Appalachian History

Blackburn went to the serpent box and got the two copperheads out

He put it around Johnny’s shoulder. The snake crawled down Johnny’s arm. The large rattlesnake struck Johnny on the right hand.

One of the Shawnee warriors, made furious by my obstinacy, snatched my babe from my breast, and threatened to brain it against a tree.

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.