Culture
Few may recall 1779 Pauley massacre fought in the shadow of East River Mountain
OAKVALE, W.Va.— Motorists traveling along US 460 east of
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Culture
West Virginia culture is a captivating blend of rich Appalachian traditions and vibrant high culture infused with the jazz of surrounding U.S. cities like Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The state is renowned for its deep-rooted Appalachian heritage, which is showcased through folk music, storytelling, and traditional crafts such as quilting and woodcarving. Visitors can experience this authentic culture at local festivals and heritage museums throughout the Mountain State. At the same time, West Virginia also embraces high culture, with world-class performances at the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, acclaimed theater productions at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and art exhibitions at the Huntington Museum of Art. This unique mix of mountain traditions and refined artistic offerings makes West Virginia a true cultural gem in the heart of Appalachia.
Culture
The house that vanished overnight: West Virginia’s Neerly House haunting
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — At least two mysteries tangle in the tale of the Neerly house. What happened to the house? What happened to “old man Neerly? And where did the late folklorist Ruth Ann Musick encounter the legend? The following version of the West Virginia tale appears in the West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, edited and … Read more
Culture
West Virginia officials urge life jacket use during national boating safety week
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — To help promote National Safe Boating Week, officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources and its law enforcement section are reminding boaters about the importance of boating safety and wearing life jackets. Observed this year from May 16-22, National Safe Boating Week marks the start of the summer boating season and … Read more
Culture
Ancient stone walls on Armstrong Mountain are no old-timer’s tale
MONTGOMERY, W.Va. — If you grew up in southern West Virginia, you might have heard old-timers speak of the mysterious stone walls on Armstrong Mountain, strange ruins hidden in the woods just beyond the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Handed down as fireside tales, stories of their construction and purpose may have become … Read more
Culture
West Virginia bottler wins silver award at international water competition
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Le Sage Natural Water, of Lesage, has been awarded a silver medal for its purified water at the 36th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition in the eastern panhandle of the Mountain State. The world’s most prestigious and longest-running water competition, more than 100 entries from five continents competed this … Read more
Culture
Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in West Virginia?
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Did Abraham Lincoln and Philippi Covered Bridge[/caption] Without a word exchanged, the troops sealed off both ends of the covered bridge spanning the Tygart Valley River. Civilians were ordered indoors. Wagons and riders were halted well away from the bridge. There were no bugle calls, no shouted commands, no skirmishing—only the clink … Read more
Culture
Here are the top 10 winter snows that shaped West Virginia history
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia can be a snowy place. Though not nearly as snowy as Maine or Alaska, it does snow for much of winter, and winter storms have shaped its culture. This is especially so in the lofty Allegheny Mountains, where most of its ski resorts are located. Several key moments, both natural and … Read more
Culture
Jan. 15 marks Midwinter Day, but the most wintry weather is ahead in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — By mid-January, many West Virginians will notice a subtle but welcome change: daylight is beginning to stretch a little longer each afternoon. That small gain of sunlight can create the impression that winter is already easing its grip. Meteorologically speaking, however, the opposite is true. January 15 is widely recognized by climatologists … Read more
Culture
The horrors of Skull Run recounted by late West Virginia historian
SKULL RUN, W.Va. — A traveler motoring through the pastures in this wooded section off the Ohio River might have little idea of the dark tales that have arisen there. With its grazing cattle, it seems a world away from warfare, but according to the late historian Nathan Goff Carder, its red clay isn’t all … Read more
Culture
Giant skeletons and buried copper plates—a strange Marion County folktale
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — In the hills and river bottoms of Marion County in north-central West Virginia, stories have long circulated that blur the line between frontier memory and myth. Few are as strange or as enduring as a tale recorded by the late historian Glenn D. Lough in his book “Now and Long Ago: A … Read more