Combining Two Interests - Photography and History

After "semi-retiring" 3 years ago and "fully retiring" last week, I'm finding myself with more free time on my hands. Looking for a meaningful and satisfying way to quench my appetite for my photo addiction, I found a solution that benefits many people (including myself!).

 

Back in 2008, I had moved back to my home state of West Virginia after retiring from the US Air Force. While exploring the state on my motorcycle, I became interested in the official WV Historical Markers lining the roadsides. When I inquired at the state Archives and History office with some questions, I soon became friends with the director, Joe Geiger. He explained that their office wanted to go around the state and photograph each marker to see which ones needed to be replaced/repaired. However, they did not have the time, manpower, or resources. I organized a blog on the Adventure Riders forum and was soon leading over a dozen riders fanned out around the state submitting photos. We found all 835. Our efforts were even noted in the new "Signs Of The Times - West Virginia's Highway Historical Marker Program" reference book that just came out this month.

 

In the past 10 years, the state has replaced/repaired over 300 markers, and added several hundred new ones. Time for a new survey.

 

However, I had to hang up my motorcycle helmet a few years ago due to minor balance issues. So - I talked to my wife and she said she would love to go exploring all of the hidden corners of the state (in our Subaru Forester, though). My plan is to take the next 2-3 years and travel around the state one or two counties at a time and photograph all 1,000+ markers and post on a new website.

 

In addition to taking photos of the markers, I will be adding a few photos of the subjects if applicable. Some of the old buildings are still standing, and some markers are scenic/historic locations. I am also including GPS coordinates for each marker and have created a Google Maps for each county showing marker locations. And, I am including links to research each marker further.

 

There will be no advertising. The website and URL cost about $60/year and I am also paying for all travel expenses out of pocket. I'm also planning to start a Facebook page soon to post updates and allow conversations.

 

It's also a great chance to learn more about the turbulent history of our state - born out of the Civil War.

 

I started working on the website in March 2021 and have the Home Page, About Us Page, and 4 neighboring counties posted - Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, and Preston. There are still a few in each of those counties to do yet, but you can get an idea of where it's going. Only 51 more counties to go! We live at the northern end of the state, so getting to the southern counties will be more time-consuming.

 

Home Page: The West Virginia Historical Markers Project – Created on WordPress

 

Check it out if you have time and I would appreciate any suggestions/feedback. Thanks.

Very nice and good for you!

This sounds like a great way to spend one's retirement years! West Virginia has always been a favorite with me, traveling through the Monongahela National Forest in Autumn is especially nice. Your new website looks good. Simple to navigate and very informative. I'm looking forward to more visits. Regards.

I forgot to mention that it is photographically challenging to me because of several factors:

 

1) Lighting and weather - Something I have no control over. Sometimes I am shooting almost straight into the sun. Sometimes the markers are backlit, but using a flash gives them an artificial look since the new ones are reflective. Slight overcast is best, but the photos come out a little "dull".

 

2) Traffic - Some of the markers are alongside busy highways with narrow shoulders, and next to steep drop-offs into gullies or rivers. I've had to walk along a road just feet from speeding cars and trucks. On a few, I've had to wait at a busy intersection for a red light so I can run out and snap a couple quick photos before the light turns green.

 

3) Background - I've had to re-compose so a strip club or roadside trash doesn't show in the photo.

 

But...... I still enjoy doing it! Hope I live to see the final product! LOL

What a great project. It reminds me of something I did for a course a few years ago, photographing Ordnance Survey benchmarks. It involve finding all the benchmarks in Leicester City from old maps, and photographing them alongside passers-by who I asked to hold a surveyors staff to measure the height above the ground. Here's an example:

 

Background - I've had to re-compose so a strip club or roadside trash doesn't show in the photo.

Certainly your project and your call, but sometimes backgrounds and context can be interesting to include. All depends on just what you're after. Best of luck with the project and your retirement.

Great public service project and wonderful way to spend retirement time. Over the years I've worked as and with a lot of senior volunteers in the health services field, and giving back to the communities IMHO is an admirable goal which fuels the brain cells as well! Hopefully you'll inspire many others thru your efforts.

What a great project, combining travel & photography - and you will obviously learn even more about West Virginia history. We travelled a lot through WV when we lived in Virginia, and I've seen a few of those markers.

Excellent project.

I've always thought that photography's main value was in giving us a glimpse into the past; independent of patronage or biased viewpoint, unlike painting or drawing.

 

I see a lot of heritage being obliterated, obscured or vandalised these days. One example: the frontage of a Victorian orphanage half demolished and turned into a down-market snack bar. I got there too late to photograph it intact. And just down the road an early Garage (gas station) frontage with fading hand-painted advertising signs. All stuff deserving of visual preservation, even if its real estate value outweighs its continuing existence in the minds of its owners.

Edited May 15, 2021 by rodeo_joe|1

Your a lucky guy to have such a great wife!

