The Spiker Family Gathering Place

     Other people in the community were starting to take notice of Jake and Gay's courtship. And apparently, some of that courting took place at the Court House Cave in Harrisville, Ritchie County, West Virginia. 

     We couldn't find the cave on the map so we asked others for help in learning more about this popular local hang-out. Here is what we discovered.

     Bobbi Spiker-Conley
     Editor - The Spiker Family Gazette

     October 2020 - American Flag is installed at the South Fork Church Cemetery.

     November 2020 - A shoebox stuffed with letters and cards addressed to our grandparents, Jake Spiker and Gay Zinn is opened and the contents revealed. Follow along as we open their "Courting Letters" from 1905 through 1907.

     December 2020 - Gay sends first Christmas Greeting Card to her sweetheart, Jake Spiker.

     January 2021 - Gay and Jake begin writing almost daily letters to one another. Gay "quits" her other beaus.

     February 2021 - The valentines Jake and Gay sent to one another were not what we expected. See pics.

     March 2021 - Untangling the numerous hidden messages in the courting letters. Also - announcing plans for the 2021 Spiker Family Reunion.