Every house is haunted. In each episode of Family Ghosts, we investigate the true story behind a mysterious figure whose legend has followed a family for generations. Grandmothers who were secretly jewel smugglers, uncles who led double lives, siblings who vanished without a trace, and other ghostly characters who cast shadows over our lives in ways that might not be immediately obvious. We are all formed in part by our familial collections of secrets, intrigues, and myths. By engaging with ...
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Podcast - Inside Appalachia Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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Contenu fourni par WVPB and Mason Adams. Tout le contenu du podcast, y compris les épisodes, les graphiques et les descriptions de podcast, est téléchargé et fourni directement par WVPB and Mason Adams ou son partenaire de plateforme de podcast. Si vous pensez que quelqu'un utilise votre œuvre protégée sans votre autorisation, vous pouvez suivre le processus décrit ici https://fr.player.fm/legal.
Telling West Virginia's Story
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359 episodes
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Contenu fourni par WVPB and Mason Adams. Tout le contenu du podcast, y compris les épisodes, les graphiques et les descriptions de podcast, est téléchargé et fourni directement par WVPB and Mason Adams ou son partenaire de plateforme de podcast. Si vous pensez que quelqu'un utilise votre œuvre protégée sans votre autorisation, vous pouvez suivre le processus décrit ici https://fr.player.fm/legal.
Telling West Virginia's Story
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During a pandemic, where do you give birth? Also, we’ll have the story of a family that cultivated an heirloom tomato in West Virginia. It took a lot of work. And, a musical tradition brought people together — even when they couldn’t gather in person. You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Become A Dad In The COVID-19 Pandemic Mortgage Lifter Heirloom Tomato The Ramp Hunter The Sacred Harp Become A Dad In The COVID-19 Pandemic Baby Cai on his dad Chuck Kleine’s chest. Photo Credit: Glynis Board/West Virginia Public Broadcasting In June of 2020, former West Virginia Public Broadcasting videographer Chuck Kleine and Pennsylvania resident Joe Buckland recorded their experiences with having children during the pandemic. Buckland and his wife had a baby in mid-February, nearly a month before the lockdowns. Kleine and his wife, Glynis Board, WVPB’s assistant news director at the time, had a baby in March, about a week after most staff were sent home. Mortgage Lifter Heirloom Tomato Mary Lou Estler slices up her family’s heirloom mortgage lifter tomato. But there’s a mystery with this tomato. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting One of Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adam's friends hates tomatoes — but started growing them in 2020 because he “wanted to be part of it.” It being growing a garden, complete with a swath of heirloom tomatoes. Like a variety called Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter tomato. This heirloom breed got its start in Logan County, West Virginia. A guy known as Radiator Charlie bred two varieties of tomato together to get a giant, juicy fruit. Word spread, and eventually so many people bought his $1 tomato plants that he was able to pay off his house. That’s how the “mortgage lifter” got its name. But in 2020, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold brought us a story about another West Virginia tomato plant, also called “mortgage lifter.” And it’s even older. The Ramp Hunter The Ramp Hunter. Caroline Blizzard, Secret Location. Photo courtesy of Michael Snyder A lot of big events were canceled in 2020 — high school proms, baseball games, and even family reunions — but some annual traditions would not be stopped. Like foraging for ramps. People still went out to their favorite ramp patches in early spring. In 2020, we aired this story of a ramp-hunting expedition, led by Maryland park ranger Caroline Blizzard. Photographer and filmmaker Michael Snyder tagged along to record her for “ The Mountain Traditions Project ." The Sacred Harp Shape-note singers in the region most often use oblong-shaped tunebooks like The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony. This singer has personalized their copy of The Sacred Harp. Photo Credit: Kelley Libby/West Virginia Public Broadcasting One of the oldest European musical traditions in Appalachia is shape note singing. It’s also called Sacred Harp singing. It’s sung acapella, often in large groups, with singers facing each other in a square. Social distancing made shape note singing a lot harder, but a group figured out a way to continue to sing through the pandemic. Inside Appalachia Editor Kelley Libby — then a Folkways Reporter — filed this story in 2020. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, John Inghram, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Mary Hott and the Cornelius Eady Trio. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Chris Julin and Caitlin Tan. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting .…
The music of West Virginia songwriter Ella Hanshaw and, thanks in part to her grandchildren, the discovery of some old tapes that led to a new release. Also, a pair of potters in western North Carolina forego commercial clay to work with clay that’s wild . And, we make a trip to West Virginia’s Hillbilly Hotdogs for its infamous "Homewrecker Hotdog Challenge." You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Ella Hanshaw's Black Book Wild Clay Spun Into Pottery Workhorses On The Farm Native Bamboo Species Restoration W.Va. Small Businesses Support Community Recovering From Flood A Trip To Hillbilly Hotdogs Ella Hanshaw's Black Book The cover of Ella Hanshaw's Black Book . Courtesy photo Ella Hanshaw was a singer and songwriter who grew up and lived in West Virginia before moving to Ohio. The track is from a posthumous collection of her music titled Ella Hanshaw’s Black Book . Ella Hanshaw’s Black Book is the first archival release by feminist record label Spinster. One of Spinster’s co-founders is former West Virginia folklorist Emily Hilliard, who’s written about Hanshaw’s music. Ella Hanshaw passed away in 2020. The collection Ella Hanshaw’s Black Book came about in part because of Hanshaw’s granddaughter, Kelly Kerney. Host Mason Adams spoke with her recently about the release. Wild Clay Spun Into Pottery Finished pieces in the gallery at Bandana Pottery. Historical pots made with North Carolina clays and glaze materials inspired Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish to explore the possibilities of creating their own local clay bodies. Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily Yonder Clay is the usual go-to ingredient for pottery. Most professional and hobby potters rely on store-bought clay for their projects, but not everybody. In western North Carolina, some folks prefer to work with wild clay – that is, clay that’s dug right out of the ground. They say using this traditional material makes all the difference. Anya Petrone Slepyan from the Rural Remix Podcast has this story. Workhorses On The Farm Now farming on the western end of Tazewell County, Virginia, at the foot of historic Paint Lick Mountain, Charlie Lawson uses Betty and Millie to prepare the ground for spring planting. Photo Credit: Connie Bailey Kitts/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Before the tractor, farmers in Appalachia relied on workhorses to plow fields and pull their wagons. In southwestern Virginia, the practice has mostly disappeared, often along with the farms themselves. But a few farmers never let go of farming with a horse. Folkways Reporter Connie Bailey Kitts has this story. Native Bamboo Species Restoration Three young rivercane plants growing inside sandwich bags. Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQ There are lots of different kinds of bamboo - more than 1,400 varieties - ranging from tiny, scrub-like plants only a few inches tall, to others that top out around 130 feet. The most common variety in the U.S. is Golden or fishpole bamboo. It’s native to China and was introduced here in 1882. It’s sometimes used for landscaping but can be wildly invasive. America has a native species of bamboo, too. It was once commonly found in Appalachia near rivers and streams, but was nearly wiped out. Last summer, Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd reported that a group of mostly volunteers is trying to restore the plant in southwestern Virginia. W.Va. Small Businesses Support Community Recovering From Flood Pastor Brad Davis, left, and Latin Appalachian restaurant owner Roberto Diaz sit in Diaz’s closed restaurant discussing the pop-up soup kitchen the restaurant became after the floods hit Welch, West Virginia. Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting When southern West Virginia flooded back in February, lots of small businesses stepped up to help their communities. Five months later, some businesses are still dealing with damage from the floods. Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story of one such restaurant in McDowell County. A Trip To Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs in LeSage maintains steady traffic throughout the day. It's a popular destination that's a little off the beaten path. Photo Credit: Bill Lynch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage, West Virginia is a local institution and a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world. Last summer, one of the hotdog stand’s signature menu items suddenly became unavailable. This summer, though, the Homewrecker returned. Producer Bill Lynch paid a visit to Lesage and brings us this story. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ella Hanshaw, Frank George, John Blissard, Mary Hott and Hello June. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
An international photographer turns his lens toward home. Also, after Hurricane Helene, whitewater rafting guides are adapting to diminished business and changed rivers. And, we remember Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a mark on mountain culture and the people who practice and document it. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene Remembering Travis Stimeling Surfing The Gauley River Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night Scopes Trial: A Century Later Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home Derek Cutter and his sons, Crosby and Max, in Savage River, Maryland. Photo courtesy of Michael Snyder Michael Snyder is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in the Allegheny mountains on the border of Maryland and West Virginia. His work has been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian and The Washington Post. After living away from Appalachia for over a decade, Snyder moved back to document what changed and what stayed the same. The result is a new book. It’s called Alleghania: A Central Appalachian Folklore Anthology. Associate Producer Abby Neff recently spoke with Snyder. Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene Heather Ellis rafts down a section of the Pigeon River with two of her friends and fellow guides. Some parts of the river are running clear and strong enough to host rafters, while other areas are still recovering almost a year after Hurricane Helene. Photo Credit: Gerard Albert III/Blue Ridge Public Radio Hurricane Helene left a lasting mark on central Appalachia and the rivers that run through it. The Nolichucky, the French Broad and the Pigeon were home to a multi-million dollar rafting industry. Seasonal whitewater river guides help tourists have fun and keep them safe. Helene has made that job less certain. Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) and Grist reporter Katie Myers reports. Remembering Travis Stimeling Stimeling and Linscheid performing together. Photo courtesy of Mary Linscheid West Virginia University (WVU) Professor Travis Stimeling carried the torch for bluegrass and traditional music in Appalachia. It was a shock when they died abruptly in November 2023 at the age of 43. There was an outpouring of remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends. Some shared their stories with Folkways Reporter Zack Harold. In June of this year, Zack’s remembrance of Travis Stimeling won an award from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA). Surfing The Gauley River Andrew Wagner packs up surfboards for long hike out. Photo Credit: Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Last fall, WVPB's Briana Heaney reported on how the Gauley River has become a destination for surfers — even in landlocked West Virginia. Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night Blue-ghost fireflies, who appear a pale blue-green in person and neon green on camera, are generally found in southern Appalachia but can be found as far north as Bernheim Forest and Arboretum south of Louisville. Photo Credit: Eric Nally/Bernheim Forest and Arboretum A rare Appalachian firefly lives in the forests outside Louisville, Kentucky. While the season for the blue ghost fireflies was at its peak, Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman visited the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a half hour drive south of Louisville, to learn about the rare Appalachian lightning bug. Scopes Trial: A Century Later One hundred years ago, John Scopes taught evolution in a Dayton, Tennessee, high school. A few months later he was arrested, tried and convicted of breaking the law in what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial — a flashpoint in the debate about how to teach science in schools. To mark the centennial, the town is holding a special celebration. WPLN’s Mary Mancini visited Dayton and brought this report. Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health A West Virginia researcher is working at the cutting edge of the study of psychedelics. Corrine Hazel is a West Virginia University microbiology student. This spring, she found a fungus that was barely more than a theory. It produces effects similar to the drug LSD, and might have uses in treating depression, PTSD and addiction. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hazel and her professor, Dan Panaccione, about the discovery. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Huey Vincent, Mary Hott, John Blissard, Blue Dot Sessions, Paul Loomis and Hello June. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
