That was a mighty peaceful video with the snow and gray sky. It brings back wonderful memories of living in McDowell County the first 32 years of my life. There is nothing like hiking to the head of a holler and walking up to the ridge line, with snow gently hitting you in the face and the only sound is the Appalachian wind blowing through the trees. Only Heaven could be more peaceful. Appalachian Folks are the finest in the world. Thank you for the wonderful video!
Hey Wythe...I was raised in western Maryland coal country...Frostburg/Cumberland area in Allegany County. I can identify totally with walking in the silence of the ridges on gray, snowy days...the smell of sulfur in the air rom burning coal in stoves and furnaces. Hard for people to understand unless they lived it. Right?
Jay that's so true. I miss the smell of burning coal. Our house in McDowell County had a wooden coal box out back. The local coal company put them in. They held a ton of coal. I remember coal only cost $3.25 a ton! The coal company had a coal delivery truck with a little conveyor that filled the coal boxes. We would shovel coal from the box into coal buckets, to carry it into the house. We had a stove in the living room and kitchen. Great memories of a wonderful, simpler time!
My mother was raised in a holler in Pike County Kentucky. We would visit our grandparents once or twice a year. We lived 600 miles away. I remember the sound of the little creek in front of her log cabin house. The smell of the flowers and trees. Her yard and home were always immaculate and well kept. When I need a happy place to think of I often think of that holler because it reminds me of the people who love me the most in this life. Thank you for sharing this video.
I was born and raised in Appalachia (I'm 35 now). I've lived in 5 states throughout my youth and ended up in WV for work. Thinking I wanted to seek out a better place, I moved to Florida last year when the pandemic hit. It's now June 2021 and I'm moving back. My heart aches EVERYDAY and hasn't stopped since the move. WV was the kindest, most welcoming state I've ever lived. It's honestly home. The waterfalls, the neighbors, the attitudes, the scenery..... Almost Heaven is truly accurate. Nothing better.
I left WV in 1981 as a teen. Wishing I was back home, but have wife, kids, and grandchildren here. All were born and raised in SC, and have no desire to leave. So I'm sort of stuck. Congratulations on you making it back home.
@@Patriot7476 last time i was in wv was in 1981, all of my dad's family that is left still lives there and i love them all and miss them, but i can't travel anymore, but i always loved west virginia. I'm actually related to the hatfields on my dad's mom's side of the family
I lived in Pike County, McAndrews, Kentucky back in 1968 into 1969. The Hollow, or Holler, was called Octavia... Still remember the feeling of being an outsider, "City Slicker". I was 8 years old, n it was like a lil piece of boy heaven there... Creeks n snakes n lizards n frogs. Lightnin Bugs, Praying Mantis' , Spiders, Box Tortoises... We had an outhouse, n no running water. We had a brand new electric well pump pumping water into the kitchen sink. We burned coal for heat. There was a log cabin on the property. But the house we lived in was tar paper sided, a big cement porch, two stories with the bedrooms upstairs only divide by a half wall and we had a closet that joined both bedrooms. One window in the back n one in the front upstairs. The downstairs was a living room with a bedroom off to one side, a dining room n a kitchen The back porch was enclosed, screened in... The back field to the tree line was a garden, which we plowed n grew vegetables in... There was an old fresh water well next to the house, between the house n the cabin. We drew the freshest cleanest water outta that well with a galvanized bucket n used a ladle to drink a bit... The cabin, I remember was painted green, and had white doors and window frames... It was only used as storage, like an attic or a shed... I never went in there... But I thought it was very Cool. The front yard was wide and grassy. There was a cherry tree right in the middle of it... Got my Ass whoooopped with a cherry switch there !!! Neighbors to one side were the Blackburn's, the other side, I don't clearly remember, but Hackney Holler branched off right there... The best things I remember living there were my dog, Honey, n the food... Fried fish... Bacon, biscuits n bacon grease gravy !!! I think we grew the best potatoes I've ever eaten... Fried chicken that was heavenly... But we were Hippies, on the run from our previous stay in San Francisco.... we only stayed for about a year... Then moved across the border to the Williamson area of West Virginia... I'd like to go back n visit sometime... But, I know the people don't like strangers around... We lived up the Holler from Doc Hatfield's house, he was my school bus driver. And we were about a half mile down the Holler from a Family of McCoy's, who played Blue Grass on their porch in the evenings... There was still a few folks making "Shine" up behind the creek opposite our house... And there was a bit of fear there every now n then of something creeping around in the hills behind our houses... Star Trek, n Hee Haw were the tv programs we watched at the Blackburn's house every week... Loretta Lynn was everybody's favorite singer !!! "Harper Valley PTA" was a big hit there... Like "Ode to Billy Joe" was as well.... A great mix of things I experienced, leave me remembering, probably for the rest of my life....
Growing up in WV I have seen my share of hollers and I love everyone. WV is great place to live. I haven't t traveled much in my life but what little bit I have there isn't a place I seen yet that I would rather live than good old WV. God bless her.
I'm in North Carolina and grew up on a small farm in a place called Lizard Ridge. When I got out of the army in 1971 I wanted land of my own and it had to have a hollar because that means a creek in the Appalachians. I got my place and built a house, but I built it on a ridge that overlooks a hollar. By the way I'm one of them people who has chickens. Thanks for the video.
I too live in the mountains of Western North Carolina. One of the most beautiful places on God’s green earth! We had a hollar on my Granny’s farm. When I was very small I remember asking my daddy why it was called a “hollar”. He took me up the hollar and told me to yell really loud. My little voice bounced from mountain ridge to mountain ridge, echoing eerily until it was again completely silent. He said, “That’s one of the reasons it’s called a hollar!” 😁😉🙂
My Dad grew up in the Hollers of Logan, W.VA. Him in his family. The stories he told of life there were so awesome!!! I always wished that I grew up on a Farm there too. Sadly, I was born in DT. Huge difference than the country, lol.
I also had land in my family...in West Jeffersoson Co. NC. I was so sad when my father sold land we have had for generations. Living in Baltimore mean a drive down 81 to seeeverything. I love that area, and would do.anything to get back there. A beautiful mountainside, but locals began to hunt, ridr bikes on it, and drink. It became a hassle and liability. He sild in 2012 for littlr bc he said its swampy near thd creek and worthless. Totalky disagreed I did
Also a the mouth of the holler starts out wider and the longer it goes the the narrow it becomes. Grandparents lived in the holler in Lebrun, ky. My best childhood memories are from there.
I moved to West Virginia in 1988 with thinking they were a bunch of backward no tooth cartoons that most in our nation think it's prevalent even today. My job requires me to be on the move all the time and what I have experienced is quite the opposite . Most are welcome and helpful to a point that a "city folk" would not understand. It is Interesting that that sense of the common is Still alive but at the same time taken away . West Virginia has a history that should not be taken away . Every time I am on a Job I feel honored to hear the "old timers " Stories and see the light in the eye of what they are. I never had that in a big city ......Maybe This is where I am suppose to be. Almost Heaven - If a person is real WV is for you. If not , city life is you. I'm not bashing city life, but what is the hurry ... Look not at a building but the outdoors that you run to on a Vacation. WV has that here and I can make a living on it. This is just my opinion . I have lived in New York, California , New Mexico, Arizona, Utah , Colorado and Ohio. This is the Best in the Nation.
I know exactly what you are saying and I think a lot of folks can understand the sentiment you express. Different things appeal to different types of people but I love these mountains and its people.
I Agree w/U 100%....Ive lived in Cleveland, & Columbus Ohio, Kentucky, Washington DC, Virginia & ive always caught myself packing my belongings up & moving right bk 2 WV, I was Born & Raised in WV & this is where my Heart belongs no other place has made me Happy like the good Ole state of WV the old saying is....theres no place lime home & i tell Ya that sure is the Truth. I Guess i will live hear till I Die. 🤗👍🏼
I left WV (Wayne County) back in 1985, moved just north of Atlanta and have been here ever since. The last time I was there was in 2000. Funny how some parts of it had changed and other parts looked the same just as it did back in the 70's. One thing for sure is that some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet are there.
