55 Remastered Photos Appalachia Virginia Shenandoah Valley Rare History Great Depression

[@pgandy1]

Enjoyed this one as it brought back memories. We moved there shortly after the war to my aunt’s place, in the coal mining area in western Virginia. Many things had not changed much from the photos. The houses were generally smaller and of a different construction. I remember well the dress of a boy in those photos, bare footed (Oh, those stone bruises), bib overalls open on the sides. Mules were the normal power for the fields, which were smaller, being sandwiched between the mountains needing only one mule. It wasn’t uncommon to hear of someone putting the reins around their neck and getting strangled. I remember gathering in the winter feed, the hollows, wood cooking stoves, and more. Thanks for the memories.

[@WVgrl59]

❤️ from West Virginia

[@drpeterc12]

Being able to put names to some photos is great!! Some of the farming landscape photos could easily, I guess, have been taken 70 years earlier during the 61-65 sad conflicit. Very atmospheric landscape images.

[@historystuff5516]

Yes, this beautiful valley was totally decimated in the US Civil War. One general bragged that a crow would have to pack his own food if it wanted to cross the valley.

[@donnagagne3813]

Wonderful job putting this together. Even if the government gave them a good price for their homes (which I doubt) it had to be so difficult for them to leave. Many put their heart and soul into building the life they had. And many had family history there. I could go on all day. Thank you for the amazing job you do.

[@historystuff5516]

Thank you for your kind words and support.

[@Knife_Collector]

The Appalachians have always held interest for me. Even tho I was raised country, the mountains of Appalachia (and the Ozarks) held a mystique that has gripped my imagination of their lifestyle for many years. If anyone has not read them, check out the Foxfire series of books on Southern Appalachia.

[@historystuff5516]

I love those books!

[@Cutter-jx3xj]

My mom's family is in Floyd County Kentucky and we're coal miners for generations. I have pictures from pre 1900 and up thru the decades. Those people had a hard life. I'm in Texas but I am very proud of my Appalachian roots. They run deep

[@historystuff5516]

You should be very proud of those roots! Thanks for sharing!

[@kathysenn7664]

I've heard and seen in pictures how beautiful it is.. thought I might like to see it in person but learning that folks were bought out and uprooted it's lost its appeal. Granted the people agreed but they didn't have a choice. The ground is hallowed everywhere really with the footprints of people who've lived before. Thanks HistoryStuff ..

[@historystuff5516]

I imagine that walking the land could be pretty powerful if you let yourself think on these people.

[@kathysenn7664]

@@historystuff5516 I reread my comment.. everyone has choices but sometimes it doesn't feel like it.. having nothing then something.. cold hard cash to buy food, say, would be an incentive. I'm imagining right along with you.

[@gnolan4281]

Poverty takes its toll but the people look well nourished and those horses! I've been places in this world where the horses' ribs are sticking out from lack of proper feeding and the shown horses here are well built, stocky and plump. That's a good thing.

[@kenbehren6119]

Fascinating. Ethnically speaking, these people are very close to a large proportion of Australia's immigrant population, but the culture couldn't be more different. Best wishes from Australia.

[@colewebb5569]

hi History Stuff and everyone else I know that during the great depression people lost there farms and homes to banks when they couldn't pay there mortgage but can tell me why the Government forced these and other people out of there homes did they owe money to the government some home loan or mortgage ?? please explain to me why the Government did this to people back then in the depression History Stuff or anybody have something to say ?? about it my ♡ Heart ♡ go's out to these people life already tuff for so many people and Government made it harsh as he'll well goodnight History Stuff and goodnight everyone else :-)

[@historystuff5516]

They took the land to create various national parks. These photos were government propaganda/proof that they were poverty stricken, hence needed to be moved to better places.

[@colewebb5569]

@@historystuff5516 hi History Stuff and thank you for you're reply yes judging from the different homes they we're more than poor but how do they get better a better place to live when couldn't in the first place with so many other people with no home no jobs and no it wasn't right for Government to take the only thing they had these people's land a least they had some place to live and growth food plus I bet a lot of these people we're family to each other now the government broke up these families that helped each other out you just know that most people ended up worst in tents in car's on the street etc and a harsher time's well goodnight you at History Stuff and have great Thursday and Friday and great coming weekend :-)

[@jamesschneider3828]

Loose the background, too distracting from the photo's