Greene County Magazine - Summer 2024

Volunteers refresh Dreamer

Memorial Cemetery in time for Memorial Day

New coffee shop opens in Waynesburg

Humble Carpet celebrates 50 years in business

4

Wild ramps: An Appalachian culinary treasure

6

Generational milestones worth remembering: Humble Carpet celebrates 50 years

10

Relax and refuel: Hilltop Packs Coffee opens coffee shop in Waynesburg

13 A Dreamer’s Dream revisited

the cover

DREAM A LITTLE (OR BIG) DREAM

I am so excited to bring you this edition of Greene County Magazine. It is a spectacular magazine showcasing this community’s growth and camaraderie. C.R. Nelson brings us the cover story. Nelson has a knack for finding engaging stories that no one else really could. It comes from a deep love of her home, insatiable curiosity, respect for the land and people and dedicated community involvement. When she’s writing a story, there’s usually some piece of her in it because she is so involved and connected in Greene County. She knows the history, and if she doesn’t know it herself, she knows who does or where to find it. This cover story is a thoroughly reported love letter to Dreamer Park, a monument, graveyard and memorial abandoned for several decades, nearly straddling the West Virginia line. The park has recently been restored to its intended glory, thanks to volunteers and a resident who realized that if someone was going to do it, it would be her.

We highlight another doer in this publication: Ben McMillen. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with Ben several times while working at the Observer-Reporter, mainly when I was based in Greene County. My fondest memory is kayaking on Ten Mile Creek with him in 2018. At the time, McMillen said he searched the internet for information on kayaking locally and couldn’t find it, so he decided to curate it himself. He collected water level data, safety information and more and built a website to promote exploring Greene County via kayak. That’s his modus operandi with all his numerous business ventures. He talked to Jill Thurston about his varied work history, as he’s recently opened a coffee shop in Waynesburg that “roasts, grinds and brews” his Hilltop Packs Coffee brews. The shop is just off Waynesburg University’s campus, so it’s perfect for college students studying, remote workers needing a place to set up, or anyone that likes a quality cup of joe and a snack. Check it out next time you’re in the area. As a self-appointed coffee snob, it gets my seal of approval. As always, thank you so much for reading. Take care, stay safe and see you in the next edition.

Photo by C.R. Nelson

The Patriots Dream Motorcycle Club came to put flags on the freshly refurbished Dreamers Monument near Majorsville in time for Memorial Day weekend.

WILD RAMPS: AN APPALACHIAN CULINARY TREASURE

By Lisa Lewis, PSU Extension Master Gardener

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are a member of the spring ephemeral family, meaning they produce their above-ground growth (leaves, flowers and seeds) in the interval following snowmelt and before the overhead forest canopy fully leafs out and blocks the sunlight they need to grow and reproduce. Ramps are native to the eastern United States and grow abundantly in the forests of Pennsylvania and surrounding states. They grow particularly on the eastern and northern slopes of deciduous forests with a limestone bedrock where the soil provides the nutrients, moisture and pH level they need to thrive. There, they proliferate in patches of hundreds and even thousands. The presence of sugar maples and blue cohosh often signify that ramps are to be found.

Ramps have smooth, green leaves that rarely grow more than a foot tall and emerge in April, followed by stems or scapes on which clusters of white flowers grow. These flower umbels look like small snowballs atop the stems. When fertilized,

these flowers form berries that ripen into capsules that drop a black seed. Older plants produce more leaves than young ones. The top growth emerges from the energy-storing bulb that sits just below the soil’s surface. Ramps are slow-growing, typically not producing flowers until five to seven years old. Crushing their leaves releases a fragrance described as a cross between an onion and garlic, their close relatives in the allium or amaryllis family (Amaryllidacae). This fragrance can readily distinguish them from lilies of the valley and false hellebore (Veratrum viride), which they closely resemble but are not edible and indeed poisonous.

For many in Appalachia, ramps are one of the plants that announce the arrival of spring. Attending a ramp festival, usually held in late April, like the one held in Mason Dixon Park south of Mount Morris, presents an opportunity to savor ramps in a variety of foods and preparations.

Photo courtesy of Canva

Charlemagne Adamson

Stephen Adamson

Brock Bayles

Braden Benke

Allexis Berdine

Addison Blair

Zach Brewer

Theresa Eggleston

Daniel Hetrick

Thomas Higley

Gavin Husenits

Adysan Kern

Emma Kindervater

Hannah Knutsen

Benjamin Maxwell

Kasie Meek

Chloe Mitchell

Alexa Mori

Celia Parson

Jacob Patterson

Erin Richmond

Kaley Rohanna

Ella Scott

Taylor Sibert

Alayna Simon

Ava Simons

Alexis Spitznogle

Andrew Vanata

Dylan Wilson

Breydon Woods

Courtesy of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce Humble Carpet is celebrating its 50th anniversary this June.

