We speak with the author of a new graphic novel about the West Virginia Mine Wars. The labor struggle culminated in the largest armed uprising since the Civil War.

Also, professional storyteller James Froemel invents quirky characters, like a sign maker who can’t spell. Froemel’s stories are drawn from small town life.

And, one of the most common animals to get hit by cars are opossums. But there’s a kind of animal rescue called pouch picking. We talk with author Laura Jackson. 

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

The West Virginia Mine Wars are an important but little-known piece of American history. Coal miners in southern West Virginia had been trying to organize a union, while coal companies tried to stop them. Strikes and violent clashes ensued, culminating in the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. A version of the story is told in the new graphic novel Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars.

Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Raymond Tyler. 

Appalachia is known for its storytelling traditions. Cherokee legends, prayers and sermons in mountain churches, joke telling. James Froemel's journey into storytelling has taken a lifetime. From reciting Emily Dickinson in sixth grade to winning the Vandalia Gathering’s Liar’s Competition in West Virginia. 

Froemel recently worked with storyteller, author and Liars Competition champ Bil Lepp to hone his craft. James Froemel‘s journey into storytelling has taken a lifetime.

Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef spoke with Froemel about telling tales from the stage.

For 30 years, Sue and Stan Jennings have run Allegheny Treenware, a West Virginia company that makes wooden kitchen utensils. They started off as a couple of coal miners. And when they weren’t underground, they talked about what else they could be doing.

Last year, Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro visited the Jennings, and brought us this story. 

West Virginia writer and humorist Laura Jackson is an avid explorer of backroads and scenic byways. Inspired by her trips, she wrote a series of essays about what she saw in her home state. They became her 2023 book, Deep & Wild: On Mountains, Opossums & Finding Your Way in West Virginia.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Jackson.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Jeff Ellis, David Mayfield Parade, Dinosaur Burps, John Inghram, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave.

You can send us an email: [email protected].

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.