By Shari Johnson, Publisher
Over the past few years, I’ve had several opportunities to meet the new families that are moving into Calhoun County. Multiple families from multiple states, and it always caused me multiple musings as to why they’d move to Calhoun County. What would draw anyone to a small county, with little to do by way of entertainment and very little choice in where to purchase your goods. I know why I live here, but why would they want to? So I decided that I’d do a series on some of the wonderful people who have now become our neighbors and deserve an official “Houner” title.
My first interview was with the Gerlach family, David, Susan, Madison and Rylie. I met David Gerlach and his daughter Rylie, at the Calhoun Chamber of Commerce Meeting. I love people that are forthright. You don’t have to wonder what they’re thinking, because they’ll just tell you. I also love parents who bring their children along and involve them in local events. She too was confident in her speaking and so respectful. She was aware of current events, and it was obvious that she liked her new home as well, even joining the Historical Society.
The Gerlach’s live down Barns Run Road, through Dennis Fork, and onto Hughes Fork. A place I’m very familiar with because it’s not far from Cremo Church where my brother Leonard and cousin Karen attend church. I’ve been there many times. But how did they get here? And from Pittsburg of all places.
When I ask Mr. Gerlach that question, he said, “I come from the north side of Pittsburg, the friendly side. Or at least it used to be. Until a young pregnant woman in their neighborhood was shot and killed. “We heard the gun shots. I was interviewed on the local news.” It was then that the Gerlach family began to reevaluate their address. The neighborhood he had brought his family up in had changed, they were no longer safe there.
But how did they discover Calhoun County? Through Zillow. A real estate website that many people turn to because of it’s wide coverage. They knew that they wanted to be within three hours of Pittsburg, his wife didn’t care for snow, and the price needed to be comparable to what their home sold for. When they put in their preferences, Calhoun County came up. They made an appointment to view the property and they fully believed that God had led them to this place. The land was right, everything was in abundance compared to what they’d had in Pittsburg. So the Gerlach family settled in to country life, with dogs and chickens and all the things that go with them.
They loved their new community. He said he liked the “Mayberry atmosphere” that Calhoun has and especially the low crime. “I loved going into town,” David said.
Then Covid hit. Those of us who have lived in Calhoun for many years know how that event upset the balance of our world. It was no different for the Gerlach family, except they had yet to figure out how they were going to make a living, and suddenly everything was shut down.
David began making cutting boards, he got a soldering iron and crafted some things for a local craft show at the Arnoldsburg School. He did very well and kept growing his business into furniture and pageant awards. He began to be noticed by some of the locals and someone tagged him in a Facebook post for a wooden sign that needed repaired in Grantsville. He taught himself laser wood working and his business continues to grow, with his latest project being the new street signs in Grantsville. He likes the thought of taking a tree from being in the ground to the final product. He contributes his success to connecting with people “right up front.” People like City Councilwoman Judy Powell.
The town that the Gerlach’s came from was comparable to Parkersburg in size. It was a suburb of Pittsburg, with plenty of conveniences just minutes away from their home. Convenience was a worthwhile trade for them when it came to how the government dealt with the shooting in their neighborhood. Gerlach said they (the city) did have an emergency meeting, but unfortunately the leaders were worried more about their titles being known than the issue. He was very frustrated. He recently attended a Calhoun County Commission meeting to see how the government of his new community handled the matters of business. He had heard of the issues with Emergency Services, and he wanted to know more. He was impressed with Minnie Hamilton’s handling of the EMS crisis in the community. He said “they had a plan, people in place.” In the community he came from, there was no plan.
Property tax is another differing aspect of where he came from. While he spends more money on gas to get to the places he needs to get to, it was another trade worthy of making.
I asked David Gerlach what had been the biggest blessing in moving to Calhoun. He told me that he loves the community spirit of Calhoun and West Virginia as a whole. The people who live here are happy to be from here. It helps my business that I’m from West Virginia because people want West Virginia made products.
If you see Mr. Gerlach and his family around the community, say hello, they’re easy to talk to. And if you have a need for some beautiful handmade wood products, check out his Facebook page and contact him for more information about having your own piece of West Virginia.
Pittsburgh