We always hear country music when we see these WVA videos. Truth be told very few people in WVA can play and fewer can sing. I was born in WVA in the mid 40s. My great grandfather had Blue Grass shows on the radio. He was a lot of fun. Sadly, those days are gone forever.
I came across this video because of the memoir Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Does anybody know of the book? Or have any info about the family? Thanks!
Jenna Bratley I just finished the book. I can't stop thinking about it. I watched a video with Jeanette Walls her older sister is still in New York and her brother retired from the police force and her younger sister lives in California. What a great book I can't wait to read her other 3 books. thanks
Thanks for the ride. I was born and raised in Welch. It's bittersweet to see it this way. I graduated in 1973. Things weren't so bad yet, but they were headed that way. It will always be home. Love the music!
A few years ago, my wife and I, ( on vacation, from England ), were driving aimlessly through small towns and backwaters in Virginia and West Virginia ... seeing some of the real America ... and came into Welch. We walked around for a while, and it was evident the town had seem far better times .. so very sad; set amongst astonishingly beautiful countryside, all forest, valleys and hills. It deserves far better .. a town with a soul. I could live there. Thanks for this great video. Love Welch!
Hi there. I am from Brazil and I love the USA. I´ve been there in the US for two times and I have much respecto for this nation. This video made me remember about the song called Take me home, by John Denver. My mom was passed away and she loved this song and also Sunshine on my shoulders. I´ve never been in West Virgina but I can say I love this State and I love you all. Actually I love the United States since I was 5 years old. God Bless Anerica abd thanks for sharing this beautiful video. Best Regards.
Back in 1997 I had the pleasure of visiting Lugano, Switzerland with a tour group. It was a very nice experience. I have also flown over the Swiss Alps.
I just stumbled upon this video. The music is really hitting me pretty hard. I love it. I was born and raised in a coal mining town in West Virginia. I would not have changed one thing about my upbringing. It literally breaks my heart to see our country in shambles. Love the music. Thank you. Blessing on your family.
Great video and music! I found this video because I read The Glass Castle. What a wonderful book made me laugh out loud and it also made me cry. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Nevada at a young and kind of the opposite of Jeanette Walls so I know how different the desert is from back east. I was a little surprised with the video it seemed nicer and more quaint than I had pictured in the book. Thanks again for posting the video.
I'm reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells and wanted to see the town where her father is from, and where he moved the family to when she was about 9. Crazy how they built the town between the mountains like that! I suppose they have a sewer system now instead of letting it all go in the river?
There's a sewage plant on the lower end of town. It's easier to build between the mountains than on top of the mountains. The roads and rails follow the valleys and rivers.
Come across this video after reading the Glass Castle. Beautiful music and evocative video. Grew up in a Kurri Kurri, and old mining town in Australia and the mine closed there too.
A friend of mine is moving there real soon; what a beautiful town!! Quite Mountainous!! I'd love to visit WV sometime-particularly in the fall and to see all of those beautiful fall leaves!!
I was born in a hospital in Bluefield and grew up in a little coal camp near Northfork. I left home in 1971 to go into the USAF. Five yrs. later I got out of the USAF and moved to my wife's hometown near Pittsburgh, Pa... Finding no decent work there I joined My dad,brother,and cousins in the coal mines. When I told my wives relatives I was going to work for U.S. Steel they could hardly believe it. I kept telling them working for U.S.Steel in the coal mines is a lot different than working in downtown Pittsburgh on Grant St.. I worked at U.S. Steel #10 mine. Eventually we went down to a 33 inch seam. We had to crawl everywhere on our hands and knees if we couldn't ride on a piece of equipment called a scoop. I quit eating at night when I worked because I couldn't keep it down. I worked there until I had a year to the day underground and then found a job at Keystone #1 in Keystone,W.Va.. I could stand up and work there. It all had it's problems with layoffs and strikes, but my wife and I both had the G.I.Bill from our time in the USAF. We finally graduated and moved to South Carolina. Life here was not perfect. We found jobs eventually without layoffs. I retired last year for good. I worked in the commercial sand mining industry here and worked for Starbucks setting up and running coffee roasting equipment. I got to travel to some pretty interesting places, but I never found a place that felt like home in West Virginia. I traveled back up I-77 several times to visit with my relatives until my dad died in 1994 and my mother moved away. My daughter got married to a fine young fella a few years back. He owns 3 Harley Davidson motorcycles. They would move to W.Va. tomorrow if he could find a decent job. I don't talk to her about it much because she will start remembering her grandpa , and my wife and her will just end up crying. They both miss my dad and the little area up around Brushfork where we last lived in W.Va..My wife refuses to retire for 4 more years. She has worked for 28 years for the same company here and won't leave until they brick the door over at her place. We still remember all of these places ,and give people a bad time if they screw up and say something bad about W.Va. or the coal miners. We will always have a place in our hearts for home. I apologize because I didn't mean to write a book when I got started. BTW My software has a bug in it and won't make paragraphs, my margins are screwed up too. I think it is worth mentioning , people here in South Carolina dearly love West Virginia. They start talking about skiing in late August and usually don't stop until May the following year. Our local power plant runs half on hydro and half on coal. They still talk about the farmers in WV sending them hay and cattle feed a couple of decades back. You are apt to get called down by one of the locals here for badmouthing WV as up there.