Dinos fight Civil War soldiers at a theme park throwback — Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Also, one person’s roadside weed is another’s “golden” treasure. So says a North Carolina fiber artist. And, the backstory of a bus that sits at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there. You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom A dinosaur-solider creation from Mark Cline's roadside attraction Dino World in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife Program Every summer, Americans hit the road for vacation. In Appalachia, families pile into cars and drive from the hills and mountains to, well, other hills and mountains like the Smokies or to the ocean in places like Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks. The tradition of summer road tripping dates back for as long as there have been automobiles. On these long drives, people needed breaks. So, they’d stop at fruit stands, or fireworks stores or bizarre roadside attractions. A lot of those weird old-style attractions have disappeared, but some have managed to hang on. In 2020, Host Mason Adams visited artist Mark Cline’s Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot The World's Largest Teapot in Chester has been an attraction for generations. Photo Credit: Zander Aloi/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Summer road trips are an annual tradition. Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see. Fireworks and fruit stands can pull motorists off the road, of course. But every once in a while, you pass something that makes you say, “What was that?” Like, a gigantic basket towering over the edge of a town or a lighthouse in the middle of the mountains. In 2023, WVPB’s Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, in the Northern Panhandle, to learn the story behind a classic roadside attraction there — a souvenir stand known as the "World’s Largest Teapot." Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail Hikers dig into the half-gallon challenge at the Pine Grove Furnace store on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Photo Credit: Jeremy Long/WITF Gardners, Pennsylvania has a food tradition that sounds like a belly ache. See, Gardners is the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. So, thru-hikers celebrate the milestone with something called the half-gallon challenge. That’s right, a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting. In this story from 2023, WITF’s Rachel McDevitt takes us to the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, to meet some of the challengers. Abiding by trail rules, we’re only using the hikers’ trail names for this story. Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes Styles stirring the pot of her dye bath made with dried sumac berries. Since water can affect the color of natural dye, she only uses water collected from a creek by her home. Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Dede Styles is passionate about weeds. Using common roadside plants, Styles makes natural dyes for fabrics. It’s a skill she teaches to eager students. And it’s part of a mission much bigger than brightly colored yarn. In 2024, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams brought us this story from Swannanoa, North Carolina. At Inside Appalachia, we love roadside attractions. Got a particular favorite in the region? Drop us a line at InsideAppalchia@wvpublic.org. We might feature it in a future episode. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps, David Odell, Dave Bing and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
People with mental health challenges or substance use disorder often end up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way. Also, one year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline went into service, people who live directly in the pipeline’s path have received compensation. But not everyone. And, the Sacred Harp songbook gets an update for the first time since the early 1990s. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va. Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor Updates In Shape Note Singing Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va. A sheriff’s deputy and mental health worker participate in a roleplay with Aaron Beeman, right, during CIT training in Princeton, West Virginia. Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Appalachian communities have long dealt with high rates of substance use disorder and mental health challenges, and the toll is felt by everyone. The person in crisis. Their families. Even police officers and EMTs. In West Virginia, the problem reached a boiling point during the COVID-19 pandemic. The systems couldn’t handle it. So, a few localities tried something new — and so far, it seems to be working. Over the last several months, Host Mason Adams spent time with crisis teams in Huntington and Princeton, West Virginia, and produced the following story in collaboration with the Carter Center and the Mental Health Parity Newsroom Collaborative. A warning, this story contains descriptions of suicide attempts, substance use disorder and mental health crises. Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration Quilt for the 23/54 project. 23 of the squares represent the families who signed a lawsuit against the Pulaski County School Board in 1947 for better educational opportunities for 54 Black children. Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/RadioIQ A Virginia Tech team is collaborating with community groups in Appalachian Virginia to uncover and reclaim forgotten history. Part of the project involves the Calfee Community and Cultural Center in Pulaski. It’s a former school that helped educate Black students in the days before integration. Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd has more. Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors Markings of where the Mountain Valley Pipeline crosses under a gravel road in Monroe County, West Virginia. Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Virginia and West Virginia residents near the Mountain Valley Pipeline lived with anxiety for years during its construction. The pipeline went into service and began transporting gas one year ago. And its neighbors are still uneasy about its effects on their lives and property. WVPB’s Curtis Tate has the story. In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor Online gambling has led to a spike in problem gambling among more men -- and younger ones. Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Since a U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door, online sports betting is legal around much of the country. Online poker and casino gambling is legal in six states, including at multiple places in Appalachia. As gambling became more mainstream, states have moved to offer resources to help with gambling addiction. In West Virginia, there is the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-GAMBLER. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Sheila Moran of First Choice Services, which runs the helpline. She’s also a certified gambling counselor. Updates In Shape Note Singing Volunteers in Benton, Kentucky took turns leading the group in shape note singing. They stand in the middle of the singers and dictate the speed of the songs by moving their arm up and down similar a conductor. Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/LPM A popular songbook for people who sing a style of traditional American music called “shape note singing” is getting an update. The book hasn’t been updated in more than 30 years. Shape note singers are planning a gathering to celebrate and, of course, sing. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom 's Justin Hicks reports. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Hello June and John Inghram. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
