Dave Tabler, Author at Appalachian History

wanted poster for sodder children deaths

Something hit the roof — like a rubber ball

Their search has dragged on for 23 years, but George & Jeannie Sodder will never believe five of their children burned to death in that fire.

The whole family was sick with whooping cough, and Grandma tried valiantly to keep the baby from getting it, but with no vaccine then, it was a losing battle.

December 9, 2008 Christmas traditions

Christmas images throughout Appalachia

Historical Christmas photos from Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio. Let it snow, let it snow! May these images bring you cheer.

December 4, 2008 Medical ethics / West Virginia

125 reasons you’ll get sent to the lunatic asylum

What constituted insanity to West Virginia authorities in the late Victorian era? You might be surprised. We were!

November 7, 2008 Firefighting / West Virginia

Fire set during a robbery

William E. Carpenter shot these 8×10 glassplate photographs at the scene of a fire set during a robbery in Freemansburg, WV.

Author: Dave Tabler

Something hit the roof — like a rubber ball

Can you imagine how it felt to be full of milk and have no child to suckle?

Christmas images throughout Appalachia

125 reasons you’ll get sent to the lunatic asylum

Fire set during a robbery