David Sibray
PRUNTYTOWN, W.Va. — If you were an unruly boy growing up in West Virginia before the 1980s, there’s a chance your misbehaviors were met with the threat of banishment to “Pruntytown.” Pruntytown! Any infraction that could not otherwise be dealt with might lead to the mention of the word by adults. For many, the threat … Read more
HUNDRED, W.Va. — There was a time soon after the completion of the B&O Railroad when passengers would clamber to the car windows to catch a glimpse of “Old Hundred.” He was a marvel of a man who, even after his hundredth birthday, labored in his fields to the delight of passersby. The town of … Read more
WITCHER CREEK, W.Va — It’s likely that few English speakers who have observed the “Witchers Creek” road sign on US-60 have done so without considering the association with the word “witch,” surely a coincidence. But it turns out a witch legend is, in fact, associated with the stream, though few seem to know how believable … Read more
LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Whether you believe in ghosts, it’s a fact that a ghost enters the lawbooks in West Virginia. The account of the “Greenbrier Ghost,” as the specter of the late Zona Heaster Shue came to be known, has been retold time and again, but, as is the case in most such tales, the … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — While West Virginia has gained worldwide fame as a destination for hiking, some hikers say winter is one of the best times to hike it, whether or not there’s snow on the ground. With its most popular trails free of crowds, hikers can enjoy solitude in winter and witness an environment far … Read more
SLATYFORK, W.Va. — Snowshoe Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia has been ranked among the most affordable ski resorts in the U.S. by The Discoverer. In addition to its affordability, according to travel writer Aimee Long, the resort boasts a stunning drop, spectacular scenery, and many challenging trails. “While West Virginia isn’t … Read more
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Far from the city lights that shimmer about its mouth at the Golden Triangle at Pittsburgh, the Monongahela River rises more than 200 miles away in some of the most remote reaches in the Appalachian Mountains. Many of its tributaries descend from forests so old and large that only the most intrepid … Read more
CANVAS, W.Va. — Mountainous and often remote, West Virginia may enjoy more than its fair share of strange stories. Still, the tale of the woman whose feet never touched the ground is undoubtedly among the most remarkable. This tale comes from the highlands along the Gauley River in central West Virginia. Though the matter has … Read more
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Due to isolation and hilly terrain, rural cemeteries in West Virginia often require special care. One of the state’s leading conservators of sacred burial grounds says much can be done to maintain them and offers advice for those in need. According to Joni Morris, the unmanaged overgrowth of trees is often the … Read more
RICHWOOD, W.Va. — The word “hillbilly” was a The Appalachian Mountains extend across the entire Mountain State, east to west and north to south. (Photo courtesy Rick Burgess.)[/caption] Comstock wrote, “The word is said to have originated as a means of distinguishing people who lived in the mountainous region of the county from those who … Read more