I just watched Family Feud on TV and the host Steve Harvey said he was from Welch and there was a family on the same episode was from there as well. So I Google Welch and found this cool video. Love the song and looking at the pretty scenery
I grew up in Hemphill. I worked at Hardee’s with Wilma. I road the dirt trail from Hemphill to Premier many times. I hang out with and went to school with your daughters. My friends here love the tour and your music. Thanks Sir. Adam B
Nice video and very beautiful music, wonderful musicians. Welch is way down south, coal country...I used to live in and outside of Spencer, in Roane county WVA, middle of the state. Lived with a friend way up a holler, and then stayed with him when he moved into the town...West Virginia is a special place...You can feel God, and ghosts, too.
I am a Jefferson county resident . I was born and raised in Charles Town west Virginia as was all of my loved ones. I live in the beautiful blue ridge mountains and right along the Shenandoah river. We are close to jobs and we have Drs close by. I feel bad for my fellow statesman this state is beautiful with rich history. These politicians are going to hell for doing these ppl like this. I have seen how ppl were treated by giving them these pain pills until they became addicted and thousands have died. This is sad because human beings deserve better treatment.
I grew up on Welch/Pinevill Road just acorss the Wyoming County line. I know evey crack in the sidewalk of Welch. Used to get my hair cut at Gravely's Barber Shop when I was a kid. I come home when I can. It's sad/ I remember this place and bening bigger and with a lot more people. I left in 88' and very few of the people I grew up with are still here. Love this video. How can I get this song. This could have been on that show Justified. Awesome.
I used to live in Tennessee and my girlfriend in Charleston, WV. We were graduate students from another country. I used to take bus to visit her once in 2/3 month. This video remind me of those journeys. I miss WV so bad. I feel like I owe a lot to this state.
I grew up there and it was nice to see you drove by my grandparents house on Va. Ave. (I think, coming into town anyway across from where you would turn to go to the train station) and my house on Riverside Drive. Could see the little single garage and the windows on the house.
You also drove by my grandparents' house on Virginia Avenue. My father grew up there. The house was sold, but it still looks the same, and the entry into town hasn't changed in decades. Thank you.
I lived there in the late 70's and worked at US Jewelers. the Flatiron is the only store still open. I always thought it was neat that the first multi-level municipal parking was in Welch.
Transported on a tiny screen to a land far away, all you need is the right sound track and this is that soundtrack. My ancestors headed here long ago, I live in London UK and probably will never feel this place. Thank you.
Read the book and couldn't quit thinking about the hardships that the Wall's children were subjected to. My husband and I saw the movie today. It was good also but a lot was left out. It was more of a cut version of the book. I enjoyed the movie too but was glad I read the book first. I just purchased her second book,, Half Broke Horses.
I just finished the book after seeing the movie. yes, a lot of it is cut out. Really all the worst stuff. Maybe the filmmaker didn't want to horrify the audience too much. Jeannette Walls from interviews says she really loved the movie. I think because she was glad that most of the really bad stuff her parents did weren't in it, and she was relieved.
Thank you for sharing this. I wanted to remember my trip to Welch. I lived in Charleston for a couple years and traveled for work. I remember coming here and how beautiful the drive was. West Virginia is such a unique and beautiful state.
My grandma lives in Welch, my pops grew up there, his old fishing buddy works in the 76 towards the end of the video. It is such a beautiful town. It breaks my heart to learn how prosperous it once was and as the coal mines closed down, to see the town somewhat decay. I do love it there, I'd go visit Mr. Shepard in that 76 and go to the movies by that parking garage. I'd have an occasional beer at that club behind the theater. Not sure if the club is still open, though. Good times, great song...it does Welch and McDowell County proud.
Hey Alan, I live in Curitiba, a huge city in southern Brazil. Its the state capitol of Parana, one of the most populated brazilian states. I ve never lived in a small town. I ve lived in Curitiba, Campinas, Salt Lake City and Boston. All big cities in Brazil/USA. We young guys thinks that only if I d have a very good job, I d relocate to a tiny dead town like that. But because I ve a friend in Welch, I m here taking a look on the videos. But its nice. Your channel is cool.
When I was very young I was taken to the hospital in Welch and had my tonsils taken out. Can't tell you much about the place, but at this time in my life my memories of living with my aunt in Big Sandy were the best for me and my brother. We left there in 1962 and have not been back since. Like Cathead said, it is what it is. My aunt passed away some time ago, but the home that woman made for my brother and I along with all her children and husband was amazing. I am forever grateful to that woman and my uncle. My father was born in Falls Mills Virginia. I do believe most of my relatives were from around McDowell County. Thanks for memories of a bygone era.
I’m here because of Jeannette Walls I’m curious to see the roads that she described in her book “ The Glass Castle” She took me over a heartbreaking story. So excited to finish the book and hope that her story has a happy ending! It’s 7 am in my city in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and I’m feeling walking in the roads of Welch! That’s the power writers have when they put their feelings and ideas in a book
cathead, I gotta tell ya' your daughter has one helluva good voice, the lyrics to the song are very well worth listening to. Thanks for sharing the video and the music.
