Many years ago, before the first settlers had arrived on the Appalachian frontier of what's now West Virginia and far southwestern Virginia, it's told that a long hunter and his son spent some time hunting and trapping, gathering meat and furs to take back home to their farm in North Carolina.

That trip turned out to be one not soon forgotten, for they encountered...something. And that something has a statue erected in its honor on High Knob in Norton, Virginia.

Today we tell you a story that's a little bit history and a little bit folklore.

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In 1788 the fate of the State of Franklin was uncertain. North Carolina had re-exerted control over the area, appointing judges, sheriffs and other state and county officials, and residents of the area were divided between supporters of Franklin and supporters of North Carolina. Everything came to a head early in 1788 at the John Tipton farm in Washington County, Franklin/North Carolina. Today we tell that story. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening and thanks for sharing our stories with your friends...

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 Asheville businessman who took pushing boundaries to a whole new level. Today we tell the story of who the newspapers of the 1920's called "Asheville's Ponzi," Scott Dillingham.

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 and gun battles were common. Today we tell the story of the Harlan County coal war of the 1930s.

Today we tell the story of one of the most successful musicians to come from Southwest Virginia: Dr. Ralph Stanley, from Dickenson County. Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Audacy, Audible, Goodpods, RadioPublic, or on your own favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to our stories!

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 bad weather in eastern Ohio with tragic results. Today we tell the story of the crash of the Shenandoah. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Audacy, Spotify, Audible, Goodpods, RadioPublic or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening.

Today we tell the story of the man who led the most successful Confederate raid on American territory during the Civil War, leading his men into battle throughout Indiana and Ohio. Afterwards, General John Hunt Morgan met his end at the hands of Union soldiers in Greeneville, Tennessee. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Goodpods, RadioPublic, Audacy, Audible or on your own favorite podcast app.

In April 1865 a riverboat that carried cargo from Illinois south to New Orleans was hired to transport newly freed Union prisoners from Vicksburg, Mississippi, home. Unfortunately, many of them would end up dying during this trip. Today we tell the story of the man claimed to be the last survivor of this ill-fated trip, a man born and raised in Blount County, Tennessee.

In the 1930's a man interested in writing, new age religions and far-right politics came to Asheville, North Carolina, where he established his own fascist organization in support of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany. Today we tell the story of William Dudley Pelley.

In the area of Bland and Tazewell Counties in Virginia in the late 1780's a pregnant young woman and her child were captured by a band of renegade Indians consisting of two Cherokee, three Shawnee, three Wyandots and three Delaware. After a year as their slave, this woman managed to escape and make it back through the Appalachian wilderness to her family and friends. Today we tell the story of Jenny Wiley. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening!