I want to see this place boom once again..but even if it doesnt my heart will always belong to McDowell County WV. I still have family there and visit often. I thought it was huge. When it rained all the kids would head for house and the big puddle until the storm drain was able to handle the runoff and then we found something else to do. This newer tunnel, circa 1963, is along the West Virginia Rail-Trail. I really enjoyed every word. I do wish my parents did not have to work so hard. There's a new voice in the hollow. GREAT MEMORIES. This was so moving for me. Mom held several positions in the Auxiliary including 7th District President for 2 years. The best of times and where time stands stillthe best place for kids to grow up! Well writtenI took a step by in time. We know how to live if our washing machine breaks down.or the dishwasher goes out. I wish I remembered the name of the holler we lived in. This sure does brings stories like this back . Didnt know if Id ever hear anyone tell about the lightning bug jewelry that brought this gal so much happiness way back 50 plus years ago. Now that I am retired, wish I never left those Wild and Wonderful hills. Im a coal miners son from McDowell County! We were on a corner with hills from two directions. Not change one thing about them. No one even knew what poor meant. We sleep peacefully in our small homes as God has provided all our needs. I have thoroughly enjoyed these pictures and story; both bring back memories of my childhood past. My husband Leroy Lambert, was from Eckman hollow. I watch to see if the glimpse of new life will be blighted. Had to leave 1965, go north to work. I was the neighborhood stilt maker no matter which neighborhood it was this year. Still Hollow Spirits, a farm to bottle distillery located high in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia specializing in traditional mountain style whiskeys and unique botanical infusions. Mar 9, 2025 - Daylight Saving Time Starts. I have ONE Question..exactly where did or what does the name Holler Girl come from or exactly what is its meaning? Was I mean? By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms of . I came to Iaeger West Virginia when I was 6 years old. Went on to concord college and then from there life went different directions, but NEVER too far from my memories of y childhood and Iaeger. Lot of good memories of my family esp. I think it is in Marshall County. Cant get enough stories about Family Love amidst humble and trying circumstances. Pigeon Hollow is a physical feature (valley) in Greenbrier County. Always fascinated by these stories !! The park provides free WiFi, allows pets, and has a dump station. thank you for sharing. Still remember the well were I drew water. And so much more. May the Lord bless you as much as this story has blessed me. My husband and I live in SC now, but our roots, came from being raised in almost heaven WV. We gathered frog eggs and put them in coffee cans and werent afraid of getting warts as the old wives tale goes. Grew up in Summers County, WVa and ran away right after High School. These sheltered valleys are a wonderful sight to take in when you are on those long drives, too. My favorite holler nameTin Can Holler, Mason, WV where my husband Gary was raised?? Book Now Below or Call us 304-664-1234 for booking assistance! Even if you don't "live up a holler," you definitely know what one is. May God bless you and yours! Id like to think our pain washes away in the midst of those stormsbrings new meaning to the phrase Itll all come out in the wash.. Would that we could somehow have simpler times in our later life!!! My Cousins lived in Handle Factory Holler, and I have always defined Holler as the valley between 2 mountains. You folks have got it made. Id give anything to go back to dancing in the rain, splashing in mud puddles, and chasing lightning bugs with my friends whom felt more like sisters!! SXS Rentals Available Onsite Through Mountaintop Adventures! Ted! I was born in Kilsyth, WV (Fayette County) and grew up in Mt. Had most of the same experiences as a child. Thanks for the memories. All the reasons you mention are the reasons why West Virginia is so special! This brought back so many wonderful memories to me. We moved a lot which meant it was hard to keep friends unless we happened to move and still go y=to the same school. I have had more stitches than my 5 siblings combined as I was the daredevil that never backed down from a dare. It makes me sad for my kids on how much they have missed out on. Beautiful and I am to a holler girl born and raised in bulldog holler in premier west Virginia. Thanks for stirring up my mind to happier, more peaceful time in my life. In 1948, my Dad built a 3 Bedroom home on an adjacent property as our final home. Photo, Print, Drawing [Boy, West Virginia "hollows"] [ digital file from original photograph ] Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress. We went outside when chores were done and came home when the street lights came on. Moonshine is a rich part of the state's history both the legal and well, illegal, varieties. Thank you Amy, for this wonderful article which really tells exactly how hollow life is. Those leaks can be patched up later. Us kids were his remote when he was tired from working. I thank God for my family who lived in a holler in Wyoming County. OH HOW IT LOOKED BACK BEFORE WE LEFT THERE. To a house in a hollow on Patrick Rd. Did I throw tantrums? What memories flood my soul! Id like to think the enchantment of this place carries on through years of being gone. I wish this was in print. Mommy worried about cooking and Daddy worried about buying the food. