Appalachian History

Punch Jones wasn’t looking for the largest diamond ever found in WV. It just came into his life. And changed everything for him, and for his descendents.

The memory jug

Memory jugs made from bottles, urns, bowls & other vessels have been found on graves–almost always on African American graves.

May 2, 2018 Appalachian celebrities / Appalachian Trail / Ohio

Emma Gatewood, 67, walks Appalachian Trail solo

Emma Gatewood became “Grandma Gatewood” to her immediate family long before the rest of the world knew her by that title.

May 1, 2018 Pearl hunting / Tennessee / Treasure hunting

A ‘pearl rush’ grips Clinch River residents

Pearls had been routinely hunted on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers and their tributaries for many years prior to the outbreak of a ‘pearl rush.’

April 30, 2018 Immigrants / Kentucky

Die Kolonie Bernstadt

In the 1880s, Swiss from Canton Bern came to Laurel County, KY, to found Die Kolonie Bernstadt. Coal jobs in the county were plentiful.