When I was in high school in the early 1970s there was a small grocery store in Kilsyth. My mother's family owned and operated Bon Bon's for 96 years. My grandparents opened that store in 1920. It closed in 2016. My uncle Floyd Bonifacio owned both the Mt. Hope and Princess Theaters. The first game was played in the stadium in 1936. Mount Hope lost that game to Greenbrier Military. When I was very young there was a green wooden fence around the stadium. My Mount Hope High School was on main street. That building was torn down.
Wow Bill!!! I should have had you riding along with me!😀 I spent many afternoons and evenings at Bon Bon’s and both theaters! Your family was definitely a very important part of the community for many years. I’m glad you got to see the old stomping ground and share all that information. 😄
Thanks…I try to mix it up from time to time and show some places that you folks may not see where you’re from. I just like sharing the good and sometimes bad of West Virginia.
Thanks…I appreciate that! It’s fun riding through some of these towns and seeing things that I wouldn’t notice in a car. Although, in this case being my hometown, I was very familiar. 😃
Where did you move from? I grew up in Mt Hope in the 70s and 80s and it has changed a lot. It was always a bustling town when I lived there. I only have 1 friend from high school that still lives there. It has changed so much since then. All the schools have been consolidated into Oak Hill and the population has been going down ever since then. I loved that little town and still like visiting. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!!
I don't have an ebike but will have to drive up there just to try the water. I remember when we were kids we would fill jugs of mountain spring water. I grew up in Page.
You will love it. I have a friend that is on one of my videos where we rode around Thurmond, WV. He lives in Columbus and fills up containers at that spring to take home with him every time he comes in to visit family. I should have read this message before I replied to your first one…I see you were from Page. My parents moved from Mt Hope to Oak Hill around 1998 or so.
Thanks…I appreciate that! I try to cover places that you folks in different states may not see very much. Just trying to mix it up a little bit and do some different things from time to time. Have a great day!
Thanks Janet! I had fun reliving my time growing up there. It sounds like you were having a great time too! I’ve been to Cancun, Mexico and had a great time but I flew down. I’m a little scared of being out on the ocean for some reason. My wife loves cruises and is all the time trying to talk me into going on one. Maybe one day…
I just moved to mt hope!!! This video was amazing to watch!! I absolutely love the area!! I moved on Sherwood road. It’s connected to the old Beckley road beside Gino’s!
Hi @randidouglas6095! I’m very familiar with Sherwood road. My first job was delivering pizza at Geno’s back in the 80’s. I loved growing up in Mt. Hope! It’s very different there since the schools have been consolidated into Oak Hill. There was a lot going on there up through the early 2000’s. I live in Fairmont, WV now but still go back to visit family and friends.
Thanks for stopping by! It wasn't quite that inexpensive when I lived there but I could go with a $5 bill and get in as well as buy popcorn, drink, and candy with change left over. Those were the days!! Loved growing up in Mt. Hope!!
Thanks! I bet there is a lot of different things that can make water taste better 😂 but when you’re short on funds, this can really quench your thirst. The plug in is tough to see there on the side. May have to take the seat post out so you can turn the seat upside down to see it better 😎
No worries…you are busy sometimes so you can watch the videos along with the rest of the family to keep up. That’s one reason I started the channel in the first place.
The former governor of West Virginia who lived in Mount Hope was Okey L. Patterson. He was governor from 1949-1953. When I joined the lions club in 1978 he was still a member, so I knew him. He was a member of our club from 1930 to 1989, which is when he passed away at the age of 90.
My parents actually looked at buying the Okey Patterson house years ago but decided to move to the Oak Hill area instead. I learned to ride a bike in the Lions Club parking lot. I grew up just around the hill from the clubhouse. More great information from you! When did you move away from the Mt Hope area?
It would seem like it! Best tasting water than you can imagine. People stop here all the time to fill up jugs to take with them. I have a friend that fills up mason jars to take back home with him...looks like he is smuggling moon shine! 😂
Hi Ralph! Most of the houses are under the flood plain. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s Kilsyth would flood when we got a lot of rain. Parts of Mt. Hope across the main road as well. The government came in during the early 2000s, I believe, and bought people out and demolished a lot of houses. Parts of Kilsyth and Mt. Hope aren’t recognizable now.