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Thank u this took me back to my childhood I live n fayetteville, WV n a place called Crow Holler it its beautiful here born n raised holler girl. I have taught all of them to play in the dirt, run in the rain, jump in the leaves and to make snow angels in the winter. These mountains literally have a way of molding the person you become. I can walk outside during certain parts of the season, take a deep breath, and the scent of the wind floods into my body bringing images to my mind of days more peacefullike a picture album of long-lost dreams. One of my favorite smells would be walking in to the small elementary school where I went to school and the smells. Sid Hatfield had shot and killed several of the thugs during the battle referred to as the Matewan Massacre. Thats what happens when you refuse to let Mommy clean it. Im a holler girl and am so happy that I am. It's all very much in the tradition of the work by Studs Terkel and Dale Maharidge (their works are eerily echoed by the subjects of "Hollow's" documentary videos), but it's produced for 2013's news consumers. I am a hollar girl from Dille, wv (Clay County) I had a wonderful childhood. No place like home. I never learned how to swim despite growing up in the Land of 10,000 lakes. Direct Trail Access To! Title [Boy, West Virginia "hollows"] Contributor Names Rogovin, Milton, 1909-2011, photographer . This is so neat. lived up school house hollow up on marrowbone creek. Thank you Amy for a beautiful story.<3. We lived in wayne, West Virginia for a while then moved to a small house outside of town. We do not feel less-fortunate. Lots of ladies kill the deer themselves. Now dont get me wrong. He had learned from players who were alive before West Virginia was even a state. But we had a great Mom who took all five of us to Sharon to live!! I so enjoyed this. Thank you for such a well written story. I was one of the many that moved away but the mountains called me home. It was so well written, I would love to have a printed copy!! Born and raised in McDowell county will never forget my childhood there. The younger generation would die if they had to live the way we did. in Marion County, My dad was a coal miner when I was young and my husband retired from Loveridge Coal Mines. I have coal slate under the skin on my knee to this day to prove it.my sister does too. It took me back to my childhood, where everything was simple and plain and wonderful. So I will be taking him back soon. We spent much of our time traveling all over the state as mom was a flag bearer in the Color Guard and marched in parades all the time. They spent a lot of time listening to Dougs old recordings of Mose. McDowell County, West Virginia is an extremely unique place. What a beautiful story!! That place is breed into every part of me. The fruit, which ripen in September and October, have a banana-mango, custard-like favor. first time I visited Virginia, I started to realize why Rodger loved coming from there. Chef Matt Welsch of the Vagabond Kitchen in Wheeling, West Virginia, has found creative ways to prepare the unique wild fruit over the years. Well goodness, we didnt kill the poor bug, wed set them free after we got our glow in the dark jewelry and assumed theyd grow more. This is awsome. The mountains became a part of my soul! we went to that front porch to play. Well, Ive never really understood why thats a bad thing. The primary coordinates for Pigeon Hollow places it within the WV 24931 ZIP Code delivery area.. Maps, Driving Directions & Local Area Information We never had a swimming pool. Once again thank you for reminding me of my childhood:), iwas from culloden wva in the 1963 i live in fla now no money in wva. It was a high tower, a fort, a castle, or a play house. Thats part of what makes the tradition special is its a folk tradition says Annie Stroud, an old-time music apprentice. Ive always thought that theres no escape from the noise of car horns, heavy traffic, sirensall of which I hear more than I want to in this tiny town farm community that I live in now. While the pictures that are very good, they should be specifically identified as to where they were taken and how they relate to your story. Grew up in Berwind and War in McDowell County and I recognize many of the photos. The 2020 WV Humanities Council Folklife Apprentice Program will begin this March -- pairing together another round of novice and professional artists in the state. It taught me how to live without everything money could buy. I really miss those OLE days. I tried to share it to Sharon Lesters page, but it wouldnt let me. Attended a one room school through eighth grade and then walked a mile to catch a school bus and rode twenty miles to Iaeger High School. It taught me how much the small things mean. I lived the same lifestyle you did and so proud that I did.There is nothing like these W.V. And it turns out, Doug is one of the few people who is an expert in the music. So he played for about three hours and he kept trying to hand me the fiddle, Now you play me something. And I said, I cant play. Coming back home to Myrtle Beach, SC, where we live now he said maw maw I see now what you were talking about. Thank you so much . dump them out later(wipe your eyes) and move forward. Thanks to facebook. Our strong holler girl mothers raised us well. These mountains nourish the soul. I returned to WV after the Navy and found ghost towns in what once were busy streets lined with people going about their day. Love this! Watching a Twins baseball game and sharing his bowl of popcorn washed down with either kool-aid or Bubble Up was one of my favorite things to do. I experienced a lot of the things you described. 