Kenny I lived in Jersey for 48 years before retiring to Florida years ago. If my health was better I would have retired to West Virginia too. I know what you mean about "city folk". 20-30 years ago I visited Aruba several times....the nicest people that I ever met outside the US. Aruba's license plates have their motto "One Happy Island" on the bottom. So very very true. WV has "Wild,Wonderful" on it's plates. Personally I would have liked "Almost Heaven" but all I'll say is..."God Bless West Virginia"!
This was a nice holler he has shown. When I lived in Brethitt Co. Ky as a child in the winter you couldn't get a car or trunk in our holler because the creek ran in the middle of the holler and the houses sat on the sides of the mountain on a small flat area. Our holler had no paved road it was a narrow strip of smaller gravel that to the side of the small stream. As a matter of fact a lot of people would park their cars at the mouth of the holler in the winter. This was in the mid and late 60's.
My mama was from Hazard Kentucky. My relatives still live in a hollar there. You’re video brings back fond memories of our family visits there as a youngen. And of my sweet southern mama who’s been gone along time now, she passed away. I love everything about Kentucky. Sure do miss it too.
Shane, good video. I will add, as a native West Virginian, a holler usually has junked cars, abandoned and dilapidated houses, and such. More so now than 50 years ago, when I was raised in McDowell county WV. The snow falling made your video even more enjoyable. I can give you some wild locations to visit that incredibly, have people living there. Keep it up! Thank you Daniel Coleman
I live in a holler too. Always amazed at how the sound travels. They can be logging tree 4 hollers over and it sounds like it right behind your barn or house.
Im a letcher county native, I no longer live there as I had to move for better job opportunities. Thank you for filming and taking me back to my roots.
I really enjoyed this video. As you were driving, I was looking at the mountains, trees bare, light snow falling, and thought, “I wonder how many generations of people who have lived there have looked upon this exact view…hundreds of people over hundreds of years, and I’m seeing just what they saw.” Thank you for posting this. 😊🙏
@@realappalachia - I wasn’t expecting to have the reaction that I did… those thoughts just sorta came to me as I was watching the video; the view through your car windshield of the slate-gray sky, the softly falling snow, the creek running alongside the road, the bare trees on the hills…and finding a certain unique kind of beauty in all of those things. Despite the day being “gloomy”, there was a peaceful solitude and beauty about it -and I’m not sure I would have been as moved if the day had instead been sunny, and the hills green… For whatever reason, that’s when the thought occurred to me…that no matter how many people have come and gone in that hollow, or lived their entire lives and then died there, (throughout what could very possibly be a span of over 200 years, right?) the hills remain…always they remain, like silent sentinels watching over time itself. The trees and vegetation grow or die, little creeks carve out new bends or branches, so yes, those things will change throughout the years…but the hills themselves never do. I apologize for waxing poetic, but your video unexpectedly moved me. Thank you once again for taking us along with you on your journey that day through “the holler”. 😊🙏
I came across this video pretty much on accident, but recognized where you were from the thumbnail. I grew up on another holler about five minutes from this in Pike County, but have relocated to Lexington since. It’s so interesting to be thrown back to this and to hear you talk about it. Awesome video!
I love this little holler tour! It reminds me of the adventures I so miss in Knox, Clay, Leslie, Letcher and Knott Counties. I think it's time for me to get back to east Kentucky. Many thanks for posting!
We live in Raceland in Greenup County, and I hear those trains buckling up and a short toot from their air horns in the wee hours of the morning and it just makes me feel good every time that they do! Glad to know I’m not alone in that and that I’m not plumb crazy for appreciating it! 👍👍
@@davidhall5070 Lmao, I remember when my son's and I moved back to Wisconsin We couldn't sleep in the beginning because we missed the Train's!! Now I bought a Farmette in the Quiet country with Alot of land and if I'd hear train's I'd Freak out thinking of Tornadoes!!
I was raised in David, Ky. The coal trucks had to pull their mirrors in or clip while passing on Route 404. Hillside on one side, drop on other, no street lights, wildlife(mules), wooden bridges, etc.
When I was in boot camp , absolutely no one could believe I was from West Virginia. There are so many preconceived notions about the state. I wouldn’t live anywhere else ❤️
This made me laugh out loud!! Living in Dickenson county va in a holler called bear pen creek I can attest to all of these!! Especially the dogs and chickens part!!
Looks a lot like where my grandparents lived in Clay county. Between Manchester and Oneida off Route 11. I spent a lot of time there from the '70s through early '90s. Never had a minute's trouble and met a lot of wonderful people.
@@sallymulcare5254 Never heard that name...was that the dirt road just past the little bridge on Crane Creek? If that's what I think it it, there was an old red tarpaper shack that was supposed to be haunted. This was back in the '70s and '80s...
@@scottthomas3792 the road goes over Goose Creek. Most of the family in there are at high enough elevation for a flood, like going up on Henson RD. There are Two parts of Smith Family graveyard. The main family names I know back in there are Smith (Bev Smith was my Son's G-Grandfather and G-Grandmother was a Henson), Marion, and Henson.
I had customers up and down Hillbilly Highway, made that drive many times. Beautiful! You're right about the neighbors. Once in1970a couple of buddies and I drove from Atlanta to see my Grandma in SW VA near Clinchport. We got there about 2 AM and stretched out in the back of the van to sleep. When we woke up in the morning everyone around was upset about that strange vehicle. Grandma took us in the kitchen, fed us country ham, bisquits and gravy. Thanks Shane!
Dad had a 69 road runner we lived in Michigan when we went home to see grandma dads grandma , dad was pulled over by his cousin the cop who let all the other cops know that we belonged in royalton, ky
My mom was born & raised in Leckie w.v. , I grew up in San Francisco but always heard my mother & daddy talking about Leckie Hollar #9. That #9 was the coal mine my dad worked at for 25 years. They moved to San Francisco California during wwII to work in the shipyard there. Last year 2020, my wife and I rented a car and drove to Leckie w.v. , we found it believe it or not, the mines there closed half way thru the last century. Wasn’t much to see but I’ll be going back next month, there are some ghosts I need to talk to back there. Thanks for your video!
The hollar my husband grew up in had dirt road with ruts where most of the time they had to walk to the house. And when it rained forget it. But the mountains are beautiful.
In 1986 I traveled from a city in New Jersey to Thorpe, W.V. to visit the grave of my Grandfather...a WV coal miner who was killed in 1927. I got a hand drawn map from my Mom and an Uncle because they said...."You won't find the cemetery without this". (Good advice) They also warned me...."Be respectful" (advice I didn't need)....their 2 final warnings were...."Make sure that you're out of the hollers before dark". Great advice! As a city guy I was used to street signs....street lights....traffic lights....oh and guardrails on the dangerous roads. I was NOT used to huge dump trucks or lumber trucks roaring around hairpin turns and down roads barely passable with NO guardrails and a steep drop off. My Uncles final piece of advice....."Stay out of the bars"! He told me that the locals will see you're an outsider and a city boy in 2 seconds and may want to have some fun with you. If things go wrong you'll end up in a holler somewhere and no one will ever hear of you again. YIKES. Well....First...I'm no a-hole...2nd...I stayed out of the bars.....third....the people I met were some of the nicest Americans I ever met! When they saw my Jersey tags I was asked...."what's a city boy from NJ doing here"? When I told them about my Grandfather's grave it was like I was family come home. I was treated like family. I LOVE WEST VIRGINIA!
@@bradford_shaun_murray just don't go on anyone's property and youl be fine it's mind your business out here and thel be no problems when you call the cops out here thel not show cause there's no police departments. As long as you keep to yourself and show respect all is good I'm in jersey stokes state forest area if you ever wanna do a hike Appalachia in jersey has some of the most dense hardwood forests in North America
The trail behind my house in a nice WV subdivision leads to a view of a holler with the all of the things you mention, especially a good sized creek. It has the head of another holler up above it, both on gravel, dirt roads. Sometimes the holler dogs come up to check our dogs, but my big dog always runs them off. One other thing you can count on hearing is gunshots in the distance.
