season, the actual camp may be closed to the public, but the historic area is open daily.
Prplunicorn is a lifelong 4-H'er, and Cessnamike is a new volunteer. We serve as staff at both county and state camps. We used this cache to teach geocaching to campers at the Alpha I state 4-H camp during the summer of 2005, moving it around to several different locations on the grounds. We moved it to its permanent location at the end of the camp on July 15 of that year.
The driveway to the airport is usually gated, so we suggest you park at the historical marker across from the main entrance to the Mill, and cross the walk bridge. Pedestrians are always welcome on the airfield property. The cache is located on public property, with permission of the management. Be sure to follow the posted signs to stay off the runway, (and keep your children off of it) as it is sometimes active. If there is an airplane parked there, please look but don’t touch. Unless there is a closed camp in progress, visitors are also welcome on the main campus across the road, so do go and explore the facilities at Jackson’s Mill, as well as the historic area to the right as you enter the front gate. The working mill structure itself is actually Blaker’s Mill, which was taken apart by volunteers, who numbered each piece, moved it and rebuilt it on the Jackson’s Mill grounds. Blaker’s Mill originated near Alderson in our home county of Greenbrier. There are also many interesting stone buildings, plus some fine examples of CCC and WPA works, including a huge stone amphitheater, walkways, and several interesting walk bridges made of a single slab of stone. Archives are available for history buffs. The new pool is open to the public on weekends. Or you can just picnic on the lawn.
As a “first to find” prize, the cache contains two free passes to the historic area, courtesy of the Mill’s management. Other initial contents include:
Local and state travel brochures
4 4-H pencils
3 4-H badges
2 Jackson’s Mill magnets
Tie-Dye Bandana (made at Alpha I)
Pack of Kleenex
Bouncy Ball
Lint Roller
Rain Poncho
Folding Ruler
Plastic Bracelets
Chapsticks
Star Stickers (left by a camper last week)
Purple Hook Key Ring
Hand Sanitizer
Log Book, and
West Virginia 4-H Travel Bug
This cache is maintained by Team Dreamcachers with the help of the Jackson's Mill Staff.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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