Just an idea. See if there's an interesting place in the area of each of the markers such as a battlefield site, a museum, a public farm, etc. Then you can take a picture or at least mention the spot giving the GPS coordinates in addition to the marker and its coordinates. Good luck.

You might be able to combine Geocaching with your hobby which requires GPS exploration, photography, research, etc.

Get the free Official Geocaching app and join the world's largest treasure hunt.

 

I geocached a lot and even hid my own caches combining locations of 1776 war sites in NYC where I lived at the time. You might be about to combine hiding caches with your markers. I did something similar with Covered Bridges like this. GCKZ9C Covered Bridge Tour of Chester County - SOUTH (Multi-cache) in Pennsylvania, United States created by Alan2 and Janet

Just an idea. See if there's an interesting place in the area of each of the markers such as a battlefield site, a museum, a public farm, etc. Then you can take a picture or at least mention the spot giving the GPS coordinates in addition to the marker and its coordinates. Good luck.

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I know it's too early to tell from the few markers I have posted so far, but I plan to include photos of the subject noted on each marker whenever possible. It may be a building or other structure, or a scenic/historical location (battlefield, scenic landmark, etc). In many cases, the old buildings are gone and historic sites have been, unfortunately, paved over and covered with a shopping mall (that is now sitting empty and unoccupied). Ugh!

 

As a few examples: I know when I photograph "John Dolly's Gravesite", I will hike up the mountain to the cemetery and include gravestone photos. In the next week of two, I will be going by Ann Jarvis' House (founder of Mother's Day). Although the house is closed to tours now due to COVID-19, I was just there a couple of years ago and have some interior photos I will add. On the Boothsville marker, I tracked down the site of his grave monument in a field about 5 miles away and included photos. On the Rosby's Rock marker in Moundsville, I plan to drive out 6 or 8 miles away to the actual rock for photos, and I already have the GPS info saved. I was there for the first survey and it's a great drive.

 

When I organized the first marker survey back in 2009, I asked the participants to include information links and photos of the subjects, and not just "slow down and shoot a snapshot of the marker whizzing by." I also plan to only include photos and information related to the marker and not distract the reader from the subject. It's easy to start adding nearby attractions and get distracted from the task at hand.

 

I like your geocache post. Very clever. Unfortunately, with over 1,000 markers, I don't think I would ever finish them all unless I live to be 100. Haha.

Well, good luck. By the way, I'm an old USAF airman but only spent 4 years and three months back in the mid-1960s.

Sounds like a great project. I don't know the layout etc. of your routes, but is it possible to plan them so in the morning the sun is behind you or cross lit, and then switch direction in the afternoon? In any event, I'm sure you will come up with something really nice.

I looked at what you have up. I think its great. I love history and West Virginia has a very interesting one.

Sounds like a great project. I don't know the layout etc. of your routes, but is it possible to plan them so in the morning the sun is behind you or cross lit, and then switch direction in the afternoon? In any event, I'm sure you will come up with something really nice.

 

Hi. Thanks for writing. The markers are all 2-side (inscriptions on front and back) plus they are pointed in every possible direction since there are no straight roads in WV. Haha! Some are in partial shade surrounded by trees or buildings, some are in the wide open and sometimes up on a hill facing right into the sun.

 

I could probably wait and find a good time of day for each one, but each county has anywhere from 20 - 80 markers and they are spread out up to 30-40 miles apart. That would be very time-consuming.

 

That's OK - it's a good challenge for me on the photographic part.

UPDATE:

 

My wife and I spent a few days photographing West Virginia Historical Markers in part of the Eastern Panhandle last week. You can reach them by clicking on the links at the bottom of the home page. I just finished Grant and Hardy Counties, and covered about half of Pendleton County. Preston, Monongalia, Marion, and Harrison Counties are all about 75-80% complete.

 

We had a great time and learned a lot about WV history. I'm slowly learning how to work around lighting challenges, and even had time to take a few photos of other interesting/scenic subjects. My wife spotted a "missing" marker that mysteriously re-appeared next to a private gift shop and putt-putt golf course 10 miles away from its previous location!!!!

 

Link to home page: The West Virginia Historical Markers Project – Created on WordPress

 

Check out Grant and Hardy counties to see last week's work.

That is an interesting project you have OP. Put it up at the Internet Archive. I need to find a sponsor that will buy me a cheap 16mm sound scanner. A cheap Lasergraphics sound film scanner cost about $55K. I got most other things covered. Archival work is $. And cine' work is $$$$$!

 

Since the virus hit I don't do much street photography anymore. I went over full time to archival work. I still have 10 years of my own photos to look through, 100K+ photos. So no shortage of my own work to do.

UPDATE:

 

Well, in the past few months, my wife and I have been able to go out and photograph around 275 markers (out of about 1,000). I think I have learned some techniques for getting at least a decent photo in difficult lighting situations. The hardest photos are definitely due to backlighting, especially in the early morning when the sun is low. Some of the time, I can get away with fill flash if I step back and zoom in, so there is more distance between me and the marker. However, I can't use fill flash if there are other regular flat-metal road signs around as they are very reflective and show up as big white spots in the photos. Very distracting.