For 15 years, a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game night for teens. It can get a little wacky. Also, we remember renowned Tennessee luthier, Jean Horner, whose fiddles were played at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. His shop was a destination for fiddle fanatics. And, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens. You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library Roanoke Youth Services Librarian Jeffrey Wood (upper right) conducts a session of Dungeons & Dragons for kids at the Roanoke library. Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Every week for the last 15 years, kids have gotten together at the Roanoke Public Library to play Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D for short, is a roleplaying game that allows players to inhabit characters in a fantasy setting. They work together to battle monsters and find treasure, and to tell a shared story in which they’re all the main characters. Jeffrey Wood is a youth services librarian, and he’s game master for the library’s D&D program. That means he’s the person who prepares each game, and acts as referee as the kids work their way through it. Host Mason Adams made a couple visits to the Roanoke Public Library and caught up with Wood one of those evenings as he prepared the next episode. Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner Jean Horner in his shop. Photo by Lynn Dudenbostel/Daily Yonder For more than 70 years, Tennessee fiddle maker Jean Horner built instruments that have traveled across the country. His fiddles have been to Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and the Smithsonian. Horner’s craft was shaped by his roots in Appalachia’s Cumberland Plateau and his fascination with great Italian violin makers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Horner died in January at age 91. For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Lisa Coffman interviewed Horner at his workshop in 2023 and brings this remembrance. Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears Before each ride following the northern route of the Trail of Tears, the group of cyclists prays together. Photo Credit: Cynthia Abrams/WPLN News For years, a group of cyclists from the Cherokee Nation have embarked on an annual ride from Georgia to Oklahoma. The nearly thousand-mile ride follows the northern route of the Trail of Tears. The trip pays homage to the group’s ancestors, who were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 19th century. The cycling trip involves multiple stops related to the migration, during which thousands of Cherokee died. One of those stops is Blythe Ferry, Tennessee — the last place the displaced Cherokee people were able to see their homelands. Cynthia Abrams of WPLN has more. The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban Rohini Kumar prepares food in New Vrindaban’s deity kitchen. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Last fall, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold made a trip to the small town of New Vrindaban, in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. It’s a Hare Krishna community started in the late 1960s. These days, the town is home to a few hundred permanent residents, but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold. But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Zack’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jean Horner, Erik Vincent Huey, Keith Williams and Myna Belle Williams, Jeff Ellis and Hello June. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave and Chris Julin. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
A hospital in Western North Carolina was bought out. Residents say the quality of care has gone down. Also, an immersion school in North Carolina is trying to revitalize the Cherokee language with the help of a printmaking class. And, a pair of artists follow cicada hatchings to make art from their shells. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers Turning Cicadas Into Art What To Do “If Lost” Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy Buncombe medical examiners shared their list of morgue concerns with Mission executives and the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) as far back as January 2021, according to emails obtained by Asheville Watchdog. Photo by Starr Sariego; photo illustration by Andrew R. Jones People in rural areas across the U.S. are struggling to access health care. Hospitals are closing at alarming rates. Some that stay open offer reduced services. Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina serves both the city and the surrounding counties. In recent years, it’s come under scrutiny and has been investigated by the federal government. Andrew Jones has been covering Mission Hospital for the Asheville Watchdog. Jones spoke with Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams . Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language The New Kituwah Academy is a Cherokee language immersion program, created to revitalize the language by teaching a new generation of speakers. Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily Yonder In Western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve their language. To help revitalize their dialect, community leaders opened the New Kituwah Academy in 2005. It’s a language immersion school for elementary students. The school partnered with a printmaking instructor at Western Carolina University to create materials to help students learn. For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has this story. Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers All second graders in Pocahontas County public schools learn to ski through a partnership with Nature's Mountain Classroom. Courtesy of Tracey Valach/Nature’s Mountain Classroom West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort is one of Appalachia’s premier destinations for winter sports. But while tourists flock to the resort each year, it’s had problems attracting locals. Until a local woman came up with an idea for how to change that. WVPB’s Maria Young has more. Turning Cicadas Into Art In plastic soup containers, artist Diego Miró-Rivera collects thousands of cicada shells in Kentucky that will become part of artwork. Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/Louisville Public Media Across Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Brood XIV cicadas have emerged and covered the region in their loud drone. Although some folks are annoyed by cicadas, others find profound meaning. Louisville Public Media’s Justin Hicks has more. What To Do “If Lost” Poet and poetry organizer, Clint Bowman, says the best way to read poetry in front of people is to read poetry in front of people. Courtesy Photo When North Carolina resident Clint Bowman couldn’t find the writing group he needed, he formed the Dark City Poets Society in Black Mountain. Bowman has used the group to develop his poetry, some of which explores people and their connection to nature. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bowman last fall about his collection, If Lost . ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, John Inghram, John Blissard, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
