Culture

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Winter in the rugged mountains of what is now West Virginia could be perilous. An overnight snow squall or a sudden drop in temperature often turned life-threatening without warning.How did settlers endure such harsh conditions? Historians suggest that cooperation among settlers and a quick adaptation to the unfamiliar Appalachian environment were key. … Read more

BECKLEY, W.Va. — January’s Wolf Moon harks back to a time when the haunting howl of wolves echoed across the Mountain State, the final stronghold of Canis lupus in the eastern United States.According to historical accounts, the last eastern wolf prowled the remote Allegheny Mountains in east-central West Virginia until 1897, when 17-year-old Daniel Stoffer … Read more

BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia has weathered many extremely cold winter events, due in part to its mountains and position in the interior mid-Atlantic region. Its terrain actually amplifies the impact of cold waves, especially in rural areas. Particularly around Davis, Snowshoe, and Canaan Valley, the Allegheny Mountains regularly suffer extreme cold and some of … Read more

BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia can be a snowy place. Though not nearly as snowy as Maine or Alaska, it snows much of winter, and winter storms have shaped its culture. This is especially so it the lofty Allegheny Mountains where most of its ski resorts are located. Several key moments, both natural and human-made, … Read more

STANAFORD, W.Va. — No marker commemorates the tragedy, few locals know of the matter, and historians are not fully in agreement about what transpired. Yet, as many as 11 people lost their lives that frigid morning in 1903 in what’s now called the “Stanaford Massacre” or the “Battle of Stanaford.” “No one even bothered to … Read more

ANTIOCH, W.Va. — Throughout the history of Appalachia, one may encounter the legend of granny witches—solitary women believed to possess uncanny powers. Many served in very real capacities as midwives in remote mountain areas where physicians and hospitals were uncommon.The following tale of a young girl’s encounter with a supposed witch in the highlands along … Read more

HINTON, W.Va. — The tale of Mary Draper Ingles—of her escape from Shawnee captors and her return through the mountains—is the ideal American frontier story in many senses. It’s a tale of endurance and indomitable spirit. And, because her adventures led through the valley of the New River, it has a unique appeal to residents … Read more

JANE LEW, W.Va. — It’s widely accepted that Tecumseh was born in what’s now Ohio, but a handful of historians contend that one of the most influential Native Americans in history was born in what’s now West Virginia, where a statue, now missing, was once raised in his honor. “There’s evidence he was born here … Read more