Search

Records an interview with Howard Lam, who lived near Jollett Hollow, in Page County, Virginia. Describes daily life in the mountains, the means of growing and preserving food and other aspects of the local economy, such as the chestnut harvest and moonshine.

Records an interview with Howard Maiden, who grew up near Swift Run, in Rockingham County, Virginia. Mr. Maiden went to work for Shenandoah National Park in 1935, maintaining trails and roads, and was still employed by the park 42 years later, at the time of the interview. Describes home and family life before the advent of the park and his work throughout the entire park system, including his part in the building of Skyline Drive.

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 Irvin Peanut Shifflett, his wife, Lydia, (née Rosson), J.P. Roach, and his wife, Hazel, (née Marshall), who discuss their memories of life near Rocky Bar, in Rockingham County, Virginia. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, herbal remedies, courtship, and funeral rituals, as well as holiday celebrations and local moonshiners. Also present at the interview are Mr. Roach's mother, Lula W. Roach, and his nephew Bennie Cupp. Other unidentified voices can be heard commenting throughout. For a full interview with Lula Roach, Hazel Roach and Bennie Cupp, see SdArch no. SNP-38.

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 James Burner, who was born in Page County, Virginia, not far from the future site of Shenandoah National Park. Mr. Burner served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC), during the construction of the park and later became a park ranger in the National Park Service. Describes his experiences working with local mountaineer men in the CCC camps, their history and social conditions in the 1930s. Mr. Burner refers to numerous local mountain families and prominent individuals involved in the creation of the park. Topics include mountain agriculture and wildlife, folk music and dancing, traditional medicines, clothing, schooling, feuds and moonshiners. Mr. Burner was present at the founding of the first CCC camps in Virginia and discusses them in great detail. As a naturalist and conservationist, he discusses the local flora and fauna of the region in great depth as well. Identifies numerous local plant and animal species and their habitats. Comments on early efforts to rebuild the local deer population while reducing the number of wild bears. Comments on the social and economic effects of the Chestnut Blight of the 1930s on local families.

Records an interview with Jesse Seale, who lived in the mountains near Syria, Virginia. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, herbal remedies and holidays. Also recalls his experiences with local entrepreneur George Freeman Pollock, owner of nearby Skyland resort, who was a major influence in the establishment of Shenandoah National Park. There is no audio recording for this interview; interview consists of transcript only.

Records an interview with Frances Grove and her brother, J. Maurice Grove, whose father owned large tracts of land in the Rocky Branch area of what later became Shenandoah National Park. The Grove family raised beef cattle at the time and Mr. Grove would drive hundreds of head of cattle to mountain pastures each summer, and then on to the rail yards in New Market in the fall. Describes cattle raising, food production, and preservation. Includes references to local entrepreneur, George Freeman Pollock, owner of nearby Skyland resort.

Records the reminiscences of John Bradley, who grew up near the Jewell Hollow 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, grist mills, traditional herbal medicines and fur trapping. Includes references to the weddings, wakes and funerals, moonshiners and licensed distillers, toll roads and Skyline Drive. Also refers briefly to local military skirmishes during the Civil War. Mr. Bradley describes communal activities such as apple butter boilings and occasions known locally as frolics where farm families would gather to help their neighbors plow fields or clear away stones. Discusses the impact of the forced eviction of local residents to make way for the national park. Also present for the interview was Mr. Bradley's wife, who is identified only as Mrs. Bradley in the transcript, but whose comments appear throughout.