From: jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr)
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
Subject: from the alt.appalachian archive (Connie Leinen on Appalachia)
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:20:47 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science

By: Connie Leinen, SWK004@MARSHALL.MU.WVNET.EDU
Organization: Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
Subject: RFD: soc.culture.appalachian

Hey there Joel,

I just found this board and saw several mentions of a list of
articles you mentioned. I believe that your intention was to
solicit articles? Anyway, would you mail or repost the list?

BTW, a soc. group would get my vote, although I don't have any
trouble getting the alt groups. 

It was gratifying to see this board and your post. My husband and
I are Appalachians by choice (not by birth) and often feel that
we're the only people alive that think this culture is something
to cherish.

Our first clue that we were going to like these mountain people
was the delightful use of descriptive phrases. Our personal
favorite is still "fine as frog hair parted three ways and split
down the middle." Of course, one morning we woke up and found
that we had turned into mountain people. It's always such a
surprise to go visit the relatives in Milwaukee and see how
Appalachian we've truly become.

Seems to me that this board needs a good discussion of the best
recipe for brown beans and corn bread. (Seasoning with ramps is
optional.) But I'm sure that would erupt in a flame war regarding
whether boiled potatoes or fried potatoes should be served as a
side dish. Then, of course, there's the lunatic fringe that feel
macaroni and cheese is the only appropriate side dish.

Things that we immediately noticed (and appreciated) about the
Appalachian culture that may not be readily apparent to those
born and bred here are:

The need for land. We are still amazed at the number of people
who view less than 50 acres as not worth bothering with. 

The need for music. I was raised a military brat and lived in a
whole lot of places. I have never encountered a society as
fixated on music as this one. 

The need for family. I'm sure it's true about the south in
general, but Appalachians seem exceptionly adept at keeping track
of the 2nd cousins-twice-removed-who-married-my-Great-Aunt-
Cindy's-next-door-neighbor's-sister's-son-in-law's-brother.  Not
only do they keep track of this stuff, but that person is most
definitely expected to drop in and say hi at Christmas. You
should see the poor, pitying looks we get when we admit that most
of our family is more than 600 miles away. Of course, we've been
adopted into a whole bunch of families due to our orphan status.

The need to help. We have never been so blessed with so much help
in our lives. Two died-in-the-wool city folks moved to the
country and the neighbors helped and helped and helped and
helped. Hell, we didn't even know our neighbors names in Milwau-
kee. Of course, after 8 years, we're still called the "new people
that bought Frank's 'ol place."  I've had the mail person jump
out of the car to help me move a wheel barrow. We've had perfect
strangers offer to help us get stuff home from the hardware store
when they heard overheard us ask about delivery because we didn't
own a pick-up truck

which leads me to....

The need for a pick-up truck. I really don't think one can
totally and properly be considered a real Appalachian without a
pick-up. We had one, but had to sell it when we all our efforts
to make it run failed. So, we're kind of looking for a pick up.
But then again, we're kind of looking to buy some more land.
We've finally caught that bug that makes you feel like anything
less than 50 acres ain't worth foolin' with. On the other hand,
we're also looking at hammered dulcimers. Neither of us play, but
you can't learn if you can't practice.

Connie