1078 Dutch Hollow Rd, Dunbar, WV 25064. I had a bunch of Gilliand cousins. I really like it there. for 2 yrs before going to Welch Junior High. Thats it. After we were done helping with the T.V. I was raised a holler girl too, but in Randolph Co.and still live not far from where I grew up. Amy Gentrys story of a Holler Girl is an apt tribute to the wonderful girls who lived in, and many who came out of, the coal mining camps and hollars. PS, places we lived: Atwell Mountain in Atwell, Raysal, Bartley, Stringtown (where I was born), English, Beartown, just to name a few. B and I tell stories about my childhood and encourage people to visit Tazewell County. Absolutely not.my Mom would have whipped me. Of course, my childhood and my stories occurred in McDowell Co, but people seem to like them just fine. I am a holler girl from wv. I AM A HOLLER GIRL.No truer words written. We played like one of the boys. West Virginia's silhouette looks like a horny toad. Crow Holler girl. Your stories are great nothing smells as good as fresh line-dried sheets and nothing makes your hair feel and look better than rainwater! Our starry nights shine down upon us as we sleep in the valleys beneath towering mountains like millions of angels peering down in watch. Twin Hollow Honors the memory of Alex and Grace Ellis, who grew up on this land. One of my fondest memories is when my four siblings and I played in the BIG Rain Barrel with the neighbouring children. Maple MeadowsbyFairdale, W.Va, My favorite holler name.Hoo Hoo Hollow.Lester, W.Va, Absolutely beautiful, childhood memories came back to me. I am holler girl also. Loved this! Later the frogs join in with their deep croaks and I cant help but giggle thinking of my Dad singing, Froggy went a courtin and he did ride mmhmmm. Simplicity is in their lullabye as we softly fall asleep. This was beautiful to read. Brings back such fond childhood memories of a simpler time that formed our values and morals and made us the adults we are today. Id beg my mom and dad to never move us from my home. I am a holler girlLogan County, WV. Zillow has 6460 homes for sale in West Virginia. We are beautiful with rough edges. We swam in our pool. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Hollow, an interactive documentary about the people and issues of McDowell County, WV, launches June 20 - West Virginia's 150th statehood celebration day.. Thank you for your stories. I would sit on the front porch with Daddy and usually Papaw in my gown. What hasnt changed and never will, are the people and their love of God, family and friends!! I did not grow up on a holler, but I lived for over 24 years in McDowell Co. My name was first Barbara Brown and I taught at Iaeger int. The little red-headed holler girl with freckles on her face and mischievous green eyes. after reading this I relate to these descriptions of every day life. I started seeing memories just running across my visonary tract!!! Thanks for sharing your story !! On a cool quiet summer evening. Caught lightening bugs wore a lot of that jewelry. 1. So many of the things that you have mentioned was part of my growing up. The county built a strong economy when the coal industry was in its prime in the early 1900s, and housed at its peak over 100,000 residents. When local standard time is about to reach Sunday, March 9, 2025, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned forward 1 hour to Sunday, March 9, 2025, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead. Some residents near new Fern Hollow Bridge concerned for safety due to new traffic rules By WPXI.com News Staff January 16, 2023 at 11:23 pm EST By WPXI.com News Staff January 16, 2023 at 11:23 pm EST I have traveled and lived in many places and none of them has my heart strings attached like those hollers in West Virginia. We didnt have much, but we had parents who loved us very much, there was food on the table and clothes on our backs, shoes on our feet. Took me back to my childhood. Still visit Mannington when I can but still live in WV. weighing in at 60 lbs when he passed. Great memories. I tried to raise my 9 children/step-children in nature whenever we had the chance and taught them right from wrong and responsibility for their actions from a very early age. This was a wonderful stroll down memory lane. I was given up for adoption as a baby and then unwanted by the ones who adopted me !! Twin Hollow Campground and Cabins are proudly family-owned and operated. but he did live those last 11 months in peace.. I have always been proud of growing up in The Hollers of West Virginia. I cry whenever I hear that song.. I was