My parents left around that same time but I still have friends there and drive through when I’m in that area. It’s really sad what it is now compared to before the late 90s. All of the schools have been merged into Oak Hill so they don’t even have a school anymore.
1st! The way the energy sector is acting up, especially in Ukraine with russia being ass holes, coal could be making a comeback. Has it been picking up that you know of?
Hi Bert…Mr First!😀 Funny you ask that. I have a neighbor that is a coal miner and he’s been working 6 days a week for some time now. They also have opportunities to work on Sundays as well if they want to. I also have a son that has just gone back into the mines a couple of months ago so it does appear that coal production is starting to pick back up. They stopped mining that smokeless coal in that area of the state back in the 70s I believe. I never really knew why they stopped mining that coal but it might be a great time to start back with it!
When I was in high school in the early 1970s there was a small grocery store in Kilsyth. My mother's family owned and operated Bon Bon's for 96 years. My grandparents opened that store in 1920. It closed in 2016. My uncle Floyd Bonifacio owned both the Mt. Hope and Princess Theaters. The first game was played in the stadium in 1936. Mount Hope lost that game to Greenbrier Military. When I was very young there was a green wooden fence around the stadium. My Mount Hope High School was on main street. That building was torn down.
Wow Bill!!! I should have had you riding along with me!😀 I spent many afternoons and evenings at Bon Bon’s and both theaters! Your family was definitely a very important part of the community for many years. I’m glad you got to see the old stomping ground and share all that information. 😄
Yet another informative ride . Great history , great countryside
Thanks…I try to mix it up from time to time and show some places that you folks may not see where you’re from. I just like sharing the good and sometimes bad of West Virginia.
Loved the ride-along and the history. Love the rides around all the old towns.
Thanks…I appreciate that! It’s fun riding through some of these towns and seeing things that I wouldn’t notice in a car. Although, in this case being my hometown, I was very familiar. 😃
Brings back memories of 1992.
94, 98....
Had a friend who was the super of one of those apartment buildings .
21:47...
Haven't been "home" in ten years.
Drive Thru Bradley, some of those back roads.
I just subscribed
I just moved to Mount Hope a few months ago. Loved the bike tour
Where did you move from? I grew up in Mt Hope in the 70s and 80s and it has changed a lot. It was always a bustling town when I lived there. I only have 1 friend from high school that still lives there. It has changed so much since then. All the schools have been consolidated into Oak Hill and the population has been going down ever since then. I loved that little town and still like visiting. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!!
I love this. I was able to mark the spring on my Google map. It seems like a must-stop on our next trip to the area.
Hi @bencpht! That’s great! Make sure you bring a couple of jugs. It’s good stuff!😀
I don't have an ebike but will have to drive up there just to try the water. I remember when we were kids we would fill jugs of mountain spring water. I grew up in Page.
You will love it. I have a friend that is on one of my videos where we rode around Thurmond, WV. He lives in Columbus and fills up containers at that spring to take home with him every time he comes in to visit family. I should have read this message before I replied to your first one…I see you were from Page. My parents moved from Mt Hope to Oak Hill around 1998 or so.
Great Video as always!!!!
Thank you La Von! We look forward to posting more as the weather allows. It’s -18 wind chill today! 🥶
Yes Sir❗️ We feel your pain. It’s the same temps 🥶🥶🥶down here’s in South Mississippi right now. I won’t be riding bikes either for a few days lol.
Oh wow…so I guess heading south won’t help much right now LOL! Should be warming back up into the 60s by the end of this week…hopefully!
I really like your small town tours!
Thanks…I appreciate that! I try to cover places that you folks in different states may not see very much. Just trying to mix it up a little bit and do some different things from time to time. Have a great day!
I enjoyed the ride. Thanks for taking us along. I was on a cruise to Mexico for ten days just getting back. Yall take care
Thanks Janet! I had fun reliving my time growing up there. It sounds like you were having a great time too! I’ve been to Cancun, Mexico and had a great time but I flew down. I’m a little scared of being out on the ocean for some reason. My wife loves cruises and is all the time trying to talk me into going on one. Maybe one day…
@@ReflectionsofOurLife my husband wouldn't go until I said just try it once and he really enjoyed it. Had a awesome time
Maybe I’ll have to give in and try it. Maybe I’ll like it after all😁
@@ReflectionsofOurLife I think you really would..
