A narrow, field-lined road leads to a collection of sheet metal clad pole barns and restored log buildings dating back to the 1820s.  This is the West Virginia State Farm Museum.  The display buildings are packed with farm machinery and homesteading tools of every kind.  Tractors, plows, hay balers, seed cleaners, and corn shellers make up a few of the more familiar looking pieces.  Among the more unique: a powered sheep shearer that is actually driven by a series of gear-linked shafts to create an articulated arm with a scary looking clipper at the end, cigar moulds, a great horse drawn sleigh, and a huge collection of past military uniforms.  Much of this stuff has been donated by locals or their relatives.

Log homes are built with square hewed logs and wide layers of chinking.  It is the quintessential image of a log cabin; but, those surfaces sure collect dust and spider webs!  More food for thought as we consider our ultimate materials of construction for our cabin.

It is a great collection of stuff.  Mom, wish you’d have been here.  I am sure you would have enjoyed some of the reminiscing and I could of used some help figuring our exactly what some of this stuff is.