Tucker County brought in America’s 250th birthday with a bang. From a block party and mural dedication in Parsons, a time-traveling journalist from Philadelphia interviewing Martha Washington and Salathiel Goff at the Depot, a fun-filled Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party or Mountaineer Days and the largest fireworks display to date, there were no shortage of events to choose from this 4th of July Weekend.
Parsons activities started off on Thursday, July 2nd with Belva Dilly giving a walking history tour of Parsons. This was followed by the presenting of the flag by the Tucker County Veterans, the National Anthem by the Blackwater Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, comments by Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau and the presentation of a new mural for America’s 250th. A block party followed presented by the City of Parsons and the Tucker County Courthouse was open for self guided tours. The Five Rivers Library was also in on the fun with goodies and give aways for participants.
That evening, Captain Salathiel Goff (Marcus Mason) sat down for a visit with Martha Washington (Cynthia Phillips Kolsun) and a female– how scandalous (for the time) – Philadelphia journalist (Debbie Stevens) at the Parsons Depot as part of Parsons America’s 250th Main Street Celebration. Kolsun is a 6th generation descendant of Goff.
The Annual Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party on Friday, July 3rd, featured expanded raffle items, including a Colonial Williamsburg getaway package, a bourbon package that included $1,1776 and a “Patriotic Plinko” game for amounts ranging from $150 to $500. The final ticket was raffled for $2,000 to the Roberts Family. The grand prize of $5,000, however went to Lowell Moore, who was not in attendance and had no proxy. Under the rules of the Party, the cards had to be drawn until his number was pulled before the others in attendance could decide whether to split. The 36th annual event was a fundraiser for the Tucker Community Foundation and helps to fund the organization’s philanthropic endeavors throughout the year in Tucker, Randolph, Barbour, Grant, Preston, Garrett (MD), Mineral, Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties. For more information on the Tucker Community Foundation and their 36 years of “Good Work, Done Together,” go to tuckerfoundationwv.org.
Mountaineer Days 2026 on July 4th, had the wind from an incoming storm threaten to ruin the fun during local artist Heather Hannah’s performance. Vendors along the rail trail began to quickly pack up. The wind, however was short-lived and the rain passed by, with only a few drops before the fireworks to try to dampen the festivities. The party, however, went on regardless to what Mother Nature attempted to throw at America’s Semiquincentennial in Tucker County.
July 5th had the Celebration of the Arts at Canaan Valley Resort’s ski area. The event featured a free concert by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.
