Warther's Museum and More

Follansbee, West Virginia
Meadowbrook RV Park
Site #2

Bill and I watched the river rising and saw the cloudy skies.  You know the old saying "if the creek don't rise?"  Well we looked outside and said we couldn't enjoy the area with everything wet and I was a little concerned being on the edge of the river.  I think it's time we move on down the road.

We pulled out around 9 am, and thankfully, Bill was driving today. The roads were wet, hilly and windy.  Our travels took us over OH 39 to Dover, Ohio.  

Susie and Denny Orr asked us if we had ever been to Warther's Museum when we were in Goshen.  I hadn't been to Warther's Museum in about 30 years.  I thought maybe it was time to return since I have watched Bill carve and know how difficult it is. 

Just a note if you ever stop in a RV--take the first entrance not the bus one.  

This museum is family owned without money from the government and Patrick, great grandson of "Mooney" Warther, set us up on a guided tour.

Bill took over 100 photos and it is difficult to pick out a few.  I don't want to spoil the experience by telling you everything but if you are ever 1,000 miles from Dover, it is worth making a detour to see.

This priceless collection has 64 ebony, ivory and walnut steam trains.  The parts all move and have never been oiled in over 100 years.  

 Mooney was famous for carving pliers.  He could do a pair in 9 seconds. The plier tree had  511 pliers that opened up out of one piece of wood which is in the right hand corner of this photo. It required 31,000 cuts from a single block of wood. Ripley's Believe It or Not saw it at the World's Fair.  Mooney never went to school past the second grade.  

These photos don't do these justice without showing all the moving parts.  Trust me, this needs to be on your bucket list.  

In addition to the museum the $13.00 admission included the knife shop where the Warther knives have been made for the last 100 years.  

Also a tour of the button house which was wife, Freida's creations.

The Warther home was also included on the tour.  

When we left Dover we traveled on OH 250 to US 22.  I won't say that this area isn't RV friendly but it is near impossible to find something convenient to visit the family. I know this is West Virginia but there is nothing near level.  Our front jacks are so high I can walk underneath the pin box without ducking my head.  The back end is as low as possible to the ground.  I don't need a stool to clean the back window.  

After we got unhitched Bill and I headed to Steubenville, Ohio to watch our grandson, Levani, play baseball.  

Levani was awarded the game ball.

Here's our son in law, Nicky, who was the official scorekeeper. 

I can't believe how tall our granddaughter, Olivia grew since we last saw her.  Nikki, our daughter is on the right.  

It was a very long busy day and the day's that follow promise to be just as busy. 

Turtle Safely......