Stories of Appalachia

During the 1880's a dispute broke out over where the county seat of Tucker County, West Virginia, should be.  Unlike the usual political fighting over where the courthouse and county offices should be, this one involved an armed mob intent on taking matters into their own hands. You can now listen to Stories and help us out at the same time.  Download the new RadioPublic app from the Apple app sto...

Today we tell the story of Bristol, Virginia, native Charles S. Johnson. Born the son of a Baptist minister during the time of Jim Crow, Johnson got his college education and began a lifelong study of the causes of racism.  His efforts doing so laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's. If you'd like to have Stories delivered to your device automatically, subscribe...

After the American Revolution, General George Washington took a trip out west to inspect land he received for his service to the country, land that was located in Appalachian Pennsylvania.  And when he got there, he encountered a group of Scots-Irish squatters who had planted a small community there, without his permission. And that set the stage for a dispute. Today on Stories, Steve and Rod tell...

Think you're safe from earthquakes in Appalachia?  Think again. On May 31, 1897, the largest earthquake ever recorded in Virginia (and the second largest in the southeastern United States) struck in Giles County, causing severe damage in several Appalachian states.  Today Rod and Steve tell the story of the great Appalachia earthquake. You can subscribe to Stories on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Goog...

On today's episode of Stories, Steve and Rod sit back and listen as Ira Jackson Seay tells his own story of poverty, war, love, moonshining and racing.   Be sure to subscribe to Stories at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Feedburner or on your favorite podcast app. Follow us on Facebook @storiesofappalachia and on Twitter @storyappalachia for more bits of Appalachian history. Thanks for listening to our...

Rod and Steve wraps up the story of Appalachian icon Daniel Boone with a look at his last days in Missouri.   You can subscribe to Stories at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Feedburner, or on the podcast app of your choice. We have more stories of the history of Appalachia on Facebook @storiesofappalachia and on Twitter @storyappalachia.  Come by and follow us. Thanks for listening and sharing us with y...

We continue with Part Two of the story of Appalachia's own Daniel Boone. This week we tell of his days in Kentucky, before civilization overtook him and forced him farther west. You can subscribe to Stories on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or on your favorite podcast app. You can follow us on Facebook @storiesofappalachia and on Twitter @storyappalachia. Thanks for listening to our stories...

Explorer, long hunter, pioneer, Appalachian icon.  All these words describe America’s first national hero, Daniel Boone.  Today, Steve and Rod begin telling his story in a three-part podcast series. Thanks for listening. You can subscribe to Stories at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Tune In, or on your favorite podcast app. We’re on Facebook @storiesofappalachia and Twitter @storyappalachia.  

The 1960's were a time of radicalism, with protests, riots, and bombings at institutions of higher learning.  And the colleges in Appalachia saw their share of these things, too. There had been protests at Bluefield State College for several years, starting in the mid-60's, over the increasing ratio of white faculty and staff at Bluefield State, led by African American students of the historically...

It's Christmas week, and on this episode of Stories, Rod and Steve continue a holiday tradition by going back in time to read some letters to Santa from both good and bad little boys and girls.  Then our own Q. T. pi reads "The Night Before Christmas." We appreciate each and every one of you who listen to our stories about this place we call home, no matter where on Planet Earth you happen to be. ...

On today's episode, Rod and Steve tell the story of two 19th century western North Carolina explorers who got into a very public argument over the mountains that are now named after them. We are available for subscription at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Libsyn or on your favorite podcast app. We are also on Twitter and Facebook, sharing more stories about this place we call home...be sure to follow u...

1916 saw not one but two hurricanes hit the mountains of North Carolina at once, causing flooding, devastation and death in southern Appalachia.  On today's episode, Steve and Rod tell the story of the Great Flood of 1916. You can subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Tune In or on your favorite podcast app. We're also on Twitter @storyappalachia and on Facebook @storiesofappalachi...

A new podcast episode, and new podcast theme music! On the Norfolk and Southern railroad line between St. Paul and Coeburn, Virginia, are three railroad tunnels drilled into the mountains so that the coal companies could get that black gold out of Appalachia and on to market. From Coeburn to St. Paul those tunnels are, […]

This week, Steve and Rod tell the story of a Georgia doctor who decided that an acceptable alternative to the illegal abortions he was performing in the 1940’s and 50’s was the illegal sale of Appalachian babies.  Hundreds of these babies were sold to buyers from all over the country, with no records kept, and […]

There have been many examples of women who dressed as men in order to fight in a war. But there was only one example of a woman who did so but also ended up serving on both sides. Today Rod and Steve tell the story of Melinda Blalock, who, along with her husband Keith, joined […]

On September 26, 1936, a coal train and a passenger train derailed and crashed in separate incidents near Welch, West Virginia. On today’s podcast we tell you the story of those wrecks and what caused them. Thanks for listening to our stories…

In 1924 a young married couple moved to Logan, West Virginia, from Kentucky. Jack Thurman got a job with the Logan police department, and Mamie Thurman started frequenting the Amour Club, a local speakeasy and house of ill repute. And thus began a series of events that eventually led to death and imprisonment. On this […]

It’s that time of year, folks, and Rod and I have two short tales for you. First up, we tell the story of the Snallygaster, a Maryland monster that got a lot of attention back in the early part of the 20th century. Then its on to the mountains of western North Carolina, where we […]

Today Rod and Steve tell the story of John Salling of Scott County, Virginia. Mr. Salling was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living Confederate veteran, until records appeared to challenge that claim. You can subscribe to the podcast at TuneIn, Google Play, Apple Podcasts or on your own […]

At the turn of the twentieth century the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia were like the Old West, filled with outlaws. Among these was Clifton Branham, who lost his life at the end of a rope for murdering his wife, becoming the last man hanged in Wise County, Virginia. Today, […]

Photo by Mathew Brady, Library of Congress. A special episode of Stories for you today! As we’ve mentioned, we have a new podcast in which Steve Gilly and Gena Gilly tell stories of the history of not just Appalachia, but all of America, and beyond. I wanted to give those of you who subscribe to […]

THIS EPISODE IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR FOR SMALL CHILDREN. Whipple Company Store-West Virginia Historical Photographs Collection. We’ve all heard about the hardships miners and their families went through before the UMWA organized the mines. But there were some places in West Virginia where families suffered unspeakably when a miner became disabled. That’s when […]

On today’s episode, Steve and Rod tell the story of the founder of Tennessee’s preeminent whiskey maker: Jack Daniel’s Whiskey in Lynchburg. You can subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast app. We’re on Twitter @storyappalachia and on Facebook @storiesofappalachia. Here’s a tip of the glass to you…thanks for […]

Today we tell the story of the worst mining disaster to occur in the United States, the explosion at the no. 6 and no. 8 mines of the Fairmont Coal Company in Monongah, West Virginia. You can subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening. (Picture by […]

On today’s episode, we look at a dark part of Appalachia’s history as we share three stories of racist mob violence and lynching in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina that occurred early in the 20th century. You can subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or on your favorite podcast app. We’re […]