Doctor HP Flowers

Truth or Controversy

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News Article:  The Randolph Enterprise

     “The unveiling of the Indian monument at Mingo, in the southern end of the county, at the head of Tygart’s Valley River, took place in accordance with the program on Saturday, September 25, 1920.
     “The monument stands about 20 feet high and an Indian is represented standing listening, looking and ready for the “war path” upon short notice.
     “Some 1200 or 1500 people attended the meeting from Pocahontas and Randolph counties and a few from other sections, who are candidates for political honors. The dinner served was superb and praised by all who attended as being one of the biggest, best and freest dinners ever offered in the county.”

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Captain William H. Cobb, National Historical Society:

     “The Indian “village site” at Mingo has been regarded as the habitat of this tribe, but it is with no certainty that this is at all correct, but on the other hand it would appear that this village was the abode of some other tribe, for we have no account which would make this a Mingo home.”

Mr. Andrew Price, Editor Pocahontas Times:

     “We must enter a vigorous protest against the historian’s conclusions.  It all goes to show that the only way to  preserve the history of your own people is to do it yourself and not depend on some person a thousand miles away to do you justice.  Such men do not know and they do not care.  To doubt that the Mingo Indians once had their tribal center at Mingo Flats is equivalent to what would be the case if some historian would arise… and deny that there were ever any catfish in the Greenbrier River.


Reference:  Monument to, and History of the Mingo Indians
Native American Collection, Cornell University Library, 1921



© d101116-011  Watchful Indian
  Mingo, West Virginia
  Randolph County
  uesday 16 November 2010



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Partisan Sentinel

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     The Civil War in Virginia is known mainly for catastrophic set piece battles – Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor.  Yet, the first land battle of the War was fought in the rugged mountains between Virginia and what would later become West Virginia.  It was not for territory but for control of the Staunton-Parkersburg Pike and B&O Railroad both critical supply corridors for Federal and Confederate forces.
     The Army of Ohio under General McClellan easily defeated the Confederates at Philippi, Barbour County, in June 1861 and pushed them  south to a July surrender at Beverly in Randolph County.  A month later General Lee arrived at Valley Mountain to shore up insecure defenses and reverse these setbacks.  Foul cold weather, disease, lack of tents, clothing, food, ammunition and essential support from the east eventually forced a Confederate withdrawal leaving the supply corridors under Union control.
     In subsequent years, because of intense split loyalties in West Virginia, few Confederate monuments were erected.  This partisan sentinel, watching over a small patch of farmland near Mingo, speaks “TO THE MEMORY OF THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY AND VICINITY. THIS INCLUDES ALL SOLDIERS WHO DIED ON VALLEY MOUNTAIN IN 1861 WHILE GEN. LEE WAS ENCAMPED THERE”.




© d101116-002  Soldier
  Mingo, West Virginia
  Randolph County
  Tuesday 16 November 2010



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Apollonia and Aphrodite

"Apollonia, don't look up.  We're being photographed."
"I see him Aphrodite.  Look demure and disinterested."
"He soars like Icarus, daring and handsome."
"He radiates sweetness and sensitivity."
"I love a man in rubber boots."
"And his jaunty engineer's cap."

"Crap, he walked right past without a smile."
"Not even a bloody glance."
"Camera CREEP."
"Hope your instrument fails!!"

    

© r0028-22  Apollonia and Aphrodite
  Oakland Cemetery
  Atlanta, Georgia
  Sunday 26 February 1984

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Who's Waiting on Titan

     That's my old buddy Rankin Rob standing outside Crazy Ken's in northeast Alabama across the state line from Summerville, Georgia.  Howard Finster, Georgia's best known artist, lived and died in Summerville.  Preaching and painting for a passionate lifetime, he created fantastic gardens out of found objects chunks of which reside on display in the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
     This particular day Rob and I retraced the life of Howard Finster on nearby backroads thru the hollows, stopping at each old wood church pastored by the good reverend.  He died shortly before our trip; a touching day for us in the gray light.  I'll post some photos of Finster's work later, maybe a bunch together with links and popups.
    This posting, however, celebrates the seven year Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn.  According to plan, on Friday 14 January 2005 the Huygens probe will parachute thru Titan's hazy atmosphere, one of Saturn's moons, after many crazy loop-de-loops (or loops-de-loop) thru our immense solar system.  Never once violating any of Newton's Laws of Motion.

Title:          © Tin Man. r1212-18
Series:        None of the Above
Location:     Cherokee County, Alabama
Date:          Saturday 4 May 2002