I Love Welch!! My grandparents were born and raised here. I may live in Virginia, but my heart belongs to Welch West VA. Greatest place in the world for me. Thank you for this video, takes me back to a better time. 👍👍I miss Linden St.
Welch sure is a scenic little town but it appears to have fallen on hard times judging by the number of boarded-up buildings driven by. Has the coal industry moved on from the area? Thanks for sharing!
We have a lot of history here in West Virginia. Read up on mother Jones she was a great woman a union organizer who took on the coal companies !! We are good ppl we get a bad rap by the MSM. I also would love to visit Boston . God bless from West Virginia. Oh I live 5 miles from Harper's ferry national park 👍✌
I was born in Welch WV in 1959, but move to North Carolina when i was only six mouths old,My grandma and grandpa live in mcdowell county in welch also, I remember many trips to welch to see them, but sense they have pass it has been 40 years are more that i have been to Welch, I see it has a lot more now, thanks for that great video.
Wow! That place is beautiful! I can only imagine the feeling that I would get seeing a place like that for the first time.. born and raised in Arizona and pretty much in the city most of it. Only been to San Diego new mexico and a few different cities in my home state so this would put a huge smile on my face
What song is this? It's beautiful. My family's from West Union up in Doddridge County, and looks very much like Welch. Wonderful vid, thanks for sharing. God bless.
It's really amazing to see this footage. We haven't been through this specific are in 23 years when our family, including our 4 year old son, trudged up the steep hills above town. The music is great, also. Isn't there some way you can develop some bluegrass/ folk./country café or luncheonette like in Galax and get tourists in to help revitalize the area. We love West Virginia, by the way, and hope the people don't lose their music. What is the sound track?
I am a proud West Virginian now living in Brooklyn, NY! Regardless of where I'm at in the world, WV will ALWAYS be home to me until the day I die!!!!!!!!
It is very sad that you had to move to that expensive overrated NYC in order to pursue your dreams. We need to pay attention and help the folks of West Virginia which is along with the rest of the interior compose the "real America".
Alan Johnson you did a great video. Captured the real charm of america, small towns. Look up 'Driving thru RANSBERG, CA it's a living ghost town, my late uncle lived there in the same house for 60 years. Your music was great too, excellent camera, I enjoyed the drive.............. Watched it 9 times, thanks
I lived there for almost 3 years when I worked for Carter Machinery. I enjoyed it there, it was a busy town back in the mid 80's. What day of the week did you do this drive? I don't ever remember Welch being so "vacant." It's a shame all the small towns in those surrounding counties are dwindling away.
Driving through Welch I can't help but to think about old man McGhee who did the murals around town. He passed last year. I used to go down there on furniture deliveries when I worked for Darnell... Yeah, he's still there... :)
I used to go down there all the time while I was making deliveries with Darnell furniture. Thanks for the posting I enjoyed that! I may have to drive around Beckley and Sophia. :)
Hi Alan, Great video. I started my career in southern West Virginia and really enjoyed my time there. I found the history of Welch fascinating and spent quite a few afternoons exploring McDowell county. Hope you are well and thanks for the great video!
Thank you so much. I have told so many people about how small Welch was and what it was like growing up there. The people at work could not believe how very small. I miss it!
I lived in Welch, WV from 1980-1982. I was a commissioned officer with the US Public Health Service and delivered babies at Welch Community Hospital (then still known as Welch Emergency Hospital). I still own a tie that I bought at Belcher & Mooney Clothing Store. I don't know if Belcher & Mooney is still there, but Belcher was a common last name among my patients.
David, I remember you. I worked in maintenance when you were there. In fact, another guy and I converted part of a bathroom in one of the old wards to an examination room for you. Good to bump into you here on You Tube.
Wow, that's amazing! I remember the maintenance guys remodeling that old ward into my waiting room and exam rooms. I met some really good people in Welch. It's hard to believe that the babies that I delivered there are now in their 30s with their own children.
Beautiful area!! Btw 'Cathead' That's a great song and the performance is equally as good. I played bass for Bobbie Gentry many decades ago, and the song and singing style sound like there's some 'Bobbie' in there. Congrats and blessings, Bob McAlister
Looks like a beautiful place, peaceful.. I'm planning an American trip, what other locations similar to this would you suggest? I like country areas etc, not city :)
There is an almost endless number of places like this across America. The only ones I could recommend would be around here in this general area. Lots of history here.
My Father grew up outside Milton, W,VA on a farm called Charles's Creek Hollow. My Mom was born in Huntington, W.VA with a large family. I saw the Drive Through Welch, W, Va. and other towns off the main run. Don't worry people will come back to the Hills when the Shit hits the fan. Small towns like this not a target of a War time attack God forbid. When I retire from the Oil field in South Louisiana I'm coming home to West Virginia some were in the Blue Ridge area.
Just saw the movie, A Glass House, a story based on something that happened in Welch, West VA, very touching movie about a homeless family that became squatters on the land.
What a narrow valley! The area is beautiful, no denying that. :) I've read The Glass Castle a few times, heartbreaking on so many levels. :'( Thank you for posting this video.