It's nice that you are filming such a small aspects of life in a state and its culture. It's a short video but as informative as 8 minutes could possibly be. I mean for most people it's just a one of a thousands such places but you decided that little Holler tour could be interesting and sure it turned out to be so.
If that is a little restaurant in town yes I do.. I've only ate their once but really liked it..I haven't been down much since my cousins husband became chief of police cuz he's always busy and don't want to butt in with having my tribe invade their house lol .. we try to get down at least for September fest each year
Oh that was a pretty drive with the snow coming down & sticking to the rock walls on side of the main road. Been down many a holler road & about always had to turn around in someone's driveway! We'd holler "hey y'all! We're home"! Then back out & leave! Lol! Still having trouble getting notifications for some reason, Shane. Even though I selected "all" when I subscribed. Just happened to come across this one on another sleepless night. Glad I did. I really enjoy "riding around" with you! Stay safe! Many blessings!
My notifications are causing me problems too, hope it gets straightened out soon. It sounds like you have a great plan to get by with turning around in someone's driveway lol
My dad was from Letcher County. My family has been in that county since it was formed. Still have a lot of distant cousins there. My granny always spoke about the hollers. This reminds me of all my family trips to visit family.
Been thru Leckie many times, recently as 3 weeks ago. It's almost abandoned, like Anawalt. I was raised down the road in Pageton. McDowell county WV has fallen on hard times now but it was great in 1965. A good place to grow up. No crime, no drugs, no gangs. It will always be part of me .
How does someone find a local such as yourself when visiting the area to give them a real information about these small communities/hollars? I have seen your multiple replies on this video and you are very knowledgeable on the topic.
My mother was born and raised in Logan Co around Gilbert Creek. I remember her mentioning a place called War Eagle. It was in that area. It was up in one of them hollors. These videos show me a little bit what kind of place she was raised up in . Pretty interesting. Thanks
I love everything about it. I have some land in Pike County. I hope to make a home there one day. When I do, I may sit back and listen to Gary Stewart's greatest hits and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
As a child back in the 60s I remember singing a song at school that had the words " my true loves in the head of a holler, I won't come and she won't foller! Oh a hum day. Contrived lyrics I know but it painted an image in my mind and I can still see it now. I just love those appalaichan hollers. Love to all.
I recently learned that my ancestors are from Pike county. James and Rhoda and Edmond Milam/Milum. I dream of being able to see where they lived. Your videos make it real. Thank you
Geography has made us what we are here in WV. For a long time I lived on the side of a mountain. Had to wear golf spikes to cut the lawn. You could actually “fall out of your yard”. Then I lived many years at the head of the hollow. Now I live in the river bottom next to a small river. WV is really a pretty neat place to live and raise a family, especially if you have a steady job. We all need that steady job.
Bad Fork Hollow, Kentucky is where my mom's family was from. I used to spend summers at the head of the holler. None of the family is left there and the main house burned down decades ago. I'm proud of my heritage.
I'm from the North but I have lived in the deep south, middle south, back North. I'm in southern Kentucky for 18 yrs near Ft.Campbell. You are right nothing like the South.
I was born in Pike County at Appalachian Regional in South Williamson. When I was young, they used to call it the hospital across the river (Tug River) and the one in Williamson on the WV side the hospital on the hill. I lived in Pike County, Martin County, Mingo County, and Wayne County (not all at once obviously haha) up until I was a teenager. I still miss Elk Creek, outside of Delbarton in Mingo County. Thanks for the video! It's always nice to see pictures and videos of home.
Growing up in the Pocono Mountains in PA, out behind my Great Grandfathers farm there was a Holler. You had to drive the dirt road through the farm and then at the mouth of the Holler it turned into a two track "road" and went way back into the mountains (and yep had a stream that ran along side). I would spend summers on that farm and even though it was known you didnt go back in holler I did all the time and all the people treated me like family. Not sure if it they were just nice or out of respect for my Great Grandfather. He was an old time farmer, and while he didnt say much he just had a way about it him. When he did speak, everyone listened and no one screwed with him, not even the bull..lol, I swear, even in his 90's he was made of iron....but he also was the first to lend a helping hand, so the holler folks had a lot of respect for him.
My late husbands family was from Webster Springs West Virginia, the Carpenters and the Cogars, then we lived in a little town called Gasaway, and a small town Davisville next to Parkersburg, then we moved back to Mich , I loved West Virgin nia but had to move back so my husband could go back to work at his old job.
I've had more than one visitor make it up here on the ridge and say "it felt like I was being watched". I grin at 'em and say "you were...probably had a scope or two on ya, too". :-) Spent over half my life in urban settings; now the latter half out here on the ridge. I prefer this more - a lot more. Be safe out there, my friend! -Ed on the Ridge
You know how it goes lol. I've wondered before just how close I was to getting a triggered pulled on me through the years lol. Ain't nothing like that holler life.
Most of the hollers I visited consisted of all family members. Parents in one house, each child with their families in other houses. Sometimes a aunt or cousin or grandchild too.
That's a sure is a flat hollar. I live in Toby Hollow in between Karns and Claxton Tn. Hate when it snows sometimes we can't get out for days. Great video.
I can imagine that being a rough day right there. Snow is a beast in a lot of these places, this holler is lucky it is located right beside a main road. I can imagine how a lot of folks get snowed in like you said. Thanks for watching.
The white huts on the right going in at the head are chicken houses. Usually fighting chickens. I'm born and raised in the mountains of E Tn. Lived here all my life. Grew up on Possum Holler Road. We have locals and we have move-ins. You can live here forty years and still be a move-in. Our county is prosperous now due to tourism. In witnessed a lot of poverty riding our local school bus. You'd see everything you can imagine.
You forgot to mention the party line. I graduated high school in 1975. My grandparents had just got a rotary dial phone. Prior they had a big black telephone with no dial just a smooth black ring. The phone had a crank on the side and used tall cylindrical dry cell batteries. You picked up and cranked the handle on the side to call the operator to call your next door neighbor. The operator knew everybody’s business and usually the whole valley as they all picked up and listened in. We’d spend the summer with my grandparents and the phone would ring. Them being older we’d run to the phone to catch it quick. They’d stop us That’s not our ring! What!?! Our ring is two pulls and a yank ant that’s two yanks and a pull. What are you talking about. Everyone’s phone rang. But everyone had a different ring. Ours/theirs being two long rings and a short. And that ring was two short rings and a long one. Wow those were the days. They had one of the old wooden phones with the adjustable mouth piece and the separate corded ear piece. I think they finally sold it as an antique for $100.
I remember back when all the hollers in Eastern Kentucky were covered with red dog (a coal by product for those who ain't got clue what red dog is) !!! I'm from Johnson County just little bit up Route 23 can't miss it ! Went to school at Johnson Central high, with Paul Setser as the principal ! We lived up a little holler called Asa creek, sure do miss that holler life !!
Believe it or not, we have hollers in NW Alabama, too. The tag ends of the Appalachians come down into north Alabama, and the area is very much like the more traditional Appalachian areas. Speech is the same, expressions, way of life, food, music, ideas, customs, etc. are very similar. I'm of the first generation in our families to be born and raised in town. Some of my cousins still are living the very rural, country/mountain life. I'm jealous of them!
When there youg they cant wate to get out ,but when there old they just dream of going back, we some times dont no what we have till its gone ,but thanks for the MEMMORY's
Them appalachian hollers can turn quite spooky/ eery like with lots of wild animsl calls shortly after the sun sets each night. My dad grew up over behind east tennessee state university off id cherokee road. The cherokee national forest foothills started right behind their house. I never wanted to go outside to use the outhouse in the late 1960's until they built their indoor bathroom in the mid 1970's.
My dad used to work in the mines in the holler on the other side of 23 there on the county line for Teco. I’ve never been up the holler you drove up but I’ve drove past it a million times.