From left, on the floor: Tessa McAllen, Emily McAllen and Eli Humble; back: Ben Humble, Elizabeth (Humble) McAllen, Rebecca Humble and Johnny Bill (Weaser) Humble; in the photo on the banner: John Humble Sr., Weaser Humble and Danny Humble.

Generational milestones worth remembering: Humble Carpet celebrates 50 years

By Sarah Calvert Greene County Chamber of Commerce executive assistant

Every day, our member businesses unlock their doors and smile because it’s a day worth celebrating, but they never forget the day they unlocked the door for the first time. Some clearly remember what occurred on that specific day a year ago or 10 years ago. For others, it comes from the passing down of stories the generations before them have shared. What day is it, you ask? It’s Anniversary Day.

Greene County is known for its ancestral running of longtime events and generational businesses. Though the buildings and faces sometimes change, these member businesses stand the test of time. Iconically, every one of them is well known for its name, customer service and products, as well as the ability to be and stay involved in the community as times have changed.

However, knowing the business’s name is not the same as knowing a business. To know a business is to have a conversation with the people who make it what it is. It’s the people inside who help a business be known. Whether they be owners or part-time employees, these faces and friendly conversations bring a comfortable and anticipated return to those who walk through the doors of local businesses.

It’s fascinating to hear about the history of these businesses. When passing through town, you see them, but hearing how they came to be and where they wish to go is one of the richest parts of living in Greene County. Many Greene County natives take great pride in the longstanding tradition and heritage of supporting locally owned and operated family businesses passed down through generations.

Humble Carpet, for example, opened in March 1974. John Humble and his son Danny started the business at that time, and it was then known as Humble & Son’s Carpet. This operation began with offering steam cleaning, wallpaper, paint, tent rentals, vacuums, window treatments, flooring and installation. Their dream “was to offer something very special to this town.” Though operations began in March, the official grand opening of their storefront didn’t take place until later in 1974. The business consisted of just four people: John, his two sons, Johnny and Danny, and a secretary.

Just as June is the business’s 50th anniversary, it’s also the 50th anniversary of the current owner, Johnny Humble, as an employee/owner. After his father offered him a third partnership, he gave up a full athletic scholarship in track to start working for the business right out of high school on June 1, 1974. John and Danny have since passed, and John-

ny has now been the sole owner for 29 years. Throughout that time, Johnny considers the most significant challenge since taking ownership, “We are known for our superior quality workmanship, so it has been difficult to find and keep good workers who meet those standards. Thankfully, we have the best at present.”

With the challenges of owning a generational, family-run business come great triumphs as well. When asked what his greatest achievement of being owner has been, Johnny remarks, “Having my wife (Rebecca) and two children (Elizabeth and Ben) working with me.”

Fifty years makes for countless memories, but he says his favorite was when he started at 19. It was his first sale, and he said, “I’ll never forget that feeling of selling an entire house of carpet for the first time.” After that interaction, John told Johnny that the customer had been to other stores in Morgantown and Washington. Still, they chose Humble Carpet because Johnny had relayed more knowledge than any of the other stores.

As Johnny gathers with the community, friends, and family on June 14 to celebrate 50 years in business, he also looks towards the future of Humble Carpet & Decorating. Johnny noted he is “working to expand more into kitchen and bath, offering our customers the quality work of a small business but also a one-stop shop for cabinetry, fixtures and everything else involved.”

Our county is filled with gems like this one, hidden right in front of us. Small business owners take pride in who they are and what they do, all while honoring and upholding the traditions of those who came before them. Whether it’s a five-month or a 30th anniversary, feel encouraged the next time you walk through a business’ doors to take a minute and soak up our region’s rich history. Owning and operating a small, generational or local business is not for the faint of heart, but each has a greater goal and should be celebrated no matter the achievement length. Support and appreciation for our local businesses encourage them to forge through tough times and celebrate more through the easy ones. They cherish those customers more than we know. Ask some questions to learn why they’re here and what visions and efforts they’re striving toward to make our home the most wonderful place possible.

Relax and refuel: Hilltop Packs Coffee opens coffee shop in Waynesburg

By Jill Thurston

The grass doesn’t grow for long under Ben McMillen’s feet. His robust love of learning has led him to start numerous businesses over the years. From deejaying, making backpacks and hiking gear, to photography, and most recently, coffee, he admittedly has “bounced around” several different industries.

