By: Jessie Shafer | Posted: May 17, 2018 at 6:19 p.m. | Source: WOWKTV
ELKVIEW, WV (WOWK) – Richard Bashlor loves the place he calls home. “That’s where my heart’s at- the Elk River,” he said.
Sometimes, your passions are your hobby. But for Bashlor, his passion is more like a full time job.
A full time job that he doesn’t get paid for.
Bashlor began collecting old newspapers years and years ago. Recently, he started posting them to Facebook. The response was huge- so he started collecting more items. Those items brought back lots of memories.
“The good old days,” he said.
It wasn’t long before he started running out of space, As a result, he and a couple of buddies moved everything into two rooms at the Elkview Community Center.
Bashlor said, “This stuff has laid dormant for years and years. Now, it’s come back to life.”
And that was it! Now, these friends run the Elk River Communities in Kanawha County Museum. The museum honors the history of the areas from Clendenin to the Charleston city limits.
Everything is donated: uniforms worn by local veterans, photos upon photos, yearbooks, the physical representation of years and years of local history.
Bashlor and his friends are constantly reorganizing, taking in new items and managing the museum so that everyone who comes through the doors can experience the history here for themselves.
“It’s just to see the people, to revive them,” he said.
Everyone is welcome to visit the museum every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and by appointment. You may reach organizers by calling 304-965-6596.
An all-class Herbert Hoover and Elkview High School reunion is taking place July 14 at the Elkview Community Center from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Rolling Smoke Barbeque is catering the event. There will be a DJ and silent auction.
All procedes from the silent auction benefit the HHHS athletic department.
If you’re interested in learning more about the HHHS alumni band, click here.
