Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The sounds of leaves crunching underfoot and the whistle of the steam engine were joined by the sounds of old-time tunes at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park last week with the return of the Augusta Heritage Center Old-Time Retreat.
The five-day event included classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and singing, as well as special programs showcasing the history of old-time music and the songs that have stood the test of time.
When they weren’t in class, the musicians were spending time in the Cass Company Houses, or in the front yards, in a jam circle.
Last Friday, during one of those jam circle sessions, the musicians shared why they chose old-time music and how they learned about the retreat.
First time attendee Catherine Janky, of northern New York, by way of New Orleans, said she ran into Augusta staff member Rachel Eddy at another music camp and was inspired to make the trek to Cass for a new experience.
“It fell on my October break, so I thought I would come down,” she said. “It’s just wonderful. It’s so much fun to meet up with people and play music together. It’s a very welcoming community.”
Janky began playing music as a child, but didn’t pick up old-time until 12 years ago. She started playing fiddle seven years ago. She said she loves the community aspect of the genre and how it brings people together.
“When you’re all coming together and trying to sync up and play together to create this sound – this groove – when everyone is together,” she said, “I really love the community aspect of it.”
The other musicians agreed that the feeling of community is prevalent at retreats such as this. And having the beautiful backdrop of West Virginia mountains and the historic town of Cass as the setting was a great draw, as well.
Casey Mullen, of Downington, Pennsylvania, said she loves driving through the fall colors in the mountains as she travels to the retreat.
“I’ve come every year that it’s been here in Cass.”
Mullen has played fiddle for 15 years and used to play Irish music until he attended an old-time jam.
“I thought it would be good for ear training and fell in love with the music and the community aspect of it,” he said. “The people and the music go together.”
Banjo player Ken May, of Columbia, South Carolina, has attended the Cass retreat every year, as well as several events in Elkins hosted by Augusta. May said he enjoyed the atmosphere and history surrounding Cass that lends itself so well to the retreat.
“This is the birthplace of a lot of this music, and it’s so cool to come here and play it,” he said.
May has been a lifelong musician and was in a band right after college. He took a break from music for a while and a year before he retired, he picked up where he left off after he purchased a banjo.
“I bought this banjo and started playing,” he said. “It’s sort of become my obsession.”
Chris Stienson, of Northern Virginia, has also attended several Augusta events in Elkins, as well as this retreat in Cass. He was drawn to old-time music because of the unity he feels with fellow musicians as they play.
“Old-time, to me, is community music,” he said. “You just get together and play together for yourselves, principally. Of course, you can play at dances and in front of other people, but that’s kind of the appeal to me with old-time. It’s very inclusive and everyone gets a chance to play regardless of level and you don’t have to put on a solo.”
Stienson added that attending retreats and music camps like this has become something of a reunion through the years.
“I start seeing the same people and you develop connections at every camp,” he said. “It’s all part of the experience.”
Also taking part in the experience as a student was Pocahontas County’s own Mary Sue Burns, who is well known as the banjo player for Juanita Fireball and the Continental Drifters – among other things – but at the retreat, she was a fiddle player.
Burns has attended the Cass retreat for several years to hone her fiddle skills and spend time with fellow musicians. Although she lives a half hour away, Burns said she likes to stay at the company houses with the other attendees because it’s part of the retreat.
Augusta Heritage Center is located on the Davis & Elkins College campus in Elkins and focuses on educational events that celebrate the history and culture of West Virginia.
For more information, visit augustaartsandculture.org