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MOUNDSVILLE - An incredible and little-known event of the Civil War will be discussed at the Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 2, when Judi Tarowsky presents "Burning Springs: The Forgotten Story."
This fascinating and informative program is aimed at adults and students and will take place on the main floor of the library.
On May 9, 1863, Confederate troops commanded by Gen. William (Grumble) Jones marched on Burning Springs, W.Va. - an oil boom town in Wirt County, on the banks of the Little Kanawha River. The troops set fire to the oil field there. The blaze destroyed not only the oil field, but also the town of Burning Springs, incredibly, with no loss of civilian life.
There is no Federal record of this incident. No newspapers reported it at the time. The matter was considered so sensitive to the Union at the time that there was, in effect, a cover-up. It is this lost story of the Civil War that Tarowsky presents in her historic narrative about the destruction of Burning Springs. Tarowsky will also include a "bonus" story about how two women defied Confederate troops. Audience questions are welcome following the talk.
Tarowsky, a local writer, editor and educator with a special interest in history, has been a professional storyteller for more than a decade. She has been president of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild and also a member of the Ohio Organization for the Preservation of Storytelling. She has performed at numerous venues including the Grand Vue Park Storytelling Festival, The Three Rivers Storytelling Festival, the Arthurdale Heritage Site, the Cockayne Farmstead, as well as libraries and museums.
Her repertoire includes historic programs, Appalachian tales, ghost stories and hilarious tall tales. The common thread is that her storytelling is captivating, heart-felt and well-researched.
This event is free and open to the public. The Moundsville Library is located at Fifth Street and Tomlinson Avenue in Moundsville.
For more information, call the library at 304-845-6911.