Jeanette Walls did a perfect job of describing the town in The Glass Castle. Have you read it and remember anything about her family or experiences? How accurate her descriptions truly are?
My dad and uncle lived there in a boarding house back in the 1920’s. They worked the Pocahontas mines in Virginia. Tragically my uncle was killed in a coal cart accident in 1929. He was only 34.
Nothing wrong with West, Virginia... My step mother and her mother was from from Mingo Co.... I lived there for a year was in the 3rd grade, walk to Gilbert on the railroad tracks. Just ppl have it hard and jobs are gone in mines... So sad tooo. When my step parents died took them back W.Va was in a hollow beside the grave site was a coal mine. Take them to visit there family on the radio ... Every time I would hear, John Denver song. Sometimes, I have a tear in eye... There alott of GOOD ppl better than in Virginia... Take me a trip this summer to Logan Co 👍❤️
Welcome to Welch, the number one rated worst city in the state of WV. It looks like a little ghost town with all the shops that are out of business, but it is quite a pretty place. Love my WV mountains!!!!!!!!!
We always hear country music when we see these WVA videos. Truth be told very few people in WVA can play and fewer can sing. I was born in WVA in the mid 40s. My great grandfather had Blue Grass shows on the radio. He was a lot of fun. Sadly, those days are gone forever.
The reason you hear it on this one is because it's me playing the music and my daughter singing. Thanks for watching.
I came across this video because of the memoir Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Does anybody know of the book? Or have any info about the family? Thanks!
Sorry, but I don't.
Currently reading this book! omg I just read the part about the garbage pit in the back yard and the rat!
Jenna Bratley I just finished the book. I can't stop thinking about it. I watched a video with Jeanette Walls her older sister is still in New York and her brother retired from the police force and her younger sister lives in California. What a great book I can't wait to read her other 3 books. thanks
Loved the book and so pleased to know they are making a movie of it with some great stars... Check it out.. there is no release date as yet.. !
Yup! Such a great book.
Thanks for the ride. I was born and raised in Welch. It's bittersweet to see it this way. I graduated in 1973. Things weren't so bad yet, but they were headed that way. It will always be home. Love the music!
+Debbie Barr Thanks for watching.
A few years ago, my wife and I, ( on vacation, from England ), were driving aimlessly through small towns and backwaters in Virginia and West Virginia ... seeing some of the real America ... and came into Welch. We walked around for a while, and it was evident the town had seem far better times .. so very sad; set amongst astonishingly beautiful countryside, all forest, valleys and hills. It deserves far better .. a town with a soul. I could live there. Thanks for this great video. Love Welch!
You have a pure soul Tony....shalom!
Hi there. I am from Brazil and I love the USA. I´ve been there in the US for two times and I have much respecto for this nation. This video made me remember about the song called Take me home, by John Denver. My mom was passed away and she loved this song and also Sunshine on my shoulders. I´ve never been in West Virgina but I can say I love this State and I love you all. Actually I love the United States since I was 5 years old. God Bless Anerica abd thanks for sharing this beautiful video. Best Regards.
I want to come to your Place! lol
America loves you too Frederico!
I would hope your ZX14R could kill a "Busa", lol. I rode my cousins ZX14R last year, damn near yanked me off under full throttle.
Thanks buddy, I got a friend from Brazil.
despacito 6555
I like the state West Virginia, very beautiful and the people are so friendly. I come next year to WV.
Great video.
Greetings from Switzerland.
Michael Scofield Hello. There's Swiss heritage in West Virginia villages in Helvetia, WV. There is festivals etc. certain days of the year. ✌
Back in 1997 I had the pleasure of visiting Lugano, Switzerland with a tour group. It was a very nice experience. I have also flown over the Swiss Alps.
Incredible song, I love it. Keep coming back every now and again to listen.
Hope all is well.
Hello from Rabbit Hill, WV.
Thank you very much.
Great film Great song Awesome vocal.
God willing, one day I shall visit WV.
All the best from Scotland 🇬🇧
Thank you very much.
I just stumbled upon this video. The music is really hitting me pretty hard. I love it. I was born and raised in a coal mining town in West Virginia. I would not have changed one thing about my upbringing. It literally breaks my heart to see our country in shambles. Love the music. Thank you. Blessing on your family.
Thank you very much for watching and taking the time to comment. I'm happy you liked the music.
beautiful area, the nature, the architecture, everything, almost as beautiful as New Mexico! :-D
Thanks for watching.
That's one beautiful area, thanks for the video.
Thank you.
Great video and music! I found this video because I read The Glass Castle. What a wonderful book made me laugh out loud and it also made me cry. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Nevada at a young and kind of the opposite of Jeanette Walls so I know how different the desert is from back east. I was a little surprised with the video it seemed nicer and more quaint than I had pictured in the book. Thanks again for posting the video.
The music, and your daughter's vocals, are beautiful.
Thank you very much.
I'm reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells and wanted to see the town where her father is from, and where he moved the family to when she was about 9. Crazy how they built the town between the mountains like that! I suppose they have a sewer system now instead of letting it all go in the river?