 

While certainly not professional-level, I am pleased with 90% of the photos - realizing I am doing it more for documenting and reference than "making great art". I also like that I can do almost all of my photos without being around people (COVID concerns). And, I like getting out in the fresh air and taking photos.

 

My website: The West Virginia Historical Markers Project – Created on WordPress

 

There are about 20 counties with active links. About 15 are either complete or almost done, and 5 have around half done. Hope you enjoy it.

 

If you want to follow me on Facebook for updates, search "West Virginia Historical Markers Project".

UPDATE:

 

Well, in the past few months, my wife and I have been able to go out and photograph around 275 markers (out of about 1,000). I think I have learned some techniques for getting at least a decent photo in difficult lighting situations. The hardest photos are definitely due to backlighting, especially in the early morning when the sun is low. Some of the time, I can get away with fill flash if I step back and zoom in, so there is more distance between me and the marker. However, I can't use fill flash if there are other regular flat-metal road signs around as they are very reflective and show up as big white spots in the photos. Very distracting.

 

While certainly not professional-level, I am pleased with 90% of the photos - realizing I am doing it more for documenting and reference than "making great art". I also like that I can do almost all of my photos without being around people (COVID concerns). And, I like getting out in the fresh air and taking photos.

 

My website: The West Virginia Historical Markers Project – Created on WordPress

 

There are about 20 counties with active links. About 15 are either complete or almost done, and 5 have around half done. Hope you enjoy it.

 

If you want to follow me on Facebook for updates, search "West Virginia Historical Markers Project".

 

Good work!

 

Put it on the I.A. when done and donate hi res copies to WV and other state special collections libraries.

 

I'm working more on history myself. I hurt my foot a few months ago and am lucky to hobble around the house. Don't know if it will ever heal up like it was. No street photography anymore. I'm working on my collections of rationing in WW2 and agriculture.

 

 

I never used to put my name on on anything. But I keep getting thrown out and my accounts deleted. Hundreds of thousands of uploads go poof. I had 48 Tumblrs at one time...all gone. Lots of other places gone as well. So I got pissed and put my name on lots of stuff now. Just to show at one time there was this Archive. I don't think you will have that trouble OP.

^^^ @invisibleflash - Thanks. Looks like an interesting project you have going there. You may be interested in creating a webpage like I did. I got mine at 1and1 ionos Word Press for only $5 per month with 25GB storage. The initial learning curve of creating a layout was hard for me, but I had it figured out an running in just a few days.

 

What is this "IA" you speaketh of?

 

I keep in touch with the WV Archives and History Dept with every update. The former director of the markers program and his successor both email regularly as we both have questions and answers for each other. They keep their state online database updated with my posts.

 

I gather all of my data for each page in a Word document saved as a web page. That way, I just copy and paste onto the online WordPress template, and I have a backup that I could (sort of) quickly rebuild the site if lightning strikes.

All of the above efforts are super great but all of us photographers have the ability to record history in each photograph. Since the early 70's I have keep a short data sheet on each negative inside the negative holders. . .archival paper... that allows me to tell the location and date of each subject. As Joe mentioned above, you might come back several months from your first exposures to find buildings missing, signs gone, etc.

With digital, I have a frame included in the shooting file with this history. It is amazing to me to open some negs exposed in the 70's and review how society has changed today.

One down side of all these "historical" hoardings is my recent need of a Sea Gate 5 Tb hdd. . .the 2Tb is full.

Edited September 2, 2021 by Bill Bowes

I might mention that including some "historical" data in your postings here on Photo.net would keep a lot of us "Historians" happy. Currently, I, and others, have no idea where, or when, you were working.

Now, if you plan to try to contribute your collection/s to special collection libraries; one thing to consider is to not tell them you have it all on the internet. It is OK to have a sampling, but I've been rejected a number of times from donating material because the small minded curator said it is available on the internet.

 

Stupid policy...but that is how some small minded curators think.

 

Searching a huge archive on the internet is not the same as having it at your finger tips on the computer. What is on the internet, probably is not of the resolution as could be available with the acquisition. And lastly, the internet is not archival. A lot of what I've put on the internet has been deleted by the people running the websites. And even if you don't offend anyone, once you stop paining the bill your website goes poof! Same with the cloud...30 days in arrears and it gets deleted.

 

Here is something interesting, a VHS tape of music boxes and automata. I had over 1100 hundred tapes in the collection, but a flood in '01 wiped them out. Having rebuilt the collection over the years it is about 700+ tapes now. Finding working Beta machines is the toughest!

 

VHS Music Boxes Automata Singing Bird Boxes Merrick Wolf D.D.Teoli Jr. A.C. : D.D.Teoli Jr. A.C. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Edited September 3, 2021 by invisibleflash