born and raised in Cambria County in Pa.I would like to find out about Elm Grove W.V. I didnt grow up in the south, but Dad, from eastern Ky and Mom from middle Tenn did. Thinking about runnin and playing and getting a drink of water from the community dipper in the pail of water that hung on back porch. Thank you for this story that helped myself and others remember their childhood of growing up in a holler. Our mountains are beautifultheyre rustic and unforgiving yet safe and guarding of us who live in these nooks, crannies, bottoms, and hills. If you look up.. the tallest trees bear the winds with every ounce of their ancient strength.the trees cover every inch of land in sight.and sway violently.they make our mountains seem to dance magically to the beat of the wind. I would jump off the top of the tall slide on the playground, climb trees and then jump down as it faster than climbing. From Hemphill, Orkney Holler ! From where did you depart? You reminded me of the smell of fresh baked biscuits and feeling safe when my dad came home and ate his dinner. Dunlow, West Virginia Dunlow is an unincorporated community in southern Wayne County, West Virginia, United States, on Twelvepole Creek. We used our imagination we made up games. Brought back a lot of memories, thanks. If we wanted new toys dad would say you where the woodpile is and the tools go make something and make sure to cleanup and put everything away when you are done and before you go play. West Virginia Hollow Tales book. no remote. i remember praying to god asking him why my life was so hard as a kid, why does my mom struggle so much to survie this place, we are good godfearin people. I was literally taught that not everything was obtainable by the push of a button as my dad had a T.V. Now I have 14 grandchildren and one great granddaughter and get to watch my kids pass on everything we gave them and more. And theres not a great distance between where Ive lived for nearly 60 years and my childhood home. I truly enjoyed the story! Like and Share With Your Friends and Family. Loved your story. Very well written and just as I remembered it. Ghost Encounters Log Cabin 1766 December 8, 2019 Im proud of growing up in McDowell county, WV!!! Some of my fondest childhood memories were playing with my dear friend Kristen Shupe. The Cole mines is a heck of a place to work.all we could do was pray that they come home at the end of there shift alive. And I wear shoes on my feet everyday hahaha;). Dark Hollows of West Virginia Paperback - October 23, 2021 by Mack Samples (Author) 3 ratings Paperback $14.95 10 Used from $3.24 11 New from $10.00 Henry David Thoreau once wrote that "most men live lives of quiet desperation." Scholars say Thoreau drew this conclusion based on the people he observed in his native northeastern United States. I attended 5 elementary schools, 2 junior highs and was fortunate enough to attend one high school. I loved this it brought back so many good memories!!! I have never thought of Holler as a derogatory term. We didnt have internet, cell phones, I-pads, or I-pods. seems to be falling off the map. I love your story. I grew up in west liberty and then valley grove. Find Best Western Hotels & Resorts nearby Sponsored. We assumed that everyone grew up this way and as adults we found out differently. I was a holler born girl also. I ran the woods, picked berries to eat, and skinned my knees! ! We were a family of 6 living in a small wooden Shack on my Grandmas property. of departed those were fun formative years. It was the local music. My daughter was raised in PA but I pray she learned those wonderful ways of a holler girl mom! My one desire is to return to those montains. Thank you to every one who has taken a moment to read or share my story. After I read this, it makes me want to just pack up and move there, this minute. Brought back so many memories I loved it there but I cant go back everything changed. Ba big part of my life was there. I married Rex Sadler from Anawalt and raised our son there until Rex died and we moved. Get married inside or outside of their red barn, sit down to dinner in their pavilion, then celebrate the night away in one of the most peaceful spots in Jackson County. Id sit on the big boulder across the road from where we lived and tell it all my secrets. Felt like I was a kid again, I am a holler girl to. We lived in Summers County and I still feel at peace when we visit there. Thank YOU for sharing your wonderful experiences with us all. Simplicity is hearing the crickets chirp and deciding its not a noisy interruption. Graduated Mt. Started school there and graduated in 1963. I can relate to it all. Im so thankful for all my memories, good and bad. I try to tell my grandkids about me growing up and how we use to play. This was an absolutely beautiful story of growing up in West Virginia. Wonderful read, sometimes you are in such a big hurry to leave. Enjoyed this very much,brought back memories of my childhood.I was raised at Pie,W.V. Our home is in Roseburg, Oregon. Located Onsite! In an effort to help preserve traditional Appalachian practices, the West Virginia Humanities Council started a Folklife Apprentice Program, which pairs a master of a craft with a budding artist, to help preserve traditional Appalachian practices. 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