the Grabers: A stop at Lewisburg, West Virginia

When I saw a sign for the historical town of Lewisburg, I talked Ruth into stopping! There were so many beautiful, old homes!

This clock tower belongs to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

We stopped to talk to the people at the visitor's center. They told us about the town and directed us to various places to go. They also told us that this town was ranked America's "coolest small town" in an online poll put on by Budget Travel magazine!

They also told us that if we had time, we should go about 22 miles away to Alderson, where the West Virginia federal prison camp known as "Camp Cupcake" is located. It is where Martha Stewart spent time. Also Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, member of the Manson Family cult (who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford) and others have done time there. It was actually the first federal prison made for women. It is a low-security prison. And some say it is "cushy". You can read more about it here.

This would be a good place to eat! We didn't though.

There were several neat restaurants!!

Can you guess what this building is?

Named for Andrew Carnegie, the philanthropic steel tycoon, Carnegie Hall in this not so big town of Lewisburg (population less than 4,000) is one of only four Carnegie Halls in the world that is still in continuous use as a performance venue! I only thought there was 1!

Located across from Carnegie Hall, also on Church Street, is the Old Stone Presbyterian Church.

It was first organized on August 6, 1783 and first worshiped in a log house a few miles west of the town. This current place was built in 1796. It is thought to be the oldest church building in continuous use west of the Alleghenies and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. You can see it is made of native limestone, similar to many places in Kansas, actually.

In 1830, an extension was added and the entrance was moved to the other building. Except for a brief period during the Civil War, it has been in continuous use. It was used as an emergency hospital during the Civil War.

We walked around the cemetery of Old Stone Presbyterian.

Wonder if my friend Mike is related?

They are renovating and fixing up some of the stones.

A family plot fenced in.

What kind words.

We tried to figure out the words but didn't guess them all. If you can figure it out, let me know! Rather sweet and quite an honour:

"The purity of his character, the

generosity of his nature, the up

rightness of his conduct, his con

sistent piety, his _____ and

______ness in his profession, will

long live in the memory of his friends.

And his calm and triumphant death

will be referred to as an in

_____able evidence that he has

exchanged the sorrows of this earth

for the joys of Heaven."

There were a few stones that the writing was totally obliterated.

At rest from the aches and pains of this world, perhaps. We have to rest and sleep here on earth to repair our bodies from the day's activities. But I don't think we will "rest" in heaven, really! Rest in the sense of having peace, of course!!! Rest in the presence of our Saviour! Looking in His face, the One who loves me as no other can! But heaven will be quite the adventure I believe!! Not sitting on clouds playing on harps. (that seems a little boring to me) There will be much to do!!

A great book to read is "All Things New" by John Eldredge. Also Randy Alcorn's "Heaven". Both men have studied the Bible on this topic. I really am looking forward to my Home!! I think you will too once you read this. No fear in death!