A West Virginia man is reviving an historic Black coal camp through farming. Also, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage. And, the Reverend George Mills Dickerson of Tazewell, Virginia, was born in the years after slavery ended. He’s remembered during Juneteenth through his poetry. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia" Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp Hip Hop History In W.Va. Generations Of Black Poets Carry On In Tazwell, Virginia Torli Bush’s Book, Requiem for a Redbird Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming Photos from the Black coal camp in Berwind, W.Va. Courtesy of Black by God, the West Virginian In the early 20th century, the coal industry was booming in Appalachia. That made the region a destination for Black migrants from the Deep South, who were moving northward in search of new jobs. Black communities thrived in Appalachia during the boom. But as coal employment declined, Black coal camps began to dwindle. Now, a West Virginia man is reviving one of those coal camps — through farming. Tiara Brown reports with support from Black By God, the West Virginian . Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia" Load in Nine Times , by Frank X Walker. Courtesy Photo The word “Affrilachia” was coined by Kentucky poet Frank X Walker in 1991. That’s when he co-founded the Affrilachian Poets Collective to challenge the idea that Appalachian identity is defined by whiteness. Walker says the word Affrilachia, “spoke to the union of Appalachian identity and the region’s African American culture and history.” He’s published several collections of poetry. Last fall, Host Mason Adams spoke with Walker about his latest, Load in Nine Times . Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp Students interact during the poetry workshop. Photo Credit: Traci Phillips/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Affrilachian poet and playwright Norman Jordan was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement through the 1960s and 1970s. He was also one of the most published poets in the region, anthologized in at least 42 books. He died in 2015 at the age of 77. Along with his writing, Jordan left another legacy. A summer camp for teens to learn music, theater and dance. Last summer, Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips visited the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy in Westover, West Virginia. Traci brought us this story. Hip-Hop History In W.Va. Shelem at his home studio in Charleston, West Virginia, demonstrating his workflow and organization. Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public Broadcasting In 2023, communities all around the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, marking a summer day in 1973 when DJ Kool Herc used two turntables to extend a funky drum break. Over the past half century, hip-hop has gone from a marginalized art form to a mainstream powerhouse. It developed in major metropolitan centers like New York, Los Angeles and the Dirty South. But hip-hop has taken root in Appalachia, too, and it thrives in places like Charleston, West Virginia. Last year, Folkways Reporter Vanessa Peña had this story. Generations Of Black Poets Live On Through Tazwell, Virginia Family Rev. George Mills Dickerson, center, surrounded by his sons, many of whom moved away to pursue higher education. Courtesy of Jeanette Wilson Poetry is a tradition in Jeanette Wilson’s family. They’ve recited the poems of Wilson’s grandfather and her uncle George for nearly 100 years. Now, these poems about African American life in southwestern Virginia are read during the Juneteenth celebration in Tazewell, Virginia — where they reach a wider audience and connect the past to the present. In 2023, Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts brought us the story. Torli Bush’s Book, Requiem for a Redbird Torli Bush. Courtesy Photo We’ve highlighted several of today's Black Appalachian poets. One of the region’s emerging voices is Torli Bush, who grew up in Webster Springs, West Virginia. He developed his work, in part, through poetry slams in Pittsburgh. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bush about his book, Requiem For a Redbird . ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Carpenter Ants, Tim Bing, Bob Thompson and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave, Jennifer Goren and Clara Haizlett. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
1 Encore: The Mine Wars For Young Adults, Faith After A Flood And Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler, Inside Appalachia
Textbooks have long left out an important piece of labor history that happened here in the mountains. Now, a new young adult book fills in some of what might have been missed about the Mine Wars. Also, when flooding devastates a community, people can find solace through faith and through song. And, we remember songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, who passed away last month. Dozens of musicians have covered his songs including Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elvis Presley. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode : Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood A Bicentennial Celebration in Fleming County, Kentucky Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation Author Steve Watkins wants labor history to be remembered. Courtesy Photo For generations, that history of the Mine Wars in the early part of the 20th century was scarcely mentioned in schools. The author of a new book hopes to bring the story to today’s young readers. Host Mason Adams spoke with Steve Watkins, author of “The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers' Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields.” A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood Derenia Dunbar (left) stands with parents Ruby (middle) and James Boggs (right) in front of their family home in Millstone, Kentucky. James holds the guitar that was mostly untouched by the floodwaters that filled their house on July 28, 2022. Photo Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public Broadcasting . In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, people in Appalachia step up to help their neighbors. In the summer of 2022, floods devastated parts of eastern Kentucky. At the time, Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave brought us a story about the Boggs family, who told her about the joy that comes from the soothing music of an old family guitar. A Bicentennial Celebration In Fleming County, Kentucky A church in Fleming County, Kentucky celebrated its 200th anniversary recently. Photo Credit: Samantha Morrill/Morehead State Public Radio In Fleming County, Kentucky, there’s an old, covered bridge that’s been a popular tourist destination for decades. The Goddard covered bridge was built in the late 1800s, then moved in 1933. It extends over Sand Lick Creek, where the road leads to an old country church. That church celebrated its bicentennial in September. Samantha Morrill at WMKY, Morehead State Public Radio, visited the church. Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler Songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler wrote memorable tunes and was a character. Courtesy Photo Singer/songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler died in September at the age of 91. The West Virginia native and long-time North Carolina resident was best known for writing songs like “Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Johnny Cash and June Carter. He also wrote “Coward of the County,” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers, and “It’s Midnight,” which Elvis Presley recorded. Mountain Stage ’s Larry Groce was a friend and fan of Wheeler’s. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Groce about Wheeler’s legacy. ----- Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by James Boggs, Amethyst Kiah, Caleb Caudle, John Blissard, Paul Loomis, Chris Knight, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Billy Edd Wheeler. Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
Cicadas are emerging again. They’re an important food source for wildlife — and even some people. Also, morel mushrooms are a forager’s delight, but don’t shortcut cleaning them. We follow along with mushroom hunters and talk to a chef. And, sinkholes can cause a lot of damage. But they’re also fascinating. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Cicada Brood XIV In Appalachia Prepping Morel Mushrooms For Meals Federal Funding Cuts To Fresh Food In Schools Black Activist in West Virginia Finally Receives Grave Marker Sinkholes in Appalachia Cicada Brood XIV In Appalachia Cicada brood XIV (14) last emerged in 2008. Creative Commons/Sam Droege . Their sound is unmistakable. Here in the mountains, you can sometimes hear them working their way up the holler, getting closer and closer, until you’re engulfed in that loud drone. It’s another cicada summer in Appalachia. Brood 14 of the insect has emerged in parts of the region, especially in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A cicada’s mating call can get up to 100 decibels, which is comparable to a jackhammer. Jakob Goldner is an entomologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Goldner about what to expect with this season’s brood. Prepping Morel Mushrooms For Meals Morels grow in April and sometimes into May throughout most of Appalachia. These were harvested by Adam Boring. Photo Credit: Adam Boring Every spring, morel hunters head to the woods in search of mushrooms that look like little wrinkled Christmas trees. In 2024, Folkways reporter Wendy Welch tagged along with foragers and spoke with chefs in Virginia about how to safely harvest and prepare this beloved fungi. Federal Funding Cuts To Fresh Food In Schools Preston High School. Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting The Trump administration’s federal cuts are affecting everything from aviation administration to worker safety. That includes the USDA's Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. The program pays for schools to purchase fresh, local food for students. Justin Hough is Director of Child Nutrition for Preston County Schools in West Virginia. WVPB’s Chris Schulz spoke with Hough about how the cuts will affect school meals next year. Black Activist In West Virginia Finally Receives Grave Marker Bessie Woodson Yancey (1882-1958) was a poet, teacher and activist in West Virginia. Courtesy of the West Virginia State Archives. Bessie Woodson Yancey was a Black West Virginia teacher, poet and columnist. She was also the sister of Carter G. Woodson, who in 1926 founded what eventually became Black History Month. A group of folks recently gathered at Yancey’s grave site in Huntington, West Virginia, to pay homage. WVPB’s Randy Yohe has the story. Sinkholes in Appalachia A sinkhole that grew on Montford Avenue in 2021, which took many months to resolve. Photo Credit: Jason Sanford/Blue Ridge Public Radio Sinkholes are pretty common in Appalachia. Some have been around for centuries, but the nature of how they’re formed makes it hard to predict when or where a new sinkhole will open up. They can be a real danger, but they also stir the imagination. Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Katie Myers and Laura Hackett have this story , about what causes sinkholes and what we can learn from them. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, Tim Bing, Dinosaur Burps, Mary Hott, Matt Jackfert and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
The Appalachian Prison Book Project has been sending books to incarcerated people for nearly 20 years. Its most popular book is the dictionary. Also, the Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning. And, crossing a river by ferry can be a special experience, and hard to come by. On the Ohio River, a retiring ferry captain passes the torch to his deck hand. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: The Appalachian Prison Book Project Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia The Appalachian Prison Book Project Letters and correspondence from incarcerated people, received by the Appalachian Prison Book Project. Photo courtesy of the Appalachian Prison Book Project Each year, Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association present the Weatherford Awards. They honor books about the Appalachian South. The winner of the 2024 award for nonfiction is titled, This Book is Free and Yours to Keep . It consists largely of letters from incarcerated people across the region who corresponded with the Appalachian Prison Book Project. Ellen Skirvin is one of the book’s editors. Host Mason Adams spoke with her about the project. Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs Mike Cunningham is nearly finished hand caning a chair at the Seeing Hand workshop in Wheeling, West Virginia. Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public Broadcasting In April of this year, Clara Haizlett placed first at the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards for Best Mountain State Heritage with a story about a community of people in Wheeling, West Virginia who repair old caned chairs. You know the type. Your parents or grandparents might’ve had a set. You don’t see caned chairs as much as you used to. Cane breaks down and few people know how to fix the chairs. So, they get thrown away. But they don’t have to be. We listen to an encore of that story. Raising Up A New Riverboat Captain Captain Bo Hause in the pilot house of the Sistersville Ferry. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting The town of Sistersville, West Virginia is home to the last ferry crossing in the Mountain State. The Sistersville Ferry has been serving this tiny community for more than 200 years, and now there’s a new pilot at the helm. Late last year, before the ferry stopped running for the winter, Zack Harold stopped by to witness the last ride of Captain Bo Hause. Black Bears Eating Trash In West Virginia When black bears become habituated to human food, they often have to be put down. Courtesy of the Division of Natural Resources People who live in cities can get used to having their trash picked up at the curb. But folks who live in more rural communities have to haul it to dumpster sites. Those sites are destinations not just for folks hauling trash, but also for bears, seeking an easy meal. Now, some places have made moves to keep the bears out of the trash, which also helps keep them alive. WVPB’s Eric Douglas has more. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, The Sycomores, Tim Bing, John Inghram, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
