Much has happened in the Mountain State since Sutton bookseller Richard C. Weigen and his New Jersey friend and crime writer, Gerald Tomlinson, produced the first The West Virginia Book of Lists in 1994.
The state has produced a new generation of noteworthy actors, athletes and authors, and built an abundance of new buildings, bridges and businesses. There has also been a new series of high-profile crimes, natural disasters, mining explosions and political scandals.
Some things never change, like the longest rivers, biggest lakes, highest peaks and towns with odd names—including Odd in Raleigh County.
In many cases, decisions on which people, places and things to include in this book were straightforward and research-based, while in others, the decisions were more subjective. Holes can appear in some lists in instances where a reader’s point of view is not the same as the author’s.
If some of the listings seem trivial, keep in mind that this is, after all, a compendium of trivia, so they probably are. While it’s possible this book may solve some arguments, the idea is to create more of a “huh!” than a “gotcha!”
And while it’s a safe bet that the National Book Award will go to another author this year, I hope you like this book, and that it finds a home, if not in your bookcase, on your fishing camp windowsill or bathroom shelf.
Although it may not be ideal for serious readers, it’s intended to appeal to, those, like me, who have a special place for West Virginia in their hearts, regardless of where they live or where they were born.
Inside this book you will find hundreds of fun and interesting facts about the Mountain State:
–What fish species was involved in a 70-pound state record catch from the Little Kanawha River in 1956.
–The West Virginia state forest where a state single-season snowfall record of 302.4 inches was recorded.
–The identity of the Logan County native and Marshall University alum who earned a Silver Medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
–The names of the West Virginia gardeners who grew the state’s biggest mushroom (9.83 pounds) and the state record watermelon (142.5 pounds), and the vital statistics for a host of other super-sized fruits, vegetables and herbs.
–Which West Virginia Civil War battle involved the first field use of the telegraph and the first tactical use of the railroad to move troops to the battlefield.
–At what West Virginia television station “Today Show” host Matt Lauer began his broadcasting career.
–What fish species was involved in a 70-pound state record catch from the Little Kanawha River in 1956.
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