Here in Fayetteville, we want to make sure the spirit of our town is growing along with our downtown. As we embrace new developments, our commitment to preserving Fayetteville’s authenticity remains true. Join us in recognizing and celebrating the pillars of our community — history, arts, culture, food and outdoor recreation.
Find Fayetteville is not just a community initiative; it’s a heartfelt endeavor to capture the essence of our culture and protect our rich heritage. We invite our community members to play a pivotal role in shaping this narrative. Your voices matter, and together, we can take the reins in telling the stories that make Fayetteville truly special.
In Fayetteville, everyone has a story to tell, and we can’t wait to hear yours. Share your story here and we will reach out to you to connect.
Want to be featured on our website or socials? Share your experiences with us by tagging #findfayettevillewv on social media, use our contact form, or by sending us an email at info@visitfayettevillewv.com. If you have Fayetteville artifacts you would like to share to be preserved for future generations, we can also connect you with our town Historian, Dr. Lewis Cook with the Fayetteville Historical Society.
Story Highlights
Terry Sizemore
Photo: Lady Mountain Films, Terry Sizemore
Meet Terry Sizemore, a retired teacher from Fayetteville High School. You may have spotted him along the roads of Fayetteville and Oak Hill, diligently picking up trash.
Terry spends 2-4 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, ensuring our community stays clean. He has been doing this for 17 years. Despite his retirement, he remains committed to serving others as the assistant director of the Fayette County Emergency Food Assistance Program.
Terry’s dedication is evident as he strives to maintain the beauty of our surroundings. From the north overlook of the bridge to the city limits of Oak Hill and all the side roads in Fayetteville, he covers it all. When asked about his motivation, Terry simply states, “I want people to see this ‘old man’ out here picking up their trash and think twice before littering. I just want to see our state kept clean.”
In just a span of 100 yards, Terry collected four large bags of trash, showcasing the impact of his efforts.
Let’s support Terry in his mission to maintain our community’s cleanliness! Do not litter!
Credit: Lady Mountain Films part of the @dailynewrivergorge
Catherine Saunders
Finding Fayetteville Share Your Stories
Upcoming Events
Our lively community and rich heritage shape our local events.
Upcoming Events 2024
Saturday, April 27-June16
” New” A Cultural Look at the NRG, as part of the Daily Fayetteville at the Love Hope Center for the Arts
Stay tuned for details on this photography exhibit capturing daily life and culture in Fayetteville.
Sunday, April 28 9am-12pm
Foraging Hike Lead by Mitchell Dech
Join us on a Foraging Hike as part of the National Park Services Spring Fling Nature Festival. West Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains are a forager’s paradise. Foraging has been an art that has been passed down for generations. Spring is the perfect time to learn about the skills involved in foraging for wild food. Discover the delicacies that can be found in the woods. Roots, tubers, and shoots, greens, buds, and flowers are among the various plant structures that are available for harvesting. Follow a local legend the “Berry Man” Mitchell Dech as he leads our educational foraging hike. This event will be hands-on exploring to discover, discuss, and learn about edible plants in their habitats. Come prepared with comfortable shoes for moderate hiking 2miles.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about our upcoming yearly heritage event. This gathering will be a time for community members to showcase traditional skills, share music, display family heirlooms, exchange family recipes through a potluck and even participate in a storytelling competition. Our vision extends to the future, with hopes that this annual event will evolve into the establishment of a town museum, preserving the rich history of Fayetteville for generations to come.
Artist of the New Festival
Saturday August 10 5pm-9pm
Stop by the Love Hope Center of the Arts as we celebrate the many talented artists that call the New River Gorge home! Support local artists by shopping the artisan market and enjoy live music!
Find Your Stories Mini- Workshop
Thursday, September 26 6pm-7:30pm at the American Legion in Fayetteville
Be part of Finding Fayetteville- and Fayette County- history community heritage project by starting to preserve some of your own stories. Learn basic ways to find and record your won histories of family and community and how to encourage others to do the same building community heritage through the history of community members.
Past Projects
Explore the pages of our history with a glimpse into our past projects.
We were selected to attend the Appalachia Gateway Communities AGCI) Training Regional Training Program in 2022. Through this process we were awarded a seed grant to lay the foundation of the Find Fayetteville Initiative.
- Find Fayetteville Heritage Festival Booth
- The Find Fayetteville Heritage Festival booth served as a vibrant hub during Fayetteville’s Heritage Festival, aiming to educate and involve the community in the project. The booth was strategically staged with Fayetteville relics to captivate community members and spark conversations and serve as a bridge between generations. It featured old photos that served as catalysts for sharing stories related to various facets of life in Fayetteville, including events in town, school, recreation, religion, and family. The objective was not only to share existing stories but also to recruit individuals willing to contribute their own experiences, thereby enriching the collective narrative of Fayetteville.
- Heritage Festival Tour led by Town Historian Dr. Lewis Cook
- Town Historian Lewis Cook took the lead in conducting a free historic tour around Fayetteville during the festival. The walking tour provided both visitors and community members with an immersive experience, shedding light on the town’s rich cultural history, particularly in the historic downtown area. The tour aimed to showcase the significance of various landmarks, buildings, and sites, fostering a deeper connection between the community and its heritage.
- Lewis Cook skillfully highlighted the nuances of the town’s culture, sharing captivating stories that connected the past with the present.
- Find Fayetteville Community Get Together
- This community meeting played a crucial role in involving residents in the decision-making process of the Find Fayetteville initiative. The event sought input and feedback to guide the direction of the project. Interactive input boards were set up, encouraging attendees to express their preferences for specific stories that resonated with them. The community expressed a keen interest in preserving mining history, showcasing the town’s history through interactive exhibits and summer programs, and delving into recreational history and traditional arts and crafts.
Find Your Stories Mini Workshop
Engage in the art of storytelling through our Find Your Stories Mini Workshop, a community heritage project dedicated to preserving the narratives that shape our history. Participants discover the basics of uncovering and recording their own family and community histories, fostering a collective heritage. In partnership with the New River National Park and Preserve, we’re taking steps to build a shared history that encompasses all community members.
As we take these initial steps, stay tuned for snippets of the stories we uncover, showcased right here on this page.
Family Holiday Craft and Story Telling Sampler
Jodi French Burr lead a story telling swap and family nature inspired holiday craft. Explore your favorite family seasonal stories through an informal story swap. Have fun preserving community traditions through the arts this season at the Love Hope Center for the Arts.
Fayetteville Song Writer’s Festival
Fayetteville hosts the annual Fayetteville Song Writer’s Festival every February to celebrate the art of storytelling through song. Local songwriters are set up through businesses downtown. This event is a fundraiser for the CODA Mountain Academy who run youth programs including programs that teach traditional music to youth in Fayette County.
Citizen Oral History Interviews
Help us capture stories by conducting oral history interviews with your friends and family. You can check out a zoom recorder and equipment from the Fayetteville Visitor Center to conduct oral histories at home or use a cell phone to record interviews. Use this guide and have your interviewee fill out a release form below.
Guide to Conducting Oral History Interviews
Find Fayetteville Release Form