| People often pride themselves in having | | | | heading on to the next available landing |
| "minds of their own"; but what about places? | | | | field. Old-timers tell |
| A good character study can enthrall, | | | | |
| mesmerize -- a strong portrayal of | | | | tales of the first airplane owners in the |
| personality can stun, | | | | area. -- Often farmers or landowners with a |
| | | | curiosity about piloting a plane, but |
| captivate, intrigue. But who says the main | | | | completely untrained, they would purchase a |
| character must be a person? Why not let a | | | | plane, ask for directions and general flying |
| bustling city, yarn-spinning town or lazy | | | | instructions; then get in the plane and fly |
| locale take center stage -- play the | | | | home -- or at least what they perceived to be |
| protagonist, and even tell a success | | | | home. Needless to say, some of them finally |
| story?The Greenbrier Valley in southeastern | | | | got there by another means of transportation, |
| West Virginia, home to old-time mountaineers, | | | | and much later than expected. -- But |
| middle-class business folks, lawyers, | | | | well-wishing neighbors would leave lanterns |
| academicians, and people of rather high net | | | | burning outside, well into the night, hoping |
| worth in search of some peace and quiet in | | | | to bring each fledgling pilot down to earth |
| the pure mountain air -- is a place of | | | | safely. Now, the modern Greenbrier Valley |
| simple, rare beauty with much to tell. For | | | | Airport near Lewisburg has capacity for large |
| this reason, it is also a haven for creative | | | | commercial jets, as well as small, two-engine |
| artists. Writers, musicians, painters, | | | | models. And no one pilots without a |
| sculptors, photographers, and makers of | | | | legitimate license! (But the fog and ice can |
| crafts from the U.S. as well as abroad come | | | | still impede one's progress over the first |
| to experience the poignancy, joy, laugher and | | | | mountain ridge on snowy winter days. And |
| sorrow reflected in the local folklore, | | | | sometimes you decide this side of the |
| mountain music, and breathtaking colors of | | | | mountain looks good enough, change your |
| hazy sunrise and brilliant sunset mixed with | | | | plans, and stay home.)White Sulphur Springs |
| the vibrant hues of the countryside | | | | hosts the Greenbrier Hotel with its healing |
| terrain.Just a few years ago, a visit to the | | | | natural springs water, golf and tennis and |
| county schools was a truly unique experience. | | | | horseback riding facilities, cool rolling |
| The student population was made up of town | | | | grounds and tall, overhanging maples, oaks |
| kids, kids from farms throughout the county, | | | | and evergreens that bow and lean close in the |
| and the children of families who had lived | | | | breeze -- a tease to the curious newcomer, |
| sparse, but enduring existences in sometimes | | | | full of questions and wishing the trees could |
| isolated mountain regions for many years. | | | | talk. The Greenbrier now sports a growing |
| Mountaineer customs were different. Mountain | | | | community of elegant, luxurious new homes on |
| language was fun -- but it took some getting | | | | the well-landscaped site of its former golf |
| used to, and much was never explained, or | | | | course; while just a |
| left | | | | |
| | | | hillside or two away, you can find a cozy, |
| unsaid. But, those shy, silent children had | | | | well-seasoned log cabin, a bit worn, but |
| much to tell. One current local resident, now | | | | still in use. And on the front porch is an |
| a teacher in her 50's, remembers being | | | | elderly, white-haired man playing banjo with |
| somewhat in awe of one quiet, wide-eyed boy | | | | his small great-granddaughter beside him, |
| who told of his family's home being part | | | | strumming the strings of a cherry wood |
| wooden house with a red-dirt floor, and part | | | | dulcimer. While from the distant interstate, |
| cave; but his older brother had recently | | | | you hear faint, persistent rhythms of rock |
| installed a color TV set. -- The teacher, | | | | music and modern country songs |
| then a schoolgirl, was jealous | | | | |
| | | | drifting out from the open windows of |
| at the time, since her family still had a | | | | passing cars. And even the Greenbrier Ghost |
| black-and-white TV at home.... Now the | | | | from centuries past comes forward in time to |
| schools are large and consolidated, with a | | | | make current appearances for delighted (and |
| quality of sophistication both built-in and | | | | spooked) |
| acquired.In years past, the railroads were | | | | |
| still very important to the area. With | | | | audiences at the Greenbrier Valley Theater |
| regular and frequent stops at the Victorian | | | | productions!Yes, the Greenbrier Valley has a |
| style wooden stations in White Sulphur | | | | creative mind of its own -- embracing the |
| Springs and Ronceverte, the next valley town | | | | past, present and future in a single gesture, |
| to Lewisburg, they carried lumber, coal, | | | | smile, word or glance, as it reaches out |
| cattle, produce and passengers en route to | | | | warmly to greet you. For, after all, an |
| neighboring or distant locations. Residents | | | | enchanted visiting creative artist could |
| say it was always comforting to hear the | | | | become a productive artist in residence -- |
| train whistle, foggy on the misted night air | | | | and the wind whispering softly through the |
| -- and much fun to get to take a trip in the | | | | trees will try to persuade you so.Ellen |
| jostling, clacking passenger cars. -- Last | | | | Gilmer, |
| year, some visitors took Amtrak from White | | | | |
| Sulphur to New York, and while waiting at the | | | | copyright Ellen Gilmer is a writer-composer |
| station for the train to arrive, a group of | | | | and artist who lives in New York City. |
| well-dressed guests at the | | | | Crystal Clear Artforms, her creative arts |
| | | | business, |
| Greenbrier Hotel were happily out on the | | | | |
| tracks placing nickels and quarters on the | | | | is dedicated to the development and |
| open rails, so the incoming train could | | | | promotion of Thematic Arts (creative |
| flatten the coins into pendants. (The | | | | expression in multiple art forms). Ellen's |
| onlookers' main concern was that the train | | | | work includes copywriting and article |
| would flatten the guests, instead!) But, they | | | | writing, and she is a member of the Agora |
| all scurried back to the platform and safety, | | | | International Press Corps / AWAI Travel |
| just in time.Braver souls used to fly in | | | | Writers Group. |
| small commercial planes, or even | | | | |
| two-or-four-seaters, from the small airport | | | | She has published two books: La Belle |
| near White Sulphur and the Greenbrier Hotel. | | | | Famille (a novel); and Free Style Run of the |
| The only problem there was that on foggy, | | | | Heart (a book of dramatic monologues with |
| | | | songs). Both books were published by The |
| snowy or ice-coated days, you might not make | | | | Pentland Press Ltd./ Carnegie Publishing, |
| it over the first mountain ridge; and | | | | England. |
| incoming planes often passed-up landing, | | | | |