- Pioneers
- Settlers and Farmers
- Circuit Riders
- Buckhannon – West Virginia – Upshur County
- West Virginia Conference Seminary – West Virginia Wesleyan College
- West Virginia Annual Conference
- West Virginia Strawberry Festival
These things are all connected in a tapestry.
Pioneers crossed these mountains, settled the area, and began farming. Some stayed only awhile, but others still have descendants living in this part of what is now West Virginia. They forged out not only a new place to live, but they created an entirely new state during the American Civil War.
Circuit riding preachers moved among them sharing not only the Gospel, but promoting education in the wilderness. Along the way in that process, through the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a college was born – first called the West Virginia Conference Seminary and later West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Through the years, there have been descendants of those pioneers who have become teachers and leaders at the college. A few examples include Arthur Allen Schoolcraft, Nancy Jackson, Paula Lowther McGrew, and Eric Waggoner. There are likely others I have yet to discover.
A tapestry through time.
Strawberry Thread in the Buckhannon Tapestry
In 1936, West Virginia Wesleyan biology professor James E. Judson realized that the climate and soil in the area were very well suited to growing strawberries. He suggested to the Chamber of Commerce that it would be good to have a festival to help promote the growing, preserving, and marketing of the berries. The rest, as they say, is history. The Buckhannon Lions Club formed the Central Strawberry Festival Association and got to work. Amazingly, three weeks after Dr. Judson presented the idea to the Chamber of Commerce, the first Strawberry Queen (Laura Jean Watson) was crowned on the courthouse steps by H. Guy Kump, West Virginia’s 19th Governor. That first festival was held on June 3, 1936, and was a one day affair. Dr. Judson served as the program chairman.
Click here to read more about Dr. James E. Judson.
By the second year, the school newspaper – The Pharos – had an article on the front page (continued to page four): City is Ready for Strawberry Festival.
A true community event, the next few years saw many children marching in the parades. One example is near and dear to my heart — my own father marched in the 1940 parade as an elf.
Wartime Woes
From 1943 to 1948 the festival was not held. World War II was taking its toll with many area people serving in the military or working in support of the war effort. There was no time or resources to plan festivals of this sort.
1949
June 2 and 3, 1949 saw a rebirth of the Strawberry festival. Dr. Judson was still teaching at Wesleyan and, along with many college professors and their families, was still on the Central Strawberry Festival Committee helping to reestablish and reorganize the events. After all of the hard years of the war, people were very excited to be celebrating again.
1959
In 1959, the name of the festival was changed to the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, and it grew even larger – now running for three days. June 10, 11, and 12 were busy days in Buckhannon. A Fireman’s Parade had been added in 1956 and a carnival was now a major draw as well. There was a coronation, Grand Feature Parade, square dance, auctions, exhibits, and the annual queen’s ball.
1969
Many volunteers were needed in order to keep everything running smoothly. This aspect of the festival continues to this day as part of the community building aspect of it all. People working with their neighbors to create a great event.
The “community” was not just Upshur County by this time, as the King was Rev. Samuel McCain of Fairmont (who had grown 9,000 strawberry plants!) and the queen was Susan Alison of Taylor County.
1979
By 1979, the festival was up to 5 days long and ran from May 31 through June 3. This year marked the first Jr. Royalty Parade bringing the number of parades during the week to four: Jr. Royalty, Fireman’s, Antique Auto, and Grand Feature. The Grand Feature parade was now drawing bands from all over the United States — 60 of them in 1980!
1990s and Beyond
In 1990, the Grand Feature Parade was first televised on WBOY, and an estimated 340,000 viewers tuned in in 1991. Over 100,000 visitors to Buckhannon were coming to enjoy the festivities – and the strawberries. The festival had become something of a grand homecoming event for people who had grown up here.
A New Century of Strawberry Festival History
Groups have come from all over the country to perform. They have come from 42 U.S. States and Washington, D.C.
They have come from all over the world. They have come from Mexico, Canada, The Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Italy, Sweden, and France.
The festival now runs for nine days and includes four parades: The Horse and Carriage Parade, The Jr. Royalty Parade, The Fireman’s Parade, and the Grand Feature Parade. Thousands of participants and spectators are involved each year — as well as a community full of involved residents of the area.
Instead of one or two events to celebrate the strawberries and those who grow them, there is now something for everyone. From the Diaper Derby to the Strawberry 5-K, from the Strawberry Blonde Contest to the Antique Engine and Tractor Show. There are juried exhibits of photography, quilts, and art. There are Strawberry Pancakes, Strawberry Shortcake, and everything from strawberry salads to steak sandwiches. There is music everywhere and a carnival with rides for all ages.
Multifaceted Buckhannon
The West Virginia Strawberry Festival was held two weeks after West Virginia Wesleyan Commencement — the students were gone.
The West Virginia Strawberry Festival was held one month before the West Virginia Annual Conference meets in Buckhannon — the Students are gone, and the West Virginia Annual Conference has not yet arrived.
In August, the students will return for the fall semester — the West Virginia Strawberry Festival and the West Virginia Annual Conference will be gone.
All connected.
All resourceful, creative, independent-minded.
All inviting and welcoming others.
All richer for those who have come from around the country and around the world to join them.
