The Only Appalachia in Appalachia is Appalachia, Virginia: A Coal and Railroad Town
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- The Only Appalachia in Appalachia is Appalachia, Virginia: A Coal and Railroad Town
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Just a couple of notes which may be of interest to your viewers; Time stamp 5:55 through 7:27 is known by the locals as the "Old Bottom" while 7:49 through 8:48 is known as the "New Bottom." Also, at 6:25, that corner is known as "Green's Corner." The local teenagers would hang out and sit on that wall for hours at a time sometimes. The corner (Brown Street and Blondell Avenue) functioned as a "social center," at least for our neighborhood, and was our "Arnold's" from Happy Days fame. No refreshments were served there but they could be purchased from the little store operated out of the back of Mrs. Thomas' house located just up Brown Street on the next block on the left. The stone work pictured along the right between the Old Bottom and the New Bottom was some of the best examples of work seen throughout the coalfields. I understand the walls were constructed by Italian stonemasons which emigrated to the U.S over a century ago. I hate to see it fall into a state of disrepair. Also noteworthy but not shown on the video is a wonderful mural located inside of the U.S. Post Office in downtown Appalachia which was commissioned as part of a Public Works Art project during the depression. Here is a link to an article which features the Appalachia P.O. mural; www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/21/picture-essay-america-1930s-post-office-murals
Scroll about halfway down the page to see the mural "Appalachia" by Lucile Blanch.
My family lived in Dunbar, derby, arno and Appalachia from 1923 to 1958. My father was a coal miner. He is buried in big stone gap.
I grew up in Appalachia and lived there for many years. Nice to see a video of my hometown
That was my home town and I moved away in 1960 I didn't want work in coal mine.
Absolutely your best to date, comforting, relaxing, truly an afternoon spent with some friends just taking in the sights. You and Miss Melody nailed it. As I've said before, you two work well together! Good job.
Thank you so much, love getting that feedback. I just replied to your email (thought I already had last week but must be losing it lol)
Darn! We just moved from Appy, would have enjoyed meeting you. (You even drove by our old house.)
The former grocery is now a factory. They make salad dressing there.
The Old Bottom neighborhood (your first residential area) is where the rail execs had homes. New Bottom was less expensive, less moneyed.
The trail is a real treasure, gets a lot of use.
Part of Appy's appeal was how walkable the town is. There's a footbridge crossing the river at the city park, so everything is an easy walk, at least from the Bottoms.
And there is more retail downtown now than 5 years ago. The Pharmacy hangs on, there is a clinic. It is a struggling town, but by no means a dead one!
I wish we could have met you too. Thanks a ton for all the helpful info and details about the town, that REALLY adds color and depth to these videos. Very much appreciated.
Thank you! that was nice. My Brother was born there before we moved north in 52. Had an uncle that worked there in the Bullit mine and another uncle the worked for the Southern railroad switching the coal cars. Where you turn up to go to Imboden, Exeter is referred to as the appalachia crossing,. when the rail cars were swithched at the mine, traffic would back up in all directions. It seemed like waiting for hours as kids. It was a very busy place back then.
This is a beautiful memorial. I am from West Virginia and my dad was a coal miner for 35 years. Thank you and Melody so much for this video.
Really glad you enjoyed it
My dad use to work at the Westmorland coal company in Appalachia Va... Lots of memories, We used to live in Wise Va and I miss it everyday...
Thanks for bringing us with yall
thanks for riding along with us
I lived in Exeter still have my home there. I live in Big Stone Gap or BSG now. I worked for the local paper the Post for 5 years and the lady that worked with me her dad owned the paper that used to be in Appalachia. The town was booming back during the early 1900's. That time even when I lived there before they started closing the mines it was a busy town. They had a High School and Elementary/Middle school also. My daughters went to the school during the consolidation with Big Stone Gap. There is so much history in this area. Plus you have Railroad days in first week of August. Big Stone Gap is just right next door and had a movie filmed there. If anyone would like to come visit our little area there are so many festivals starting in the spring and going till fall. .
Great video showing off this Awesome community!! I grew up in APPY !! 1997 grad!!! The High school is coming down soon so everyone needs to get some videos and pics!!
We always hate to see the schools and other old buildings come down! Part of why we do this. Thank you! - Melody
Great video my close friend lives here and I love visiting her I am from Buffalo NY thank you for making this video. Great place to visit.
Really glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the comment
One of my favorite videos! I love this town. Absolutely gorgeous place. I hope the town of Appalachia continues to thrive and become a tourist destination. Thanks for showing this stunning part of the region.
