Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Philippi, WV - November, 2006

Philippi
Philippi has several claims to fame. It is recorded as the site of the first land battle of the Civil War, it's the site of the only two-laned covered bridge serving a U.S. highway, and it has it's own mummies in the local museum.

The Philippi covered bridge has been restored, but according to documentation and photos, it is a remake of the original bridge.

Barbour County Historical Museum

I didn't see the mummies, but here is the museum in which they reside.
The mummies are the bodies of two female asylum inmates that were artificially preserved in 1888 by local doctor Graham Hamrick, who was interested in mummification techniques.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippi,_West_Virginia

Barbour County Courthouse Built in February, 1903, it was constructed of hand-cut Hummelstown stone. It replaced the first court house that housed Union troops during the Civil War.

Philippi mummies' photos http://www.virginiawind.com/virginia_travel/philippi.asp
Philippi Civil War battle summary http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/Battles/wv001.htm
Philippi Covered Bridge http://www.appaltree.net/aba/bridge.htm
Philippi Covered Bridge photos of original bridge http://www.bc-net.org/barbour/Barbour%20History.nsf/f77724974a43d171852563c600466846/9a1b02347aa944ae852563c600597086?OpenDocument
Philippi Courthouse http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc18666.php

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