Asheville’s PonziAsheville’s Ponzi
We’ve told the stories of businessmen in Appalachia, all with their own colorful history, folks from Cas Walker to Virgil Q. Wacks. But they take a back seat to an
Month: April 2022
Eccles No. 5 Mine Explosions – April 28, 1914Eccles No. 5 Mine Explosions – April 28, 1914
On this day in 1914 the second worst mine disaster in West Virginia, after the Monongah explosion in 1907, occurred at the Eccles No. 5 mine in Eccles, West Virginia.
The Sultana Explodes – April 27, 1865The Sultana Explodes – April 27, 1865
On this day in 1865 a Mississippi riverboat named the Sultana caught fire and burned after one of its boilers exploded. The boat was packed past capacity with Union prisoners
The Harlan County Coal War (Podcast Episode)The Harlan County Coal War (Podcast Episode)
During the Great Depression of the 1930s coal miners in Harlan County, Kentucky, struck against the coal operators for better pay and better working conditions. These strikes often turned violent
The Harlan County Coal WarThe Harlan County Coal War
In the 1930s the Harlan County coal war, also referred to as “Bloody Harlan,” occurred. A series of strikes, bombings and gun battles between striking miners and coal company guards,
UMW District 17 Formed – April 21, 1890UMW District 17 Formed – April 21, 1890
On January 25th, 1890, the United Mine Workers union was formed at a convention in Columbus, Ohio. The new union was formed by the merger of two older unions, the
Benjamin Franklin Dies – April 17, 1790Benjamin Franklin Dies – April 17, 1790
On this day in 1790 founding father Benjamin Franklin died. The short-lived State of Franklin, located in what’s now the eastern part of Tennessee, was named for Benjamin Franklin (originally
Dr. Ralph StanleyDr. Ralph Stanley
Today we tell the story of one of the most successful musicians to come from Southwest Virginia: Dr. Ralph Stanley, from Dickenson County. Please be sure to click that “Subscribe”
First Live Sports Broadcast – April 11, 1921First Live Sports Broadcast – April 11, 1921
On this day 101 years ago the first live sports event was broadcast on the radio. Radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh broadcast a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny
The Crash Of The ShenandoahThe Crash Of The Shenandoah
In 1923 a rigid airship, made with new material produced by Alcoa Aluminum in Pittsburgh, became the U. S. Navy’s flagship aircraft. Two years later this airship came down in