Shane & Melody, really enjoyed the tour. Better to have a partner on these trips. You’ve been on some single trips by yourself. Much better with the two of you. Thanks.
I totally agree
The Lunsford family was my relatives. My dad's mom married into that family. They lived just above us where we lived just above the Bee Rock tunnel.
Good job on this video! Nice mix of town and countryside.
When I was a young boy Grandaddy would take me along when he went to the bank in Appalachia. Thriving town back in 1950s.
Someone did a good job restoring that schoolhouse.
What is the name of the river?
Thanks Shane & Melody!
thanks so much, Mike! I think it is the Powell River, if I am not mistaken
The actress Peggy Castle who played on Lawman and other westerns was born here
BTW guys, I spent 20 years in the Peake Building, granny lived directly above the store(first entrance) me and mom lived at the 2nd door single apartment. It's 315 west main Street, spent many days and nights on those steps looking out wondering what the world was like outside our town, if you have any questions or something comment back and we can exchange emails if you're interested
Watching with my mom. Her maiden name is Wells. She just returned from that way for a Bowen reunion. Ancestors are also the Blundells. Granddaddy was a miner. She said they lived off Boggs Avenue. Good watch.
I was born in Appalachia in 1950 in a house way up on the hill at the top of 91 steps. It was on the left slightly past the bridge on Callahan Avenue. We left in 1968.
Nice video! We just moved from right outside of charlotte N.C to a few miles from Honaker V.A. It was becoming too crowded, and I have always loved the mountains. The people here are so friendly and helpful. Subbed.
Thank you and welcome to the area
My husband and I just bought a little bit of land in Appalachia, and we are looking forward to building on it. A crazy coincidence: my husband, who is from NYC, is still best friends with his high school bestie, and he went by the nickname "B Rock" in high school. Seeing the B Rock troll is wild! Kismet, I suppose!
Really enjoyed this video. Brought back great memories. My father was born in Exter, and grew up in Stonega. My family still owns property there
Gia’s to hear it, Michael
There is a couple restoring the building on the hill right now. that metal door was a a coal shoot or milk man door, the yellow and blue building was Marys Tavern or Bar
We had family that lived on Main Street and we’d visit every year for decades from MD. The apt window looked towards the train tracks where Town Hall is. There used to be a dept store on the left and a bank. We’d see the coal trains (N & W at the time) coming and going from the Westmoreland mine all day long. My brother and I loved walking the tracks from Town Hall towards the mine. The L & N railroad shared some of the 6 tracks. Next to the apt was a Ben Franklin and a record store farther down. My dad’s mom worked at a diner-drugstore across from the Gulf gas station. On the road towards Inman my sister was born in a pink house on the left. There was a tiny post office a ways farther on the right. We would visit family friends a bit further up and remember the outhouse. Sadly the apt is gone and as Westmoreland has left so has much of the other businesses. I still have family there is Appalachia and Powell Valley. My wife and I are pulling our RV to visit this late summer and staying at the Jesse Lea campground in Big Stone Gap. Looking forward to what may be my last vacation type of trip to Appalachia. So many fond memories. Started visiting in the late 60s and I’m 61 now. As you’re on the walking bridge looking across the road to the tress, that’s where the mine was.
Thanks for this. My wife is from that area. She went to the kellyview school when it doubled as a church
Great video! I like how you are starting to take more time to get out and explore these towns more in depth. You and Melody make a great pair or tour guides!
So enjoyable..
thank you!
I LOVE APPALACHIA PEOPLE,PLACES,TIMES,I LOVE IT ALL❤️
us too!
Great episode! And I just have to say you both look so happy together. Keep it up and never take anything for granted.. God bless!
Glad you enjoyed it!
My late wife Devieka was from Appalachia. Unfortunately I never was able to visit it with her. Sure would be nice to have her next to me watching this video and pointing out all the spots.
You all make great videos .love way she talk .
Thank you so much! - Melody
Grew up in Derby. Love my hometown!
I enjoyed this. Those steps alongside the Peak Building reminded me of the stepstreets in New York City (I have never seen them in person). In northern Manhattan and the Bronx in the far North of New York City, some of the hills are so steep that they couldn't build streets, so they built stairways instead. So at some intersections the street continues on the other side of the intersection as a stairway, or "step street". They are also called stepstreets and stair streets. I only know about this stuff because I follow a new York City photo blog called Wandering New York.
Man thanks for my nice Sunday afternoon drive.
Did you ever see the documentary by Robert Kennedy's daughter? Called "The Hollow". It's so darn good.
