Near Glenville in Gilmer County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Engle Homestead

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2021

1. Engle Homestead Marker

Inscription. Nearby is the homestead of Henry Everett Engle (1849-1933) where in 1885 he composed the melody for "The West Virginia Hills,” the most popular of the official state songs of West Virginia.

Erected 1981 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 38° 57.553′ N, 80° 54.49′ W. Marker is near Glenville, West Virginia, in Gilmer County. It is on Little Kanawha Parkway (West Virginia Route 5) just east of 3rd Run Road (County Route 20), on the right when traveling east. It is 5.3 miles west of Glenville. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Glenville WV 26351, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s Little Kanawha Valley.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was

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once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stalnaker Plantation / Old Stalnaker Family Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); Job's Temple (approx. 3.4 miles away); a different marker also named Job’s Temple (approx. 3½ miles away); Glenville (approx. 4.2 miles away); a different marker also named Glenville (approx. 4.2 miles away); WV Rosie the Riveter Bell (approx. 4.2 miles away); Gilmer County Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away); Clemons Tower (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glenville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Site of First Gilmer Court (was approx. 2.8 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for “The West Virginia Hills.”. This page has the lyrics to the song. History:

"The West Virginia Hills" was written in 1879 as a poem inspired by the scenery surrounding the Glenville area and put to music in 1885 by Henry Everett Engle. The song was made one of West Virginia’s state songs on February 3, 1961.

While
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2021

2. Engle Homestead Marker
the original poem is traditionally credited to Ellen Ruddell King, it is believed by some that the lyrics were in fact written by her husband, the Reverend David King.

(Submitted on June 1, 2021.)

2. WVU Bluegrass Band - “West Virginia Hills” - 4 minute YouTube audio-only.

“West Virginia Hills”
West Virginia University
Bluegrass Band

(Submitted on June 1, 2021.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,266 times since then and 133 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.