I just moved to mt hope!!! This video was amazing to watch!! I absolutely love the area!! I moved on Sherwood road. It’s connected to the old Beckley road beside Gino’s!
Hi @randidouglas6095! I’m very familiar with Sherwood road. My first job was delivering pizza at Geno’s back in the 80’s. I loved growing up in Mt. Hope! It’s very different there since the schools have been consolidated into Oak Hill. There was a lot going on there up through the early 2000’s. I live in Fairmont, WV now but still go back to visit family and friends.
Really interesting ride. I enjoy it very much.
Thanks…it was fun riding around town again.
The water was interesting. I’ve never heard about that before.
Yep…it’s pretty cool. You can find these all over the place. We have several of these that I’ve come across up here where we live.
A fast history of a small town in WV.....at 12 miles per hour.
The only way to do it😎. Thanks for stopping by!
My water stash is running low, gotta get back home and fill up my jugs😂 Thanks for making me homesick Brother see you soon❤️
When I went to Mt.Hope theater it cost 10 cents born there 1945 left when I was 13 thanks for the ride.
Thanks for stopping by! It wasn't quite that inexpensive when I lived there but I could go with a $5 bill and get in as well as buy popcorn, drink, and candy with change left over. Those were the days!! Loved growing up in Mt. Hope!!
Hi, good video. Busch makes my water taste great. Used to my new seat & I love it. Only complaint is I can't see the plug to charge it. Such is life.
Thanks! I bet there is a lot of different things that can make water taste better 😂 but when you’re short on funds, this can really quench your thirst. The plug in is tough to see there on the side. May have to take the seat post out so you can turn the seat upside down to see it better 😎
Pretty ride
Thanks @Gregory Olef! I try to find nice, interesting places to ride and throw in towns from time to time as well. Have a great day!
My brother was a teacher in Mt Hope , Wilson was his last name
What a small World! I don’t remember a teacher named Wilson but I graduated in the mid 80s.
Great ride honey, sorry you're riding alone...
No worries…you are busy sometimes so you can watch the videos along with the rest of the family to keep up. That’s one reason I started the channel in the first place.
You didn’t mention that a former governor of WV lived in Mt. Hope many years ago.
I know…I thought about mentioning that but didn’t want to lay it on too thick.😃
The former governor of West Virginia who lived in Mount Hope was Okey L. Patterson. He was governor from 1949-1953. When I joined the lions club in 1978 he was still a member, so I knew him. He was a member of our club from 1930 to 1989, which is when he passed away at the age of 90.
My parents actually looked at buying the Okey Patterson house years ago but decided to move to the Oak Hill area instead. I learned to ride a bike in the Lions Club parking lot. I grew up just around the hill from the clubhouse. More great information from you! When did you move away from the Mt Hope area?
That's Holy Water
It would seem like it! Best tasting water than you can imagine. People stop here all the time to fill up jugs to take with them. I have a friend that fills up mason jars to take back home with him...looks like he is smuggling moon shine! 😂
I remember Kilsyth having a lot more houses than this. Anybody know what happened?
Hi Ralph! Most of the houses are under the flood plain. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s Kilsyth would flood when we got a lot of rain. Parts of Mt. Hope across the main road as well. The government came in during the early 2000s, I believe, and bought people out and demolished a lot of houses. Parts of Kilsyth and Mt. Hope aren’t recognizable now.
@@ReflectionsofOurLife wow, we moved away in 1998, so I guess I missed all that. Thanks for the knowledge 👍🏻👍🏻
My parents left around that same time but I still have friends there and drive through when I’m in that area. It’s really sad what it is now compared to before the late 90s. All of the schools have been merged into Oak Hill so they don’t even have a school anymore.
That is not an Indian mound.
1st! The way the energy sector is acting up, especially in Ukraine with russia being ass holes, coal could be making a comeback. Has it been picking up that you know of?
Hi Bert…Mr First!😀 Funny you ask that. I have a neighbor that is a coal miner and he’s been working 6 days a week for some time now. They also have opportunities to work on Sundays as well if they want to. I also have a son that has just gone back into the mines a couple of months ago so it does appear that coal production is starting to pick back up. They stopped mining that smokeless coal in that area of the state back in the 70s I believe. I never really knew why they stopped mining that coal but it might be a great time to start back with it!
@@ReflectionsofOurLife Thanks John.
You’re welcome…have a great evening! They are getting shorter now though😂