Mind Garage at Romney

VALLEY VIEW FARM, ROMNEY, WEST VIRGINIA

THE MIND GARAGE
Norris, Ted, Jack, John, Larry

Romney WV at the head of the Potomac. More than 100 years earlier Confederate soldiers stood on the hill above and searched the valley below for signs of Union troops. Is that a soldier's face in the grass? (lower left corner of the photo above).

Look at the lower right hand corner.
Are there even more faces looking up?

AT THE BASE OF THE HILL A TRAIN RUNS BY THE POTOMAC

VALLEY VIEW TODAY

The house in Romney where the Mind Garage stayed in 1968. This place was once a plantation, built by slaves with bricks made of the mud from the Potomac river that flows at the bottom of the hill. It has more than its share of history and memories. Volumes could be written about all that has happened here.

VALLEY VIEW'S NEW OWNERS

My name is Bob Mayhew I was an Eighth Grade student at Romney Junior High School that summer
of 1968. Myself and other kids enjoyed your summer here as much as you and your bandmates. We would sneak down to hear you play and jam in the barn. Yes, the barn still stands. We talked you into playing a benefit concert in the gym at RJHS, which you graciously did and very nearly blew the windows out of the old school. I distinctly remember never having heard music that loud played that well. As to the loudness of Mind Garage. It seemed that way to a 14 year old boy because all I had ever heard to that point was the minor amplification of his buddies' garage bands and I seem to remember the large speakers on poles that you set up on the stage at RJHS. That loudness was not a bad thing. Indeed, it was powerful and wonderful and the music and lyrics were uplifting. My father and his business partner purchased Valley View and I purchased the home from them. My wife Kim and I have spent the last 30 years restoring the old place. Valley View still resonates with the laughter and music from that long ago time.

The BACK PORCH

Upper level overlooking the Valley, where the band relaxed and came up with ideas for songs that eventually became The Early Years album and the first Mind Garage RCA album. Just a short walk across the road and over the hill to the barn full of equipment where those ideas were turned into songs at all hours of the day and night.

The BARN TODAY

Covered with sheet metal

The BARN 1968

A Wooden structure then. Larry is exiting after a jam session. The speakers on poles used at RJHS show are just inside the doorway on the left.

Scenes like this were the inspiration for the song Circus Farm

          CIRCUS FARM
Sky of Blue May come my way
Still I sit here restless days
And clouds still linger in my sleep
Watching over peaceful dreams

Drifting shadows from the sun
Wake me mornings on the run
Shocking dreamers from the dream
Fishing fishes from the stream

Flying upward to the sun
Living Kingdoms shot the gun
Keeping sparrows in my sleeve 
Magic moments while others sleep

Photos courtesy of Allen Appel, Bob and Kim Mayhew, and Jack Bond