Appalachian History

November 7, 2019 Dave Tabler

Kentucky politicos bought votes with gingerbread

Plenty of Knotts County, KY politicians bought gingerbread cakes from elderly women and distributed them to people hoping to gain extra votes.
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August 26, 2019 Dave Tabler

The city was awakened by nineteen lusty charges of dynamite

The good ship CLOTHESPIN at the 1938 Spud & Splinters parade, with Miss Jeanette Richards the Sweetheart and her Yoemanettes riding in the parade.
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August 14, 2019 Dave Tabler

Jean Thomas: Kentucky’s Traipsin’ Woman

In August 1931, Jean Thomas & KY’s governor discussed the creation of an American Folk Song Society & an annual festival open to the public.
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April 22, 2014 Dave Tabler

Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area: Appalachian History Preserved

Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area celebrates and recognizes the historical depth of Southeast Ohio. A talk with founder Tom O’Grady.
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April 29, 2013 Dave Tabler

Ramps & Ruritans: Tales of the Revered and Reeking Leek

For folks in Flag Pond, TN each spring brings again the age-old combination of ramps, potatoes, bacon grease, and black iron.
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April 17, 2009 Dave Tabler

Acres of pink, orange, and purple azaleas in Pickens

The Azalea Festival in Pickens, SC offers up classic cars, a pet pageant, hot air balloon rides, and of course, acres and acres of pink, orange, and purple azaleas.
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March 19, 2008 Dave Tabler

True to my love, my love’s been true to me

The old mountain ballad “The Squire’s Daughter” starts as a charming love story. But a jealous sister wants that handsome young man for herself, and pushes the beloved into a raging river.
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September 20, 2007 Dave Tabler

The Black Gold Festival

The Black Gold Festival in Hazard is Kentucky’s second largest festival (the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon/miniMarathon is the largest).
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August 3, 2007 Dave Tabler

Rhododendrons?…no, no. Folk music!

What started as the Rhododendron Festival of 1927 was transformed into what we today recognize as a ‘folk festival’ by Bascom Lamar Lunsford.
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April 19, 2007 Dave Tabler

Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival time

During the 30s interest in the Apple Blossom Festival declined. The turning point came in 1938, when Tom Baldridge became Executive Director.
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young boy sits in hay loft in Lost Cove NC

The vanished community of Lost Cove

Neither North Carolina nor Tennessee claimed jurisdiction over Lost Cove. The boundary line wasn’t clear when it was founded. Hence the name.

April 9, 2021 Appalachian speech / Revolutionary War / Wild foraging

Why are they called ‘Molly Moochers’?

How a Revolutionary War hero nicknamed ‘Molly Pitcher’ may have lent her moniker to the morel mushroom in Central Appalachia.

two horses with farm painting behind them

March 29, 2021 Farmers/farming

How can a 2-horse farm have no horses and STILL be a 2-horse farm?

Before modern mechanization, the size of farms across southern Appalachia was usually measured in horses. A two-horse farm was average size.

reward for info postcard for blaize harsell

March 24, 2021 Appalachian crime / Class issues / Courthouses / Legal profession / Moonshiners

Old money, blackmailed judges, moonshine and murder

He hiked without care through the lawless back country of Mitchell County. His tweeds & mahogany cane telegraphed ‘revenuer’ to moonshiners.

closeup from cover of 'blood and treasure'

March 22, 2021 Early settlers vs. native Americans / French & Indian War / Kentucky / Revolutionary War / Writers

Book Review: ‘Blood and Treasure–Daniel Boone and the Fight for America’s First Frontier’

Blood & Treasure gives crucial context to why Boone’s years in Kentucky were, at almost every stage, lived in the constant backdrop of “Indian troubles.”

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