Category: Appalachian Mountains
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Our people in the mountains are hurting. The recent floods have caused unimaginable devastation across East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and surrounding areas. Homes have been destroyed, families displaced, and entire towns are grappling with loss. The damage is severe, and for many, the recovery will take months, if not years. In Greene County, TN,…
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I’ve been watching the news, seeing the pictures, and listening to the stories from back home in western North Carolina and here in east Tennessee. And let me tell you, my heart’s heavy right now. Those mountains and towns, they raised me. I’ve spent a lifetime finding peace in those towns, but now they’re being…
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Hidden deep in the Great Smoky Mountains, near Little Greenbrier, lies the story of the Walker Sisters—a family of women who stood as the last holdouts of a disappearing way of life. Margaret, Polly, Martha, Louisa, and Hettie Walker lived their lives in defiance of modernity, keeping the traditions of early Appalachia alive long after…
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Tucked away in the heart of Appalachia, the Smoky Mountains have long been home to stories passed down through generations, and one of the most intriguing is that of the Moon-Eyed People. According to Cherokee legend, these mysterious figures lived in the mountains long before the Cherokee themselves arrived. Described as small, pale-skinned, bearded men,…
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There’s something undeniably magical about fall in the Appalachian Mountains. As summer slips away, the hills and hollers are transformed into a vibrant patchwork of color, painting the landscape in brilliant hues. Growing up in Appalachia, I learned to love the rhythm of the changing seasons, and fall has always been one of my favorites.…
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Have you ever heard the eerie story of Betty Hazel Price, the woman known as the “Witch of Sullivan County”? In 1888, her name sent shivers through the region, and her story continues to haunt those who speak of her today. Betty’s life ended tragically with one of the last recorded witch hangings in the…
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Appalachia, with its rolling hills and rich resources, has long been at the center of the nation’s energy story. Beneath the beauty of this region lies a deeper, more complicated narrative—one where both the land and its people have been sacrificed for the sake of energy. For over a century, Appalachia has been mined for…
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When most people think of Appalachia, the first images that come to mind are often of misty mountains, tight-knit communities, and age-old traditions passed down through generations. However, one aspect of Appalachian history that is often overlooked is the significant and lasting influence of African Americans on the culture, food, music, and traditions of the…
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In the hills and hollers of Appalachia, “granny witches” held a special place in their communities. These women, often referred to as “Mountain Doctor’s,” were the keepers of folk wisdom and natural remedies. They relied on the land to heal and protect their families and neighbors, drawing from centuries of knowledge passed down through generations.…
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Mountaintop removal is a radical form of coal mining in which the tops of mountains are literally blasted off to access seams of coal. It takes place in the Appalachian Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth. Mountaintop removal (MTR) is a form of coal mining that, quite literally, changes the face of the…
