West Virginia’s famed old-time folk family, the Hammons, live in both the mythologies and histories of Appalachia. Through the Hammons and their music, we gain a peek into the history of Appalachian old-time music and its diverse sources. Burl and Currence learned many of their tunes from Black folk artists like Grafton Lacy from Braxton County. Lacy is no exception; Black artists have made founding contributions in the genre. Their role often remains untold, or in the case of Lacy, is sparsely mentioned in the stories of Appalachian folk music. The origins of old-time music, ranging from West Africa to the British Isles, come alive in between the lines of the music itself, where its hidden history becomes clear.
By 1910 there were more than 150 orchards in Morgan and Hampshire counties. A 1919 census of orchards by the WV Department of Agriculture recorded eight orchards in Paw Paw, with a crop of 105,000 bushels. In 1940, the Consolidated Orchard Company constructed a modern packing plant with a capacity of 130,000 bushels, which grew to a capacity of 200,000+ bushels by 1963. On April 16, 1948 Consolidated Orchard hosted the dedication of the B&O Railroad “Paw Paw” Pullman car. B&O chose to honor “Paw Paw” because of the town’s importance as an apple producing center, and the prominence of Henry Miller, Jr as a producer, shipper, and apple authority.
Today all can explore Seneca Rocks because it is public land that sits within the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, the first congressionally designated national recreation area established by the USDA Forest Service. Modern-day visitors to the Seneca Rocks Unit of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area appreciate the unique amalgam of geological history, rich culture, and fruitful recreational opportunities. Although the rock face is wont to steal the spotlight, the diversity and wealth of culture associated with the area is equally - if not more - deserving of it.
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787. While the Founding Fathers, former British subjects, rejected the British Parliament's model with its House of Lords and Commons, they were not entirely without inspiration. European governments offered little guidance for democracy at the time. However, existing models closer to home provided valuable insights. There are clear parallels between the Constitution and indigenous systems like the Great Law of Peace.
Many towns in West Virginia experienced lightning-fast growth as they became a part of a network of railroads. These towns usually had abundant resources like coal or timber that provided jobs for the towns’ residents. Many towns were built by companies– employees of coal companies would live in houses owned by the company they worked for. However, this was not always the case. One town that was built by residents instead of a coal company is Thomas, West Virginia.
Let’s spend some time thinking about the organisms that have stood tall for well over 250 years. That’s right- we’re talking about trees. There are some trees in our region that have existed for over 250 years or are descendants of trees that play a role in history - from the Pringle Tree in Buckhannon to Cathedral State Park.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was deeply involved in all aspects of the Arthurdale homestead. She watched over the process as the federal government began turning the Arthurdale farm into a community for the long-term unemployed. Mrs. Roosevelt visited Arthurdale in December of 1934 and announced the plans for the homesteaders' first Christmas to the newspapers. Their first Christmas allowed the homesteaders to work together for a joyous occasion.