“People tend to get confused when I go a different direction, but I always have something going on, and sometimes it works out,” McMillen, 51, said.

RGB Coffee, short for “roast, grind, brew,” had humble beginnings.

McMillien wanted to put a coffee shop for employees in the location where he produces backpack gear on Greene Street

in Waynesburg, called Hilltop Packs. “I wanted to put in a coffee area just for them, where they could sit down, make their own drinks, have their lunch. Then I thought it would be neat if we actually roasted our own coffee and made our own bags and labels and just had some fun with it.”

McMillen said he, along with his aunt, Bridget Vilenica, invested in equipment and started a coffee roastery. “It ended up being a bigger hit than we expected,” said McMillen. “It started out just for the employees, but then it worked out really well locally with a pretty strong customer base.” Hilltop Packs, located at 1006 E. Greene Street, roasts “ethically and responsibly sourced” beans from about 14 different countries

RGB Coffee is located at 30 N. Washington St., Waynesburg, just off Waynesburg University’s campus.

Photo courtesy of RGB Coffee

Ben McMillen with his wife, Kailee, at the grand opening of RGB Coffee.

for light, medium, dark and decaffeinated roasts that can be purchased by the bag, whole bean, ground, and even delivered locally. K-cups are also available. It’s the only coffee roaster in Greene County.

After two years, McMillen said his aunt retired, and he began to look for a space to open a full coffee shop with an espresso bar. RGB had its grand opening at 30 N. Washington Street in Waynesburg on Nov. 21, 2023. Manager Deneen Rhodes of Mather, Pa., has been with RGB since the opening. Rhodes compares McMillen’s energy to a high-speed train. “There’s never a dull moment. He has multiple businesses and is pulled in different directions. I really don’t know when he sleeps.” She sees him as a marketing guru. “He has great ideas, and he puts his ideas to work,” she said.

McMillen admits to being on “hyperspeed” most of the time, even without coffee. “I’m a curious person, and I’ve done a lot of things in my life. I dropped out of college the first day of school. I signed up for classes (California University of Pennsylvania), went to orientation, drove halfway there the first day, pulled over, cried a little and then went home and said, ‘This isn’t for me.’ But I love learning. I’m on hyperspeed all the time, and when I get into something, I just keep going and learn everything I possibly can.”

He finds the roasting process fascinating. “It’s more complicated and intricate than you would expect. But it’s also easier than I thought it would be. Once you get the roasting process down, you create profiles and can use a computer to track all the settings. It’s not bad once you get it figured out. There’s a lot to it, but it’s not rocket science,” he said.

In addition to coffee, RBG offers bagels (RBG could also stand for “really good bagels” according to McMillan) and pastries. “It is a cool place,” said Rhodes. “There’s something new every day. It’s never boring. There is no other comparable place in Waynesburg.” The dining area serves a gathering place throughout the day, from college students to remote workers and even short meetings.

Recently added is an event room for patrons to use. RGB holds events, including coffee tastings, book signings with local authors, craft classes and vendor events. For a listing, visit RGB’s Facebook page.

McMillen gives credit to the people who work for him. “I have a lot of good people who work for me. Diane runs the roastery, Deneen runs the coffee shop and Amy runs the backpacking business.” His wife Kailee runs their photography studio, McMillen Photography, which McMillen says has been his main business for the last 30 years.

“I get to do the fun stuff, product designs, coffee profiles before roasting. I built out the coffee shop and coffee bar. Learning all of that stuff is part of the fun. Just the journey of getting the place open was a lot of fun for me,” McMillen said.

RGB is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, visit rgbcoffee.com

A view of the seating area of RGB Coffee during the cafe’s grand opening.

A Dreamer’s dream revisited

Story and photos by C.R. Nelson

What’s in a name? When it comes to the mysterious I. N. Dreamer (1859-1935), change Dreamer to D’Reamer, change those initials to Isaac Newton, and you might find a patriot whose family roots go back to the American Revolution, perhaps even to the enlightened thinkers of that day.

Little is known about I. N. Dreamer the person; he left no obituary, and no family photos have been found. But he did leave a will and an amazingly improbable dream.

One look at the 35-foot granite obelisk topped by an eagle with a four-foot wingspan perched high above the narrow, winding road to Majorsville, W.Va., and you know you’ve found it. This is the dream that I.N. Dreamer — “Newt” to his neighbors in Richhill Township — willed into existence in 1934 but never managed to care for after his death.

