Wow Amy thats awesome I couldnt go to sleep until I read. It's To. My husband and I live in SC now, but our roots, came from being raised in almost heaven WV. Wouldnt trade my childhood for the world. Mom held several positions in the Auxiliary including 7th District President for 2 years. Love for this state flows thru my veins and arteries. We use to have to wipe the benches off before we sat down. After reading this story, I know that there are places here on earth where a person can get a little taste of what heaven must be like. Dad was a carpenter/siding applicator and spent much of time in northern MN building some of the mining towns on the Iron Range. Not change one thing about them. Mose had a distinct way of playing that sounded rough around the edges, but authentically West Virginian. We made our own slip and slides from mining belts or old pool liners we made bubbles from dish detergent. Theres REALLY no place like home! You folks probably just know it as a "hollow." The Mountain State's combination of mountains and streams make for quite a few remote areas and lots of hollers! I have never regretted being a mountain girl even tho we were teased in high school, so we just became good scholars to prove ourselves! I really enjoyed reading that .I was raised in a holler also and it sure brought back a lot of good memories. The church was locked but a neighbor noticed us and came over with a key and I was able to take a picture of Mary Jane holding the plaque on the steps of the church. Remembering Anthony Bourdain 1956-2018. . This sure does brings stories like this back . Its like you saw into my heart as you wrote. Your email address will not be published. West Virginia is a place that goes with you no matter how far you stray. Some of my fondest childhood memories were playing with my dear friend Kristen Shupe. Would that we could somehow have simpler times in our later life!!! No one even knew what poor meant. West Virginia ghost stories, legends, and haunts. Well yeah! You made me think of growing up in McDowell County. Hope maybe I can get there soon and see this great place written about in this great story. No beeping horns, only the sound of a train in the distance..the window open and a warm breeze caressing your face. We live in Myrtle Beach now and yes we miss WV. i grew up in mingo county w.v. She would say Do you want to make a trip to the bathroom? I knew what that meant..so Id straighten up quick. Took me back to my childhood. Coffee. Still Hollow Spirits, a farm to bottle distillery located high in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia specializing in traditional mountain style whiskeys and unique botanical infusions. What hasnt changed and never will, are the people and their love of God, family and friends!! We never had a swimming pool. This was a wonderful stroll down memory lane. We learned respect, what giving your word meant and protection of family. Well, Ive never really understood why thats a bad thing. Thank you for such a well written story. Find Best Western Hotels & Resorts nearby Sponsored. You can take the girl out of the hollor, but you cant take the hollor out of the girl. The mountains was our playground. I smell the cool air blowing in and I remember being 15 and the first time I stood on my back porch with my 17 year old boyfriend and fell so deeply in love.how we broke up and I thought I would die. I am a holler girl from wv. I did not grow up on a holler, but I lived for over 24 years in McDowell Co. My name was first Barbara Brown and I taught at Iaeger int. I try to tell my grandkids about me growing up and how we use to play. I can so recall so much you said in your article and I cherish every word that was written. Our home is in Roseburg, Oregon. Pigeon Hollow is a physical feature (valley) in Greenbrier County. In 1948, my Dad built a 3 Bedroom home on an adjacent property as our final home. IM A HOLLER GIRL FROM LOGAN WV,LOVE MY MEMORIES AND WILL CHERISH THEM ALWAYS..NO BETTER WAY TO LIVE.. Pictures of your home, the surrounding area, and the town would be nice to visually comprehend. Sneaking in kisses when Mommy and Daddy wasnt checking on us. Thanks for sharing, this is great! This is exactly what West Virginia is. I think the only thing you missed in your story from my memories are the winter days when mom would have a big ole pot of vegetable soup or pinto beans cooking. The pencil lead, chalk, crayons and the stuff they sprinkled on the floors before sweeping. It's all very much in the tradition of the work by Studs Terkel and Dale Maharidge (their works are eerily echoed by the subjects of "Hollow's" documentary videos), but it's produced for 2013's news consumers. Later on into the night we would retire to our bedsand most are covered in handmade quilts and fresh crisp sheets. I would jump off the top of the tall slide on the playground, climb trees and then jump down as it faster than climbing. Id look over every square inch of Cottle Church of God and soak in the love from our