HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: pkteagarden@bobcat.lmc.edu (Phil Teagarden)
Subject: Re: alt.appalachian user poll
Organization: Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, NC
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 20:22:20 GMT

In article <9208251823.AA26117@vtserf.cc.vt.edu> jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr) writes:

>Listen up!  It's the alt.appalachian user poll!

>Please answer the following questions, and post your responses to the net
>(don't mail them to me, post them to alt.appalachian for all to read!):

>1) Where were you born and/or raised?  Outside Appalachia, or if you were born
>and/or raised in Appalachia, where?

I was raised in Tallahassee, Fla.  Came to Appalachia 25 yrs. ago.

>2) Where are you presently living?  Outside Appalachia, or if you are
>presently living in Appalachia, where?

Banner Elk, N.C.  Teach Biology at Lees-McRae College.

>3) What do you like best about the Appalachian region, either specific to one
>location or generally?

The people and the beautiful mountains makes me feel good!  (Also, I like to
photograph these things)

>4) What do you like least about the Appalachian region, either specific to one
>location or generally?

The influx of tourist and insensitive people.

>I look forward to reading your responses.  Please be creative!

>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Joel Furr                                                   jfurr@vtssi.vt.edu
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>                           alt.appalachian -- try it!
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Subject: Re: from the alt.appalachian archive (Quilting)
Reply-To: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 18:42:51 GMT

In article <1992Aug27.152523.11031@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, gmclucki@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Gemma McLuckie) writes:

|> I wish now that I had one of Irene's quilts. It just seemed so commonplace to
|> see her constantly piecing and quilting that I never thought that I should get
|> one quick before there weren't any to be had.  I miss Irene so much...

What a wonderful story.  Among my greatest treasures are three quilts 
pieced and quilted by my great-grandmother, who was a lot like Gemma's
aunt Irene.  I have a Tulip pattern, a Field of Diamonds, and a Double
Wedding Ring.  I wish I had one of her Flower Garden quilts, which was
her favorite, but I treasure the three the I have and always will.  The
are destined to be family heirlooms.  They were all made when she was
in her late 70's and early 80's.  

-- 

	Jim Burke	"Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
	Teknekron Software Systems		... burke@tss.com
  	phone:(415) 617-2432			... uunet!tekbspa!burke
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: ahansfor@banach.wpi.edu (Andrew L. Hansford)
Subject: changes back home
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 00:20:21 GMT


Well, I visited my home town of St. Albans, WV last month.  Mostly
things are the same.  The high school is still there, the Dairy Queen
is still there, the Nitro-St. Albans Bridge is still there.  

But there appears to be some new additions to the businesses that are
in the un-incorporated strip between South Charleston and St. Albans.
Joining the already existing peep shows, strip bars, and massage
parlors are a topless car wash (B____ and Bubbles) and a strip joint
for the women (Swinging Richards).  

Unfortunately that was about the only economic growth I saw.

-- Andrew Hansford
   ahansfor@wpi.wpi.edu
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: ahansfor@banach.wpi.edu (Andrew L. Hansford)
Subject: Charleston Sternwheel Regatta
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 00:09:15 GMT


The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is a great annual festival held the
9 days before labor day each year.  There are many events associated
with the Regatta throughout Charleston and the Kanawha Valley.

The highlights of the festival include a feature parade, a challenging
10k road race, a week of free concerts, and of course boat races.

This all started in the early or mid 70's with just the Sternwheel
races held on the Sunday before Labor Day.  Well, the festival grew in
number of days and eventually the City of Charleston decided to block
off a portion of the main road beside the River and Levee and set up a
stage for entertainment.  Several local bands had very large exposure.
Then the Festival commission started pulling in bigger acts for the
evening shows.

The boat races are still on Sunday and the PA Denny (The sternwheeler
of Charleston) usually wins its heat (Since the EL Thumper sunk).
That evening the WV Symphony plays and fireworks end it all. (Although
I've never confirmed this, I have heard that the WV Symphony hold some
kind of record for largest classical outdoor concert.)