The setting for a new novel is a communal society founded by freed people in North Carolina. It was a real place called The Kingdom of the Happy Land. Also, when a West Virginia pastor got assigned to a new church, some folks tried to warn him. And, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: The Kingdom Of The Happy Land Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird" The West Virginian Egg Church Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs The Kingdom Of Happy Land The cover of Happy Land . Courtesy of Dolen Perkins-Valdez Following the American Civil War, a group of freed people fled violence and bought land in Western North Carolina. In the summer of 1873, these people formed a Black communal society they named “The Kingdom of the Happy Land.” A new novel tells a story set in the kingdom, both in the past and in the present day. It’s titled, Happy Land . Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Artists Collaborate On "The Mockingbird" R.B. Morris playing guitar and singing at the Big Ears Festival. Photo by Bill Foster Knoxville, Tennessee’s Big Ears Festival has become a high-profile platform for regional artists to debut new works. This year’s festival featured the premiere of “The Mockingbird” — a collaboration between composer William Wright and Tennessee writer, musician and playwright R.B. Morris. “The Mockingbird” features Morris reading his poetry while accompanied by an experimental chamber orchestra. Morris was Knoxville’s first ever poet laureate, and his songs have been recorded by John Prine and Marianne Faithfull. Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Morris about his collaborations and his ability to capture a sense of place. The West Virginian Egg Church Church volunteer Pat George puts flowers on completed eggs. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/Daily Yonder Even though Easter has passed, you might still be able to find leftover Easter candy. What you probably won’t find are those big chocolate Easter eggs local churches sell right before the holiday. One church in West Virginia has become known far and wide for its chocolate eggs. Zack Harold, reporting for the Rural Remix podcast, brought us this story. Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs A Little Bubby Child meme which features his Meemaw. Courtesy of Little Bubby Child Appalachian humor is often presented as a throwback. Think: old-timers sitting around telling tall tales. Lots of moonshine jokes. Thing is, there’s plenty of modern mountain humor. It’s on the internet. Last year, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, John Inghram, John Blissard and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
This week Inside Appalachia , we’re talking about traditional ballads - how they tell stories and connect us to the past. These old tunes can mean so much. They can tap into difficult emotions and give feelings space to be heard. Some songs may even be too uncomfortable to sing. In this special episode with guest co-host, ballad singer Saro Lynch-Thomason, we explore songs about lawbreaking folk heroes, runaway trains and murder ballads. All the stories in this episode were produced as part of our Folkways Reporting Project, a partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Inside Appalachia and the Folklife Program of the West Virginia Humanities Council. We’ve recorded more than 150 stories for this project, and you can find them all here . In This Episode: The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents Ballads About Train Wrecks Hold Lessons For Modern Life Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents A statue of John Henry stands in front of the Big Bend Tunnel near Talcott, West Virginia, where many versions of the ballad of ‘John Henry’ say the competition between Henry and the steam drill took place. Photo Credit: Christopher Muller/SteamPhotos.com The ballad of “John Henry” tells the story of a railroad worker who competes against a steam drill to see who can drill a hole through a mountain fastest and farthest. With his immense strength and skill, John Henry wins, but dies from his efforts. There is great debate about the historical facts, but most accounts describe Henry as an African American man from West Virginia or Virginia, working for the C&O Railroad. For some who grew up in Black communities in Appalachia, the song elicits a variety of feelings. Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has more. If learning about John Henry piqued your interest, be sure to check out the recent Black in Appalachia podcast episode about John Henry. They dive into some important topics, including a current-day link between health and working conditions, especially for Black workers. Ballads About Train Wrecks Holds Lessons For Modern Life “The Wreck At Rural Retreat” from Marshall University’s digital scholar archive. Photo Credit: Marshall University Starting in the late 19th century, trains were everywhere in southern Appalachia, and so were songs about them. Scott Huffard, an associate professor of History at Lees-McCrae College, says these ballads weren’t just about trains, they were emulating trains using special techniques with common instruments. Reporter Laura Harbert Allen has that story and tells us what we can learn from ballads about trains. Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media There are many murder ballads from Appalachia - and most of them are about men killing women. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold is a musician himself. In fact, you can hear him playing guitar and banjo on a song called “Little Sadie” that appears in this week’s episode. “Little Sadie” is a ballad about a man killing his sweetheart - exactly the kind of song Zack sought to understand in his reporting about murder ballads. What can they tell us about history? And what is “true crime” the modern-day equivalent? Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties As Zack explored in his story, people in the past and the present love viral “true crime” stories. In the early 1930s, the way for a story to go “viral” was by being sung about in a ballad. That’s what happened to Otto Wood, a real-life outlaw who grew up around Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He spent time with the Hatfields of southern West Virginia, became a famous moonshiner, and died in a shootout with police in 1930. Less than one year later, his story was told in the ballad “Otto Wood The Bandit,” recorded by Walker Kid and the Carolina Buddies. Our host Mason Adams reported on that song. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Wes Swing, Dinosaur Burps, and The Chamber Brothers. Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
