This figure was once common in cautionary nursery tales, used to keep children from being naughty. If a child didn’t behave, legend said “Rawhead and Bloody Bones,” would come and take them. The legend was prevalent in the Appalachians throughout the early 1900s, however eventually faded into oblivion. While not nearly as obscure as North […]
Tag: customs
The Ordeal of Touch
It’s an ancient practice with roots so far back, no singular origin is known. It was practiced across civilized nations as far back as Richard the Lionhearted. Many Arabic documents make mention of a similar ritual as far back as 800 A. D. The test is also referred to in Nibelungerlied (an ancient Teutonic epic […]
The History of the Death Certificate
As many genealogists can tell you, death certificate research is relatively modern. You can only go back so far and then it seems the paper trail just ends. It may be a surprise to you, but the death certificate is centuries younger than even census records. The most important year for death certificates is 1837. […]
The Female Stranger
Alexandria was a bustling harbor for shipping and trading after the Revolutionary War. One day a large schooner sailed into this Virginia port, owned by an Alexandria merchant named John Dean. The ship carried rum and sugar as its cargo, as well as a handsome, wealthy couple when it entered port on July 25, 1815. […]
Crow: Legend and Lore
Crows have long been feared and maligned throughout history. A distant cousin of the raven, the crow is smaller, has a smaller beak, and a distinct “caw” call. Crows are often seen as a harbinger of death and doom. Many believe it is the reason a group of crows are called a, “murder.” These birds […]
Miscellaneous Coal Mine Facts and Information
Odds and ends about life in the Appalachian coal mines. In 1897, miners in Appalachian regions earned around .30 per ton. Appalachian coal fields are reported to have given work to people from 30 foreign countries. Wise County, Virginia, boasted around 4400 coke ovens in use as far back as 1908. The process sent thick […]
Miscellaneous Coal Mine Knowledge
Odds and ends about life in the Appalachian coal mines. In 1897, miners in Appalachian regions earned around .30 per ton. Appalachian coal fields are reported to have given work to people from 30 foreign countries. Wise County, Virginia, boasted around 4400 coke ovens in use as far back as 1908. The process sent thick […]
Responsible Paranormal Investigation
This is an area which desperately needs attention today. While the field of paranormal investigation is far more popular than ever, there are generally some rules which proper groups follow (and all really should). I’m listing the ones I’ve came across first, but will post the general regulations from another site below. I will provide […]
Clocklore
One of the more curious of Appalachian customs revolves around death customs. Primarily, why were clocks stopped when someone died? Why were mirrors covered? Here is some clocklore to satisfy curiosity. These traditions, which indeed have roots in Western Europe, are summed up as such: Clocks were covered to avoid bad luck. Sometimes the clock […]
Appalachian Native American- Strange Burial Customs
An Appalachian Historical Society (Scott County, Virginia) and their records of strange Native American burial customs and practices. Indian Burial