I would like to post the entire schedule but I do not have one.  The
concerts this year are:

Cruizin Coyotes, Charlie Daniels Band
Carman
Aaron Tippin
Flight Of Six, Three Dog Night
Atlantic Star
Jefferson Starship
Pointer Sisters
Benny Benack, Lee Roy Parnell, Pam Tillis, Steve Wariner, Billy Ray Cyrus
Olympia Brass Band, WV Symphony

Hope some of you out there remember some Regatta's. Hope that those of
you that have never been to one, get a chance someday.

You gotta Regatta.

-- Andrew Hansford
   ahansfor@wpi.wpi.edu
From: jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr)
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
Subject: from the alt.appalachian archive (Marshall U Cabell County WV)
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:20:17 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science

Subject: Marshall University, Cabell County
From: brenda@harmony.larc.nasa.gov (Brenda H. Austin)
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA  

I was also thrilled to see someone cheering on the HERD!!! I'm a 1973 graduate
[of Marshall University]. My father worked at H K Porter's steel mill which is
across Third Avenue from the university.  It has grown a lot since the early
70's.  The basketball team is always good but we did manage to go to the 5th
position in the nation while I was attending.  The football team hasn't been
the same since the tragic jet crash that claimed our team.  This was truly a
sad day since a high school sweetheart was on the team.  I know WVa is
Mountaineer territory these days but I'm still a Marshall fan (besides, my
parents wouldn't let me go to Morgantown for college).

I have truly enjoyed this group.  I grew up in Cabell County in Milton which
is between Route 60 and I-64 about halfway between Huntington and Charleston. 
Huntington is a River City (and in the past big in steel production). Charles-
ton of course is the Chemical Capital of the World. Milton is known for its
world famous Blenko hand blown glass. Artisans from England settled in Milton
for their glass factory at the turn of the century because of its abundant
supply of natural gas.  It is truly amazing to watch the  glass being created. 
West Virginia has several famous glassworks - like Pilgrim.  It may be little
known but Blenko has (and may still) produced much of the Revolutionary glass
that is sold in Williamsburg, Va.  They have also produced the awards that are
presented at the Country Singing Awards (sorry I forgot their name).  Having
lived in a middle class family in Cabell County I don`t feel that I have grown
up in true appalachia.  I always heard stories and our teachers always told us
about the poor school system except in Cabell, Kanawha, and Woods counties. 
We were told we were lucky to be in Cabell. Now, traveling to Lincoln County
where my father was raised is a  different story.  Anyone ever hear of an
Adkins in West Virginia? Just joking..... there were so many in my father`s
mill they quit hiring Adkins' because it was messing up their bookkeeping. 
Sorry to be rambling.  I truly enjoyed being a West Virginian and still claim
to be to this day even though I have lived in Virginia for 18 years now.
From: jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr)
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
Subject: from the alt.appalachian archive (Central West Virginia)
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:19:52 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science

Subject: Central W.Va.
From: sally@nevada.edu (SALLY PHARES)
Organization: University of Nevada System Computing Services

You've seen an earlier posting from me, so perhaps I should introduce myself. 
My name is Sally Phares, I grew up in Beverly, WV, a little town 7 miles south
of Elkins.  This is in Randolph county which is roughly just east of the
central part of WV.

Like many of you I found this newsgroup last week and have enjoyed seeing all
the postings. I'm amazed how many West Virginians have landed in interesting
places!  

I'm taking Joel's suggested list of topics and will be making several postings
over the next few weeks.  It's been along time since I've had such a captive
audience on which to expound about my favorite topics from "home"!

Today's topic is central W.Va. most notably in and around Randolph county. 
The county is the largest in W.Va. and if not the most  sparsely populated,
it's certainly close!  It's very rural with the main industry being farming,
timber (and related industry), a lot of federal business, some mining and the
tourist trade.

If you are in Elkins, you are within 40-60 miles of 5 ski resorts and some of
the most beautiful forest lands anywhere in this country.

Additionally nearby in other counties, is Blackwater Falls (state park),
Cranberry Glades (I believe this is a federal property) and Dolly Sods.

Blackwater Falls is near the Canaan Valley ski area.  The falls is "black" due
to the influence of the plants and minerals in the area.  The falls is
spectacular when there's plenty water and even more so in the winter when it's
frozen over.

