tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post3854159130169034663..comments2024-03-29T01:22:31.114-04:00Comments on Granny Sue's News and Reviews: Weekend Post 5: Smoke HoleGranny Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2634969979683449053.post-59544544852807063672008-10-23T11:20:00.000-04:002008-10-23T11:20:00.000-04:00Susanna,Great post. I might clarify a little, the...Susanna,<BR/>Great post. I might clarify a little, there are many caves in the Smoke Hole region. Some say they were used for smoking meat, hence the name Smoke Hole, others say the "smoke" comes from the fog that rises out of the caves. Many of the caves were used for salt petre back in the day, since it was a necessity from making gunpowder. There's not just one Smoke Hole cave, that whole mountain is riddled with caves. If you cross North Mountain, which is the western border of Smoke Hole, you will cross into Germany Valley. There is another pretty well known path that was used for travel before they built Route 33 that went from Smoke Hole to just below Seneca Rocks. It is still locally used for cattle drives and such. <BR/><BR/>The early records of Pendleton County refer to this region as "Smoke Holes" plural, rather than the singular name of today. My Kile family (earlier spelling was Coil) came from this area, and later settled in Germany Valley.<BR/><BR/>Also, another thing about Smoke Hole. As many will recognize, Pendleton County is a good decade behind the rest of the state in progress. Well, just as Pendleton County is behind the rest of the state, Smoke Hole is a decade behind the rest of Pendleton County. I think that is a good thing. Until the government made a road and a campground down in there, the people there maintained a really old way of life that had been handed down for generations.<BR/><BR/>I remember one time when I was in my early teens, we went camping and stayed right under Eagle Rock. I didn't sleep all night and took a swim in the river just as the sun was coming over the mountains. It was really beautiful, and that water was so cold. Of course, it was in April! I still remember floating down that river as the day was breaking.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for taking me home in this post. I appreciated the quick trip down memory lane.Matthew Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625103538582649633noreply@blogger.com