If you live in Fayette County, West Virginia, and especially if you love history, you probably know Dale Payne. He's my favorite local historian and I had the privilege of sitting down with him recently to talk about his many books, the 18th century style cabin he built as well as a variety of the antiques he has collected through the years.
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor said, "Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future." To learn about your history in America is to understand where you came from and the incredible people who carved a living out of the wilderness. Dale Payne has said, "I think I was born in the wrong time period... I would have loved to have seen the country when it was an unspoiled wilderness. You know, when it was just exactly the way God created it."
With the vast history, knowledge and skills that Dale has acquired over the years, he is, indeed, a keeper of memories. I am thankful to share a few of them with you in Episode 11 of Beacon News West Virginia.
10 Comments
May 22, 2022, 1:55:30 PM
Dennis Muzzy - Dale is a great historian that I am glad to know!
May 21, 2022, 10:11:23 AM
Bill McGraw - Great guy, friend and brother!
May 21, 2022, 7:16:26 AM
Linda Cross - I have many of Dale's books. We came from the same little unincorporated town of Eskdale, WV (Cabin Creek). I am so appreciative of him for being the great historian that he is. My grandfather and great uncle is on the cover of one of his books. My family is mentioned in them as well.
May 20, 2022, 9:34:34 PM
Sue willis - Thanks
May 20, 2022, 9:13:55 PM
Amy - Thank you all for sharing a comment & kind words : ) Sheila, I hope the link was working for you so that you could watch the video and hear Dale's many stories. I would love to see his books available at Tamarack again.
May 20, 2022, 4:52:17 PM
Charlene Perry - I know Dale Payne and am proud owner of several of his books.
May 20, 2022, 4:45:14 PM
Elizabeth Jackson - Related through the Payne Family.
May 19, 2022, 10:05:54 PM
Sheila Burnette - I love to find out about our history. I would love to hear the things Mr. Payne has to say about our local history. I have some of his informative books.
May 19, 2022, 8:15:07 PM
George Ron - Great. I love it.
May 19, 2022, 7:35:34 PM
Mary Moore - I love this site! Thank you, Amy, for creating it!