The Varmint of Burkes GardenThe Varmint of Burkes Garden
The highest mountain valley in Virginia is Burke’s Garden, also referred to as “God’s Thumbprint” for its bowl-like shape. It was here that something began killing sheep in the winter
Category: The 1950’s
Appalachia’s Blues Brothers: Stick and Brownie McGheeAppalachia’s Blues Brothers: Stick and Brownie McGhee
This week, Steve and Rod tell the story of Granville “Stick” McGhee and Walter “Brownie” McGhee, two brothers from East Tennessee whose music helped shape American blues and early rock
Emma Gatewood’s Walk in the WoodsEmma Gatewood’s Walk in the Woods
In 1955, at the age of 67, Emma Gatewood became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain in Georgia to the top of Mt. Katahdin
Robin Hood or Madman? The Wild Crimes of the “Three-Gun Maniac”Robin Hood or Madman? The Wild Crimes of the “Three-Gun Maniac”
On October 26, 1952, Chattanooga police held 15-year-old Virgil Le May on a $12,000 bond for his role in a multi-state crime spree that included car theft and kidnapping. But
The Secret Psychiatric Ward of Oak Ridge: A Forgotten Manhattan Project MysteryThe Secret Psychiatric Ward of Oak Ridge: A Forgotten Manhattan Project Mystery
On April 13, 1953, a bizarre and little-known story came to light. A Navy officer working on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, suffered a severe nervous breakdown. His
The Spruce Pine New Years Eve BlastThe Spruce Pine New Years Eve Blast
On New Year’s Eve 1959, the quiet town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, became the stage for a teenage prank that would put the town in newspapers all around the
The Murder of Deputy Ira SkeenThe Murder of Deputy Ira Skeen
The hills of Scott County, Virginia, are known for their natural beauty, but on December 23, 1955, they became the scene of a deadly confrontation that shocked the community and
Billy Dean Anderson: Appalachia’s Most Wanted OutlawBilly Dean Anderson: Appalachia’s Most Wanted Outlaw
Billy Dean Anderson was born in Fentress County, Tennessee, and, by all accounts, lived a normal law-abiding life as he grew up, even becoming a volunteer preacher in his church.