Shane I had no idea that that was a holler it's amazing that I learned something new every single day thank you for this video my uncle passed away yesterday and my heart is very heavy so thank you for the distraction I really needed it
The road I live on is a leftover from George Washington’s second French and Indian War campaign. It was blessed by remaining mud/gravel until 2 years ago when the State went and tar and chipped it. The road used to scare people off, but now that it sort of looks like pavement we get a whole lot of folks turning around in the driveway to our lower field……since the road continues on through a ford and driving through a creek normally isn’t what they have in mind. Living down such a road in the hills of West Virginia is just a comfortable place to be. I’m sure there might be better, but I know most are a lot worse.
I live in a gravel road too. Nice thing about it you can hear a car coming from way off. Also in the snow the tires can grip it a bit better. Less rain runoff too as it soaks the rain up better.
Great channel glad that I found it. And happy that you are sharing the "holler' experience. I worked in a home visitation program which required drives down these roads, and at times, in the dark of night. Some were places grown men don't like to go, lol.
Well I was raised "in the bush" as a little girl. We had creeks to. Lived in a shack once or twice. Kinda like the holler I guess. Survived on wildmeat and homemade 😋. bread. It was was good.
Any of you all ever read the book Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls? One of the best books I've ever read. There is a lot in it about Welch, WV. And McDowell Co.
Being a Brit, I enjoyed that. Tiny bit like Wales. I'm living in one of the Valley's. When I visited the USA I use to drive a good thousand mile's, in a week. Taking the 'road's in' and enjoying the scenery. Never entered a 'Holler' but did drive some country road's as well as highway's.
Mom and dad raised in polk salad hollar it was all family still is! I love it aunt's uncles mamo papos best place ever! Now for us in Knox county our hollars, are mostly on the side of the mountains. Down off 25 E.
I remember those narrow bridges made of boards and railroad ties! I could see the creek down through the holes in the wood! I went to kindergarten at Earling grade school.... Daddy was a coal miner.... We swam in the guyandot river with turds floating by for christs sake!!!!!! It's amazing I'm alive and safe in Tennessee today! I was born in man hospital in 1968
Thank you for sharing these videos. My husbands from Hyden, Kentucky in Leslie County and it brings back many memories! He came to Ohio at age 16 and been here since but sure enjoys your videos. Thanks Shane
Thanks for the kind words and for watching. I hope to make it back to Hyden some day. I have a really good friend from there so I'd love to do a video there at some point when I get a chance.
Wow that was great i miss home I'm from pineville ky and we have alot of hollers up in there I've lived in Florida for 10 years I'm ready to go home to the mountains they are calling my name thank you for the video it always feel like home watching like videos like that
Reminds me of some of the places in Franklin County Va where my family is from some of the old roads back in the mountain you cant pull over or you'll fall off the mountain haha
You’re right about everything you find in a holler. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen driveways though. Mostly they just pull up into the yard. And sometimes there’s an outhouse down by the crick.
Love for you to take a ride up Barnshe Holler. Freeburn ky- pike Co. Yeah Buddy Gary Stewart that's real country! How bout i see sparkling little diamond on your hand.. Yes Sir real country.. Thank You..
One day many years ago, I rode with a friend who was a vacuum cleaner salesman. We went to Harlan County, which has many hollers. He would make one or two stops near the mouth of the holler and then drive all way to the head and turn around. On the way back down, housewives would be standing by the road waiting to buy bags or shampoo. One lady even told him that Mrs. So-and-so a few houses down wanted to buy a shampooer. My friend made a lot of money that day.
Hey Colleen I grew up in western MD, Frostburg in Allegany County...all my ancestors came there to mine coal ( from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales ). We have plenty of hollers along the George's Creek down old route 36 between Frostburg and Westernport.
@@jaycorby I've mainly worked in hard coal, although that particular mine would be what I would call trash coal. It was full of refuse (impurities like iron oxide and veins of rock and mud.) I've mined in KY, TN, WV,, PA, and Al.
@@coalhawg7654 Nice! Anthracite is usually associated with Pennsylvania. Where I'm from in Western Maryland ( Frostburg specifically ) bituminous coal was the product mined going back to my great great grandfathers on both sides of the family. They emigrated from Britain and Ireland directly to the coal region of the George's Creek Valley just west of Cumberland, MD ( the county seat of Allegany Co., MD )
I appreciate you picking a beautiful snowy day to film.
That was a mighty peaceful video with the snow and gray sky. It brings back wonderful memories of living in McDowell County the first 32 years of my life. There is nothing like hiking to the head of a holler and walking up to the ridge line, with snow gently hitting you in the face and the only sound is the Appalachian wind blowing through the trees. Only Heaven could be more peaceful. Appalachian Folks are the finest in the world. Thank you for the wonderful video!
Hey Wythe...I was raised in western Maryland coal country...Frostburg/Cumberland area in Allegany County. I can identify totally with walking in the silence of the ridges on gray, snowy days...the smell of sulfur in the air rom burning coal in stoves and furnaces. Hard for people to understand
unless they lived it. Right?
Jay that's so true. I miss the smell of burning coal. Our house in McDowell County had a wooden coal box out back. The local coal company put them in. They held a ton of coal. I remember coal only cost $3.25 a ton! The coal company had a coal delivery truck with a little conveyor that filled the coal boxes. We would shovel coal from the box into coal buckets, to carry it into the house. We had a stove in the living room and kitchen. Great memories of a wonderful, simpler time!
My mother was raised in a holler in Pike County Kentucky. We would visit our grandparents once or twice a year. We lived 600 miles away. I remember the sound of the little creek in front of her log cabin house. The smell of the flowers and trees. Her yard and home were always immaculate and well kept. When I need a happy place to think of I often think of that holler because it reminds me of the people who love me the most in this life. Thank you for sharing this video.
glad it brought back some great memories for you
I was born and raised in Appalachia (I'm 35 now). I've lived in 5 states throughout my youth and ended up in WV for work. Thinking I wanted to seek out a better place, I moved to Florida last year when the pandemic hit. It's now June 2021 and I'm moving back. My heart aches EVERYDAY and hasn't stopped since the move. WV was the kindest, most welcoming state I've ever lived. It's honestly home. The waterfalls, the neighbors, the attitudes, the scenery..... Almost Heaven is truly accurate. Nothing better.
You described it very accurately
Take me with you! Im stuck in Clearwater Fl. Ive lived in many states but West Virginia will always be my home.
@@Buck82Fla greetings from Largo... sorry to hear you're not too happy with Clearwater.
I left WV in 1981 as a teen. Wishing I was back home, but have wife, kids, and grandchildren here. All were born and raised in SC, and have no desire to leave. So I'm sort of stuck. Congratulations on you making it back home.
@@Patriot7476 last time i was in wv was in 1981, all of my dad's family that is left still lives there and i love them all and miss them, but i can't travel anymore, but i always loved west virginia. I'm actually related to the hatfields on my dad's mom's side of the family
I lived in Pike County, McAndrews, Kentucky back in 1968 into 1969. The Hollow, or Holler, was called Octavia... Still remember the feeling of being an outsider, "City Slicker". I was 8 years old, n it was like a lil piece of boy heaven there... Creeks n snakes n lizards n frogs. Lightnin Bugs, Praying Mantis' , Spiders, Box Tortoises... We had an outhouse, n no running water. We had a brand new electric well pump pumping water into the kitchen sink. We burned coal for heat. There was a log cabin on the property. But the house we lived in was tar paper sided, a big cement porch, two stories with the bedrooms upstairs only divide by a half wall and we had a closet that joined both bedrooms. One window in the back n one in the front upstairs. The downstairs was a living room with a bedroom off to one side, a dining room n a kitchen The back porch was enclosed, screened in... The back field to the tree line was a garden, which we plowed n grew vegetables in... There was an old fresh water well next to the house, between the house n the cabin. We drew the freshest cleanest water outta that well with a galvanized bucket n used a ladle to drink a bit... The cabin, I remember was painted green, and had white doors and window frames... It was only used as storage, like an attic or a shed... I never went in there... But I thought it was very Cool. The front yard was wide and grassy. There was a cherry tree right in the middle of it... Got my Ass whoooopped with a cherry switch there !!! Neighbors to one side were the Blackburn's, the other side, I don't clearly remember, but Hackney Holler branched off right there... The best things I remember living there were my dog, Honey, n the food... Fried fish... Bacon, biscuits n bacon grease gravy !!! I think we grew the best potatoes I've ever eaten... Fried chicken that was heavenly... But we were Hippies, on the run from our previous stay in San Francisco.... we only stayed for about a year... Then moved across the border to the Williamson area of West Virginia... I'd like to go back n visit sometime... But, I know the people don't like strangers around... We lived up the Holler from Doc Hatfield's house, he was my school bus driver. And we were about a half mile down the Holler from a Family of McCoy's, who played Blue Grass on their porch in the evenings... There was still a few folks making "Shine" up behind the creek opposite our house... And there was a bit of fear there every now n then of something creeping around in the hills behind our houses... Star Trek, n Hee Haw were the tv programs we watched at the Blackburn's house every week... Loretta Lynn was everybody's favorite singer !!! "Harper Valley PTA" was a big hit there... Like "Ode to Billy Joe" was as well.... A great mix of things I experienced, leave me remembering, probably for the rest of my life....
