Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..
Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Cindy Jones and Bruce Johnson sold honey from their Fellowsville hives at the Labor Day celebration in Rowlesburg.
Kevin and Shelly Maxwell sold meat snacks.
Rhonda Morris sold jewelry at the ox roast.
Cindy Jones and Bruce Johnson sold honey from their Fellowsville hives at the Labor Day celebration in Rowlesburg.
Kevin and Shelly Maxwell sold meat snacks.
Rhonda Morris sold jewelry at the ox roast.
ROWLESBURG – For 60 years, Rowlesburg Park has been the place to be on Labor Day.
“This is Rowlesburg’s modern day claim-to-fame and visitors come from all corners of the USA to partake in a gastronomic treat found only in the Cheat River Valley. The park crew lights the barbecue pit fire on Sunday night so that the ox roasts slowly to a moist, melt-in-your mouth tenderness. The fire is tended all night to make sure your portion is of the high quality you expect. (I’ve heard rumors that the meat is really roast beef, not ox),” according to the Rowlesburg Community Park website.
The park’s claim could be true. Despite rain, flood warnings and some deep-water puddles in front of the ticket booth and grill counter, people waited in line to buy tickets for the roast beef dinners and sandwiches Monday.
“I came for the food,” Thomas Wright said. “This is the first time I have been back here since 1961, but I have an aunt and uncle, Ruth and John Wright, who live in Rowlesburg.”
Phyllis Deffet from Philippi said she was visiting the park earlier this year when she heard about the Labor Day celebration.
“I decided to come down and see what was going on,” she said.
Cindy Jones and Bruce Johnson, owners of Earthway Primitives in Fellowsville, brought their honey to sell at the festival.
“I’ve been beekeeping for 18 years,” Johnson said. “Right now, I have nine hives, but I have a set up for 40. I lost some of my bees a few years ago to mites and the cold weather.”
“Later on, we want to get into botanicals,” Jones said. “I make soaps, salves and lip balm.”
Rhonda Morris from Terra Alta said she sells her jewelry once a month at the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department but decided to set up at the ox roast.
“I have jewelry for children and adults. I am always looking for new venues to set up at,” she said.
Kevin and Shelly Maxwell from Country Meats Smoked Snacks had a display of smoked meat sticks in a variety of flavors, including pickle stick, that they were selling. Shelly Maxwell said they also sell candy bars and other snacks.
Lisa Knight from Tacy said she and her friends found the town of Rowlesburg by accident.
“We came down this summer and saw this road and wanted to see where it led to,” she said. “We fell for this town and its people and decided to come back again. Rowlesburg is a very nice town.”
Staff Writer Jeniffer Graham can be reached at jgraham@prestonnj.com
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