Img source: wvmetronews.com
May 17, 2024 Story by: Editor
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — On Thursday, the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) dedicated an essential water line to John Edwards, a former slave and African-American entrepreneur.
More than 20 Edwards family members from across the country attended the dedication ceremony along Don Knotts Boulevard in Morgantown.
The four-mile, 30-inch raw water line, running from the Flegal Reservoir to the MUB Water Treatment Plant on Don Knotts Boulevard, now honors Edwards by bearing his name.
MUB General Manager Mike McNulty explained that this water line provides the community with a crucial 30-day supply of fresh water in case of a disaster similar to the 2014 Elk River chemical spill in Charleston. Currently, the line is operational and delivers 10 million gallons of fresh water to the system daily.
McNulty emphasized that naming the line after Edwards was a fitting tribute. “He started a water business,” McNulty said. “He hauled water from the Monongahela River and Deckers Creek to customers, charging slightly more for Deckers Creek due to the additional effort required.”
Edwards operated his water service from 1865 until around 1885, when the city established its own water utility. His son subsequently started a successful garbage business that thrived for over three decades before the city took over sanitation services.
Ed Bolden, Edwards’ great-great-grandson, recalled that upon returning from Vietnam in 1969, his first stop was the Edwards family home on White Avenue to visit his great-grandmother. He credited the lessons learned from his ancestors for his life successes.
“If you fall, get up and try it again until you succeed,” Bolden said during the ceremony. “Give advice to young people and help those who are struggling.” Source: Wvmetronews.com
Greenmont resident Adelheid Schaupp now owns the property that belonged to James Edwards, John’s son, built adjacent to the original family home on White Avenue. During school segregation, the large Edwards family home served as a school for African-American children. Schaupp has renovated the home, and artifacts discovered there are now housed at the West Virginia Regional History Center at West Virginia University.
“There was an old desk, an old chalkboard, and numerous ledgers where James kept records of the garbage business,” Schaupp said.
Pamela Bellamy, another great-great-granddaughter, reminisced about visiting the family on White Avenue during her childhood. Now living in Indianapolis, Bellamy often stops in Morgantown on her way home.
“It was wonderful and brought back a lot of memories,” Bellamy said. “On White Avenue, we visited many family members’ homes, which was always a lot of fun.”
Bolden also shared that the home on White Avenue, which once served as a segregated school, was a hub for community activities.
“They even showed movies there at one time,” Bolden recalled. “I remember watching movies and playing at the school as a child.”
