Dave Tabler, Author at Appalachian History

The number of railroad accidents made the need for a hospital strongly felt

Western Maryland Hospital, the 1st institution of its kind in Allegany County, was erected on Baltimore Avenue to minister to the suffering.

The 1912 Barranshe Run mishap was one of the more dramatic log train wrecks in WV history. The victims’ bodies were buried in logs.

Water witching (rhabdomancy) is common in West Virginia. Fifty years ago there were 25,000 practicing water witches nationwide.

When you’re in Oakland or Grantsville, MD, you’re in Old Order Amish territory. You may be wondering just how that group got its name.

In the era before the Pure Food & Drug Act, Chattanooga Medicine Co. flourished with elevated claims for its 2 most popular patent medicines.