Create West Virginia

There is always something creative brewing in Morgan County: 

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ---- As part of Back To Our Roots, its yearlong celebration of American roots arts, the Morgan Arts Council (MAC) of Berkeley Springs is conducting a local Music Census. An original census form has been developed and is available to anyone who lives in Morgan County and sings or plays music. Family members may also fill out the checklist of nine questions and provide the information about any past musicians.

"There are questions about everything from what type of instrument you play to where you learned music," says Jeanne Mozier who created the notion of the Census. "We're hoping to end up with a data base of at least 1000 people," she says, "everyone from kids in garage bands to grandmothers who sing in the church choir. All types of music are included."

As information is collected, it becomes the basis for more in-depth interviews with some musicians and singers as well as opportunities to be recorded or to perform. Fiddler and old time musician, Joe Herrmann, is directing the interview part of the project with the help of Roots committee member and newspaper editor, John Douglas.

"I sought help for this project from Gerry Milnes, West Virginia's most noted musical archivist," said Mozier. "He said he'd never heard of a project like a countywide music census being done before."

The Music Census is part of the documentation segment of Back To Our Roots. All the collected Census data is to be organized and posted
on www.macicehouse.org. "It's exciting to think that Morgan County may be the first place to have its musical profile visible to the world,"
says Mozier.  Music Census forms are available at the Ice House office, the Morgan County Library, the Star Theatre, the Morgan Messenger and at all MAC events as well as online.

Mozier has already received the first completed census form. "Joe Lillard is a classic example of a porch musician," she says. "He plays old time fiddle. His business is also sponsoring the Music Census."

The Music Census and Roots documentation project are sponsored by Homeopathy Works and funded in part by grants from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. For a full schedule of all Back To Our Roots activities from January to June, check online at www.macicehouse.org or call 304-258-2300.