Cranberry Glades is a bog of sorts.  Wildlife biologists tell me it's quite
unusual in that the plants and animals, while most are native to WV in other
parts, many exist only there.  The visitors' area is on a boardwalk in the
forest but you can also arrange to go out in canoes, etc.

Dolly Sods is a plateau not too far from the Canaan Valley area.  It's most
notable for its wild huckleberries and rattlesnakes.  Yes, I've gone "picking"
there and you must keep one eye on where you're picking and one eye on where
you're standing!  The sods were created after a series of wildfires just past
the turn of the century.  There's still very little timber there...mostly low
growth and lots of huckleberry bushes!

If you have questions/comments, please let me know and I'll do my best to
answer them.  

Later I will write on things actually in Randolph County like--a petrified
forest, the Beaver Dam, Bickle's Knob, Mt. Iser and Stuart's Park.
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Subject: Re: alt.appalachian user poll
Reply-To: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 15:24:19 GMT

|> In article <9208251823.AA26117@vtserf.cc.vt.edu> jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr) writes:

|> >1) Where were you born and/or raised?  Outside Appalachia, or if you were born
|> >and/or raised in Appalachia, where?

Born in Pikeville, KY. My family lived in Dorton, KY, moved to Michigan when I was 5, but I spent 6-8 weeks
of every summer "back home" until I was 15 or so.


|> >2) Where are you presently living?  Outside Appalachia, or if you are
|> >presently living in Appalachia, where?

Currently living in the San Francisco Bay area.


|> >3) What do you like best about the Appalachian region, either specific to one
|> >location or generally?

The people.  The atmosphere.  The culture.  The language.  And my family 
heritage that stems from Appalachia.


|> >4) What do you like least about the Appalachian region, either specific to one
|> >location or generally?

Poverty, trash on the creek banks, poverty, lack of access to good education,
and poverty.


-- 

	Jim Burke	"Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
	Teknekron Software Systems		... burke@tss.com
  	phone:(415) 617-2432			... uunet!tekbspa!burke
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: gmclucki@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Gemma McLuckie)
Subject: Re: from the alt.appalachian archive (Quilting)
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 15:25:23 GMT


Sally Phares gives a brief history of quilting and asks if we have any stories
to add.

My Aunt Irene Evans, who when she died suddenly took the name Edna (it was her
first name and it was engraved on her headstone even though she had gone by her 
middle name all her life), was a quilter and rag rug maker.

I remember Irene always having a bag of fabric squares, piecing in front of the
television. She quilted tops on the sewing machine for something like $20 each
quilt -- probably about 5 cents an hour.  Sometimes the tops were ones she had
pieced and sometimes they were ones brought to her by women from around Greenup
County, KY.

Then she had a quilt frame that filled up the "front room," and she and her
circle would hand quilt during bees. Don't know where the tops came for those
projects.

Anyway, she used to say that her mother (my grandmother India Nichols Brown)
always said a woman should do a quilt each year so that her family would have
enough warm blankets. In Irene's case, she had to make enough to cover 12
people since she had 10 kids!

BTW, we always called blankets "covers." Guess it came from coverlet. Anyway,
*our* covers were no dainty "coverlets," they were the hale and hearty kind
that you piled on five and six deep -- probably weighed a ton per inch. When my
two cousins (Doris and Dean) shared a bed with me during my visits from Ohio,
those covers would either smother us or freeze us. Lord help the kid in the
middle!

I wish now that I had one of Irene's quilts. It just seemed so commonplace to
see her constantly piecing and quilting that I never thought that I should get
one quick before there weren't any to be had.  I miss Irene so much...

Gemma McLuckie
From: Schuyler.Stultz@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Schuyler Stultz)
Subject: Re: Matewan
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 20:50:12 GMT

In article <8Lh-rwB@engin.umich.edu> Fil Sapienza <Fil.Sapienza@med.umich.edu> writes:
>I recently watched the movie "Matewan", and wondered if anybody
>could verify if the events depicted in the movie really did happen
>the way they were depicted.  
>
If I remember correctly, most of the film was true.  When I took a Humanityes
Class here at Virginia Tech on the Appalachian Area in general, we read two
books that should help shed some light on the situation you talk of.
Storming Heaven and ... Oh crap, I can't remember the name of the second one.
ST was a "Fictionoalized" account of what realy happend told from the
point of view of several people from the region.  
Thunder in the Montains was the other.  It was a factual book based on news
reports from the area/time.