Growing up in WV I have seen my share of hollers and I love everyone. WV is great place to live. I haven't t traveled much in my life but what little bit I have there isn't a place I seen yet that I would rather live than good old WV. God bless her.
I am with you on that
👍❤️
Good living, got family in Scarbro, WV, Evans Holler!!
I m from Germany traveled a lot all over the us and canada ...some if the nicest people i ve ever met
I'm in North Carolina and grew up on a small farm in a place called Lizard Ridge. When I got out of the army in 1971 I wanted land of my own and it had to have a hollar because that means a creek in the Appalachians. I got my place and built a house, but I built it on a ridge that overlooks a hollar. By the way I'm one of them people who has chickens. Thanks for the video.
I too live in the mountains of Western North Carolina. One of the most beautiful places on God’s green earth! We had a hollar on my Granny’s farm. When I was very small I remember asking my daddy why it was called a “hollar”. He took me up the hollar and told me to yell really loud. My little voice bounced from mountain ridge to mountain ridge, echoing eerily until it was again completely silent. He said, “That’s one of the reasons it’s called a hollar!” 😁😉🙂
My Dad grew up in the Hollers of Logan, W.VA. Him in his family. The stories he told of life there were so awesome!!! I always wished that I grew up on a Farm there too. Sadly, I was born in DT. Huge difference than the country, lol.
I also had land in my family...in West Jeffersoson Co. NC. I was so sad when my father sold land we have had for generations. Living in Baltimore mean a drive down 81 to seeeverything. I love that area, and would do.anything to get back there. A beautiful mountainside, but locals began to hunt, ridr bikes on it, and drink. It became a hassle and liability. He sild in 2012 for littlr bc he said its swampy near thd creek and worthless. Totalky disagreed I did
Once a MOUNTAINEER, Always a MOUNTAINEER
😷👍
Also a the mouth of the holler starts out wider and the longer it goes the the narrow it becomes. Grandparents lived in the holler in Lebrun, ky. My best childhood memories are from there.
I moved to West Virginia in 1988 with thinking they were a bunch of backward no tooth cartoons that most in our nation think it's prevalent even today. My job requires me to be on the move all the time and what I have experienced is quite the opposite . Most are welcome and helpful to a point that a "city folk" would not understand. It is Interesting that that sense of the common is Still alive but at the same time taken away . West Virginia has a history that should not be taken away . Every time I am on a Job I feel honored to hear the "old timers " Stories and see the light in the eye of what they are. I never had that in a big city ......Maybe This is where I am suppose to be. Almost Heaven - If a person is real WV is for you. If not , city life is you. I'm not bashing city life, but what is the hurry ... Look not at a building but the outdoors that you run to on a Vacation. WV has that here and I can make a living on it. This is just my opinion . I have lived in New York, California , New Mexico, Arizona, Utah , Colorado and Ohio. This is the Best in the Nation.
I know exactly what you are saying and I think a lot of folks can understand the sentiment you express. Different things appeal to different types of people but I love these mountains and its people.
I Agree w/U 100%....Ive lived in Cleveland, & Columbus Ohio, Kentucky, Washington DC, Virginia & ive always caught myself packing my belongings up & moving right bk 2 WV, I was Born & Raised in WV & this is where my Heart belongs no other place has made me Happy like the good Ole state of WV the old saying is....theres no place lime home & i tell Ya that sure is the Truth. I Guess i will live hear till I Die. 🤗👍🏼
I left WV (Wayne County) back in 1985, moved just north of Atlanta and have been here ever since. The last time I was there was in 2000. Funny how some parts of it had changed and other parts looked the same just as it did back in the 70's.
One thing for sure is that some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet are there.
Kenny I lived in Jersey for 48 years before retiring to Florida years ago. If my health was better I would have retired to West Virginia too. I know what you mean about "city folk". 20-30 years ago I visited Aruba several times....the nicest people that I ever met outside the US. Aruba's license plates have their motto "One Happy Island" on the bottom. So very very true. WV has "Wild,Wonderful" on it's plates. Personally I would have liked "Almost Heaven" but all I'll say is..."God Bless West Virginia"!
This was a nice holler he has shown. When I lived in Brethitt Co. Ky as a child in the winter you couldn't get a car or trunk in our holler because the creek ran in the middle of the holler and the houses sat on the sides of the mountain on a small flat area. Our holler had no paved road it was a narrow strip of smaller gravel that to the side of the small stream. As a matter of fact a lot of people would park their cars at the mouth of the holler in the winter. This was in the mid and late 60's.
Loved Your tallest mountain ride, really enjoyed it! Black Mountain I think.. You and Your Wife are fun to travel with!! Thank You! 🦋
My mama was from Hazard Kentucky. My relatives still live in a hollar there. You’re video brings back fond memories of our family visits there as a youngen. And of my sweet southern mama who’s been gone along time now, she passed away. I love everything about Kentucky.
Sure do miss it too.
Shane, good video. I will add, as a native West Virginian, a holler usually has junked cars, abandoned and dilapidated houses, and such. More so now than 50 years ago, when I was raised in McDowell county WV.
The snow falling made your video even more enjoyable.
I can give you some wild locations to visit that incredibly, have people living there.
Keep it up!
Thank you Daniel Coleman
Thanks, you're right in the money about junked cars and the houses
I live in a holler too. Always amazed at how the sound travels. They can be logging tree 4 hollers over and it sounds like it right behind your barn or house.
Very very true
Im a letcher county native, I no longer live there as I had to move for better job opportunities. Thank you for filming and taking me back to my roots.
Glad you enjoyed it
I really enjoyed this video.
As you were driving, I was looking at the mountains, trees bare, light snow falling, and thought, “I wonder how many generations of people who have lived there have looked upon this exact view…hundreds of people over hundreds of years, and I’m seeing just what they saw.”
Thank you for posting this.
😊🙏
glad you enjoyed it, that was a great comment to think about
@@realappalachia - I wasn’t expecting to have the reaction that I did… those thoughts just sorta came to me as I was watching the video; the view through your car windshield of the slate-gray sky, the softly falling snow, the creek running alongside the road, the bare trees on the hills…and finding a certain unique kind of beauty in all of those things.
Despite the day being “gloomy”, there was a peaceful solitude and beauty about it -and I’m not sure I would have been as moved if the day had instead been sunny, and the hills green…
For whatever reason, that’s when the thought occurred to me…that no matter how many people have come and gone in that hollow, or lived their entire lives and then died there, (throughout what could very possibly be a span of over 200 years, right?) the hills remain…always they remain, like silent sentinels watching over time itself.
The trees and vegetation grow or die, little creeks carve out new bends or branches, so yes, those things will change throughout the years…but the hills themselves never do.
I apologize for waxing poetic, but your video unexpectedly moved me.
Thank you once again for taking us along with you on your journey that day through “the holler”.
😊🙏
@@donnythompson408 alright Dickens, you got your reply no need to lay it on thick
I came across this video pretty much on accident, but recognized where you were from the thumbnail. I grew up on another holler about five minutes from this in Pike County, but have relocated to Lexington since. It’s so interesting to be thrown back to this and to hear you talk about it. Awesome video!
