Appalachian History

May 31, 1898 Yesterday morning, Monday, I left Hyden to come to this neighborhood to see about getting permission to furnish a teacher for this school district. There are 109 scholars in the census. I want to put a Wilmore teacher here, full of the Holy Ghost, to get the people saved. Storefronts in Hyden, [...]

Howard Finster (ca. 1915-2001) described himself as a Stranger from Another World, a Messenger from God, a Man of Visions, a second Noah, and God’s Last Red Light on Planet Earth. This unlikely candidate for celebrity status on the post-modern art scene became known to millions of people by the end of his life. His [...]

Fletcher, N.C. Dec. 12, 1932 Mrs. Rosalee Gibson, Vonore, Tenn. Dear Mother, I had a letter from Seth this morning. I was glad to hear from you all. This leaves us all very well, hoping it will find you all the same. I have just neglected to write as I should have. And I think [...]

It’s tent revival season throughout Appalachia – the region that invented the tent revival. The first camp meeting took place in July 1800 at Gasper River Church in southwestern Kentucky. A much larger one was held at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in August 1801, where between 10,000 and 25,000 people attended, and Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist [...]

“The home of Nathan Noble was known far and wide for the ample room, good living, welcome cheer and forest hospitality. The entertainment was noble, majestic and grand in its services and welcome in its invitation. A stranger never left the cabin door of these mountaineers hungry, unless it was destitute of food or the [...]