The Potomac is a river in North America. It stretches from the Fairfax Stone in West Virgina to Point Lookout, Maryland. It travels through Cumberland, Maryland, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and, finally, to Washington, D.C. It's not an exceptionally long river (383 miles), however, it has had an impact on millions of people.

If you would, permit this aged, old man (a senior by today's standards) to take you to a few spots on the river of yesteryear.

Our first stop is Kitzmiller, Maryland about 15 miles East of the river's beginning. Kitzmiller is my home town.

When I was a kid in the 50s, the town had a population of about 600. The population was about half-Anglo and half-Souther European. Many Italians, Hungarians, Russians and others immigrated in the early part of the 20th century and would up working in coal mines in nearby West Virginia and Maryland.

During my childhood, the area was experiencing a wind down of coal production in the area. Hence, the population dwindled almost every year. Today, there are about 300 souls there.

It was a town of vibrant, resourceful people. It was an era when one could leave one's door unlocked. It was a time when you could buy dynamite at the local store for projects and carry your shotgun in the post-office with no hassle. The last item was during hunting season.

The Potomac at that time was yellow! The effulence from the coal mines made the water polluted and there were no fish. Fortunately, through the years, the river has been reclaimed. Today, there are fish in the river in Kitzmiller.

There was a flood on the Potomac in the 50s-a product of Hurricane Hazel. A portion of the town was wiped out. Fortunately, there were no deaths.

A flood wall was built for the Army Corp of Engineers shortly after this flood. It served the town well for about twenty years.

Another flood in 1985 flooded the home place to about two feet of water in the first floor. Part of East Main Street was gone and had to be rebuilt. As far as I know, there were no casualties. Bob Teets has a fine photo book of the 85 flood. I'm sure you can find it on the web.

My observations are from my book, Orphans of the Wind, also available on the web.

Another fascinating look of river life is Colored People by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Dr. Gates has written about his childhood of growing up in Piedmont, West Virginia. Piedmont is about 10 mile down the river from Kitzmiller. Dr. Gates details the hardships and joys of growing up "black" in a small town. It is an thoroughly enjoyable and readable personal memoir that has no equal in its genre.

Piedmont was a paper mill town and it smelled like it. I remember the stench of the mill while travelling through that area. In fact, when I was a child, there was no vegetation on the hill behing the mill. The smell reminded me of liquid manure and sulfuric acid combined!

Dr. Gates' book is enlightening of an era that touched so many with prejudice, yet left others alone. You will marvel at the strength of the Gates family and the integrity and beauty of good people. This is a well-known book and if you haven't read it. Get busy! Colored People is available at many sites on the web.

About the time, Dr. Gates was two years old, a 6 year old girl was in an orphanage in Washington, D.C. Nita, the daughter of a Filipino immigrant was being raised by the Sisters of Charity.

Her story, along the Potomac, begins when she and her younger sister are taken from their comfortable home with relative on Capitol Hill to live in an institution.

The Potomac, even then, was a source of recreation and reflection. Perhaps not as crowded along the river bank but full of people appreciating the ageless river.

She describes the era well in her book, Forever in our Hears. Additionally, details the struggle of immigrants in her second book, Say Uncle! Life in DC with my Filipino Uncles. Again, available on the web.

Three people, one famous and two not-so-famous give you a glimpse of a time that will never be again. There are many more references concerning life along the Potomac that would be beneficial in your study of the Potomac. I do hope that you will research life along the Potomac more thoroughly for your own benefit.

The stories you will uncover will be as fascinating as the endless river that flows to the Capital.

G. M. Smith live near Kearneysville, West Virginia. He holds a B.A. for the University of New York, Albany. One book-Orphans of the Wind and several essays.