Hope these help a little.  

schuyler@csugrad.cs.vt.edu
:x


--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: trev@hubcap.clemson.edu (Trevor Bauknight)
Subject: Re: Radio Station
Organization: Jes Grew Carriers -- Metaphysical Bunko Squad 
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 07:03:50 GMT

trev@hubcap.clemson.edu (Trevor Bauknight) writes:

>I think I heard this station when I was in Pennington Gap, VA a couple

But then, Maysville, KY is a heck of a long way from Pennington Gap, VA.
Maybe all the public stations in KY are like this...
 
Trevor Bauknight         trev@hubcap.clemson.edu    ...gatech!hubcap!trev
 
                                                     +-----------+
                                                     | _> ###    |
                  fish on                            |     |     |
                                                     +-----------+
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis
Date:         Thu, 03 Sep 92 22:10:46 CST
From:         Katherine Lowndes <C09875D4@wuvmd.wustl.edu>
To:           NETNEWS@WUVMD
Subject:      Re: alt.appalachian user poll
Newsgroups:   alt.appalachian

1)  I was born in Oregon, but have lived for the majority of my life in
   Knoxville, TN.
2)  I now am a student at Washington University in St. Louis.  Very flat.
3)  I love the variety of the wildlife and plantlife of the region.  I live
   in an area that is mixed deciduous and evergreen---hard to find.  I work at
a YMCA camp in the foothills of the mts. during the summers, and love to teach
the kids about the wonders of nature, camping, etc etc.
4)  I hate construction up in the mountains that drive the wildlife down to the
 cities where they get shot. I also dislike the ignorance of the Cherokee tradi
tion of the S. Appalachians.  I am part Cherokee, and find it ironic that I
 work on the land that my anscestors used to inhabit.
5)  send your kids to YMCA Camp Montvale, 4901 Montvale Rd.,
         Maryville, TN  37801
Thanks, katherine
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: pdunn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Patrick L Dunn)
Subject: Re: Star mention of Huntington, WV
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:04:25 GMT

In article <jervis.1-270892073942@opsmac2.cc.nd.edu.> jervis.1@nd.edu (R.allen
Jervis) writes:
>There was an article in a recent STAR about the government spending money
>on bogus historical sites. One expense 2.7 million to renovate a
>Huntington,WV theatre that re-opened as a four screen mini-plex.
>This wouldn't be the Keith-Albee would it?
>Such a shame if it is...that was an impressive theatre just to look at, not
>to mention viewing a movie at.
>
>-r.allen jervis
>late of Wayne County.

It is the Keith-Albee.  I also heard it mentioned on one of the tabloid-TV 
programs.

The K-A is a beautiful theatre, and it is a shame that it has gotten sort of 
run down in the first place.  When I visit Huntington with out-of-state 
freinds, I like to take them there to see it.  Even in its present condition, 
they are in awe.  I can't wait to see what it looks like when it is renovated.

A little bit of history on the theatre (and of Huntington): Huntingon was a 
planned city, built as a major terminus for the C&O railroad.  It was started
in the late 1880's, and named for
Collis Potter Huntington the president of the railroad, and he envisioned a
very large city, perhaps the size of Cincinatti.  Things tended to be built on
a grand scale in the city, up until shortly before the depression.  That is why
the city has extremely wide streets downtown, a beautiful, ornate
courthouse, the Keith-Albee, and some other impressively-built old buildings.

The Keith-Albee is probably one of only a few of the ornate theatres of the 
1920's still operating.  It was built around 1920 (I think a little earlier) 
and was used as a moviehouse and a vaudeville theatre.  It still has dressing 
rooms that have on their doors the names of all the stops on that particular 
vaudeville circuit.  There are also catacombs which lead to the Ohio river, 
constructed so that equipment and props could be easily moved from riverboats 
or rail cars to the theatre.

