Please pass this on to all genealogists you are in contact with... >>> "Raymond C. Beaty, Ph.D." <r1941@idt.net> 06/26/98 02:35pm >>> ******************************************** The Honorable Robert C. Byrd United States Senate Washington, D.C. <senator_byrd@byrd.senate.gov> Dear Senator Byrd: With your knowledge of world history, I am sure that you realize that the barbarians were again at the gate last week in Marion County, West Virginia. The wanton destruction of historical documents by County Commissioner Cody Starcher may not rank with the sacking of Rome, the burning of the library at Alexandria, or the destruction of the Mayan codices, but it certainly creates a void in part of our West Virginian heritage. As a descendant of 1700s pioneers in Hampshire and Monongalia County with relatives today in Preston and Wood counties, I am deeply saddened by the loss of these documents. As a historian I am shocked that this act could have occurred in this nation in 1998. And as a citizen I am outraged that a government system exists that empowers the ignorant to take such actions. I ask that your office take all possible actions to insure the retrieval of these documents. (Further information about the situation below) Respectfully yours, Raymond C. Beaty, Ph.D. 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway Riverdale, New York 10463 718-884-4850 Email: r1941@idt.net *********************************************************** Description of Marion County, West Virginia tragedy by Pam Mullinax E-Mail: pmullinax@mindspring.com Fairmont -- Leatherbound books recording transactions between 1842 to 1880 have been important to local genealogists, but now the historical books are gone - buried with the five bins of trash the Marion County Commission hauled away from the Jacob's building last week. Along with books were, boxes and files of papers dating back to Marion County's inception in 1942. There were five floors that had books, boxes and files to be removed. Some of the books were Wills; others were Justice of the Peace books. There may have been other records, but the article didn't say what all had been destoyed, because they didn't know. The article was a large article for the paper. The historical and genealogical societies were NOT notified that the county had planned to discard the handwritten record books, files and other etcs. It seems the decision was made by the county commissioners (namely, Cody Starcher) to clear out several floors from the Jacobs building (scheduled for renovation) in which these historical documents were stored. They decided on their own that no one would want to go through all the files to separate out the salvagable and so decided to not tell anyone. They then had the local garbage collectors come and clear out the books and documents. ************* The story about the above first appeared in the Times West Virginian (Fairmont, WV)Sunday,June 21, 1998. On Thursday, June 25, 1998 the below follow-up story was published. * * * Dump off limits to historians By Theresa Haynes Times West Virginian Staff Writer FAIRMONT - Genealogists who wanted to dig through the landfill in search of the county's discarded pre-Civil War record books will not be allowed to excavate the dump. ááRon Chrislip, a local historian who has researched Marion County's past for more than 30 years, said he and four other people were prepared to go to the Meadowfill Landfill in Bridgeport to search for the record books tossed last week. But landfill officials halted the group's plans at the request of the Marion County Commission. The day books dating back to 1842 were among several tons of outdated files, books and papers the commission removed from the historic Jacob's building, which is undergoing renovation. Chrislip said he and other genealogists wanted to dig up the historically valuable record books when they learned the books had been hauled away to the dump, but the landfill told them there were confidential files among the garbage. Commissioner Cody Starcher said in an interview last week that the county had received special permission from the state to include old juvenile records in the six BFI Dumpster trash bins hauled to the dump. "We are allowed to throw the juvenile records away after 20 years," he said. "But they usually have to be shredded and burned." Now local historians are concerned they will never see the priceless, handwritten books again. "I don't see how they will be retrieved," Chrislip said. "As a historian I have to be realistic. Now hopefully the county will preserve what is left." ááChrislip said the leather-bound books were particularly valuable because they recorded everything from the county clerk's office. "Record keeping then was a very different process," he said. "We were still in Virginia and documents like that are very, very rare." The historian said the records gave insight into a lifestyle long gone. "There is no oral history from that time, no photography and very little written history. Through the day books we had a great deal of information to interpret history," he said. Chrislip agrees with the county commission that the books had no monetary value, but he said the county has lost something culturally valuable. He said 20 years ago he had searched for day books like the ones thrown away and was told they did not exist. Years later he learned they were in existence, but in "dead" storage. The historian said he and other people interested in genealogy would have liked to have been given access to the books before they were discarded. County Commission President James Sago and Starcher were not available for comment Wednesday evening. * * * If you'd like to write the Editor of the WV Times, The email address is: timeswv@timeswv.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: All letters for publication should be so stated. Requests for publication must include address & telephone number. phone: (304) 367-2500 * Fax: (304) 367-2569 Or postal mail to: Times West Virginian PO Box 2530 Fairmont, WV 26555-2530