There's a sewage plant on the lower end of town. It's easier to build between the mountains than on top of the mountains. The roads and rails follow the valleys and rivers.
Same
Come across this video after reading the Glass Castle. Beautiful music and evocative video. Grew up in a Kurri Kurri, and old mining town in Australia and the mine closed there too.
Thanks for watching.
A friend of mine is moving there real soon; what a beautiful town!! Quite Mountainous!! I'd love to visit WV sometime-particularly in the fall and to see all of those beautiful fall leaves!!
Thank you for watching.
From a proud mountaineer, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching.
I was born in a hospital in Bluefield and grew up in a little coal camp near Northfork. I left home in 1971 to go into the USAF. Five yrs. later I got out of the USAF and moved to my wife's hometown near Pittsburgh, Pa... Finding no decent work there I joined My dad,brother,and cousins in the coal mines. When I told my wives relatives I was going to work for U.S. Steel they could hardly believe it. I kept telling them working for U.S.Steel in the coal mines is a lot different than working in downtown Pittsburgh on Grant St.. I worked at U.S. Steel #10 mine. Eventually we went down to a 33 inch seam. We had to crawl everywhere on our hands and knees if we couldn't ride on a piece of equipment called a scoop. I quit eating at night when I worked because I couldn't keep it down. I worked there until I had a year to the day underground and then found a job at Keystone #1 in Keystone,W.Va.. I could stand up and work there. It all had it's problems with layoffs and strikes, but my wife and I both had the G.I.Bill from our time in the USAF. We finally graduated and moved to South Carolina. Life here was not perfect. We found jobs eventually without layoffs. I retired last year for good. I worked in the commercial sand mining industry here and worked for Starbucks setting up and running coffee roasting equipment. I got to travel to some pretty interesting places, but I never found a place that felt like home in West Virginia. I traveled back up I-77 several times to visit with my relatives until my dad died in 1994 and my mother moved away. My daughter got married to a fine young fella a few years back. He owns 3 Harley Davidson motorcycles. They would move to W.Va. tomorrow if he could find a decent job. I don't talk to her about it much because she will start remembering her grandpa , and my wife and her will just end up crying. They both miss my dad and the little area up around Brushfork where we last lived in W.Va..My wife refuses to retire for 4 more years. She has worked for 28 years for the same company here and won't leave until they brick the door over at her place. We still remember all of these places ,and give people a bad time if they screw up and say something bad about W.Va. or the coal miners. We will always have a place in our hearts for home. I apologize because I didn't mean to write a book when I got started. BTW My software has a bug in it and won't make paragraphs, my margins are screwed up too. I think it is worth mentioning , people here in South Carolina dearly love West Virginia. They start talking about skiing in late August and usually don't stop until May the following year. Our local power plant runs half on hydro and half on coal. They still talk about the farmers in WV sending them hay and cattle feed a couple of decades back. You are apt to get called down by one of the locals here for badmouthing WV as up there.
Thank you for the post and for watching the video.
Thank you for your service DAVE.
Beautiful. Like traveling back in time.
+Pidgie Freeland Thanks for watching.
I just watched Family Feud on TV and the host Steve Harvey said he was from Welch and there was a family on the same episode was from there as well. So I Google Welch and found this cool video. Love the song and looking at the pretty scenery
+Mark Neff Thanks for watching.
most beautiful country side views i've ever seen, wish i lived somewhere up there deep in the woods
I cannot forget this tune! Love your video - thanks.
Thank you much.
Great song. And thanks for the ride along. I grew up in Bluefield and use to do maintenance in all the mines in the county. 👍👍
Thanks for watching.
Great use of a traditional song motif with contemporary creativity!
Thank you for watching.
I grew up in Hemphill. I worked at Hardee’s with Wilma. I road the dirt trail from Hemphill to Premier many times. I hang out with and went to school with your daughters. My friends here love the tour and your music. Thanks Sir.
Adam B
Thank you for watching. I will tell Wilma you mentioned her.
Nice video and very beautiful music, wonderful musicians.
Welch is way down south, coal country...I used to live in and outside of Spencer, in Roane county WVA, middle of the state.
Lived with a friend way up a holler, and then stayed with him when he moved into the town...West Virginia is a special place...You can feel God, and ghosts, too.
I am a Jefferson county resident . I was born and raised in Charles Town west Virginia as was all of my loved ones. I live in the beautiful blue ridge mountains and right along the Shenandoah river. We are close to jobs and we have Drs close by. I feel bad for my fellow statesman this state is beautiful with rich history. These politicians are going to hell for doing these ppl like this. I have seen how ppl were treated by giving them these pain pills until they became addicted and thousands have died. This is sad because human beings deserve better treatment.
I grew up on Welch/Pinevill Road just acorss the Wyoming County line. I know evey crack in the sidewalk of Welch. Used to get my hair cut at Gravely's Barber Shop when I was a kid. I come home when I can. It's sad/ I remember this place and bening bigger and with a lot more people. I left in 88' and very few of the people I grew up with are still here. Love this video. How can I get this song. This could have been on that show Justified. Awesome.
Thank you very much. This is a song I wrote and my daughter is singing it. I can get you an MP3 of it.
