History from Southwest Virginia

2025 Year was crazy …. A good kind of crazy. So much has happened despite the lack of podcast episodes. See (or rather listen) more about this year.

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 and Happy New Year 🎆🎊

P.S. I forgot to include that I’ve been writing articles for the LINC Letter, Eastern Montgomery County’s online newsletter. You can find online and subscribe to the newsletter (it’s free!)

LINC Letter:

https://us18.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=982ce8cbfc7c76ffc79c678be&id=f086ff3e6b

5 years ago, a freelance public historian decided to make a local history podcast regarding his home region of SWVA and published his first episode just days before Thanksgiving about a once holiday tradition that anyone barely knew about… till now.

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of History from Southwest Virginia, we revisit that first episode that started it all (posted exactly 5 years ago today).

With more interesting facts and new researching content, there is a more in-depth story behind this genuine piece of history long forgotten.

Enjoy and thanks to my listeners for helping me to reach this achievement!

Photo credit: The Vinton Messenger, 2020

Table of contents:

0:00 - Intro

4:10 - History of VPI & VMI

10:09 - The First Years (1894-95)

14:42 - Comes to Roanoke, 1896

16:41 - Early to Mid 20th century

19:31 - College Tradition origins

29:13 - The Final Years (1960s - 1984)

32:15 - Legacy of the VPI-VMI rivalry

33:07 - End credits

On January 20th, 1775, 15 prominent figures from all over SWVA met in a small settlement called Lead Mines - the county seat of Fincastle - to establish what some called a document that was the roots of the Declaration of Independence that would be written over a year later. Written in response to the recent events of the American Revolution, including Lord Dunmore’s dissolve of the VA House of Burgesses, these men eventually saw that a peace with the mother country was not going to be possible and that they were “resolutely determined never to surrender…to any power upon earth, but at the expense of (their) lives.” Both their constitutional liberties and their religious rights that is.

The Fincastle Resolutions was a powerful statement that sparked revolution in all of SWVA, both in Fincastle and Botetourt Counties at the time. Looking at it deeper, its unique structure and text made it a historical landmark that was nearly forgotten till now.

To begin the VA250 celebrations, let’s look into the details and history of this magnificent piece of history.

*Sorry that this was posted late but now is better than never, right? ;-)

Link for the VA250: https://va250.org

Just a quick update regarding the current status of this podcast and to share some really excited things about this year and what is to come in 2025. 😁

Merry Christmas to everyone 🎅🏻🎄🎁 and a Happy New Year 🎊🎆

The valleys carries stories of old and new(ish) and some which seem to be fairy tale or folk lore actually took place. Anywhere from odd to just down right strange, these events were lost in the pages… until now.

I will be discussing about a few of the hundreds maybe thousands of stories and/or mysteries. These in this session (to me at least) are considered to be some of the greatest ever told.

Also, sorry about any noise in the background as my new puppy was playing around during my recording session. 😅

This special commemorative episode talks about D-Day and how it changed WWII but at the cost of so many lives. Its success turned the war in the Allies' favor and was the beginning of liberating Europe from Nazism.

Among those their on the beaches, hundreds if not more Southwestern Virginians were present. Whether storming the beaches or dropping in behind enemy lines, they helped to liberate Europe from Nazism. This episode discusses four separate stories: 2 infantry units and 2 individuals, all from SWVA.

Sorry it has been awhile since the last posting and that this is late, but kick back and enjoy this Special recording!

Save this podcast to your playlist and hit notifications if you haven't!

This 24-minute birthday special episode talks about one of the finest, Roanoke-built steam locomotives to traverse the rails of Southwest Virginia.

*Sorry if there is any miss steps in the recording, this is the first time using the brand-new Riverside platform to make this episode. I couldn't be able to edit the recording at this time. Will work on it next go around.

New Town was a Neighborhood Community like no other. Similar to Roanoke's Gainsboro community, New Town - located north of Downtown Blacksburg - was the center of African American life and culture, along with social and community pride. The neighborhood dates very far back and and many were in high spirits and happy despite the many hardships of discrimination. Tune in to this 20-minute episode about one of the oldest African American Communities in Montgomery County and its nearly 100 year history.

This (not actually an) episode will give you a sneak peek at what can be expected for this year regarding episodes and lecture content. Several celebrations, birthdays, and commemorative events will be discussed. But listen in to hear what's in store for this new season of "History from Southwest Virginia."