According to the newspaper articles, wills and obituaries on file at Cornerstone Genealogical Society in Waynesburg, this reportedly reclusive, kind and wealthy old bachelor farmer stipulated that two monuments “the best to be purchased for $5000 apiece” would be placed on a remote acre of the township that hugs the line between Greene County and West Virginia. The 55,000 pound obelisk on a seven foot base would honor “soldiers and sailors” who fought for the ideals of freedom and democracy: The American Revolution 177581, “Bravely they fought and founded a nation”; the Civil War 1861-65, “Preserved their purpose to free the slaves and preserve the Union of States; the Spanish American War 1898,

”to help an Oppressed People - Theirs a Successful War “ and lastly, “The World War 1917-18 On Land, Sea or Air At Home or Abroad They Served Heroically - Erected in their Memory.” The land was also to be used as a final resting place “of the poor in this community who are unable to purchase a place to be buried.”

The other monument, a massive rectangle of stone with DREAMER engraved on it, would stand guard over the graves of himself, sister Rebecca and mother Rosanna, “who would be removed from Lazier Cemetery” where she and Isaac Dreamer (1780-1854) were buried. Isaac’s father, Isaac D’reamer (1753-1803), lived and died in Bedford County, Pa., and fought in the Revolutionary War.

The rest of the estate, valued at more than $28,000 — an astounding sum in those Depression years — would be used to maintain Dreamer Memorial Cemetery in perpetuity.

When Rebecca, 79, died of pneumonia on March 15, 1935, and Newt, 76, succumbed to it as well on March 24, his executors made his dream come true in record time. The stones were cut by crafters in Vermont and put in place by local businesses. Microfilm clippings note that more than 500 persons attended the dedication that year on September 14, with James Farrell Post of the American Legion in charge, Judge Challen W. Wychoff as master of ceremonies and many signs on the back country roads “to show the way to the burial grounds.”

Over 30 parents, teachers and students from Speiro Academy of Fine Arts and Ministry in Martins Ferry, Ohio, assisted with the cleanup. Savannah Lilly pours mulch around the monument.

beautified by the Ross Hill Garden Club. Speaker Judge Glenn Toothman pointed out that the monumental community effort to restore this “place of relaxation and contemplation” showed that “we share one man’s vision, we share a community pride and we share a community’s purpose.”

Unfortunately, within a year, the “only heirs of law entitled to participate in the distribution of the estate of I.N. Dreamer” would contest the will to claim the balance of the estate on a technicality. Since the will did not assign an entity to set up the cemetery association to maintain the park, that provision was null and void.

The courts agreed, and the Dreamer Memorial Cemetery was left to the elements.

As the Depression years segued into the undreamed-of reality of World War II, nature reclaimed its own. There would be no other graves added, poor or otherwise, to this now abandoned cemetery.

When nationally known historical writer Earle K. Forrest went looking for it in 1953, the eagle was barely visible above a thicket of locust, sumac, poison ivy and brambles. When Forrest finally found the rutted lane leading to the cemetery, he wrote: “It was painfully evident that no vehicle of any kind had passed over it since the monument had been dedicated.”

But thanks to that high-flying eagle, the memory of Dreamer’s dream would never die.

Mary Jane Dinsmore Kent, who grew up on a nearby farm, remembers, “Every time we drove up or down that hill, we had to peer through the trees and see the eagle. It was very important to Daddy that we saw the eagle every time.”

When the County of Greene officially took over stewardship from the Morris family and rededicated “Dreamer Park” on July 14, 1969, more than 300 attended. The land had been re-hewn from the wilderness by volunteers of the Warrior Trail Association and Richhill Township supervisors and then

Still, with no funds specifically earmarked for this isolated acre of county park, the next 50-some years of maintenance would fall to neighbors, paid for a season or two of upkeep and county and township employees working it into their schedules to mow and keep the forest at bay. It would be the occasional volunteers who swapped out flags as they tattered, then stayed awhile to contemplate the obelisk and its eagle, hovering over a breathtaking view of Enlow Valley.

“When we moved here in 1983, I had no idea Dreamer Park existed. I drove right past it on my way to work, and for years, I kept saying to myself, someone really ought to be taking better care of Mr. Dreamer’s dream!”

Charlotte McMillen was taking a break from the bustle of getting Dreamer Park ready for Memorial Day 2024. For her, the epiphany of — So who’s going to do it? — came when she realized it was her dream to fulfill. “I love this quote from Goethe: ‘At the moment of commitment, the entire universe conspires to assist you,’” she told me, beaming, as we watched the beehive of activity around us. “We’re sowing seeds with these children. Our name for what we’re doing is DEFT: making this a place to Dream, Educate, find Freedom and Teach.”

