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‘Blennerhassetts’ documentary debuts

By Evan Bevins - | Aug 20, 2021

About 30 years ago, Kanawha County-based MotionMasters was hired to produce a 10-minute video about Blennerhassett Island for the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History.

Now they’re returning to the island with “The Blennerhassetts,” an hour-long documentary debuting at 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, on West Virginia Public Broadcasting. A free, open-to-the-public premiere is set for two days earlier at the Smoot Theatre in Parkersburg.

“I’m a history buff; I love telling these stories about West Virginia,” said Diana Sole-Walko, CEO of MotionMasters and the writer and executive producer for “The Blennerhassetts.” “I always thought the Blennerhassett story was an interesting one, and it had never been told in documentary form before.”

Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett came to America in 1796 from Ireland and settled on the island that today bears their name, building an opulent home in what, at that time, was “the American west,” Sole-Walko said.

Harman Blennerhassett was accused of conspiring with former Vice President Aaron Burr to commit treason. He was released from prison after Burr’s acquittal, but the family’s fortunes had turned and they died in poverty.

Country music star and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea will narrate the documentary, which Sole-Walko has said will cover all facets of the Blennerhassetts’ life and times. The budget is $217,000, a figure that was reduced in light of a reduced ability to raise funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sole-Walko said.

As of Aug. 3, more than $147,000 had been raised and funding is still being sought.

The Blennerhassett Historical Foundation contributed $50,000, while the Wood County Commission gave $25,000 and the Bernard McDonough Foundation and West Virginia Humanities Council $20,000 each. Parkersburg City Council recently approved a $10,000 contribution, while the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau committed $5,000.

Local officials believe the film will boost tourism in the area.

“As much as I would love to have a Six Flags or a dinosaur museum or a national park, the island is the Valley’s numero uno tourist attraction,” Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce said.

After airing on West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Sole-Walko said, “The Blennerhassetts” will be offered to other public stations, and she expects interest from those in neighboring states. Eventually, the plan is to make it available for streaming on Amazon, like some other MotionMasters productions, “Which Woof’s For Me,” “Outlier: The Story of Katherine Johnson” and “Catching Killers.”

Evan Bevins is a reporter for the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Contact him at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.