Roots

Harrisville, West Virginia is somewhere you likely will never visit. It's one of those off-the-beaten-path towns that you have to make your destination since you wouldn't happen to discover it on your way to somewhere else. It may look like a small dot on the map to you but for us it's the roots of the Elder family.

Like I said, it's not somewhere we'd normally make a side trip to, so when I learned that my parents were going to go while they were up visiting, I felt immediately that I needed to go as well. I had been there only once before, when I was 13 years old, and had vague memories of the farmhouse where my grandmother grew up, my grandfather's grave, my great-aunt's house and my grandfather's service station next door. It seemed important to show Michael some of our family history.

Today, Harrisville only has about 2,000 residents, and all of "town" consists of about 1.6 square miles. A visit to the town's museum in the old schoolhouse would reveal class photos of my grandparents and great aunts and uncles. It's where my grandmother was born and where my father was born and raised until they moved to Ohio for better jobs. It is also where my grandparents rest, in a quiet cemetery overlooking the hills, and that is why my heart will always be in Harrisville.

While driving through the quaint main street, I could see my dad's eyes cloud with memories and recollections of where things are and how they looked back then. I could tell he was a bit saddened that time and the economy hadn't improved the town, but I could still envision the place he grew up, the sledding hill, his bike route to school. I could picture the old movie theater, now a local business, and the soda shop, now a recreational equipment store. And while there's now a stoplight and a brand new Subway (the only chain establishment in town), I'd like to hope that Harrisville will always retain the charm and character that is usually lost over time, and, perhaps some day, it can be revived.

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There is one place in town I can trust to never change -- the famous Berdine's Five & Dime, the oldest five and dime store in the county. Now this place you've got to see for yourself. I didn't get a foot in the door before I was turning around and looking at my dad with a holy mackerel expression on my face. Goodness gracious there's a lot to discover here! You could visit this place a dozen times and find something new each time, stuff you didn't know you even needed. What's remarkable is that practically everyone that goes in there buys something. Our crowd alone bought a nutcracker, candy, air pump ball needles, brain floss (yes, you heard me), parachute men, miniature knights, shot glasses, a toy bus, a toy ambulance, pick-up sticks, cards and I'm sure other stuff I can't recall.

But the one thing that wasn't for sale that I really really wanted was this antique cabinet. Isn't it fabulous?

And if you do happen to want to swing through for a visit, I have the perfect place to stay. Just a few miles from Harrisville is North Bend State Park. It may realistically be one of the only hotels in the area. Our crew rented a 3-bedroom cabin, and after seeing most of the other cabins decorated with Christmas lights and Christmas trees, we all decided that some day we needed to plan a Christmas getaway somewhere.

We didn't do much at the cabin, but that's what I loved about it. We had no cell reception, no internet and didn't turn on the tv. We lit a huge fire, drank hot cocoa, ate popcorn and played cards, dice and pick-up sticks by the fire. We ate dinner and breakfast at the main lodge (again, realistically the nicest dining facility in the area), and I couldn't help but think the park felt a little like the resort in Dirty Dancing. One of the park rangers had a short white beard, and when he held out his arms to Adam, Adam ran right up to him. The ranger asked him about his Christmas and what Santa brought him for Christmas. Later when we were leaving the lodge we were saying goodbye, and Adam said, "Bye-Bye, Santa!" I just love that kid.

I don't know when, or even if, we'll be back, but I am so glad we came this time. I'm so glad we came with my Dad and family and that Michael and Adam were with me. There's no doubt Adam will grow up hearing stories about Harrisville and I don't mean stories about this recent trip. I mean stories about another generation, a simpler life. And I hope he's as fascinated by them as I am.