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it
I done the same. I live up the road from here a little ways.
I grew up in one. Back in the Ozarks. Best memories I have.
I love this little holler tour! It reminds me of the adventures I so miss in Knox, Clay, Leslie, Letcher and Knott Counties. I think it's time for me to get back to east Kentucky. Many thanks for posting!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I used to live in Greenup Kentucky...Lord do I Miss it there
I live in greenup close to green bow lake
@@jamesm9766 like I said, I Miss living there...I miss The Ohio River and lol the Trains too....
We live in Raceland in Greenup County, and I hear those trains buckling up and a short toot from their air horns in the wee hours of the morning and it just makes me feel good every time that they do! Glad to know I’m not alone in that and that I’m not plumb crazy for appreciating it! 👍👍
@@davidhall5070 Lmao, I remember when my son's and I moved back to Wisconsin We couldn't sleep in the beginning because we missed the Train's!! Now I bought a Farmette in the Quiet country with Alot of land and if I'd hear train's I'd Freak out thinking of Tornadoes!!
I was raised in David, Ky. The coal trucks had to pull their mirrors in or clip while passing on Route 404. Hillside on one side, drop on other, no street lights, wildlife(mules), wooden bridges, etc.
I feel ya honey-Buchanan County Virginia here❤️
When I was in boot camp , absolutely no one could believe I was from West Virginia. There are so many preconceived notions about the state. I wouldn’t live anywhere else ❤️
This made me laugh out loud!! Living in Dickenson county va in a holler called bear pen creek I can attest to all of these!! Especially the dogs and chickens part!!
Looks a lot like where my grandparents lived in Clay county. Between Manchester and Oneida off Route 11.
I spent a lot of time there from the '70s through early '90s. Never had a minute's trouble and met a lot of wonderful people.
I'm on Hector creek
@@oldjake912 My grandparents lived on Crane Creek, and also on Teges Creek..
Son's grandparents and family are in Chop Bottom. I've been there plenty of times.
@@sallymulcare5254 Never heard that name...was that the dirt road just past the little bridge on Crane Creek? If that's what I think it it, there was an old red tarpaper shack that was supposed to be haunted.
This was back in the '70s and '80s...
@@scottthomas3792 the road goes over Goose Creek. Most of the family in there are at high enough elevation for a flood, like going up on Henson RD. There are Two parts of Smith Family graveyard. The main family names I know back in there are Smith (Bev Smith was my Son's G-Grandfather and G-Grandmother was a Henson), Marion, and Henson.
I had customers up and down Hillbilly Highway, made that drive many times. Beautiful!
You're right about the neighbors. Once in1970a couple of buddies and I drove from Atlanta to see my Grandma in SW VA near Clinchport. We got there about 2 AM and stretched out in the back of the van to sleep. When we woke up in the morning everyone around was upset about that strange vehicle. Grandma took us in the kitchen, fed us country ham, bisquits and gravy.
Thanks Shane!
It sounds like you drew an ace on that trip lol
Dad had a 69 road runner we lived in Michigan when we went home to see grandma dads grandma , dad was pulled over by his cousin the cop who let all the other cops know that we belonged in royalton, ky
Why did you say " APPALACHICOLA"? That's way down in Florida .right??
Que hermosos paisajes tienen los apalaches. Gracias por subir los videos y poder conocer tu tierra. Saludos desde Argentina.
Thanks for the tour ! Those creeks in the bottom of the holler get pretty wild in heavy rain with all that elevation feeding in to a small channel .
Exactly!
My mom was born & raised in Leckie w.v. , I grew up in San Francisco but always heard my mother & daddy talking about Leckie Hollar #9. That #9 was the coal mine my dad worked at for 25 years. They moved to San Francisco California during wwII to work in the shipyard there. Last year 2020, my wife and I rented a car and drove to Leckie w.v. , we found it believe it or not, the mines there closed half way thru the last century. Wasn’t much to see but I’ll be going back next month, there are some ghosts I need to talk to back there. Thanks for your video!
That’s great but it’s already April and snakes are crawling so watch yourself and be careful honey ❤️
😢😢😢 yep. I was running around down in Boone and Lincoln county talking to ghosts too. This place is in your DNA.
Drove through Leckie countless times.
Was t it named for Leckie Fuel? And glad you came back. Take a good look around. You might find a good spot to land on.
@@UncaDave I would move there but my wife’s not on board. I think that Lexy was named after a guy who owned some coal mines
The hollar my husband grew up in had dirt road with ruts where most of the time they had to walk to the house. And when it rained forget it. But the mountains are beautiful.
that sounds like a very legit holler
@@realappalachia It is. The county finally put gravel all the way up. Better than sliced bread.
In 1986 I traveled from a city in New Jersey to Thorpe, W.V. to visit the grave of my Grandfather...a WV coal miner who was killed in 1927. I got a hand drawn map from my Mom and an Uncle because they said...."You won't find the cemetery without this". (Good advice) They also warned me...."Be respectful" (advice I didn't need)....their 2 final warnings were...."Make sure that you're out of the hollers before dark". Great advice! As a city guy I was used to street signs....street lights....traffic lights....oh and guardrails on the dangerous roads. I was NOT used to huge dump trucks or lumber trucks roaring around hairpin turns and down roads barely passable with NO guardrails and a steep drop off. My Uncles final piece of advice....."Stay out of the bars"! He told me that the locals will see you're an outsider and a city boy in 2 seconds and may want to have some fun with you. If things go wrong you'll end up in a holler somewhere and no one will ever hear of you again. YIKES. Well....First...I'm no a-hole...2nd...I stayed out of the bars.....third....the people I met were some of the nicest Americans I ever met! When they saw my Jersey tags I was asked...."what's a city boy from NJ doing here"? When I told them about my Grandfather's grave it was like I was family come home. I was treated like family. I LOVE WEST VIRGINIA!
New Jersey has appalachian hollers and appalachian mountains too I'm moving to one
"Make sure that you're out of the hollers before dark" 👀
@@bradford_shaun_murray no way I live in one all the way at the top and don't bother people and you won't get bothered
@@evandorco5193 I don't know man lol. Seems a bit spooky down those places at night if I didn't know the area.
@@bradford_shaun_murray just don't go on anyone's property and youl be fine it's mind your business out here and thel be no problems when you call the cops out here thel not show cause there's no police departments. As long as you keep to yourself and show respect all is good I'm in jersey stokes state forest area if you ever wanna do a hike Appalachia in jersey has some of the most dense hardwood forests in North America
My mama comes from a holler. I've still got family that lives in that same old holler. Funny how they all seem to look alike.
The trail behind my house in a nice WV subdivision leads to a view of a holler with the all of the things you mention, especially a good sized creek. It has the head of another holler up above it, both on gravel, dirt roads. Sometimes the holler dogs come up to check our dogs, but my big dog always runs them off. One other thing you can count on hearing is gunshots in the distance.
Gunshots, ain't that the truth lol
This looks very much like driving up a holler in the Missouri Ozarks. The mountains aren't as high but are just as rugged and beautiful.
Wow!... Brings back memories of what a special place this really is, in winter as well a summer... The snow adds the magic. Thank you very much.
glad you enjoyed it :)
It's nice that you are filming such a small aspects of life in a state and its culture. It's a short video but as informative as 8 minutes could possibly be. I mean for most people it's just a one of a thousands such places but you decided that little Holler tour could be interesting and sure it turned out to be so.
Thank you so much for those kind words
I live in the southern Ohio hills. Its just like that. Great place to live
As a multi generational Appalachian, this is excellent & it's all true! Right on the bullseye! All very well said, great video. Thank you. Subscribed!
