Kump Education Center

08/20/2026

Mark your calendars for an immersive lecture on the geological history of Elkins by Dr. Jim VanGundy!

08/14/2026

Kump Corner--Elkins History Talks

Kump Education Center is planning a fall series of lectures about the history of Elkins. The first speech on the geological history of Elkins by Dr. Jim VanGundy will be held on September 9 at 7:00 pm in the Learning Lab at Kump Education Center.

Dr. VanGundy was a professor of geology on the Davis & Elkins College faculty. Since he retired, Dr. VanGundy has been traveling and writing about scenic West Virginia. The Second Edition of his book, The Nature and Scenery of the West Virginia Highlands: With a Motorist’s Guide is available now. His talk will help citizens understand the geological features of Elkins and how they were formed.

Since we moved back to Elkins, my husband has said it is confusing to know where you are in relation to the Tygart Valley River [TVR]. He made me wonder why TVR makes a loop around Ekins.

TVR flows east under Scotts Ford bridge
then goes east behind houses on Sylvester Dr.
next swings north along Barron Av.
then flows under the 11th St. bridge near Kroger.
next turns west beside River St. to flow under the Davis Av. Bridge near Big Timber Brewery
then goes west along Wilson St. through Elkins Industrial Park
next it curves around Riverbend Park
then west to Georgetown Road at the Flood Control spillway where TVR almost meets itself to nearly close the big loop.

Now I know that the Army Corps of Engineers created the Elkins flood-control system in the 1940s with the spillway making it possible for the TVR to bypass Elkins and avoid flooding in town, but I still wonder about the prehistoric geology that created the natural loop around the town.
Because of the geological history, the result was that Elkins became the center of the railroad system brought here by Henry G. Davis and Steven B. Elkins because the TVR was the only river that cut a low path through the mountains to create a place where railroad tracks could get through beside a river to travel west. Elkins is also the only town nearby where the river makes a loop that could be used for a flood-control system like the one that was built here in the 1940s.

Water is a feast or famine sort of commodity; either we have too much or too little. As good as Elkins geological facts may have seemed to engineers, they have not solved all water and sewer problems for citizens in Elkins. The 1930 drought almost prevented the first Forest Festival when the TVR was so dry that the town fathers drove their cars on the dry riverbed looking for natural springs. We have creek water and sewer pipes that run under houses, over lawns, and out of street drains. Some sink holes have
been large enough to swallow whole cars. When water mains break, they can cause gas explosions.

As frustrating as these problems may be, they cannot all be blamed on government. Every generation has to work together and learn from history to solve problems using basic kindness and intelligence.

08/13/2026

Local passerby will notice our vinyl fence being completed all the way to Seneca road!

08/04/2026

Busy bees in the Kump wetlands!

08/04/2026

Back to school resources available!

07/30/2026

Our Top Story Today: ELKINS - Last week, 12 campers "traveled" to five different regions to learn Christmas traditions from around the world for this year's Spanish Camp at the Kump Center, titled, "La Navidad en Julio," or Christmas in July.

Story link in comments.

07/29/2026

Final roundup of Spanish Camp photos! Our gratitude to Leah Devine for leading a week of good food, art, play, and music!

07/28/2026

Tonight! 7pm!

Please join us Tuesday, July 28 at 7pm for a free and engaging lecture!
Visit kumpeducationcenter.org for more information.

07/24/2026

Day 5- Pupusas and a piñata! Plus a special house tour with Dr. Biola!