Stay ConnectedWelcome to “Stories of Appalachia,” the podcast where hosts Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins have been unraveling the captivating history and folklore of the Appalachian region since 2015. Join them as they guide you through mist-covered mountains and winding rivers, exploring the stories that define the heart and soul of Appalachia.
www.storiesofappalachia.com
Copyright: © Copyright Steve Gilly
In 1820 French orphan Martin Fugate and his wife Elizabeth arrived as new settlers in eastern Kentucky. Unknown to them, they carried genetic traits that would pass on to their descendants, causing many of them to have skin that was a purplish-blue color.
Today we tell the story of the blue people of Kentucky.
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On Christmas Eve, 1945, a mysterious fire broke out at the Fayetteville, West Virginia home of George and Jennie Sodder. Try as they might, George and his oldest son were unable to put out the fire, nor were they or their neighbors able to call for help, as all the phone lines in the area had stopped working. Five of the Sodder children were trapped inside the burning house, with no hope of rescue.
Then things got really strange.
Today we tell the story of the mysterious Christmas Eve fire and what may or may not have happened to those children.
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Theft. Infanticide. Insanity. Murder. Ghosts.
The stories that surround a notorious tunnel in Tennessee contain all those elements and more.
Today we tell some of those stories and tell you a little bit of the history of the infamous Sensabaugh Tunnel, near Kingsport, Tennessee, in Hawkins County.
Come along with us, if you dare...
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A tale was told by the Cherokee of a siren that inhabited the deep whirlpools of the French Broad River in western North Carolina. These sirens were said to be demons that would lure men to their deaths in the river.
Today we tell the folktale of a young man from Asheville who encountered that siren.
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Catch us on YouTube and TikTok @storiesofappalaciha and on Instagram @storyappalachia for short videos about this place we call home.
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A mountain farmer and schoolteacher from the North Carolina town of Magnetic City (now Buladean) got so tired of shaving that he tossed his straight razor in the garbage and just let that facial hair grow.
Unbeknownst to him, that decision launched him on a path to fame and fortune throughout North America as the “Man With The Longest Beard In The World.” He met the King of England, Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, and many other celebrities of his day, all while maintaining his farm and teaching in the local school.
Today we tell the fascinating story of Sam Brinkley and his magnificent beard.
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As the United States entered World War I, it was found to be necessary to start drafting men to serve in the military.
That decision was met with widespread resistance across the country, with protests and riots springing up. In one part of America, though, that resistance came close to turning into something akin to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia that happened that same year.
Today we tell the story of an Appalachian populist revolt that almost happened in the summer of 1917, centered in the town of St. Paul, Virginia.
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Right before and during the Civil War an outlaw roamed the West who was unlike any of the other outlaws you might have heard of. This man, born and raised in eastern Kentucky, gained a reputation for not only robbery and murder, but for his practice of cannibalizing both his victims and a few of his fellow outlaws.
Today we tell the story of Boone Helm, the Kentucky Cannibal.
(Note: this story, while it does discuss cannibalism, does not go into great detail, but does talk frankly about what Helm did on his way about the American Wild West.)
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Today we wrap up our story about legendary Appalachian explorer, longhunter and guide Simon Kenton, who went from explorer and longhunter to owning hundreds of thousands of acres of frontier land, businesses, and a small fortune...only to have it all ripped away from him by the end of his life.
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Today we have a story so big we had to split it into two parts!
Simon Kenton was an Appalachian explorer, longhunter and guide. His life was so filled with adventure that it became the stuff of legend, second only to Daniel Boone, Kenton's close friend. Numerous buildings, schools, and other places bear Kenton's name in those states that border the Ohio River, testament to his place in history.
Today we begin to tell his amazing story.
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Thanks for listening!
In 1890 the circus came to Alderson, West Virginia. When the circus moved on, it left a new resident of the town, which became loved by all, well, except for one traveling salesman.
Today we tell the story of a gentle and loving lion named French, for the circus that brought him to town, another one of the stories of Appalachia.
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