Charlotte and Mark McMillen with the Dreamer tombstone.

Avenlea Therrien and Brylee Woods place painted rocks around the park.

Charlotte and her husband Mark were here with a vanload of more than 30 parents, teachers and students from Speiro Academy of Fine Arts and Ministry in Martins Ferry, Ohio, who had come to help make the makeover happen.

“We’ve pretty much nailed it!” Charlotte declared, and I agreed. Dreamer Park had been transformed from a rippling hayfield into a classic war memorial by adults mowing and bagging clippings and kids working in teams to pick up sticks, plant flowers, spread mulch and distribute clusters of hand-painted rocks where they saw fit. It was hands-on learning at its best.

Husband Mark was one big smile under his ball cap. As a private contractor with his own business, he chose the name DEFT for the foundation he envisions from his favorite wood finish. “We’re here to protect, preserve and complete. We’ll continue to make Mr. Dreamer’s dream pristine again and see what else the county wants us to do. We’re here to encourage others.”

Caring for the park will be an ongoing project for the McMillens and the Academy, a volunteer army of all ages willing to make improvements one cheerful, teachable moment at a time. Contacting the Greene County commissioners and the county’s parks and recreation department for permission and advice was an important first step this year. “They were so excited that we were volunteering to do this! Now that we’ve gotten their approval, we’ve been contacted by some of those companies asking if they can help.” Charlotte gestured to the skyline of compression station infrastructure on the West Virginia side of the hill beside the gravel lane. “We’re excited and very hopeful about what could happen next.”

My part in this improbable dream started with replacing the obelisk’s decidedly tattered flags before Independence Day, 2021. For those of us who live here, Dreamer Park is an unforgettable destination for a back-road country

drive, a place to take friends to be amazed, a place to tell others about. This year, I suddenly realized that the Patriot’s Dream Riding Association was perfectly named to do flag duty and was delighted when club president Aaron Ketchem said heck yes! It would be the club’s first run of the season. I was astonished and doubly delighted when Charlotte texted me about their upcoming workday on May 13 and invited me out to see for myself. Heck yes! I would also be scouting the best route for the Patriot’s Dream to take and get a flag-count for them that would include the four smaller markers on the grounds that Dreamer dedicated to soldiers, sailors, marines and nurses. And, of course, flags for the three Dreamers who slumber here.

Goethe’s quote rode with us three days later, when threats of rain held off, and 17 bikes and trikes met me in Graysville for a breathtaking evening run. We navigated the sharp right turn at the top of the hill where Sawmill Road intersects with State Route 21, then followed the rolling, see-forever ridges above Enlow Valley to Dinsmore Crossroads, then down Day Road to Dreamer Park. The McMillens were there to welcome us and explain their project. As flags were placed and group photos were taken, the evening sun drew halos around us, and we were held spellbound by the magic of the moment. As the motors began to rumble for the ride back, I heard one driver yell to another, “Man, I wonder how they got that monument all the way here on these roads!”

Some of us, including the McMillens, would return on Memorial Day to bring closure to the serendipitous chain of events that brought us together. The morning sun was competing with the wind as we added a few more flags around I.N. Dreamer’s big stone, then held hands and said a few words of prayer. Then, we stayed awhile to fully absorb what Earle K. Forrester described when he first saw the eagle “with widespread wings - the emblem of American Liberty since the days of the Revolution.”

Charlotte McMillen touches up the Dreamer monument.

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Is it your grandkids trying to ride a bike or fido wanting to go for walks? At WHS Center for Orthopedic Excellence, we offer a wide variety of orthopedic services, all tailored to fit your specific needs.

Is it your grandkids trying to ride a bike or fido wanting to go for walks? At WHS Center for Orthopedic Excellence, we offer a wide variety of orthopedic services, all tailored to fit your specific needs.

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Don’t let pain or injuries stop you any longer. Take your first step towards recovery and a more active life.

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Don’t let pain or injuries stop you any longer. Take your first step towards recovery and a more active life.

Make an appointment today. 724-206-0610 | whs.org/ortho

Don’t let pain or injuries stop you any longer. Take your first step towards recovery and a more active life.

Make an appointment today. 724-206-0610 | whs.org/ortho

Make an appointment today. 724-206-0610 | whs.org/ortho

Make an appointment today. 724-206-0610 | whs.org/ortho

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