Dave Tabler, Author at Appalachian History

January 2, 2019 Modernization / Ohio

Washing clothes the modern way

“It is believed that the 1900 company was the first to mass produce and market the electric washing machine,” says Dr. Lee Reynolds.

Brothers and sisters Burl Hammons, Sherman Hammons, Maggie Hammons Parker, and Ruie Hammons at Burl, Maggie, and Ruie's home in Stillwell, near Marlinton, 1972

December 31, 2018 Christmas traditions / West Virginia

Old Christmas superstition

They claim if the house drips on Old Christmas—not the first Christmas, Old Christmas, that they’ll be a good fruit year, plenty of fruit and mast and everything.

December 28, 2018 Coal mining / Diaries / Ohio

Had to furnish my own horse; bought one from the coal company

John Holt (1870-1918), a coal miner in Murray City, OH, kept a journal of his daily life. Here’s the week of April 7-14, 1907.

New Bern, NC Forest History Society warehouse, 1938

December 27, 2018 Family life / Forestry / North Carolina

I’d trust a mountain man before I would a city man any day

The [North Carolina Forest Service] offered me a job then, late that summer or early that fall. I went to work, I had a fancy title: in charge of visual education.