Thank you 😊
I love visiting my family down in the hollers in louisa kentucky
If that is a little restaurant in town yes I do.. I've only ate their once but really liked it..I haven't been down much since my cousins husband became chief of police cuz he's always busy and don't want to butt in with having my tribe invade their house lol .. we try to get down at least for September fest each year
Oh that was a pretty drive with the snow coming down & sticking to the rock walls on side of the main road. Been down many a holler road & about always had to turn around in someone's driveway! We'd holler "hey y'all! We're home"! Then back out & leave! Lol! Still having trouble getting notifications for some reason, Shane. Even though I selected "all" when I subscribed. Just happened to come across this one on another sleepless night. Glad I did. I really enjoy "riding around" with you! Stay safe! Many blessings!
My notifications are causing me problems too, hope it gets straightened out soon. It sounds like you have a great plan to get by with turning around in someone's driveway lol
My dad was from Letcher County. My family has been in that county since it was formed. Still have a lot of distant cousins there. My granny always spoke about the hollers. This reminds me of all my family trips to visit family.
Been thru Leckie many times, recently as 3 weeks ago. It's almost abandoned, like Anawalt. I was raised down the road in Pageton.
McDowell county WV has fallen on hard times now but it was great in 1965. A good place to grow up. No crime, no drugs, no gangs. It will always be part of me .
How does someone find a local such as yourself when visiting the area to give them a real information about these small communities/hollars? I have seen your multiple replies on this video and you are very knowledgeable on the topic.
My mother was born and raised in Logan Co around Gilbert Creek. I remember her mentioning a place called War Eagle. It was in that area. It was up in one of them hollors. These videos show me a little bit what kind of place she was raised up in . Pretty interesting. Thanks
I live in a Holler in the Smokies of NC...and your right everyone knows everyone else’s business lol. Thanks for sharing💖🙏🏻
I love everything about it. I have some land in Pike County. I hope to make a home there one day. When I do, I may sit back and listen to Gary Stewart's greatest hits and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
You paint a great picture of it
My grandparents and parents raised around Harlan area. Grandfather was a coal-miner. I spent one year at Alice Lloyd. I love eastern Ky.
As a child back in the 60s I remember singing a song at school that had the words " my true loves in the head of a holler, I won't come and she won't foller! Oh a hum day.
Contrived lyrics I know but it painted an image in my mind and I can still see it now.
I just love those appalaichan hollers. Love to all.
I recently learned that my ancestors are from Pike county. James and Rhoda and Edmond Milam/Milum. I dream of being able to see where they lived. Your videos make it real. Thank you
Geography has made us what we are here in WV. For a long time I lived on the side of a mountain. Had to wear golf spikes to cut the lawn. You could actually “fall out of your yard”. Then I lived many years at the head of the hollow. Now I live in the river bottom next to a small river. WV is really a pretty neat place to live and raise a family, especially if you have a steady job. We all need that steady job.
Bad Fork Hollow, Kentucky is where my mom's family was from. I used to spend summers at the head of the holler. None of the family is left there and the main house burned down decades ago. I'm proud of my heritage.
I grew up in areas just like this one, but in East TN...went to college in Berea, KY. This takes me home!!
My ancestors were both Natives and first settlers here. Thank you for sharing such beauty!! 🥰
Some of the best people on God's green earth. Love the South❤️. Long live the South ❤️😃
Amen
I went to TN and people are friendly
I'm from the North but I have lived in the deep south, middle south, back North. I'm in southern Kentucky for 18 yrs near Ft.Campbell. You are right nothing like the South.
God's country. So thankful to be a Southerner.
West Virginia is not the south.
I was born in Pike County at Appalachian Regional in South Williamson. When I was young, they used to call it the hospital across the river (Tug River) and the one in Williamson on the WV side the hospital on the hill. I lived in Pike County, Martin County, Mingo County, and Wayne County (not all at once obviously haha) up until I was a teenager. I still miss Elk Creek, outside of Delbarton in Mingo County. Thanks for the video! It's always nice to see pictures and videos of home.
Glad they brought some of home to you, Bobby
I'm half Appalachia and half native American, my dads family is from princeton, WV
I love Princeton, I'm glad you mentioned there because I really need to do a video from there
Hey honey ❤️
I also have Native blood running thru my veins. Mama being from Pike Co, KY. Cherokee blood runs deep in that area of R Country.
Growing up in the Pocono Mountains in PA, out behind my Great Grandfathers farm there was a Holler. You had to drive the dirt road through the farm and then at the mouth of the Holler it turned into a two track "road" and went way back into the mountains (and yep had a stream that ran along side). I would spend summers on that farm and even though it was known you didnt go back in holler I did all the time and all the people treated me like family. Not sure if it they were just nice or out of respect for my Great Grandfather. He was an old time farmer, and while he didnt say much he just had a way about it him. When he did speak, everyone listened and no one screwed with him, not even the bull..lol, I swear, even in his 90's he was made of iron....but he also was the first to lend a helping hand, so the holler folks had a lot of respect for him.
I live in a holler myself. Happy holler tyler county.
Thanks for the video. The step down mountains on the main road reminded me of W.Va. That’s where I was born and raised. I now live in NC. 🤗
love your videos. reminds me of my grandparents farm and little town where they lived in eastern Ohio
Thank you so much 😊
My late husbands family was from Webster Springs West Virginia, the Carpenters and the Cogars, then we lived in a little town called Gasaway, and a small town Davisville next to Parkersburg, then we moved back to Mich , I loved West Virgin nia but had to move back so my husband could go back to work at his old job.
I've had more than one visitor make it up here on the ridge and say "it felt like I was being
watched".
I grin at 'em and say "you were...probably had a scope or two on ya, too". :-)
Spent over half my life in urban settings; now the latter half out here on the ridge.
I prefer this more - a lot more.
Be safe out there, my friend!
-Ed on the Ridge
You know how it goes lol. I've wondered before just how close I was to getting a triggered pulled on me through the years lol. Ain't nothing like that holler life.
😁😉🥰
Most of the hollers I visited consisted of all family members. Parents in one house, each child with their families in other houses. Sometimes a aunt or cousin or grandchild too.
You definitely see that a lot
Absolutely agree with you!!
That's a sure is a flat hollar. I live in Toby Hollow in between Karns and Claxton Tn. Hate when it snows sometimes we can't get out for days. Great video.
I can imagine that being a rough day right there. Snow is a beast in a lot of these places, this holler is lucky it is located right beside a main road. I can imagine how a lot of folks get snowed in like you said. Thanks for watching.
I'd love to see some pictures.
The white huts on the right going in at the head are chicken houses. Usually fighting chickens. I'm born and raised in the mountains of E Tn. Lived here all my life. Grew up on Possum Holler Road. We have locals and we have move-ins. You can live here forty years and still be a move-in. Our county is prosperous now due to tourism. In witnessed a lot of poverty riding our local school bus. You'd see everything you can imagine.
You are very interesting. I could listen to you all day. Thank you for the education.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it
You got to be there, in order to get the satisfying true experience. Thanks for sharing, memories are bringing some water to my eyes
thank you, Shane! That was a nice ride and what a majestic landscape!
It was a beautiful day for a drive
You forgot to mention the party line. I graduated high school in 1975. My grandparents had just got a rotary dial phone.
Prior they had a big black telephone with no dial just a smooth black ring. The phone had a crank on the side and used tall cylindrical dry cell batteries. You picked up and cranked the handle on the side to call the operator to call your next door neighbor. The operator knew everybody’s business and usually the whole valley as they all picked up and listened in.
We’d spend the summer with my grandparents and the phone would ring. Them being older we’d run to the phone to catch it quick. They’d stop us That’s not our ring! What!?! Our ring is two pulls and a yank ant that’s two yanks and a pull. What are you talking about. Everyone’s phone rang. But everyone had a different ring. Ours/theirs being two long rings and a short. And that ring was two short rings and a long one. Wow those were the days. They had one of the old wooden phones with the adjustable mouth piece and the separate corded ear piece. I think they finally sold it as an antique for $100.
Nice, beautiful snowy day! Great video/commentary. Nice hat, too! (Jane from SC)
I remember back when all the hollers in Eastern Kentucky were covered with red dog (a coal by product for those who ain't got clue what red dog is) !!! I'm from Johnson County just little bit up Route 23 can't miss it ! Went to school at Johnson Central high, with Paul Setser as the principal ! We lived up a little holler called Asa creek, sure do miss that holler life !!