church family. I have thoroughly enjoyed these pictures and story; both bring back memories of my childhood past. PublishedFebruary 21, 2020 at 1:35 PM EST, Credit Caitlin Tan / West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Inside Appalachia Co-Host/Folkways Reporter, ctan@wvpublic.org, 307-231-9865, @miss_ctan, West Virginia Public Broadcasting | After I read this, it makes me want to just pack up and move there, this minute. Moonshine is a rich part of the state's history both the legal and well, illegal, varieties. It features 30 grassy, full (17) or partial (13) hookup campsites that are big rig friendly. Today, they are classy, sexy, and a wonderful friend. In a sense my childhood ended at 9, as nothing was the same after that. How old were you? This brought back so many wonderful memories to me. in Marion County, My dad was a coal miner when I was young and my husband retired from Loveridge Coal Mines. Once again thank you for reminding me of my childhood:), iwas from culloden wva in the 1963 i live in fla now no money in wva. God Bless You. And Annie says, that is what makes the music so special. It was so well written, I would love to have a printed copy!! The rush of the water over my head as I dunked down to the bottom was an awesome feeling. By, West Virginia Receives $83 million Opioid Settlement From Walgreens, Clogging in Lincoln County: Meeting Tosha, Columbus Washboard Company Produces Instruments Aimed To Meet Musicians Needs, Communion Wafers And Apple Butter Inspire Chefs Work At Lost Creek Farm, Cookies For A Nativity Fast: Recipe With Ancient History Makes Annual Appearance In Appalachia, Western North Carolina Barn Quilts Represent Community, History, New Book Explores History Of West Virginia Hot Dogs, Gospel Musician In Millstone, Kentucky Tries To Salvage Familys Flood-Ravaged Music Equipment, Six Years On, Researchers Studying Greenbrier County Flood Resiliency, Response Efforts. Hollers are actually known as hollows, which makes them more common than you might think. I was born in Welch, WV and raised in Iaeger, WVnothing like the errors from where I was raised..we had great times with many great memories!! I never learned how to swim despite growing up in the Land of 10,000 lakes. If you have never hung sheets on a clothesline to dry, then put them on your bed that night.you dont know what you are missing. Now dont get me wrong. Thank you for sharing!!! I want to live in a little town like Bud. Raised in Sangamaw (Sangamore) holler, Clay County West Virginia, I did not know that almost every name ended in e, or the fact that we were dirt poor yet we were some of the richest people on earth by having what mattered the most in life with family, love and helpful neighbors. We do not feel less-fortunate. I thought I was his really special little girl. My daughter was raised in PA but I pray she learned those wonderful ways of a holler girl mom! We were all quiet then so he could eat in peace. The junior high sat across the field from the high school so I got to make and keep lifelong friends one of my happiest memories was knowing that I would not change schools ever again. I think the name was Dietricks Greenhouse. Thank you for a job very well done. Wasnt a holler girl. Thank you Amy for a beautiful story.<3. Later the frogs join in with their deep croaks and I cant help but giggle thinking of my Dad singing, Froggy went a courtin and he did ride mmhmmm. Simplicity is in their lullabye as we softly fall asleep. .told my Mamaw what the kids were calling meshe said : well, reckon you can tell them fellers you can wipe your butt on a buckeye, but not on a briar! Loved my upbringing in the hollers!! In a special report exploring folkways traditions, as part of theInside Appalachia Folkways Project, Caitlin Tan explores the master-apprentice relationship in the old-time music community. I took my dad to the Smokies once his comment was,They dont have a mountain here any prettier than Bradshaw Mountain. He was right! West Virginia's history has long been inebriated by moonshine folklore. Singer-songwriter Tyler Childers is bringing bluegrass and his Appalachian roots to the mainstream. It was the local music. Find your adventure exploring the ghost stories and legends found among the mountains and hidden in the hollows. Would someone reading this please try to find out what church that was. We didnt have internet, cell phones, I-pads, or I-pods. Still have images of experiencing many or most of the things you did. Thanks for writing about home! Wonderful!! It brought my childhood to the surface. