Culture
The word “hillbilly” was once a term of endearment in Appalachia
RICHWOOD, W.Va. — The word “hillbilly” was a
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David Sibray
David Sibray is the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of West Virginia Explorer, a news and travel magazine devoted to the state’s history, tourism, outdoor recreation and economic development. For more information, he may be reached at 304-575-7390 or at editor@wvexplorer.com
Culture
Tale of the “Screaming Lady” based on true West Virginia historical horror
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Some of the most chilling tales of hauntings in West Virginia are based on actual events, and one of the most horrific is that of the Screaming Lady of Mason County. Her ghost is said to haunt or to have haunted the woods south of the Great Bend in the Hay … Read more
Culture
Did the world’s first teddy bear come from the forests of West Virginia?
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — There’s little doubt that the world’s first teddy bear was crafted by toymaker Morris Michtom, who was inspired by a 1902 panel cartoon that teased President Teddy Roosevelt for saving the life of a cub. However, at least one West Virginian claimed that the first teddy bear was a real … Read more
Culture
Stonewall Jackson’s cousin “Mudwall” led failed attack on fort in W.Va.
BULLTOWN, W.Va. — During the first years of the U.S. Civil War, marauding bands of guerillas roamed the hills in what’s now central West Virginia. Most were loyal to the Confederacy, though they often acted in their own interests, raiding towns and farms at will. To counter their activities, the Union established a fort on … Read more
Attractions
Historic Jenny Gap tunnel in West Virginia once stolen by a railroad
LESTER, W.Va. — Railroad companies in the early 1900s bored six tunnels through Guyandotte Mountain to extract coal from the last undeveloped coalfield in the state. By far the most famous, the tunnel at Jenny Gap roars like a banshee when trains rumble through, though few people now remember why the tunnel gained national notoriety. … Read more
Culture
Mysteries surround lost Washington graves on Hurricane Creek in W.Va.
FRAZIER’S BOTTOM, W.Va. — How did a great-nephew of George Washington come to be buried in a virtually forgotten graveyard in the Kanawha Valley near Winfield, West Virginia—more than 400 miles from the family’s Potomac Valley plantations? Historian and environmental geographer Alex Cole says that the cemetery’s elusive past and why the landmark is not … Read more
Hiking
Endless Wall Trail named Best Hike in West Virginia by magazine
LANSING, W.Va. — The Endless Wall Trail has again been ranked one of the best hiking trails in the U.S., though officials with the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve say hikers can expect crowds and may wish to consider alternate trails. Following an article in The Discoverer, park ranger Dave Bieri concurred that … Read more
Attractions
Boat rental concessionaire needed at Lake Sherwood in the Monongahela
NEOLA, W.Va. — Officials with the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia are soliciting applications from people interested in operating and maintaining the boat rental facilities at Lake Sherwood Recreation Area. The boat rental area at Lake Sherwood includes a boat rental registration and storage building with electrical service, a parking area, a concrete boat … Read more
Culture
Did the first U.S. serial killer live in a quiet corner of West Virginia?
QUIET DELL, W.Va. — On the morning of March 18, 1932, Harry Powers plummeted through the gallows at the West Virginia Penitentiary and dangled for 11 minutes before being pronounced dead. His body hung limp, his lips still, never revealing his thoughts about the violent murders with which he had been charged. Who was Harry … Read more
Culture
Legendary grave of judge straddled West Virginia-Pennsylvania line
NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. — Some say that the ghost of Judge John Hoke Reddick still haunts his grave, and that’s not hard to believe, given its remarkable nature. The judge had himself buried in two states—half in Virginia (now West Virginia) and half in Pennsylvania. Though the state boundary has shifted slightly west since he … Read more