Stories of Appalachia

Just before Halloween, 1984, a small plane slammed into the side of Fancy Gap Mountain in Carroll County, Virginia, scattering a half-ton of pot across the mountainside. The discovery of the plane triggered an international manhunt for the Southwest Virginia owner of the plane that didn’t end until 2015 when the U.S. Attorney’s Office finally […]

The 1899 election for Kentucky governor was probably the most partisan election in Appalachian history, with vote-stealing and accusations of voter fraud. The General Assembly itself even divided, the Republicans meeting in one city and the Democrats in another. What set this election apart, though, was how the governor came to be sworn in and […]

This week we continue our look at the men who built their Appalachian empires with the story of George L. Carter. Carter not only developed coal and iron mines in Southwest Virginia, he also founded Kingsport, Tennessee, and Coalwood, West Virginia, and built his own railroad, the Clinchfield Railroad, which spanned from Kentucky to South […]

Alexander Arthur was born in Scotland and settled in America, where he saw the potential of timber, iron ore, and coal, all in abundant supply in Appalachia. And he was determined to build his empire in these mountains with the founding of Middlesboro, Kentucky, and Harrogate, Tennessee, to house those who ran his iron ore […]

Colonel John Dils, Jr., was a Pike County, Kentucky, businessman, Union soldier during the Civil War, abolitionist, and the founder of a family cemetery in Pikeville that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places. Today Steve and Rod tell his story. You can subscribe to the podcast if you’re so inclined at Apple Podcasts, […]

It’s time for a crime story, and we have a doozy for you! Today, Steve and Rod tell the story of a woman who had the habit of finding men who, oddly enough, ended up dead. It’s the story of Alabaman Nanny Doss, on this episode of the podcast. You can subscribe to the podcast […]

During the first boom in the Appalachian coalfields, there was such a labor shortage that the mine owners recruited workers from the millions of immigrants who were coming to America from Europe. And along with these immigrants came secret societies that were involved in kidnappings, extortion and murder. Today we tell the story of the […]

Nowadays, celebrating the Fourth of July usually means having a cookout then loading the family into the car or van and going to watch the fireworks. But in turn of the 20th century Appalachia, it meant a whole lot more. Today, its the story of how the Fourth used to be in Appalachia, through one […]

The first Appalachian president, Andrew Jackson, was the recipient of a rather, shall we say, noticeable gift. In fact, this gift was quite easily found by those around the White House simply by taking in a deep breath. Today we tell the story of Andrew Jackson’s giant cheese! We’re on Facebook @storiesofappalachia and on Twitter […]

A few weeks ago, Rod caught up with the son of Pound, Virginia, native and U2 spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers, who has a new book out about his father. Todays podcast contains Rod’s interview with Francis Gary Powers, Jr. Enjoy! You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or on […]

During World War I, the Germans managed to get Russia out of the fighting by helping communist rebels seize power and overthrow the Russian czar. Did you know that Germany tried to do the same in America? And that this was supposed to start in the coalfields of Appalachia, in Southwest Virginia? Today we tell the story of William McCoy and John Phipps, two men who attempted to organize an insurrec...

Forty years ago this week convicted assassin of Martin Luther King, Jr., James Earl Ray, along with several other men managed to break out of Brushy Mountain State Prison in Petros, Tennessee. Today we tell the story of that escape. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher or on your […]

What would you do if, all of a sudden, flakes of animal flesh started to fall around you? That’s just what happened to an Eastern Kentucky family in 1876 when meat began raining out of the blue Appalachian sky. Today we tell the story of the Kentucky meat shower. You can subscribe to the podcast […]

Today we tell the story of Rotherwood Mansion in Kingsport, Tennessee, a story of the frontier, of love, of loss, of ghosts and a surprising connection to someone you might have heard of. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or on your favorite podcast app. We’re on Twitter @storyappalachia […]

25 years ago East Tennessee was abuzz with news of a serial killer. Today, Steve and Rod tell the story of Thomas Huskey, also known as the Zoo Man, who was tried for a murder spree in Knox County. Or maybe it was Kyle…or Daxx… For you see, this killer came with a twist: multiple […]

Today we tell the sad story of the American opioid epidemic and how it got its start right here in Appalachia. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening. (Picture by 51fifty at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL ( http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) , CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 ( http://creativeco...

In the latter part of the 18th century a family settled along the New River in what’s now Wythe County, Virginia, and began to operate a lead mine there. The area to this day bears the name of that family, as Austinville. And one member left Appalachia to found a new nation in the West […]

The first settler in the Nashville area was a man from Appalachia who was one part historical figure and two parts legend. Thomas Spencer came over the Appalachian Mountains to Middle Tennessee during the American Revolution and became known for his kindness, his extreme strength and, curiously, the size of his feet. Today, Steve and […]

On March 9, 1949, two young men who were drinking in the bar of the Ambassador passenger train just outside Martinsburg, West Virginia, got into an argument with the bartender over their tab. One thing led to another, and soon these two were on the run after robbing the passengers of their valuables. Today we […]

(Photo by Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52598877 ) Back in the mid-1960s the area around Point Pleasant, West Virginia, was awash in strange tales of a giant man-like creature with huge moth wings. On today’s podcast, Steve and Rod tell the story of the Mothman, one of the most well-known Appalachian legends of the 20th century. You […]

Today we share the full, nearly one hour long podcast on the Hatfield and McCoy feud, in its entirety. It’s quite a story, and we hope you enjoy it. Apple Podcasts is one place you can subscribe to the podcast, or you can subscribe through your favorite podcast app. We’re on Twitter @storyappalachia and on […]

There are all kinds of soft drinks marketed in the United States, mostly under the Coca Cola or Pepsi companies. Of all the soft drinks out there, perhaps the best known of those to originate in Appalachia is Mountain Dew. Today, Rod and Steve tell the story of the birth and growth of Mountain Dew […]

Every now and then we switch gears and tell about legends instead of straight up history. Today Rod and Steve have the story of a monster that’s been seen around these parts, as well as Louisiana and Chicago: the devil monkey. Enjoy. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tunein or on your […]

A few weeks ago, our own Rod Mullins made an appearance before the Wise County Historical Society in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where he shared the story of his own ancestor, Brandy Jack Mullins. Mullins was a colorful character, involved in counterfeiting, moonshining and other activities, many of which Rod shared with his audience. Today […]

On New Year’s Eve, 1959, Spruce Pine, North Carolina was rocked by a massive explosion, leaving a crater in the town baseball field. What had happened? Listen to today’s podcast to find out. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or on your favorite podcast app. We’re on Facebook @storiesofappalachia and […]