39°11’55.9” N |
The Island, West Milford |
80°24’22.5” W |
History of West Milford & the Old Mill Festival
The first Old Mill Festival was held in 2018 to celebrate the history and natural beauty of West Milford, West Virginia. The 130 acres of land that the town now resides on was originally purchased in 1807. Farmer Jesse Lowther knew that the area where the West Fork River bends eastward and becomes shallow revealing small islands would be a prominent area for travelers. This area soon became known as the Island-ford and was a frequented by those travelling between Clarksburg and Hacker's Creek. In 1817, the first grist and saw mills were built on the current sight of the Old Mill & Float the Fork Festival. The mills remained in operation for 95 years before being abandoned in 1912. The Old Mill Festival stands to commemorate the rich history of West Milford and continue to welcome community members and visitors alike coming to and from the West Fork River.
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Float the ForkThe first annual Float the Fork took place in 2018 to commemorate the removal of three dams from the West Fork River and the first dam removals in the state of West Virginia. These dams, commonly referred to as "drowning machines" due to their dangerous design, posed severe safety hazards to the community and acted as a barrier to fish migration. Since their removal in 2016, nearly 40 miles of water trail have been restored and made accessible for recreational fishing and boating. The removals also served an effort to restore habitat for various species of freshwater mussels within the West Fork River, including two endangered species. Freshwater mussels are filter feeders and require free flowing waters to thrive. Within in suitable habitat, free of barriers, freshwater mussels are capable of removing toxins and pollutants from rivers and streams.
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The Old Mill & Float the Fork Festival TodaySince the two events first came together in the 2023 the festival has continued to grow and become a staple within the community. Now organized and operated by the town of West Milford, the festival remains a celebration of West Milford, the West Fork River, and its new accessibility following the dam removals.
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