Greenbrier Ranger District Centennial 1922-2022

Greenbrier Ranger District Centennial 1922-2022. Monongahela National Forest. , The Greenbrier Ranger District was established in Horton, WV in April 1922 with Roscoe Arbogast, its first newly hired District Ranger. Over the years, the Ranger Station has found its home in several different places before finding its home in Bartow, WV. The district has grown from its original 90,000 acreage to a massive 242,481 acres, making it the largest district on the Monongahela National Forest., 1920s: The District office was moved to Thornwood, WV into the home of the second District Ranger, Donald Gaudineer., 1929: The office relocated to a rented space above the S.H. Hinter Hardware store in Thornwood, WV., 1936: The District office moved to the former Durbin Bank building in Durbin, WV., 1939: A new Ranger Station was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Bartow, WV, at the current office location which is 2.5 acres in size., 1969: The original office was sold and removed to build the new temporary office construction by the Job Corps., 1990: Construction of the current Ranger Station was completed., Exciting events in the District's history: , April 1923: Monongahela National Forest obtained Rothkugel Plantation from George Craig and Sons Lumber Company. This land was used for one of the first experiments applying modern forestry principles and cooperative reforestation on a large scale for cutover forests., November 1963: Construction was finished on the first picnic area in the District called Old House Run Picnic Area., December 1970: The Monongahela National Forest was chosen as the first National Forest to contribute the Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. The Norway spruce tree came from Thornwood, WV on the Greenbrier Ranger District., December 1974: Gaudineer Scenic Area became a National Natural Landmark., In 1989, another 40,745 acres on Cheat Mountain were added to the District from the purchase of Mower Land and Lumber Company.