The Sevier/Jackson DuelThe Sevier/Jackson Duel
In 1803 John Sevier was the governor of the state of Tennessee and Andrew Jackson was a Superior Court judge, both in Knoxville. They were also bitter political rivals. One
Author: Steve Gilly
The Battle of Point Pleasant – October 10, 1774The Battle of Point Pleasant – October 10, 1774
In the early 1770s colonists from Virginia were moving west toward the Ohio River Valley, into lands occupied by the Shawnee and Mingo Indian tribes. This movement of settlers, as
The Bridge To VulcanThe Bridge To Vulcan
In 1977 a small town along the Tug River in West Virginia needed a bridge. They got that bridge, and became world-famous in the process. That’s our story this week.
George Went Hensley, Snake-Handling PreacherGeorge Went Hensley, Snake-Handling Preacher
One of the first preachers to take up snake handling as part of his ministry was born in Southwest Virginia, in Scott County, on May 2, 1881. Today we tell
Dr. Jacob W. Smith Trial – October 4, 1899.Dr. Jacob W. Smith Trial – October 4, 1899.
16-year-old Jacob Smith and his neighbor Henry Craig were best friends who lived in Carrington, Kentucky, east of Lexington, back in 1877. That year, though, saw the end of their
The Rugby ColonyThe Rugby Colony
After the Civil War a group of English men and women traveled to the hills of Tennessee to set up a utopian colony. Today we tell that story. You can
The Bridge To Vulcan – Thanks, Tovarishch!The Bridge To Vulcan – Thanks, Tovarishch!
The small town of Vulcan, West Virginia, located between mountains and the Kentucky border along the Tug River, was like many small Appalachian towns in that it was dependent on
Moses SteppMoses Stepp
Today we tell a story that’s a little bit history and a little bit folklore about a legend in eastern Kentucky named Moses Stepp, supposedly the oldest man to have
The Train Crash At New Market – September 24, 1904The Train Crash At New Market – September 24, 1904
On this day in 1904 two passenger trains collided head-on at New Market, Tennessee, killing over 60 people and injuring scores more. One train, the Number 12 Carolina Special, had
John Sevier’s Birthday – September 23, 1745John Sevier’s Birthday – September 23, 1745
On this day in 1745 John Sevier was born near the town of New Market, Virginia, the oldest of seven children born to Valentine and Joanna Sevier. Valentine Sevier owned