Finding this through an unusual source - another youtuber Boogie2988. A while back he traveled through this area where he's from and I found it really compelling. The town of Appalachia was nearby in that video, too. I have hiked a bit north of where this video is a while back, too - West Virginia/Kentucky border. Very cool place, with truly amazing people. I come from a small town in Ireland and living in a small town in Japan - there's ALWAYS something interesting in small towns I think. I subbed very recently but every video I see from you is really great - please keep it up!
back in the 90' s Appalachia Bulldog and Powell Valley Viking in BSG was state champs back to back in football. Now they are combined as the Union Bears
Enjoyed and best to you Shane.
Thanks so much, James
1974 was the last time I lived there with my dad. Things have changed a lot. Buildings in town gone. Among other buildings. New things built there too.
yes, it changed a lot in just the 5 years since I had been there last, amazing how quickly things can change so much
Great video
Shane, I've enjoyed viewing your videos and seeing places where either I've already been or may never have the opportunity to visit. I've also got to say that adding Melody to some of your travels was a brilliant move. Are there any updates on the construction of the swinging bridge at Breaks? I've wondered if there were delays because of COVID. Thanks.
Thank you so much for the kind words, very much appreciated
I graduated from Garden!!! Honaker who lol.
Love this video
Love the videos
It's so beautiful there.Its so green
Good stuff. I'm really into your driving videos.
Thanks so much
The wal-mart super center off 23 is probably what put the little mom & pop grocery store out.
The town of Lynch Ky is doing great things at the DragonSlayer Hwy 160 welcome center there..
Been wanting to head that way for a while now
I remember as a kid in the 1980s across the road from the bridge and now hiking trail were big tall coal processing towers for Westmoreland Coal Co. I've not been up there in so long but I'm certain all that stuffs gone now. The thing is there's still plenty of coal around here, and it wouldn't shock me if government would get off our backs and take their boots off our throats if we wouldn't have a modern day coal boom in this area.
Love way she talk
Thank you!
This video was awesome all my grandmas family were miners the family name is crumley and dickinson my great uncle was killed in a mine in appalachia va
So glad you enjoyed the video. Hate to hear your family suffered such a loss in the mine
I did live In Big Stone Gap also .
I live over from the coffee cup .in apt .
My Aunt was an ER nurse at the hospital
Melody certainly adds a lot to your content.
I couldn't agree more. Thanks for that feedback. She makes the trips a lot more enjoyable too.
My grandfather was superintenent of Weasmoreland coal Co. Trystate division.
What was your grandfathers name,please.
When I first moved here, an older lady that lives in one of the nicer homes said that lots of homes were burnt down because people cooking meth would break into them and cook meth. It really is a terrible area.
My dad was a coal miner and he lived and graduated at the old Appalachia High School (which is gone now). I have 3 siblings who were born there. I was born in Osaka. I really like your video.
thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it
My Pappaw was born in Osaka, and I still have family very very close to the area. My family home is just above the high school on Lee street, to the left of Riggs Stadium. I have family around that area, BSG, and Dryden areas.
A bulldog from birth and always a Appy Dawg!!!
They are good
Home of the Appalachia Bulldogs. What did they do with the old high school?
The one and only...great question, we didnt see it but I havent heard about it being demolished although I could definitely be wrong about that.
The old Appalachia High School is now used by the town for Parks and Recreation and Union High School uses it for soccer and football practice when needed.
I remember they won several state championships in football.
Hello yall
hey, thanks for watching!
8:30 Drive past my Mom's house. Blue and on the left.
This town is bigger then ours lol.
🐅🐅🐅Honaker rules !! 🐅🐅🐅
Melody agrees wholeheartedly
Have you ever thought about visiting Saltville??
it is definitely on the hit list, been meaning to do it for a long long time
Look ok out side
Lot places
I’m originally from an upper middle-class area in Northern Virginia I was a nurse making lots of money. I became disabled and lost my home and because of all of the illegals the only immediate housing available was in APPALACHIA Virginia. If you don’t actually live here you’re not getting a realistic View of the area. There is no major stores hardly around. There’s no major shopping stores, Walmart, Starbucks. Just a couple, big, fast food, chains, and some little mom and pop shops. You got to go to Tennessee to get any specialty doctors. Mostly everyone is on drugs. Neighbor still on my stuff. If I order anything I have to be right at the door when UPS comes. Absolutely horrible place, when I first moved here, the police were at my apartment complex at least three days a week. It’s not some quaint area at all
Lot guys did get kill
I lived in Exeter in 1982
My family is from Derby
We did a video of Derby, great community
Great video