Gary Horn hey Gary got an email? Talk about Welch. Thx
I used to live in Tennessee and my girlfriend in Charleston, WV. We were graduate students from another country. I used to take bus to visit her once in 2/3 month. This video remind me of those journeys. I miss WV so bad. I feel like I owe a lot to this state.
Thanks for watching.
THIS IS ONE BEAUTIFUL TOWN WHY? CUZ I WAS BORN THERE , SWEET PPL & WONDERFUL SURROUNDING'S , THIS TOWN IS AMAZING TO ME , I LOVE IT
Thanks for watching.
I grew up there and it was nice to see you drove by my grandparents house on Va. Ave. (I think, coming into town anyway across from where you would turn to go to the train station) and my house on Riverside Drive. Could see the little single garage and the windows on the house.
+Denise Romano Well, that's cool. Thanks for watching.
You also drove by my grandparents' house on Virginia Avenue. My father grew up there. The house was sold, but it still looks the same, and the entry into town hasn't changed in decades. Thank you.
I lived there in the late 70's and worked at US Jewelers. the Flatiron is the only store still open. I always thought it was neat that the first multi-level municipal parking was in Welch.
The music is absolutely wonderful!
Transported on a tiny screen to a land far away,
all you need is the right sound track and this is that soundtrack. My ancestors headed here long ago, I live in London UK and probably will never feel this place. Thank you.
Thank you for watching.
Read the book and couldn't quit thinking about the hardships that the Wall's children were subjected to. My husband and I saw the movie today. It was good also but a lot was left out. It was more of a cut version of the book. I enjoyed the movie too but was glad I read the book first. I just purchased her second book,, Half Broke Horses.
I just finished the book after seeing the movie. yes, a lot of it is cut out. Really all the worst stuff. Maybe the filmmaker didn't want to horrify the audience too much. Jeannette Walls from interviews says she really loved the movie. I think because she was glad that most of the really bad stuff her parents did weren't in it, and she was relieved.
Thank you for sharing this. I wanted to remember my trip to Welch. I lived in Charleston for a couple years and traveled for work. I remember coming here and how beautiful the drive was. West Virginia is such a unique and beautiful state.
Thank you so much.
My grandma lives in Welch, my pops grew up there, his old fishing buddy works in the 76 towards the end of the video. It is such a beautiful town. It breaks my heart to learn how prosperous it once was and as the coal mines closed down, to see the town somewhat decay.
I do love it there, I'd go visit Mr. Shepard in that 76 and go to the movies by that parking garage. I'd have an occasional beer at that club behind the theater. Not sure if the club is still open, though. Good times, great song...it does Welch and McDowell County proud.
+Tony Beavers Can't place the club behind the theater. Thanks for watching.
Hey Alan, I live in Curitiba, a huge city in southern Brazil.
Its the state capitol of Parana, one of the most populated brazilian states.
I ve never lived in a small town. I ve lived in Curitiba, Campinas, Salt Lake City and Boston. All big cities in Brazil/USA. We young guys thinks that only if I d have a very good job, I d relocate to a tiny dead town like that. But because I ve a friend in Welch,
I m here taking a look on the videos. But its nice. Your channel is cool.
Sorry I did not thank you 7 years ago.
Oh, it's a great song. The singer has a great voice too. Your daughter? Wow, she's talented.
Thank you kindly!
When I was very young I was taken to the hospital in Welch and had my tonsils taken out. Can't tell you much about the place, but at this time in my life my memories of living with my aunt in Big Sandy were the best for me and my brother. We left there in 1962 and have not been back since. Like Cathead said, it is what it is. My aunt passed away some time ago, but the home that woman made for my brother and I along with all her children and husband was amazing. I am forever grateful to that woman and my uncle. My father was born in Falls Mills Virginia. I do believe most of my relatives were from around McDowell County. Thanks for memories of a bygone era.
Thank you, Sir, for watching.
I’m here because of Jeannette Walls I’m curious to see the roads that she described in her book “ The Glass Castle”
She took me over a heartbreaking story. So excited to finish the book and hope that her story has a happy ending!
It’s 7 am in my city in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and I’m feeling walking in the roads of Welch! That’s the power writers have when they put their feelings and ideas in a book
Thank you for watching.
cathead,
I gotta tell ya' your daughter has one helluva good voice, the lyrics to the song are very well worth listening to. Thanks for sharing the video and the music.
Thank you for the kind words.
The stone work on the older homes is astonishing. I love driving over from Twin Falls State Park. We visit every year.
We were there 2 weeks ago. Loved it and hope to visit again. Loved the old downtown part of Iaeger also. Thanks from Springfield, TN.
Glad you had a good visit.
I Love Welch!! My grandparents were born and raised here. I may live in Virginia, but my heart belongs to Welch West VA. Greatest place in the world for me. Thank you for this video, takes me back to a better time. 👍👍I miss Linden St.
Thank you for watching.
Welch sure is a scenic little town but it appears to have fallen on hard times judging by the number of boarded-up buildings driven by. Has the coal industry moved on from the area? Thanks for sharing!
Love the music. :)
Thank you much.
