Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Boojum is a Lover, Not a Frighter. Imagine hiking where the Balsam Mountains meet the Blue Ridge. Shadows stretch across the trail as the air grows crisp. Just ahead, a strange figure appears on the ridge—tall, shaggy, and oddly human-like. Is it a bear? A trick of the eye? Or could it be North Carolina’s most elusive legend: the […]
Reading Time: 6 minutesPicture this: it’s Christmas morning, and you’re rushing to get the cinnamon rolls in the oven, clear the wrapping paper carnage, and maybe post a perfectly filtered photo of your tree on social media before the dog eats the ornament hooks. Imagine trying to do all that while worrying that sweeping the floor might doom your entire year or that […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesThere are snacks, and then there’s the Moon Pie. It’s the kind of treat that holds a certain charm, sitting on the shelves of country stores, its chocolate-coated promise tempting anyone with a taste for something classic. Moon Pies have been around for over a century and are more than just a cookie with marshmallow filling. They symbolize ingenuity and […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesI’m not a hillbilly, but I can sure sound like one when I want to. I grew up around Washington, DC, in a family of Appalachian Southerners. Their accent rolled off my tongue like gravy over biscuits. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to overcome my Southern Appalachian dialect. But I can drop back into it quick as a hound […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the heart of Appalachia, when winter settles deep into the valleys and the mountains stand quiet under a blanket of frost, a different kind of Christmas takes place. While most of the world celebrates on December 25, some Appalachian communities hold on to a much older tradition. Old Christmas, celebrated on January 6. It’s a day steeped in history, […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesDuring the Civil War, the lines between soldier and outlaw blurred in the mountains of Appalachia, where men like Champ Ferguson thrived. Ferguson wasn’t a typical Confederate soldier; he was a guerrilla fighter, leading a small band of men in bloody raids that left a trail of death and fear. While many on both sides of the conflict engaged in […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThere’s little difference between the raging hormones of teen romance and the frantic mating rituals of beasts. Hearts race, tempers flare, and decisions are made in the heat of the moment. The rules of teen romance are firm: Stay away from my guy. Don’t mess with my girl. Such was the case with young Maude Iroler and Wesley Edwards in […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesIt’s a cold, foggy night in the Appalachian mountains, where shadows seem to move just beyond the firelight. You hear the rustling of leaves and a distant scream. Is it a woman in distress? An owl? Or—is it something more fearsome? Old folks whisper of something else in the mountains, something deadly. They call it the Wampus Cat, a creature […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesBefore the days of welfare programs and safety nets, communities had to find ways to care for their most vulnerable. Appalachia was no different. Scattered throughout the hills and valleys of this rugged region, poorhouse farms were an essential part of the social fabric, though rarely spoken of today. These farms served as both a refuge and a reminder of […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesDriving up Groundhog Mountain from Mt. Airy, NC, to Meadows of Dan, VA, I pulled over on Squirrel Spur Road to pause and admire the view. Near the top of a close rise, I spotted a dark hole among the trees: a cave. Wild caves—that is, commercially undeveloped ones—are everywhere in the Blue Ridge. I made a mental note to […]
