The study of history through the excavation of discarded items, exploring people's attics, flying drones, and stuff….
During our renovations of Willowbrook, removing the plaster on the inside of the original Byrnside’s Fort logs, we found an old dusty envelope with the following words written on it: “Key’s to Major Samuel Clark’s Sword Case.” Inside the envelope were two tiny old keys – both with the same wording. So naturally I began … Read moreJackpot! Major Samuel Clark’s Sword Found
When the first settlers came into the Greenbrier Valley in the 1750’s, this is likely the type of firearm they brought with them. A civilian owned smoothbore fowler. This longarm is exactly 6 feet in overall length. It has a bore of exactly .70 caliber. It could fire a solid round lead ball. Or it … Read moreThe flintlock the early Virginia frontiersman likely would have carried.
The Clendenin Massacre, also sometimes referred to as the “Muddy Creek Massacre,” took place in July of 1763 about 2 miles Southwest of what is now Lewisburg, West Virginia (not itself created until 1774). I always wondered why this was referred to as part of the “Muddy Creek Massacre” when Muddy Creek itself is actually … Read moreThe Site of The Clendenin Massacre on the Big Levels of Greenbrier County – 1763
The Virginia Rural Slat-back chair is the chair of the common man, and particularly special to Virginia (especially what would become West Virginia post 1863). It is unique to the region, and has coasted under the radar through the years of the city-dwellers with the taste for a more refined object to sit upon (though … Read moreThe Homemade Mountain Chairs of Virginia and West Virginia
This is the cabin door from the Richard Hill cabin, which stood near Mill Point, West Virginia, in present day Pocahontas County, West Virginia. It was saved by Jim Costa, and is in his collection. Richard Hill is believed to have settled at this spot shortly after the Revolutionary War. The Greenbrier County Personal Property … Read more18th Century Door from the Richard Hill Cabin in Mill Point, WV
AVAILABLE NOW! 80 color pages of high quality photos of the discoveries, renovations, and explorations at the site of Byrnside’s Fort at Willowbrook Plantation. SCAV-ENG-E-OL-O-GY: The study of history through the excavation of discarded items, exploring people’s attics, flying drones, and stuff. The term “scavengeology” was coined when the author, a major history buff, began metal detecting … Read moreThe SCAVENGEOLOGY JOURNAL – Volume 1 – “Discovering Byrnside’s Fort”
In November of 1863, a struggle took place in this Greenbrier County, WV house, and two men would die in the end. This is the home of David Creigh, who in November of 1863 was a successful merchant. Within 6 months, he would be dead. The home is known as “Montascena,” and is circa 1834. … Read moreThe hanging of David Creigh
These massive fireplace andirons were purchased from an elderly man in Alleghany County, Virginia, who had purchased them at one of the earlier auctions held at the Old Sweet Springs Resort. Apparently they were stored in the basement of the huge old resort. It’s hard to tell how large they are from the photos, but … Read moreMassive Forged Andirons from historic Old Sweet Springs Resort
This is something I’ve never seen before – an extremely old looking crutch – found locally in the Greenbrier Valley. It’s early enough not to have the V shape design; nor a handle. It still has the original, or at least a very old, padded fabric on the brace portion of it. I looked up … Read moreAntique crutch found in the Greenbrier Valley
This impressive log cabin was built 1770-1772 by Col. James Graham. It was the site of a bloody attack in 1777. This special structure is one of the few other surviving frontier blockhouses of the 18th century Virginia frontier, all of which lie within a fairly small radius of the Greenbrier Valley: the Graham Cabin, … Read moreThe bloody history of the Graham Cabin