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The Inside Appalachia Folkways Project expands the reporting of the Inside Appalachia team to include more stories from West Virginia as well as expand coverage in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio. I want to see this place boom once again..but even if it doesnt my heart will always belong to McDowell County WV. OH HOW IT LOOKED BACK BEFORE WE LEFT THERE. Sadly, it is a trip that I will some day make on my own. The large fruit of the paw paw is the largest naturally grown fruit in North America. So he played for about three hours and he kept trying to hand me the fiddle, Now you play me something. And I said, I cant play. Loved the stories .The remembrance of growing up in the holler.Thanks for the memories and may God bless you enough!!!! There is no place like home..grew up in Fayette County (minden).small coal mine campwerent rich by far but those were the best years..try to get back as often as possible, that was a beautiful story ..sounds like my life here in the blue ridge mountains of Westren N.C. Thats what happens when you refuse to let Mommy clean it. Through the apprentice program, Doug and Annie met up to practice several times a month. Im a coal miners son from McDowell County! Lived up 24 holler growing up. Usually everything tries to bloom too earlyeager for life.eager to start a new season. The younger generation would die if they had to live the way we did. The primary coordinates for Pigeon Hollow places it within the WV 24931 ZIP Code delivery area.. Maps, Driving Directions & Local Area Information This story is part of theInside AppalachiaFolkways Reporting Project. That place is breed into every part of me. An Appalachian Holler in West Virginia - McDowell CountyThis is what we call a holler. About this Item. Of course now and then the older children got mean and started holding me undertil I came up sputtering and choking.but it was all in good fun. True Ghost Stories - West Virginia Ghosts Silver Gap Ghost near Oak Hill August 6, 2021 The Spirit that Stayed Around Buried Secrets The Shadow People Other Encounters One Night On Poca River December 16, 2019 When I was about 16 years old, I had a good friend of mine named. We are strong but gentle all at the same time. I can relate to it all. I know this brought a lot of great memories back from my childhood even here in Michigan. I have included appropriate pictures for each subject matter in my Memoirs and I wish that you would have done the same in your story. Hotels. Id SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE WISHED HAD THE RAISINGS WE ALL HAD IN THE COAL FIELDS . We were taught right from wrong. Dad was Adjutant of the post they belonged to for a year or so. However, as it gains traction, some people think the uniqueness is lost. No phones and computers and all the other gadgets. Logan County, Man West Virginia: Regardless where I am, Home is West Virginia.Wouldnt change anything about my childhood, I was born in welch, grew up in Coal Mountain WV.The way you said the things, hit home in so many ways.I left in 82 gone to NC stayed 10yrs came back in 91, Im a coal hollow boy, will be til the day They plant me under the old oak tree, Love WV. Go. When I was young we would make lightning bug jewelry. I felt the souls of my Mom, Pap, and Mommom with me as I read. I still was able to do it when she wasnt looking I wrapped my arms around him and said you know what old man? I love reading each and every comment and hearing your stories as well. That was amazing Amy I was literally taken back to the holler. Kristen Shupe, Jason Bailey, my sister Crissy, myself, and many others would all pick a yard to play in. I grew up in west liberty and then valley grove. I came to Iaeger West Virginia when I was 6 years old. It was the homemade music. I am proud to be called Holler Girl. Ba big part of my life was there. Brought back a lot of memories, thanks. Simplicity is hearing the crickets chirp and deciding its not a noisy interruption. Twin Hollow Honors the memory of Alex and Grace Ellis, who grew up on this land. I returned to WV after the Navy and found ghost towns in what once were busy streets lined with people going about their day. I left when I joined the air force in1986. I lived the same lifestyle you did and so proud that I did.There is nothing like these W.V. . Amy, So loved your Holler story. To be thankful I was warm, and that I had a Mom and Dad who loved me. I think we are so connected to the land here that we actually identify with the seasons internally and spiritually. Swinging from vines near the creek, getting wet when you accidently slipped off the rope! I grew up in Wyoming Co, Lived for a time in Red Jacket Coal #2, My dad was a coal miner, spent a lot of time on Turkey Creek with my grandparents. I watch to see if the glimpse of new life will be blighted. We were blessed to be mountain born and bred. I grew up in a holler. Her family had lived in a number of coal mining communities- Beaver, Scarbro, Oswald,, etc. IAM FROM PRICHARD WVA UP A HOLLER CALLED BLACK FORK FAR BACK AS YOU CAN GET NOW THAT MY MOM AND DAD ARE GONE I WOULD LOVE ONE MORE DAY UP THAT HOLLER OMG THE LOVE THAT CAME BACK READING THIS. Annie had always wanted to learn the specific old-time music of her home, Greenbrier County. I still refer to WV,as my home. I loved this it brought back so many good memories!!! 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