Appalachian History

If you have ever tramped around the woods after dark, you may have noticed an erie glowing substance on the forest floor. This is the light from luminescent fungi—foxfire. One of the most common fungi responsible for foxfire is Clitocybe illudens, also known as the Jack ‘o Lantern mushroom. Makes complete sense that it would [...]

Dear Sir: During the past year, I have had occasion to discuss the business situation with practically every business man in the City of Charleston and suburbs. Our very limited number of productive enterprises and our crippled coal industries are not sufficient. The trade balance is against us. What is the remedy? There is but [...]

We post a new episode of Appalachian History weekly podcast every Sunday. You can start listening right away by clicking the podcast icon over on the right side of your screen. If you’d rather grab the show off itunes for later listening, click here: We open today’s show with the story of the Wizard Clip, [...]

KY Death comes in threes in a congregation. A wild bird in the house means someone’s going to die. A dog howling three nights in a row means death is near. If you get shingles all around your body, you’ll die. If you sneeze, cover your mouth and say the Lord’s Prayer, or you’ll lose [...]

“The celebrated mountain lands, of which Mark Twain writes in the Gilded Age, lie in Fentress County; and the picturesque village he describes under the name of Obedstown is none other than its county site. “The court-house, on the fence surrounding which the male population of the village were sitting, chewing tobacco and spitting at [...]