Search

Records the reminiscences of Irene Eppard, (née Breeden), who was born and raised near Thorofare Mountain, in Rockingham County, Virgina, and lived there until the local families were evicted in 1936. Describes her early home and school life, popular community gatherings such as corn shucking and apple butter boiling parties, as well as courting, wedding and funeral rituals. Includes references to the gardens and livestock raised by the mountain people, their methods of food preservation and popular holiday traditions.

Records a group interview with Jake Sisk, who lived near Nicholson Hollow, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, at the turn of the 20th century. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, herbal remedies, fishing. Discusses the limited economic opportunities available to the mountain people, such as the chestnut harvests, bark peeling, fur trapping and moon-shining.

Records an interview with James Hickerson, who grew up in Hickerson Hollow, near Front Royal, Virginia, prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park. Discusses home and school life, livestock and vegetable production, herbal remedies and moonshining.

Records the reminiscences of Joseph J. Baldwin, who grew up near the Big Meadows area of what would become Shenandoah National Park. Describes home and family life, daily chores, schooling, holidays and community events. Among the topics discussed are the growing, harvesting and preserving of food, dairy cows, traditional herbal medicines and fur trapping. Includes references to weddings, wakes and funerals, moonshiners, the chestnut tree blight and severe local droughts in the1930s.

Records the reminiscences of Lola Dean, who moved to the Pine Grove area, bordering Shenandoah National Park, in 1950. The interview deals chiefly with her memories and impressions of the mountain people who lived in the area at that time. Includes references to the gardens and livestock raised by the local people, their methods of food preservation, popular holiday traditions and the problems resulting from long-term intermarriage within small communities. Several references to the works of Episcopal missionary, Deaconess Mary Sandys Hutton, occur throughout the interview.

Records the reminiscences of Lyle E. Beahm, who was born in the Jewell Hollow area of Page County, Virginia, on a farm that would eventually become part of Shenandoah National Park. Describes his early home and family life, school days at the Shenk Hollow School, farm chores,and folk remedies. Discusses family gatherings, such as apple butter boilings, hog butchering and funerals. Briefly mentions the Civilian Conservation Corps, racial segregation and intra-family marriages. An unnamed woman, identified only as Mrs. in the transcript, and believed to be Eva Sours, contributes to the interview as well.

Records an interview with Mae Long, (née Atkins), who grew up in Page County, Virginia. Describes daily life in the mountains, including raising livestock, the means of growing and preserving food and other aspects of the local economy, such as chestnut and ginseng harvesting and moonshine.

Records the reminiscences of Mamie Dearing, who grew up near Dark Hollow, Virginia, prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park. Describes her early home and family life, household chores, and school days. Discusses the growing, harvesting and preserving of food, hog butchering, apple butter boilings and herbal remedies. Includes references to holidays, weddings, funerals, and courting.

Records an interview with Marguerite Sutherland, (née Daniel), who grew up in Graves Mill, in Madison County, Va. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, raising livestock, holidays, funerals, and working in her family's orchards.

Records an interview with Mattie Yager, whose family lived near Old Rag Mountain in Madison County, Virginia. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, herbal remedies, courtship and holidays. Mrs. Woodward plays several old-time mountain tunes on her autoharp during the interview. Her son, Dennis Yager joins in at the end of the conversation. Dennis Yager and two other musicians give an impromptu concert of mountain music in SdArch no. SNP-137.