Near Morgantown in Monongalia County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
When Water Needed Watching
The Story of the Tibbs Run Reservoir
| — | West Virginia Botanic Garden at Tibbs Run Preserve | — |
Photographed by Bradley Owen, September 27, 2026
1. When Water Needed Watching Marker
Family Life in a Working Landscape
Imagine raising a family in this once remote spot. Grace and Ralph Lemley raised three daughters here, their youngest born in the house in 1942. With no nearby stores, the family relied on a large garden, fruit trees, and rows of canned food stored in the cellar, the foundation of which you see in front of you. Bees buzzed in hives near the garage, and hunting and fishing added to the table. This was a different era - when hard work and. self-sufficiency sustained both a household and the city's water supply.
Life Beside the Reservoir
The foundation before you is all that remains of a caretaker's home built around 1940. In those days, Morgantown needed someone on site to manage the Tibbs Run Reservoir. The caretaker's work was constant - regulating the flow of water into town, treating it to keep it safe, and watching for leaks, overgrowth, or trespassers. It was demanding labor, yet trusted to working families like the Lemleys, who built their home here and kept the system running for decades.
(Captions):
The Lemley House
Drawing of shared property. The foundation of the cellar of the main house can still be seen here today. The dotted line shows the current property boundary, where there is now a fence. Above left, Lemley capturing bees.
Erected 2026
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 39° 37.862′ N, 79° 52.192′ W. Marker is near Morgantown, West Virginia, in Monongalia County. It is on Tyrone Road (County Route 75) 0.1 miles south of Quartz Drive, on the left when traveling south. The marker is on the left side at the entrance to the West Virginia Botanic Garden at Tibbs Run Preserve within the Eclectic Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1061 Tyrone Road, Morgantown WV 26508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: From Water Resource to Public Garden
Photographed by Bradley Owen, September 27, 2026
2. When Water Needed Watching Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. Ralph Lemley: Resourceful Caretaker (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Tibbs Run Reservoir: Then a Water Source, Now a Local Treasure (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "Clean Mountain Water" Not So Clean (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Who Wants Clean Water? (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Clean Water Comes To Morgantown (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has
Photographed by Bradley Owen, September 27, 2026
3. Basement Stairs and Remaining Foundation
The stairs and remaining Lemley House foundation are in front of the marker, the rear of which can be seen in the upper right hand corner.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced another at this location.
Photographed by Bradley Owen, September 26, 2026
4. Entrance Sign for the West Virginia Botanic Garden
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 28, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
