Opinion ID: 1323824
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 35

Heading: in names of heirs

Text: The rocks are now in the names of his two children and their children, according to Harper, who says they will fight the condemnation proceedings. He adds that appraisals of the rocks have run from $9,000 to $40,000, and that he once refused to give an option on them for $150,000. They are a great tourist attraction and a magnet for college students from all over the east who come to Mouth of Seneca every holiday to climb the rocks. The benefits to the owners are incidental to the operation of a general store opposite the rocks. South of the rocks on U. S. 33 a few miles is the 2,900-acre tract purchased by Selmet Properties, Inc., for $134,620 in March 1966. In August of the same year, Sprouse signed as president when the corporation qualified to do business in West Virginia. Selmet was chartered in New York in February, 1965, one month before the Forest Service disclosed its plans for the new recreation area. According to the records, it has done no business in New York, only in Pendleton County, West Virginia. As of this month, Selmet had a gross profit of $48,176 from sales of some parcels from the original tract, but retains much valuable bottomland fronting on the highway and variously esti- (See LANDMARK, Pg. 6, Col. 4) [On Page 6 appeared the following headline above the continuation of the story:] Continued Landmark Owners Offered `Pittance' mated at 400 acres worth $1,000 an acre. A deed recorded May 7, 1966, and signed by Sprouse as president of Selment [sic] shows William Painter and others paid $12,000 to the corporation for 12 acres on the uphill side of the highway. It is an ideal location for a store and service station because it is at the intersection of the main highway and a rockbase road running up the mountain to Spruce Knob. But, when the recreation complex is completed, that road won't be the main entrance to the new recreation area. A new road will be constructed on what once was Selmet property, and which will be flanked by Selmet property when it is in service.