Officials are scrutinizing a supermax prison in Wise County, Virginia, after inmate complaints and a visit by a state lawmaker. Also, laid-off federal workers warn the Trump administration’s mass firings could make a big difference for coal miners. And, every year, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival stages a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career A Virginia Mercury Reporter Investigates Red Onion State Prison Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, Virginia. Courtesy of Virginia Department of Corrections In parts of Appalachia, coal mines have given way to a newer industry. Southwestern Virginia has two high-security, supermax prisons: Wallens Ridge State Prison, near Big Stone Gap, and Red Onion, not far from the town of Pound. Prisoners at Red Onion say they live in poor conditions and are often placed in solitary confinement for long stretches of time. Reporter Charlotte Rene Woods has been covering the story. Deadly Cost Of NIOSH Cuts Scientists say they want to get back to work and fear their firing will endanger workers across the country. Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting The Trump administration has fired tens of thousands of workers since January. Including at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Nearly all the workers at the NIOSH offices in Morgantown, West Virginia, lost their jobs in April. Kyle Mandler is one of the affected workers. He spoke with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Chris Schulz about the cuts. Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival And The Grand March The Grand March is part of Kentucky's oldest festival, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. Photo Credit: Will Warren/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Appalachia is home to a lot of festivals. In Eastern Kentucky, the town of Pineville has the oldest festival on record in the state. It’s called the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, and it happens Memorial Day weekend. It’s a four-day celebration that culminates with an exquisite tradition: The Grand March. A traditional dance that has been passed down since the first festival in 1931. Folkways Reporter Will Warren was born and raised in Pineville and grew up taking part in the festival. In 2023, he reported on the Grand March. Antonia Capriotti's Life Through Art Antonia Capriotti, an artist based in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, developed her skills through coursework at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Berkeley County. Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting West Virginia artist Antonia Capriotti creates paintings and illustrations that are full of life. Her journey as an artist began in Jefferson County’s public schools, where special education classes helped her discover a lifelong passion. WVPB’s Jack Walker has more. United Mine Workers Of America President Reflects On Career UMWA President Cecil Roberts, dressed in a camouflage shirt and surrounded by union members, waves a victory sign. Courtesy of UMWA In October, Cecil Roberts will step down as president of the United Mine Workers of America. Roberts says that in his 30 years at the head of the union, no achievement was more important than saving the health care and pensions of tens of thousands of retired coal miners. Roberts recently spoke with WVPB’s Curtis Tate about the fight for those benefits. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Dinosaur Burps, Ron Mellenex and Gerry Milnes, Frank George, John Inghram, Mary Hott and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Sign up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter! Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
Some politicians and coal operators call themselves friends of coal, but one journalist says they don’t seem to be friends of coal miners. Also, what not to do if you get poison ivy. And, pepperoni rolls were a staple in the coal mines. But public schools might be why they caught on. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia . In This Episode: Leann Ray And Her Support For Coal Miners 15 Years Later: Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster Folk Cures for Poison Ivy The Riddle Of The Pepperoni Roll Leann Ray And Her Support For Coal Miners West Virginia Republican Sens. Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito pose with coal miners at a White House event where President Donald Trump signed executive orders to loosen regulations for coal mining. Courtesy Photo by Office of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has slashed thousands of federal jobs and used executive orders to shake up regulation of energy production, including coal. Leann Ray is editor in chief of the nonprofit news outlet West Virginia Watch and recently published an op-ed that addresses several of these federal actions regarding coal. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with Ray about the op-ed and what she hopes legislators will do for coal miners. 15 Years Later: Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster A makeshift memorial at the site where 29 mine workers were killed during the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster 15 years ago. Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public Broadcasting. April 5 marked the 15th anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in West Virginia. Twenty-nine coal miners died in an underground explosion. It was one of the worst mining accidents in recent memory. Justin Hicks and Curtis Tate from the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom sat down to talk about how it’s remembered, especially by victims’ families. Curtis Tate is a reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Justin Hicks reports for Louisville Public Media. Folk Cures For Poison Ivy Marybeth Mitcham points out poison ivy growing in late October in Haysi, Virginia. Poison ivy continues to be virulent through the winter. Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting For all the products on pharmacy shelves, people still use folk remedies for common ailments. Like the itchy rash that comes from poison ivy. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spoke with two health professionals about where folk cures and mainstream medicine overlap. The Riddle Of The Pepperoni Roll The story of the West Virginia pepperoni roll is more than its creation, but also how it spread. Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Pepperoni rolls have been enshrined as part of West Virginia history through their connection to coal miners. They’re absolutely a favorite and available almost everywhere, but that wasn’t always true. How pepperoni rolls became a statewide convenience store staple might have less to do with coal mining and more to do with lunch ladies in Kanawha County. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took a bite out of pepperoni roll lore in 2023. ------ Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Loose Cattle, Hello June, Frank George, Pete Moss, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin. You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org. You can find us on Instagram , Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook. Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.…
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