Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the final, desperate years of the Civil War, Confederate desertion rates soared. Exhausted and disillusioned soldiers, many of whom had been away from home for years, abandoned their posts, driven by the desperate hope of reuniting with their families and escaping the brutality of war. The wave of desertions threatened the Confederate war effort, prompting states to create Confederate […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the heart of Foster Falls, Virginia, an Inn sits high on a hill, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains’ serene beauty and the New River’s rippling waters. The New River Trail passes by, a rails-to-trails success story that is a magnet for recreation. The luxurious Inn at Foster Falls offers a serene escape, a far cry from its origins […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesIn 2012, I participated in the Heritage Tune competition at the Union Grove Old Time Fiddler’s Convention. The competition is open to musicians of any age who have competed in one of the festival’s twelve instrumental competitions. I competed in the Mountain Dulcimer category, so I was eligible for the Heritage Tune competition. One prize was awarded, consisting of cash […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn August 1974, Jill and I took off on a three-month, 1,500-mile hike and ramble. Our apartment lease was up, we had no local commitments, and we wanted to go adventuring. The previous January, we had signed up for a week-long yoga retreat at the University in Orno, Maine. We looked forward to a week of yoga, meditation, vegetarian meals, […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesGo to any Old Time jam session in the area surrounding Galax, VA (“The World Capital of Old Time Music”), and the tune “Cripple Creek” will be played before night’s end. This melody has echoed through the hills and hollers of Appalachia for generations, becoming a staple in bluegrass and old-time music. Its lively tune and catchy lyrics capture the […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesIn 1972, I hiked the Appalachian Trail for the first time. Inspired by the stories of Grandma Gatewood and encouraged by books like The Man Who Walked Through Time, I left my job and took to the trail. Over the years, I’ve hiked sections with my wife and each of our two sons. Last week, my wife and I attended […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn Southwest Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, between the towns of Bassett and Stuart, nature and legend intersect in the tale of the Fairy Stones. The focal point for the legend is Fairy Stone State Park, a haven for nature enthusiasts, rock collectors, and seekers of magic. From the moment you step onto its trails, the whispers of ancient fairies seem […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesFrom Damascus, Syria, to Damascus, VA For nearly ten thousand years, the ancient city of Damascus has flourished in southwestern Syria. Sitting at the crossroads of trade routes between Africa and Asia, the city has always been a hub for craftsmanship and culture. Like its namesake city, Damascus, Virginia, sits at the intersection of former trade routes and serves as […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesAmid the harsh economic strains of the Great Depression, the unassuming craft of tobacco bag stringing emerged as a lifeline for many Blue Ridge families. This craft involved the simple—but tedious—task of threading drawstrings into tobacco bags. These bags held more than tobacco; they promised survival and a speck of prosperity for those who stitched their way through hard times. […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesLegend has it that in 1654, a group of weary English explorers stumbled upon a sight that defied explanation: a village nestled among the ancient oaks, its log cabins revealing arched windows, yards boasting fenced gardens punctuated by outbuildings. They were shocked: There should not have been any European settlements this far west. Who were these people? Where were the […]