Cool video, I am fascinated with all things WV lately (from up north in Boston)
Thank you much.
I am also growing very intrigued about West Virginia. However I am stuck up here in Buffalo NY in high tax hell.
We have a lot of history here in West Virginia. Read up on mother Jones she was a great woman a union organizer who took on the coal companies !! We are good ppl we get a bad rap by the MSM. I also would love to visit Boston . God bless from West Virginia. Oh I live 5 miles from Harper's ferry national park 👍✌
Love the music. A great little ride
Thank you.
Thank you for the drive!. Welch is beautiful! I love it :)
Thank you much.
@@cathead77 You are very welcome! :)
G. Lopez bruhh Welsh is beautiful are you joking it’s one of the poorest counties in all of America
I was born in Welch WV in 1959, but move to North Carolina when i was only six mouths old,My grandma and grandpa live in mcdowell county in welch also, I remember many trips to welch to see them, but sense they have pass it has been 40 years are more that i have been to Welch, I see it has a lot more now, thanks for that great video.
Thank you for looking.
Wow! That place is beautiful! I can only imagine the feeling that I would get seeing a place like that for the first time.. born and raised in Arizona and pretty much in the city most of it. Only been to San Diego new mexico and a few different cities in my home state so this would put a huge smile on my face
Thank you and thank you for watching.
Thank You very much for illustrating the rise and fall of Amerca's great Cities and Towns. How can we ever come back?
Thank you for watching.
What song is this? It's beautiful. My family's from West Union up in Doddridge County, and looks very much like Welch. Wonderful vid, thanks for sharing. God bless.
I come from Western Maryland and Welch reminds me of a town called Lonaconing, Md. Video makes me a little homesick.
Thanks for watching.
The glass castle brought me here. 😊 shoot I'd live there if u could!
Melissa Shinogee Thanks for watching.
Me too. Re-reading it as I read it a few years ago and want to see the movie version of her story.
No jobs
Lol you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about
It's really amazing to see this footage. We haven't been through this specific are in 23 years when our family, including our 4 year old son, trudged up the steep hills above town. The music is great, also. Isn't there some way you can develop some bluegrass/ folk./country café or luncheonette like in Galax and get tourists in to help revitalize the area. We love West Virginia, by the way, and hope the people don't lose their music. What is the sound track?
Thank you so very much.
I was there working on houses with Appalachian Service Project. Loved the people and the area. Great video and music.
Thank you, Tom.
I agree
I am a proud West Virginian now living in Brooklyn, NY! Regardless of where I'm at in the world, WV will ALWAYS be home to me until the day I die!!!!!!!!
Thanks for watching.
You are very damn welcome cathead77!!!!
It is very sad that you had to move to that expensive overrated NYC in order to pursue your dreams. We need to pay attention and help the folks of West Virginia which is along with the rest of the interior compose the "real America".
Loved thr tour. Thank you.
Thanks for watching.
I grew up in Morgantown and Fairmont. Beautiful song and video!
Thank you.
Alan Johnson you did a great video. Captured the real charm of america, small towns. Look up 'Driving thru RANSBERG, CA it's a living ghost town, my late uncle lived there in the same house for 60 years. Your music was great too, excellent camera, I enjoyed the drive.............. Watched it 9 times, thanks
I lived there for almost 3 years when I worked for Carter Machinery. I enjoyed it there, it was a busy town back in the mid 80's. What day of the week did you do this drive? I don't ever remember Welch being so "vacant." It's a shame all the small towns in those surrounding counties are dwindling away.
It was on July 21, 2012 whatever day of the week that was.
That would be a Sat. Still seems strange for no one to be in town. I really enjoyed living there. Thanks.
gojudude Thank you for watching.
Driving through Welch I can't help but to think about old man McGhee who did the murals around town. He passed last year. I used to go down there on furniture deliveries when I worked for Darnell... Yeah, he's still there... :)
I used to go down there all the time while I was making deliveries with Darnell furniture. Thanks for the posting I enjoyed that! I may have to drive around Beckley and Sophia. :)
Hi Alan,
Great video. I started my career in southern West Virginia and really enjoyed my time there. I found the history of Welch fascinating and spent quite a few afternoons exploring McDowell county. Hope you are well and thanks for the great video!
Thank you for watching.
Thank you so much. I have told so many people about how small Welch was and what it was like growing up there. The people at work could not believe how very small. I miss it!
Beautiful Appalachian town. Always wanted to explore more of the area when I was living in Columbus Ohio, but only saw Kentucky and Tennessee
Thanks for watching.
Beautiful singing!
Thank you.
My mother-in-law is from Bell, been up there to the Slab Fork Coal Mine, from NC, good video.
Thank you.
loved the video and the songs on from wetzel county but live near Pittsburgh now.
Beautiful place and great music.
Thank you.
I love west virginia! Me and my family camp out in coalwood to ride four wheelers and we love passing through the town of welch
beautiful country ! I could throw away my high blood pressure meds if I moved there ! thanks for the tour !
Thank you. I am Linda Welch and have always wanted to see Welch WVa.
I'm happy you watched.
It's a nice place to live in West Virginia I'm originally from Pittsburgh love West Virginia
Thank you much.
cathead77 your so welcome
Fantastic. Have a good friend who grew up in Welch.
