Appalachian History

March 21, 2019 Kentucky / Whittling/carving

Every boy around, practically, carried a Barlow knife

Most of the boys carried an old Russell Barlow pocket knife. You could get a 1-blade at a store for 15¢ and a 2-blade for a quarter.

From 1919 to the 1940s, Madison County, NC’s first (and only) hospital was maintained and operated by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, USA.

workers inside hawks nest tunnel construction project

March 19, 2019 Dam building / Electric industry / West Virginia

Worst industrial tragedy in WV history

By February 24, 1933, 130 of the 3,000 men working on the Hawks Nest Tunnel at Alloy had already died from silicosis.

March 18, 2019 Appalachian crime / West Virginia

West Virginia bluebeard

This West Virginia based traveling salesman used matrimonial correspondence agencies to ensnare lonely women, whom he robbed, then murdered.

Rabbit in foreground with new wife; possum in background left behind

March 15, 2019 Cherokee folklore

Rabbit and the ‘Possum after a Wife

Rabbit & ‘Possum each wanted a wife; but no one would marry either one of them. This Cherokee legend tells us how playing possum came about.