West Virginia Chestnut Festival to be held Oct. 8
Chestnut devotees might identify with one of two groups: those who love to eat chestnuts and those who are pursuing work to restore the American chestnut as a seed-producing plant member of the eastern hardwood forests.
The West Virginia Chestnut Festival offers a place for both on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Held in Rowlesburg, W.Va. (about 90 minutes from Washington and 60 minutes from Uniontown), the festival takes place at both Rowlesburg Community Park and the Historic Rowlesburg School, just across the street from the park.
The festival grew out of the recognition that the American chestnut had become “functionally extinct.” This condition, caused by the chestnut blight fungus, came about at the turn of the 20th century, when the accidentally introduced fungus from Asia found a tree that had no resistance. As a result, all American chestnut trees were killed by the 1950s, leaving only stump sprouts. Some referred to this widespread killing of the American chestnut in the eastern hardwood forests as a “biological disaster.”
Prior to the blight, the American chestnut, was a staple in the lives of rural farmers. It provided a cash crop in the fall when the nuts were gathered and sold. Also, livestock was turned loose to fatten on the bountiful nut crop. Chestnut fence posts, rails, and lumber were valuable as a resource because the wood was resistant to rot and was easily fashioned into products for the home.
The West Virginia Chestnut Festival celebrates the heritage and the scientific and technological work to restore the American chestnut to its once prominent position in the eastern hardwood forests. In the park, visitors can partake in roasted chestnuts from the grill and peruse vendors of chestnut-themed products, including hand-crafted chestnut furniture. Other exhibits may be viewed, and chestnut seedlings may be purchased.
At the school, the West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) will host technical and scientific sessions, and the documentary film, “Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut” will be shown on the hour though out the day.
Driving directions, the schedule of events, and the festival brochure may be downloaded from the festival website at, www.wvchestnutfestival.com.