Volume 32, Number 4

On the cover: The Whitcomb Boulder, postcard view circa 1908; courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives, photographer unknown. June C. Jones’ story begins on page 18.

Published by the
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

Joe Manchin III, Governor

Kay Goodwin, Secretary
Department of Arts, Culture and History

Randall Reid-Smith, Commissioner
Department of Arts, Culture and History

John Lilly, Editor

Gordon Simmons
Editorial Assistant

Cornelia Crews Alexander
Circulation Manager

BlaineTurner Advertising, Inc.
Publication Design

Winter 2006

2 Letters from Readers

5 Current Programs*Events*Publications

8 Music from the Past

10 Recalling Bob Caruthers

Last of the BC&G Railroaders
By Alan Byer

18 Whitcomb Boulder

By June C. Jones

20 The Station Master’s Christmas

By Frederic “Ted” Macdonald

24 Woodcarver Matt Wilkinson

Boone County’s Tool Man
By Carl E. Feather

30 The Tools of Matt Wilkinson

Photo Essay by Carl E. Feather

32 Education and Activism in Gary

A Visit with Jessie Moon Thomas
By Ancella Bickley

38 Steel Drums in Morgantown

Percussion Pioneer Ellie Mannette
By Michelle Wolford

44 Creating the Steel Drum

By Michelle Wolford

46 “Out on the Trail”

Tales of a Mail Rider
By Cody A. Burdette

52 Groundhog Lore from Dry Fork

By Virgil Purkey

54 “You Never Know...”

Clarence “Bones” Wright of Shepherdstown
By Malcolm Ater

62 West Virginia Back Roads

Meet Betty Thompson
The Weather Lady of Glady
By Carl E. Feather

64 New Books about Music

By John Lilly

66 Mountain Music Roundup

By John Lilly

69 GOLDENSEAL 2006 Index