Thanks for watching.
Great video. What a beautiful place. Where are all the people??
Thanks. They left with the coal industry.
Wish we could figure out how to create jobs in that region. A shame to let it rot away.
larkatmic The population here in the county has plummeted from around 100,000 when I was a kid to just over 20,000.
Many had to leave the coal industry is gone. Obama hit that final nail.
Here from Brooke County, WV. Much love! ❤❤
Thanks for watching.
"Z for Zachariah" brought me here. Thx for this great video of a remarkable town (and song).
+Clyde Wayne Crews Jr. Thank you very much.
I plan to drive through here next week.
Take care.
My mother grew up in Leatherwood- not there anymore. Her sisters and brothers moved to Verner,WVa. My cousin attended Gilbert high school.
I know where that is.
I lived in Welch, WV from 1980-1982. I was a commissioned officer with the US Public Health Service and delivered babies at Welch Community Hospital (then still known as Welch Emergency Hospital). I still own a tie that I bought at Belcher & Mooney Clothing Store. I don't know if Belcher & Mooney is still there, but Belcher was a common last name among my patients.
David, I remember you. I worked in maintenance when you were there. In fact, another guy and I converted part of a bathroom in one of the old wards to an examination room for you. Good to bump into you here on You Tube.
Belcher and Mooney is long gone.
Wow, that's amazing! I remember the maintenance guys remodeling that old ward into my waiting room and exam rooms. I met some really good people in Welch. It's hard to believe that the babies that I delivered there are now in their 30s with their own children.
By the way, after you left we had to put the bathroom back in........haha.
FANTASTIC and sad... :)! thanks :(.
Thanks for looking.
Yesir, best regards!
Beautiful area!! Btw 'Cathead' That's a great song and the performance is equally as good. I played bass for Bobbie Gentry many decades ago, and the song and singing style sound like there's some 'Bobbie' in there. Congrats and blessings, Bob McAlister
Thank you, sir. That's very cool. I'm a bass player myself. I played bass for Mel Street for a few years.
Truth be known, Steve Harvey is from Welch WV! Good to see another celeb from the Mountain state!
Indeed he is. Thanks for watching.
Looks like a beautiful place, peaceful.. I'm planning an American trip, what other locations similar to this would you suggest? I like country areas etc, not city :)
There is an almost endless number of places like this across America. The only ones I could recommend would be around here in this general area. Lots of history here.
My Father grew up outside Milton, W,VA on a farm called Charles's Creek Hollow. My Mom was born in Huntington, W.VA with a large family. I saw the Drive Through Welch, W, Va. and other towns off the main run. Don't worry people will come back to the Hills when the Shit hits the fan. Small towns like this not a target of a War time attack God forbid. When I retire from the Oil field in South Louisiana I'm coming home to West Virginia some were in the Blue Ridge area.
Thank you for watching.
Love, LOVE your music!!!
just a city goer wishing I was in the country. Watching videos in admiration.
Thank you for watching.
Just saw the movie, A Glass House, a story based on something that happened in Welch, West VA, very touching movie about a homeless family that became squatters on the land.
Yes, it showed here in Welch this week.
This song is amazing
Thank you very much.
There is no place like West Virginia, you can’t understand that till you live here, it’s the best!!!!
Thanks for watching.
I am determined to drive from my home in California to Welch one day. My Love to West Virginia.
Come on down! Thanks for watching.
What a narrow valley! The area is beautiful, no denying that. :) I've read The Glass Castle a few times, heartbreaking on so many levels. :'( Thank you for posting this video.
I read the book a few weeks ago, saw the movie today. Excellent!
So much beauty in these mts.. Nice state wv.
Thanks for watching.
Jeanette Walls did a perfect job of describing the town in The Glass Castle. Have you read it and remember anything about her family or experiences? How accurate her descriptions truly are?
I haven't read the book, so I can't say.
My dad and uncle lived there in a boarding house back in the 1920’s. They worked the Pocahontas mines in Virginia. Tragically my uncle was killed in a coal cart accident in 1929. He was only 34.
Thanks for watching.
Nothing wrong with West, Virginia... My step mother and her mother was from from Mingo Co.... I lived there for a year was in the 3rd grade, walk to Gilbert on the railroad tracks. Just ppl have it hard and jobs are gone in mines... So sad tooo. When my step parents died took them back W.Va was in a hollow beside the grave site was a coal mine. Take them to visit there family on the radio ... Every time I would hear, John Denver song. Sometimes, I have a tear in eye... There alott of GOOD ppl better than in Virginia... Take me a trip this summer to Logan Co 👍❤️
so nice to see everyone in the comments appreciating and complementing my home state :))
Thanks for watching.
Welcome to Welch, the number one rated worst city in the state of WV. It looks like a little ghost town with all the shops that are out of business, but it is quite a pretty place. Love my WV mountains!!!!!!!!!
When you love a place it makes no difference how someone else rates it.
Very True!
cathead77 AMEN!! it is what u make of it!! City life is the life that seems just crazy to me!!
Great video. I definitely want to go here one day and see.
Thank you.