It also had a huge pipe organ, that was sold to some ex-music teacher in 
Kansas, back in the '70s.

In the early-70's, they wanted to demolish the theatre, but the locals 
(particularly Marshall U. students) really raised a stink.  The theatre was 
saved, and today it is a four-screen movie theatre, and is used by the Marshall
Artist's series (I saw the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra there back in '86).  I 
love the old theatre: it is an experience to visit it, and to walk on plush red
carpet and look up at the grandiose ceilings and walls.  I am glad they are 
restoring it.

PDunn
Formerly of Putnam Co., and Marshall U. (Go Herd!!)
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
From: wdean@css.itd.umich.edu (   wdean)
Subject: Re: alt.appalachian user poll
Organization: University of Michigan ITD Consulting and Support Services
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 21:54:11 GMT

In article <9208251823.AA26117@vtserf.cc.vt.edu> jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr) writes:
>Listen up!  It's the alt.appalachian user poll!
>
>Please answer the following questions, and post your responses to the net
>(don't mail them to me, post them to alt.appalachian for all to read!):
>
>1) Where were you born and/or raised?  Outside Appalachia, or if you were born
>and/or raised in Appalachia, where?

I was born in Ashland, Ky. but we lived in Olive Hill, Ky.
Olive Hill is the home of Tom T. Hall. yea!

>
>2) Where are you presently living?  Outside Appalachia, or if you are
>presently living in Appalachia, where?

currently I am living in Ann Arbor, Michigan

>
>3) What do you like best about the Appalachian region, either specific to one
>location or generally?

nice camping, plus I know this *killer* place to go rock jumping into
Grayson Lake. its a rush!!! :)
Plus, there is "Carter Caves State Park" its a nice place to hike.

>
>4) What do you like least about the Appalachian region, either specific to one
>location or generally?

I really hate seeing all the poverty there. Theres some REAL poverty
in that part of the woods. :(

>I look forward to reading your responses.  Please be creative!
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Joel Furr                                                   jfurr@vtssi.vt.edu
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>                           alt.appalachian -- try it!




wes
wdean@inquiry.org
From: jfurr@vtssi.vt.EDU (Joel Furr)
Newsgroups: alt.appalachian
Subject: from the alt.appalachian archive (Mountain State Forest Festival)
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:20:39 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University Department of Computer and Information Science

Subject: festivals
From: sally@nevada.edu (SALLY PHARES)
Organization: University of Nevada System Computing Services

The Mountain State Forest Festival is held each year in Elkins, WV, the
county seat of Randolph County.  It's usually held the first week of
October so you get the best "fall color".  

Many events occur throughout the week but it officially begins on
Thursday when Maid Sylvia arrives and tours many of the schools.  Then
on Friday she becomes Queen Sylvia at an elaborate coronation ceremony
held on the Davis and Elkins campus in the outdoor amptheatre.  That is
usually followed by a woodsman competitition that often takes part of
Saturday as well.

The rest of the festival consists of a Fireman's parade on Friday night,
the grand parade on Saturday (usually lasts about 4 hours), various
dances, a country-western concert usually on Friday night--yes with
big name artists, a carnival in the middle of downtown Elkins, and
arts and crafts, wildlife and historical displays everywhere!

This festival began during the 1930's as a kind of community family
reunion to celebrate the area's resources from the forest.  It was
interrupted during World War II and resumed after that and as far as I
know has remained uninterrupted since that time.  There have been
at least 4 Presidents in attendance and of course it's a wonderful
time for all kinds of politicians to make appearances.

I grew up in Randolph County and attending the festival or participating
in it in some way is something that most everyone wants to do.  Some of
my best memories are from the first weeks in October!  

If you enjoy the outdoors, festivals, crafts, parades, etc. it would be
well worth your time to check out this festival.

Over the years there's one thing I've realized...West Virginians love
to celebrate and we seem to be at our best when we throw a festival!


Sally A. Phares                       (Born and raised in Beverly, WV, thus
sally@nevada.edu                       a true Beverly Hillbilly!)