Believe it or not, we have hollers in NW Alabama, too. The tag ends of the Appalachians come down into north Alabama, and the area is very much like the more traditional Appalachian areas. Speech is the same, expressions, way of life, food, music, ideas, customs, etc. are very similar. I'm of the first generation in our families to be born and raised in town. Some of my cousins still are living the very rural, country/mountain life. I'm jealous of them!
That is awesome
When there youg they cant wate to get out ,but when there old they just dream of going back, we some times dont no what we have till its gone ,but thanks for the MEMMORY's
Them appalachian hollers can turn quite spooky/ eery like with lots of wild animsl calls shortly after the sun sets each night.
My dad grew up over behind east tennessee state university off id cherokee road. The cherokee national forest foothills started right behind their house. I never wanted to go outside to use the outhouse in the late 1960's until they built their indoor bathroom in the mid 1970's.
My dad used to work in the mines in the holler on the other side of 23 there on the county line for Teco. I’ve never been up the holler you drove up but I’ve drove past it a million times.
Shane I had no idea that that was a holler it's amazing that I learned something new every single day thank you for this video my uncle passed away yesterday and my heart is very heavy so thank you for the distraction I really needed it
So sorry to hear about your uncle, I know that is tough. I am glad you were able to get a small break from the grief.
Very sorry for your loss.
@@sharondonelow5364 thank you for your comment God bless and stay safe
Me neither. We've got a couple of places like that where I live in southern Illinois. Love driving through them.
I’m very sorry for the loss of your uncle. May God watch over you and your family
The road I live on is a leftover from George Washington’s second French and Indian War campaign. It was blessed by remaining mud/gravel until 2 years ago when the State went and tar and chipped it. The road used to scare people off, but now that it sort of looks like pavement we get a whole lot of folks turning around in the driveway to our lower field……since the road continues on through a ford and driving through a creek normally isn’t what they have in mind. Living down such a road in the hills of West Virginia is just a comfortable place to be. I’m sure there might be better, but I know most are a lot worse.
I live in a gravel road too. Nice thing about it you can hear a car coming from way off. Also in the snow the tires can grip it a bit better. Less rain runoff too as it soaks the rain up better.
Mom is from Pippa Passes, KY. Dad was a Harlan County boy. Loved those roads.
It’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
My grandparents lived in Daybrook West Virginia up Happy Holler. Fond memories.
Great channel glad that I found it. And happy that you are sharing the "holler' experience. I worked in a home visitation program which required drives down these roads, and at times, in the dark of night. Some were places grown men don't like to go, lol.
Say no more, you must have nerves made of steel now lol
Use HIGH BEAMS ppl @ All times when a vehicle isn't coming your way. Makes life easier when lights R up, down in the Hollers.
Well I was raised "in the bush" as a little girl. We had creeks to. Lived in a shack once or twice. Kinda like the holler I guess. Survived on wildmeat and homemade 😋.
bread. It was was good.
Yeah I was raised up in a holler so far up a holler you had a pump sunlight into it
That's so primitive. We have to truck our sunlight in
Oh that made me homesick. I'm stuck out here in Colorado. Desert. Planing to move back East this year. Hopefully find a place in eastern Kentucky
I lived in the holler growing up it was in Geassy Spur, I walked from top of mountain to bottom to catch school bus, all the memories I could share❤️
I bet that was fun in the snow lol
Did you go bare foot in snow and rain up hill both ways ? Lol
Any of you all ever read the book Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls? One of the best books I've ever read. There is a lot in it about Welch, WV. And McDowell Co.
I agree Glass Castle is one of the best books I’ve ever read! I love it. I’m hoping to do a video touching on the spots she talks about. - Melody
@@realappalachia I hope you do a video, I used to live on Hobart St but I can't recall little Hobart St.
Beautiful country! Thank you so much! I’ve never been there, so it’s a real treat to see a “holler”!
Being a Brit, I enjoyed that. Tiny bit like Wales. I'm living in one of the Valley's. When I visited the USA I use to drive a good thousand mile's, in a week. Taking the 'road's in' and enjoying the scenery. Never entered a 'Holler' but did drive some country road's as well as highway's.
My mom grew up in the head of a holler in Leslie county KY. Still got family there aunt cousins and such love going back always so peaceful there .
Mom and dad raised in polk salad hollar it was all family still is! I love it aunt's uncles mamo papos best place ever! Now for us in Knox county our hollars, are mostly on the side of the mountains. Down off 25 E.
nothing like being surrounded by family
I remember those narrow bridges made of boards and railroad ties! I could see the creek down through the holes in the wood! I went to kindergarten at Earling grade school.... Daddy was a coal miner.... We swam in the guyandot river with turds floating by for christs sake!!!!!! It's amazing I'm alive and safe in Tennessee today! I was born in man hospital in 1968
Thank you for sharing these videos. My husbands from Hyden, Kentucky in Leslie County and it brings back many memories! He came to Ohio at age 16 and been here since but sure enjoys your videos. Thanks Shane
Thanks for the kind words and for watching. I hope to make it back to Hyden some day. I have a really good friend from there so I'd love to do a video there at some point when I get a chance.
My dad came out of owls nest in Hayden. Hello from Colorado.
This is my home ole Letcher County. I'm 67 now I'll probably die there.
You couldn't pick a much better place to live, good folks there
❤️
Sorry to hear that.
I was born in Appalachia, VA..It is similar ..
Good show tank about loyalle
When you go eastern Kentucky, holler is everywhere man. Hahaha, that is so true, "you don't wanna sneak up on the porch" without saying Howdy lol. 🤣
Wow that was great i miss home I'm from pineville ky and we have alot of hollers up in there I've lived in Florida for 10 years I'm ready to go home to the mountains they are calling my name thank you for the video it always feel like home watching like videos like that
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it
Love your videos. I was born in Man, WV. I love WV with all of my heart. God bless you!
Home of the Man High Hillbillies, I love that town. Thank you sir
Reminds me of some of the places in Franklin County Va where my family is from some of the old roads back in the mountain you cant pull over or you'll fall off the mountain haha
Been watching some of your videos while I wait for my flight from Minneapolis back home to Detroit. I’ve done some sightseeing in WV. Plan to do more!
Thanks for watching, I've been stuck in the Minneapolis airport before myself so I feel your pain lol
You’re right about everything you find in a holler. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen driveways though. Mostly they just pull up into the yard. And sometimes there’s an outhouse down by the crick.
Love for you to take a ride up Barnshe Holler. Freeburn ky- pike Co. Yeah Buddy Gary Stewart that's real country! How bout i see sparkling little diamond on your hand.. Yes Sir real country.. Thank You..
One day many years ago, I rode with a friend who was a vacuum cleaner salesman. We went to Harlan County, which has many hollers. He would make one or two stops near the mouth of the holler and then drive all way to the head and turn around. On the way back down, housewives would be standing by the road waiting to buy bags or shampoo. One lady even told him that Mrs. So-and-so a few houses down wanted to buy a shampooer. My friend made a lot of money that day.
I'm from southwestern PA and I love these kinds of places! We got hollers too!
Hey Colleen I grew up in western MD, Frostburg in Allegany County...all my ancestors came there to mine coal ( from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales ). We have plenty of hollers along the George's Creek down old route 36 between Frostburg and Westernport.
Pennsatucky, I worked in a coalmine in Mt Morris PA
@@coalhawg7654 Soft or hard coal? I know you know the difference.
@@jaycorby I've mainly worked in hard coal, although that particular mine would be what I would call trash coal. It was full of refuse (impurities like iron oxide and veins of rock and mud.) I've mined in KY, TN, WV,, PA, and Al.
@@coalhawg7654 Nice! Anthracite is usually associated with Pennsylvania. Where I'm from in Western Maryland ( Frostburg specifically ) bituminous coal was the product mined going back to my great great grandfathers on both sides of the family. They emigrated from Britain and Ireland directly to the coal region of the George's Creek Valley just west of Cumberland, MD ( the county seat of Allegany Co., MD )