If you love old barns, history, and/or West Virginia ....you will love and treasure theseooks.    A great gift - for yourself - your family - your friends. Click on the "About the Book" button  to learn more.

The book" Barns of Summers County...West Virginia Heritage"  was my passion, to preserve the history of the barns, the people who built them and stories they recall; chronicling West Virginia farm life.  I passionately believe that the heritage, the culture, and more importantly, the people who created the barns are treasures that must be preserved for future generations.

There are  756 miles of roads in Summers County, over 200 are not maintained.
 When I began the project in the fall of 2008 I was determined to travel them all in search of barns built before 1950.  Every passable road has  been canvassed and where possible, every barn has been included.  

Since the book launching at the restored 1929  Ritz Theatre in Hinton on November 15, 2011 we have books in 32 states, District of Columbia, Canada, France and Thailand.   Early sales provided funds to purchase a used book mobile to use around the county. The library folks are reaching out to grade schools, nursing homes and to people who cannot visit the library in town.

Sales have been great and some comments are shared with you in the "About the Book" section.

Be sure to read about my NEW BOOK at  photographeronhorseback.com  featuring over 230 photographs by John C. Wikel in the early 1900s in southern West Virginia.

Like an old fashioned "barn raisin' " you are invited, not to raise the sides of a building, but to help raise awareness of the importance of preservation …… of our barns, the history of the people as well as our libraries.  Proceeds from the sale of the Barn book  go to the Summers County Public Library. Profits from the Photographer's book will go to the Summers County Historical Society.    When you purchase the Barn  book you will know you are supporting another American icon – our public library system.  Order your books today.  Details for ordering are  right here on this web site.

I hope you will visit this sight often and share it with your friends. I will do my best to give you updates and different photos as the work continues.  

Aside from the people we love, we seem to have so few “passions” in life. How fortunate I am to be doing something that continues to fill  me with such a great passion.   

                                                    Wishing you a life filled with your own passion
                                                                  Phyllis Campbell Whitley
                                                                     The  Barn Lady of Summers County 
  
All photographs and text © 2009-2011 by Phyllis Campbell Whitley. All rights reserved. No personal or commercial use, reproduction or republishing in any media without prior written consent.   

Technical assistance provided by Chuck Gray, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA
Editorial assistance provided by Helene Halstead, Athens, GA and A. C. Whitley, Spotsylvania, VA